Sandhu (right) showing Aznan (left) the equipment at 42 Iskandar Puteri.
Johor’s tuition-free coding school 42 Iskandar Puteri is set to play a key role in developing local talent needed for the digital economy.
State education and information committee chairman Aznan Tamin said its presence had come at the right time as Johor moved towards greater digitalisation and economic growth.
“With the rapid growth of data centres in Johor particularly in Iskandar Malaysia, along with strategic advantages offered by the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), the presence of 42 Iskandar Puteri is timely to meet current needs.
“It not only equips Johor’s youth with relevant skills, but also provides them opportunities to become key players in the state’s rapidly growing technology industry,” he said after visiting the campus.
Aznan added that the initiative under the 42 Malaysia network also supported Johor Talent Development Council’s (JTDC) efforts to create more job opportunities in the digital economy and ensure local talent was well-prepared for the evolving job market.
“42 Malaysia’s way of gamifying its curriculum makes learning exciting, challenging and motivating for the younger generation.
“The learning approach also helps build and hone critical thinking, problem solving and other soft skills,” he added.
The Star had previously reported that Johor hosted around 20 operational data centres, with an additional 40 in the pipeline.
They are located in Sedenak, Iskandar Puteri and Pasir Gudang.
42 Malaysia chief operating officer Jeff Sandhu said 42 Iskandar Puteri, with the support of the Johor government, was launching a five-day core python and AI prompt engineering programme slated for March.
The move, he said, was to introduce coding and artificial intelligence to more Johor residents.
Unlike traditional workshops, he said, the programme adopted 42’s learning methodology, which removes barriers through a peer-to-peer, project-based approach where students gain hands-on experience in solving real-world challenges.
“All these, at zero cost to students,” Sandhu said, and encouraged those aged 17 and above to seize the opportunity and enrol for the free programme.
“There is nothing to lose, but everything to gain.
“Challenge yourself to level up and you will be surprised where this new skill could take you,” he said, adding that the programme was suitable for school leavers waiting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results.
He added that 42 Malaysia was a nation-building initiative under Sunway Education Group and Khazanah Nasional Bhd that aimed to develop 10,000 skilled tech talents by 2033.
The network currently had three campuses nationwide, with the other two in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
The 42 programme is part of a global movement with a network of 56 campuses in 32 countries.
Those interested in the programme running in Johor can register at 42my.online/42ip-pythonai-signup
