KUCHING: Petronas targets an enrollment of about 200 technical graduates from Sabah and Sarawak next month to undergo its Petroleum Technology Programme (PTP-1).

Petronas (Sarawak) regional general manager Shamsur Taha said this was an opportunity for the graduates, especially those taking up technical course, to undergo a one-year training which includes industrial training with the oil and gas company.

“Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be posted to (Petronas) stations worldwide. This is a very good opportunity for students taking technical courses.

“There are many job opportunities provided for them including working at their branches in Qatar, Yaman and Brazil, to name a few,” he said.

On the 200 students from Sabah and Sarawak, Shamsur said they would soon be selected for the programme next month.

Shamsur, a graduate of Mara Institute of Technology (now UiTM), said this was among topics of his motivational speech at the pre graduation dinner held for the November-April 2014 session of UiTM Sarawak on Wednesday.

He said despite the many students taking non-technical programmes, there were also job opportunities waiting for them in the oil and gas sector as well as in other fields and departments.

Sarawak UiTM Rector Datuk Jamil Hamali, meanwhile, told the students that passing examinations with flying colours alone was not enough. They had to acquire good leadership and communication skills.

“Skills are important before building your career because you will have to go job-hunting and attend interviews before getting the job. You have to persuade the interviewee to get you into the job and this is where skills are important for you to compete with other job seekers outside there,” he said.

Nurulamiza Asmi, a student of Bachelor of Business Administration, meanwhile, was named ‘best student’ in bachelor degree category while Ahmad Mujib Zulkifli was named ‘best students’ in the diploma category.