JMU 2026 Southern Zone Carnival At Persada Targets Over 35,000 Visitors

JOHOR BAHRU, April 18 (Bernama) -- The Jom Masuk Universiti (JMU) 2026 Southern Zone Carnival aims to attract more than 35,000 visitors over its two-day event starting today at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre here.

The programme, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), which is part of the JMU tour series in 10 major zones across the country from January to April this year, involves the participation of public and private universities, polytechnics, community colleges, and public skills training institutions (ILKA).

The JMU Southern Zone, which includes Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as the organiser, will strengthen its role in the development of higher education, particularly in the fields of science, engineering and technology.

In a statement, UTM said that the carnival targets students who have completed the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), and equivalent, parents as well as the general public, with the rest covering educational exhibitions, student recruitment consultation counters and career sharing sessions.

This carnival provides a one-stop platform for higher education information and helps students make more accurate study decisions, in line with the aspirations of the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) to ensure inclusive and comprehensive access to education for all segments of society.

Various interactive approaches throughout its organisation includes the UTM Showcase: Campus Experience, talk shows, Student Voices Live, Booth Spotlight Tour, motivational talks, podcasts, lucky draws, and the JMU Passport programme that encouraged active participation from visitors.

The carnival is further enlivened by the participation of 20 food trucks, creating a more relaxed and visitor-friendly atmosphere.

The inauguration ceremony of the JMU Southern Zone was officiated by Higher Education deputy director-general Prof Dr Zainal Amin Ayub, and attended by the UTM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim today.

Mohd Shafry said in the statement that higher education institutions need to play an important role in producing graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also adaptive, innovative and resilient.

According to him, the organisation of JMU 2026 proves that strategic collaboration between various parties can have a significant impact on society.

"Visitors or students should fully utilise the available opportunities as a space to ask questions and explore in order to make the best decisions in determining the direction of their education and future careers," he also said.

The JMU 2026 tour will continue to two locations, namely the Sarawak Zone at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and the Central Zone at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), respectively on April 25 and 26.

--BERNAMA