Universiti Malaya's Graduate Employability & Career Centre (GECC) brought the corporate world to campus once again with UMStepUp 2026, a post-career festival held in conjunction with UM iFEST 2026. Running from 8 to 11 June 2026 at Dataran Tunku Canselor, the event drew participation from more than 180 industry partners, making it one of the most significant career-focused gatherings on the UM calendar.
Themed "Step Up Your Future, Connect with Industry," UMStepUp 2026 was designed to give students and fresh graduates a direct path into the professional world. Rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them, attendees were encouraged to take the initiative, whether by dropping their resumes at career booths, sitting across industry recruiters in walk-in interviews, or seeking candid guidance from seasoned professionals in the Mentor Hot Seat sessions.
The career booths, which drew the bulk of foot traffic throughout the four days, offered a window into the hiring landscape across a wide range of sectors. Students browsed available roles and internship placements, spoke directly with company representatives, and learned what employers are genuinely looking for in new hires. For many, it was the first time they had engaged with recruiters outside of a formal application process.
Walk-in interviews remained one of the most popular features of the festival. Students who came prepared with polished resumes had the rare opportunity to be assessed on the spot, with some receiving offers or advancing to next-round interviews before the event had even concluded. The immediacy of the format underscored the message GECC has long championed: that readiness, confidence, and a proactive attitude are just as important as academic credentials.
The Mentor Hot Seat sessions added a more personal dimension to the festival. In one-on-one settings, students sat down with experienced professionals from various industries to discuss their career aspirations, seek honest feedback on their profiles, and gain perspective on what it truly takes to build a meaningful career. Many who attended these sessions described them as among the most valuable conversations they had had during their time at university.
UMStepUp 2026 is part of GECC's broader commitment to ensuring that Universiti Malaya graduates leave campus not only with strong academic foundations, but with the professional exposure, industry connections, and career confidence to step immediately into the workforce.