Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 9(18) Special 2015, Pages: 25-32 ISSN:1991-8178 Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences Journal home page: www.ajbasweb.com Corresponding Author: Yusri Kamin, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Department of Technical and Engineering, Faculty of Education, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor. E-mail: p-yusri@utm.my Tel: + 60197567679 Trainers’ Perception on Students’ Preparedness for the Workplace in Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) Nadia Hartini Mohd Adzmi, Yusri Kamin, Mohd Zolkifli Abd Hamid, Azlan Abdul Latib Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Department of Technical and Engineering, Faculty of Education, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: Received 12 March 2015 Accepted 28 April 2015 Available online 24 May 2015 Keywords: Automotive industry, students preparation for the workplace, knowledge and skills transferred, jobs demand. Background: Automotive industry has grown a lot in a recent year due to the markets demand and rapid changes in technology. The enormous development of cars production has changed the pattern of labor requirement in term of skills and knowledge needed in the workplace. On this issue, training institutes are required to produce workers who are globally competitive and can cope with the new technologies. The purpose of this study is to investigate and at the same time trying to understand the phenomenon of the students‟ preparation for the workplace in mechanical engineering (automotive). It addresses responses from the trainers‟ perspectives regarding the knowledge and skills transferred by investigating the condition of the training process at the institutes. There were six participants involved in this study. This study was carried out using the qualitative method approach by taking place in six Giat MARA Institutes in the state of Johor Malaysia. Individual interviews were implemented for the data collection. The findings provide the trainers view of a variety of needs. The key issues include diversification of educational approaches, expanding partnership with the branded automotive industry, knowledge and skills upgrading among the trainers and update of the training facilities. The findings also asserted that the development of curricula must be relevant in term of the trainees, substantives outcomes and toward technological development in the automotive industry. The best practice in developing a quality VET programs is by involving all stakeholders in the curriculum design to ensure the future training program is comprised of technological change in the industry. © 2015 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved. To Cite This Article: Nadia Hartini Mohd Adzmi, Yusri Kamin, Mohd Zolkifli Abd Hamid, Azlan Abdul Latib, Trainers‟ Perception on Students‟ Preparedness for the Workplace in Mechanical Engineering (Automotive). Aust. J. Basic & Appl. Sci., 9(18): 25-32, 2015 INTRODUCTION Automotive industry is an area of growing importance today in many countries. For many years in Malaysia, it was uncommon to see average people with luxury items such as cars. However since the enormous development in the automotive industry around the world, mass production of cars drastically changed the ways people think about cars as transportation. The importance of cars in the development of economies is directly connected to technology development in a country. The production of cars is a symbol of Malaysia‟s technological contribution to its global economic position. In the modern world, the development of automotive technologies is essential in facing a range of „workforce development‟ issues (Manufacturing Skills Australia, 2009). These issues include industry restructuring, changing technologies and emerging environmental agendas for future automotive employment requirements. Nowadays, Malaysian automotive industry has grown a lot in recent years. According to Malaysian– German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2010), Malaysian automotive industry was catalyst to support the growth in the manufacturing of component parts and accessories. The major objective of support for the „automotive industry constituted to the limitation of imports, the reduction of expenses in foreign exchange, the creation of employment and the development of industrial sector‟ (Malaysian–German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2010). Despite the fact that the evolution of the automotive industry is booming worldwide, it cannot be separated from the educational system that are responsible in providing trained human capital that meets the need of employment sector. This has led to escalate interest in understanding of the process and mechanism that facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills among students. Writers such as Zarinpoush et, al. (2007) stated that the overall goal