The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) and the Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR), in partnership with Microsoft, have launched the Talent in Tech Accelerator Nationwide Program. The initiative aims to equip 1,000 final-year students from public universities with essential technical skills and certifications while facilitating talent matching to meet the evolving needs of the digital industry.
Aligned with MoHE’s Higher Education Strategic Digitalization Plan (2021 – 2025), the program supports its fourth strategic pillar, focusing on enhancing digital competency among Malaysian students in higher education to foster a digital-centric culture.
Dato’ Hj. Mohammad Yusof Bin Hj. Apdal, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, emphasized the importance of digital skills in today’s world, highlighting the government’s commitment to preparing students for industry demands.
The program seeks to enhance employment prospects for Malaysian talent by bringing certified educators and Microsoft Experts together to provide training in sought-after digital skills.
Participants will also gain access to self-paced learning resources through Microsoft Learn and receive employability skills and career readiness training, including resume writing and creating effective LinkedIn profiles.
Thomas Mathew, TalentCorp group CEO, stressed the need to transform talents into industry-ready workers capable of adapting to future market demands. He highlighted the holistic approach of the collaboration, focusing not only on technical skills but also on soft skills necessary for future leaders.
K Raman, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, emphasized Microsoft’s commitment to Malaysia, both in technology adoption and in bridging the readiness gap between individuals and industry demand in the digital economy.
Microsoft shared that, as of August 2023, it has achieved 85% of its goal to upskill one million Malaysians by the end of 2023 as part of the Bersama Malaysia initiative.
The Program initially conducted a pilot program with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) before scaling up to a nationwide initiative. Puvaan Raaj, an undergraduate student at UTHM who benefited from the program, praised its collaborative environment and the acquisition of new skills that made him more competitive in the job market.
During the launch, Microsoft signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with MoHE and TalentCorp, reinforcing their commitment to empower students with digital skills for success in the digital economy.
The Program incorporates globally recognised resources from Microsoft, including skilling content and certification, and leverages MoHE and TalentCorp’s extensive partner networks to create potential employment opportunities for students.
Students who successfully obtain certifications can explore job opportunities with industry partners such as Air Liquide, Alliance Bank, AmBank Group, Avanade, CIMB Bank, Enfrasys, Experian, Habib Group, Malaysia Aviation Group, Nexperia, OCBC Bank, SCHOTT, Shell, and UOB Bank. Certified talents will also become part of the MEET Community @ LinkedIn.
The pilot program is scheduled to run from September 11th to 22nd, 2023, targeting final-year students from participating local universities. For more information, visit the Talent in Tech Accelerator Nationwide Program.
