Bridging Purpose and Practice: A Decade of Technopreneurship Education through PKAS at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In the context of Malaysia’s strategic push toward a digital and innovation-driven economy, traditional engineering education models must evolve to equip graduates with both technical expertise and entrepreneurial acumen. This paper presents the outcomes of a decade-long implementation of the Program Pemerkasaan Kompetensi Akademik Siswa (PKAS), initiated in 2016 at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The program focuses on bridging technical and entrepreneurial competencies among engineering students, aligning with Malaysia’s strategic national agendas. Through experiential learning, industry collaboration, and startup incubation, PKAS has transformed postgraduate research into real-world applications. This case study evaluates the framework, outcomes, and potential for national replication. Originating as a postgraduate competency initiative, PKAS has expanded across multiple education levels, integrating hands-on innovation projects, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurship development. The study highlights key outcomes such as student start-ups, interdisciplinary innovation outputs, and institutional capacity-building, while drawing lessons on curriculum reform, policy alignment, and sustainable educational design. The paper concludes with policy implications for embedding technopreneurship in national education strategies and calls for broader adoption of experiential, innovation-focused learning in engineering education.
Source: Jurnal Kejuruteraan
Institutions: National University of Malaysia, Sohar University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7153115643