Keeping youth up to speed

Fostering youth development: (From left) MTDC Technology Development Division director Mariamah Daud, Mohammad Hazani, Shahrul Affendi and KBS Youth Skills Development Division assistant director Liyana Haminudin at the MoU signing ceremony.

TO thrive in the digital age, Malaysian youth need to be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge.

Marking a significant milestone in the government’s commitment to foster youth development and drive technological innovation, the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) recently.

Aimed at advancing the nation’s youth into the domains of Industry 4.0 and technopreneurship, the partnership is a continuation of the previous successful collaboration between both parties.

Earlier in March, KBS and MTDC signed a memorandum of cooperation for the Transformation of Technical, Vocational Education (TVET) Programmes at the Kuala Lumpur Industrial Training Institute.

The new partnership, inked at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)-MTDC Technology Centre III in Serdang, Selangor, on Sept 18, will see MTDC supporting KBS with advisory services and support, which will encompass accreditation, competency development, knowledge transfer, equipment upgrading, capacity-building programmes, and the promotion of education and professional training in technology-related fields.

MTDC will also play a crucial role in the implementation of the “teaching factory”, an initiative which includes the upgrading of facilities and teaching equipment to provide a more conducive learning environment for students under the TVET programmes.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, MTDC chief executive officer Mohammad Hazani Hassan said by working hand in hand with KBS and the Youth and Sports Skills Training Institutes (ILKBS), it gives the corporation an opportunity to create a vibrant ecosystem that empowers the youth and accelerates technological advancements in Malaysia.

“We aspire to create a pool of competent TVET talents for high-paying jobs in deep tech and Industry 4.0,” he said.

He also highlighted the significance of the partnership in promoting networking opportunities between MTDC, its ecosystem companies and ILKBS.

KBS Youth Skills Development Division director general Shahrul Affendi Baharudin said empowering the youth with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the digital age is the ministry’s top priority.

“Our partnership with MTDC is a testament to our dedication to furnishing young Malaysians with the resources and prospects needed to prosper in Industry 4.0.

“This collaboration is expected to provide added value to students and boost the employability of our graduates,” he said.