Well done: TCS Asean Human Resources head Ellis Yap (centre) receiving the award from guest of honour Tunku Alizakri Raja Muhammad Alias (left). Also present on stage is Faroze.
FRESH graduates who took part in a youth development programme have benefited from training in areas such as cybersecurity, data science, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, machine learning, as well as problem-solving, creativity and communication skills.
The Initial Learning Programme (ILP), launched by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 2020 in partnership with 19 leading universities, has trained fresh graduates across seven cohorts, with 160 trainees later offered permanent positions in the company.
At the Sustainability Performance Awards 2022 organised by the United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB) in Kuala Lumpur recently, the global information technology services, consulting and business solutions company was honoured with the “Partnership for the Goals Recognition” award.
The Sustainability Performance Awards 2022 programme recognises the continuous efforts of organisations in making sustainability an integral part of their business strategies, while seeking to inspire similar implementation by other organisations.
The Partnership for the Goals Recognition category relates to SDG 17, which calls on organisations to “strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development”. TCS Malaysia aims to offer job placements for 500 graduates by 2024 through the ILP, which seeks to provide training and job opportunities for the technology sector in the country.
TCS Malaysia country head Jeevan Rajoo said the company has, through the ILP, collaborated with government agencies, government-linked companies and private corporations to fill the digital skills gap and create well-paying jobs in the technology sector for Malaysian youths.
“This recognition from the UNGCMYB could not have been achieved without the contribution of our closest partners, particularly PETRONAS in the PETRONAS BeDigital Bootcamp,” he said in a press release dated Dec 27.
Last year, TCS Malaysia collaborated with PETRONAS to expand the impact of the ILP, rolling out the BeDigital Bootcamp, which aimed to strengthen digital literacy and professional skills to enhance employability among young graduates.
The first initiative of its kind launched in East Malaysia, the two-week training programme welcomed its inaugural cohort in March last year, involving 18 final year students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The second cohort in August 2022 involved 50 students from UMS, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah and University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF).
The modules were conducted by trainers from PETRONAS, Petrosains, TCS, Microsoft, SEEd.Lab and others. From the programme, TCS Malaysia offered jobs to six participants from the first cohort and 10 participants from the second cohort.
Congratulating TCS on the award, PETRONAS Project Delivery & Technology senior vice president Datuk Bacho Pilong said the recognition will create further momentum for their joint efforts in the coming months and years.
UNGCMYB executive director Faroze Nadar said in the fast-evolving technology sector, youths pursuing digital careers can benefit immensely from upskilling opportunities offered by industry-leading companies, while partnerships between these companies can further intensify the positive impact that can be generated.
