TRAVELOGUE
POLYTECHNIC TAWAU SABAH
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at Polytechnics was first introduced in Malaysia through the establishment of its first Polytechnic, Ungku Omar Polytechnic in Ipoh under the United Nations Development Plan in 1969. TVET was strengthened with the recommendation of the Cabinet Committee on education in 1979 and The first National Industrial Master Plan (1985–1995). All the plans, including the recommendation of the Cabinet Committee on training (1991), have enabled the establishment of more Polytechnics as well as the addition of study programs in the fields of engineering, trade and services. On 20 November 2009, the Cabinet approved a Memorandum from the Minister of Higher Education related to the Polytechnic Transformation Roadmap. Apart from that, the Cabinet on 26 March 2010 considered a Memorandum from the Minister of Higher Education which agreed to establish ten METrO Polytechnics, four polytechnics in the 9th MP and six polytechnics in the 10th MP. The concept of establishing and implementing community colleges in each parliamentary constituency was agreed by the Cabinet on 5 July 2000. However, in 2005 the Cabinet reconsidered the concept and agreed to establish community colleges based on local needs. In 2007, the Cabinet agreed to make community colleges a hub for Lifelong Learning. Further, in 2014, the Cabinet took note of the implementation of the Lifelong Islamic Education (PISH) program in community colleges. To strengthen the role of Polytechnics and Community Colleges in the field of education and training, the Cabinet on 24 March 2017 has approved the merger of Polytechnics and Community Colleges in one department. The new organizational structure of the Department of Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges (JPPKK) was approved by the Public Service Department (JPA) on 23 February 2018.
The 36th and most recent polytechnic to be founded in Malaysia is Polytechnic Tawau Sabah (PTS). Under the supervision of the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (JPPKK), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (KPT), PTS was registered on September 1st, 2017 in Tawau, Sabah.
The Diploma in Tourism Management (DUP), first intake in the December 2018 session, and the Diploma in Recreational Tourism (DRT), first intake in session II: 2022/2023 (March 2023), are the two (2) diploma study programs that PTS currently provides. Under the Department of Tourism and Hospitality (JPH), all of these study programs are housed.
In Malaysia, PTS is the only institution that homes both a polytechnic and an institute for teacher education under one roof. Despite having different goals and missions, PTS and IPG Campus Tawau share resources including workplaces and facilities. PTS is special because of this!
EDUCATION HUB
Located in Balung, Tawau, PTS is surrounded by other educational institutions such as IPG Tawau Campus and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sabah, Tawau Campus. In fact, the nearby school, SMK Balung was once awarded as 'Outstanding Rural School'. Not far from Balung, there are several other higher education institutions (HEIs) such as Pusat Luar Universiti Malaysia Sabah (PLUMS Tawau), Open University - Tawau Learning Center and Tawau Sabah Community College (culinary certificate) located in Bandar Sri Indah.
STRATEGIC LOCATION
In addition to being in the Apas-Balung education hub, the location of PTS is also strategic in the tourism sector because it is not far from Tawau Airport (12km), Sebatik Island, Malaysia-Indonesia (47km) and the tourist jetty to the leading islands in Semporna (74km).
TOURIST DESTINATION
Tawau, Sabah has interesting tourist destinations such as Bukit Tawau (56km) which is recognized by the world with the discovery of the tallest tropical tree and is the remains of an ancient volcano; Bukit Gemok (46km) has its own canopy bridge; Tawau Hot Springs (41km) between two well-known hot springs in Sabah besides Poring, Ranau; Tanjung Market (37km) has a variety of seafood sales such as anchovies, prawns and dried fish at the lowest prices so that it becomes the main focus of local tourists throughout Malaysia if they stop by the town of Tawau. Even Tawau is also the main route to the famous Danum Valley conservation area and Maliau Basin; and the main stop to go to the islands in Semporna.
Therefore, PTS is quick to establish cooperation with tourism industry players in Tawau and the state of Sabah in academic matters, improving staff skills, social responsibility and promotion for both parties. This makes PTS the main choice of IPT for prospective students in this area and also the state of Sabah to further their education in the study program offered, and then have the opportunity to have a job, especially in the field of tourism.
