Yayasan Perak, UNIRAZAK Partner To Equip Tahfiz Graduates With Mutawwif Management Skills

IPOH, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Yayasan Perak today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNIRAZAK), to launch a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Skills Diploma programme in mutawwif (guide) management for umrah and ziarah, specifically tailored for tahfiz graduates in Perak.

In a joint statement, Yayasan Perak and UNIRAZAK said that the MoU was formalised through the Akademi TVET UNIRAZAK (ATUR), an accredited centre under the Skills Development Department (JPK), offering Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) and Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) programmes.

The diploma programme is also supported by the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk), particularly in efforts to strengthen tahfiz education across the state.

“This strategic partnership opens up alternative education pathways for tahfiz graduates who have not followed the mainstream academic route, equipping them with professional qualifications to contribute meaningfully to the Islamic tourism, dakwah, and ummah economy sectors,” the statement read.

The Mou was signed by Yayasan Perak general manager Dr Nasreen Khanum Nawab Zadah Khan and UNIRAZAK chief executive officer Amil Izham Hamzah. It was witnessed by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

Earlier, Saarani officiated the Empower Tahfiz programme - a special initiative aimed at uplifting tahfiz students in the state - in a ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building.

Meanwhile, as a key value-added component, students enrolled in the programme will undergo an exclusive practicum in the Holy Land, providing real-world exposure in mutawwif operations.

The practicum will cover areas such as worship management, congregation logistics, syariah compliance, and on-site training with relevant industry partners.

To ease the initial financial burden, the Perak government has extended an advance sponsorship of RM2,500 to the first 100 students, helping them adapt more quickly to the programme’s requirements.

The initiative will begin as a pilot project, involving 100 participants, and will be rolled out in phases to ensure its effectiveness and deliver measurable impact.

“Through collaboration with UNIRAZAK, via the ATUR and strategic industry partners, students will undergo industrial training, gain entrepreneurship exposure, and receive comprehensive career guidance. The programme will cover technical skills, customer service competencies, and post-graduation career preparation, to ensure graduates are industry-ready,” read the statement.

Meanwhile, Amil Izham, in the same statement, said that the university, as a socially responsible private institution, is proud to collaborate with Yayasan Perak on the implementation of the programme.

“Through the ATUR, we ensure that the modules offered not only comply with the standards set by the JPK, but also include industry exposure and hands-on workshops in the Holy Land,” he said.

“We are confident that this programme will produce highly skilled mutawwif and mutawwifah, who embody both professionalism and virtue, and who will be capable of elevating Perak’s name on the international stage,” he said.

In the meantime, Nasreen Khanum said that the Empower Tahfiz programme serves as a platform to broaden future opportunities for tahfiz students in Perak.

“Through this initiative, they not only excel as guardians of the Quran, but are also recognised as professionals in the fields of umrah and ziarah.

“Yayasan Perak is honoured to lead this initiative, and remains firmly committed to empowering tahfiz students as valuable assets to the state,” she said.

-- BERNAMA