Malaysia must address talent readiness for high-tech jobs
11 Oct 2021
This includes how to go about IR4.0 within the 4 walls of the manufacturing facility and beyond
While investors’ confidence in Malaysia remains, the country must give importance to talent readiness for the increasingly high-tech innovative companies and projects.
Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) CEO Arham Abdul Rahman said that this includes how to go about IR4.0 within the four walls of the manufacturing facility and beyond, which requires the right methodology and mindset.
“Interestingly, McKinsey reported that artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially create six million new jobs by 2030 in Malaysia because new skills are in high demand.
“Therefore Mida, under the stewardship of the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI), will continue to facilitate high-technology, knowledge-based and capital-intensive investments that generate multiplier effects on Malaysia’s economy, including generating quality jobs,” he said at the Mida Assessment Development Centre (MADC) HyTalent Programme signing ceremony last Friday.
To boost IR4.0 readiness among fresh graduates, Mida has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) for the implementation of MADC HyTalent Programme.
It was established to map out dedicated programmes for future hybrid talents which have a combination of technical and soft skills, displaying flexibility and adaptability to start at junior levels and progress quickly with the right know-how and leadership, as required by the industry.
It is also expected to pool-strength and taps into the wealth of industry expertise, preparing university, technical and vocational education and training graduates with the skills and needs of IR4.0, especially in Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial IoT (IIoT), robotics, AI, big data and cybersecurity.
According to Arham, the programme anticipated to train 500 undergraduates in the field of IoT and IIoT to be employed at participating Malaysian companies with a higher than average compensation or salary after graduation.
He noted that the initiative was approved under the government’s special Covid-19 Fund 2021 — 2022 to stimulate Malaysia’s current economy amid the pandemic, with special emphasis on addressing unemployment.
“At Mida, we value public-private partnerships. Hence, we are excited to partner with these universities and companies for the implementation of the MADC HyTalent Programme, whereby these reputable universities will provide the much-needed personnel equipped suitably with the relevant qualifications and experience to support our fresh graduates.
“This is to groom future leaders with the essential talents of technical and soft skills as required by the industry,” he added.
Arham also hoped that this will ultimately contribute towards increasing the country’s productivity, efficiency and global competitiveness as an investment destination regardless of the global economic sentiments.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by MITI Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Mohamed Azmin noted that the initiative is a testament to the government’s continuous focus on creating high-value jobs to ensure Malaysians reap the long-term benefits of investments in the country, in tandem with enhancing the overall industry’s ecosystem to drive sustainable economic growth on the road to recovery post-Covid-19.
Apart from local universities, the MADC HyTalent Programme syllabus was also established in collaboration with international and local industry players to bridge the gap between the supply of local engineers and the demand of the industry, especially IoT and IIoT.
The programme comprises a six-month live-in pilot programme combined with a six-month internship duration to develop fresh graduates in structured leadership and technical training to meet the needs of Malaysia’s industries.
Source: Malaysian Reserve
