Sim (back row, centre) together with the HRD Corp team, guests, local and international partners during the MOU signing ceremony in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
HUMAN Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong and Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) announced two initiatives aimed at improving access to training for Malaysian workers.
There will be more access to upskilling courses through e-LATiH and enhancements to the ALAT levy scheme following the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 13 local and international learning and development partners.
The courses provided through e-LATiH and ALAT will enable employers to increase their claims for the upgrading of their training facilities.
The MOU was signed by HRD Corp chief executive Datuk Shahul Dawood with representatives from the 13 participating partners – Microsoft, LinkedIn, Skillsoft, Harvard Business School Publishing, Go1, Asia e University, Udemy, FutureLearn, Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud Partner, Accenture, Rosen, and the AirAsia Academy.
The ceremony was witnessed by Sim, ministry secretary- general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud and HRD Corp chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid.
The first-of-its-kind collaboration will enable HRD Corp to add access to 160,000 new courses through its online learning platform e-LATiH.
Currently, the platform offers close to 2,000 free courses covering skills areas that include leadership, management, critical thinking, digital marketing, manufacturing, automation, engineering, financial services and technologies.
Beyond the numbers, the collaboration will also enable HRD Corp to offer in-demand courses in critical areas such as leadership and management courses developed by Google Data Analytics, Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst, Meta Database Engineer, and IBM Data Science.
e-LATiH will also offer highly niche and specialised technical certification courses in oil and gas covering pipeline integrity, operations, inspection and risks.
The MOU also paves the way for more collaborative efforts between signatories.
Since its launch in February 2021, e-LATiH has grown into one of Malaysia’s most preferred elearning platforms.
Today, the platform boasts over 401,000 registered users, and 1.22 million enrolments.
To increase access to skills development, Sim also announced an enhancement to HRD Corp’s ALAT scheme.
This will increase the allowable financial assistance to a maximum of 50% of the levy balance as at Jan 1 in the year the application is submitted.
Previously, the allowable financial assistance was only up to 30%.
ALAT is a scheme that allows employers to utilise their levy to fund the purchase of training aids or to set up or improve training rooms.
This is to encourage employers to carry out in-house training and skills development programmes.
The changes, that are expected to benefit current and future employees from the same employer or industry, will be announced by HRD Corp soon.
Speaking during the two announcements, Sim said the ministry was committed to ensuring that every Malaysian could gain access to learning and development so that no one was left behind.
“The courses that will be added to e-LATiH have been carefully selected by our partners and HRD Corp to address critical skills gap and meet industry demands, particularly in high value high tech areas such as AI, Machine Learning, digital fluency, sustainability, and cybersecurity.”
“The enhancements to the ALAT levy scheme will encourage more registered employers to conduct and sustain in-house training programmes, share their training resources and tap into a wider talent pool,” he added.
Abu Huraira said HRD Corp must be ahead of the curve in delivering the right programmes to support all types of training programmes.
“Online training has risen to prominence in our post- pandemic world, necessitating the expansion of our e-LATiH platform with more high value training courses and certifications,” he said.
He added that physical training programmes would continue to be popular among employers and employees.
e-LATiH is available to all Malaysians through the free and paid options.
To sign up or learn more, visit elatih.hrdcorp.gov.my
