KUCHING: Taylor’s University has launched Malaysia’s first Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) (Honours).
It aims to cultivate a new generation of leaders and thinkers equipped to navigate global challenges and industry transformations.
Citing the World Economic Forum’s 2023-2027 reports, the university said 50 per cent of companies prioritise critical thinking, analytical skills and leadership.
However, many employers struggle to find graduates with these competencies.
To address this gap, the university has designed this pioneering three-year degree to integrate academic excellence with real-world application.
“Students will tackle pressing issues in governance, economic stability, sustainability, global policy and social justice, gaining a broad yet practical foundation to address complex sociopolitical and economic challenges,” it said.
Commenting on the course, External Engagement Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming, noted that in today’s dynamic world, specialising in multiple fields provides a competitive edge.
He pointed out that one of the biggest challenges raised by industry leaders is that many graduates are not “job-ready”.
They lack the critical thinking and multi-perspective approach needed to tackle complex global issues, including public policy concerns in the workplace.
“Recognising this, we have designed our PPE programme to combine academic excellence with industry engagement, equipping students with the analytical skills, strategic foresight, and ethical reasoning necessary to drive progress in an evolving world,” he said.
Meanwhile, PPE Programme Director, Dr Deboshree Ghosh, emphasised the crucial role of industry partnerships in shaping the programme’s relevance and impact.
She highlighted that one of the programme’s key strengths is its distinguished Industry Advisory Panel (IAP), led by Ong, who is also a former two-term Member of Parliament as well as a former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry.
She added that the IAP comprises renowned policymakers, economists, corporate leaders, and academics, including Former Minister of Health and co-host of the ‘Keluar Sekejap’ podcast, Khairy Jamaluddin, Tony Pua, Professor Farish Noor, Associate Professor of Practice at Nottingham University, Malaysia, and former CEO of the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), Dr Tricia Yeoh, Dr Lee Hwok-Aun, and founder and Managing Director of Watchtower Advisory and co-host of the ‘Keluar Sekejap’ podcast, Shahril Hamdan, among others.
The panel offers mentorship, research collaborations, guest lectures and exclusive industry engagements to bridge theory with practical application.
“A key differentiator of our PPE programme is its strong industry ties.
“The IAP plays a pivotal role in ensuring our graduates gain insights from renowned thought leaders in politics, business and governance.
“Their invaluable experience complements our structured learning journey, ensuring graduates develop strategic decision-making and problem-solving skills, preparing them to excel across multiple industries,” she said.
Taylor’s University welcomes applications for its April and September 2025 intakes, offering a 100 percent tuition scholarship for both intakes or a 10 per cent bursary exclusively for the first cohort of the April intake.
For more information, those interested may visit https://bit.ly/TaylorsPhilosophyPoliticsEconomics.
