Continuing Education for Professional Development at UTMSPACE - Experience, Development and Trends

As Malaysia is rapidly transforming into a knowledge-based nation, our society has realized the importance of lifelong learning. Thus, continuing education development is needed to accommodate its increasing demand for skilled personnel. To achieve this, UTMSPACE of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) incepted in 1994, has expanded its professional programmes through the establishment of Professional Development Unit (UPP) in 2004. Among UPP's major functions include event management, and educate individuals with knowledge, skills, and ability in dealing with the challenges of current technology. This paper highlights the learning experience and challenges faced by UPP in managing UTMSPACE's professional development and training programmes. In particular, the strategic and synergize efforts taken both by UTMSPACE and UTM towards gaining prestigious brand in continuing education in Malaysia. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Centre of Engineering Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia