A computer science school, 42 Malaysia (42MY), will be established in Malaysia. The school, a result of a partnership between the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia and the largest education-focused social enterprise in Malaysia will use peer-to-peer learning to train 10,000 competent tech professionals over the next decade.
The 42 programme, which boasts the Born2Code slogan, was introduced in France and opened its inaugural campus in Paris in 2013. It is now part of a global network of 47 campuses across 26 countries that provide tuition-free education to individuals 18 years and older, without regard to educational or socioeconomic status. On July 23, 2020, the social enterprise launched the Malaysian branch of 42, known as 42 KL, in Sunway City, Kuala Lumpur.
The educational framework of the programme emphasises peer-to-peer and project-based learning methods that simulate a professional work environment. Participants at 42MY have the opportunity to learn coding by working on genuine industry projects in collaboration with the program’s partner companies.
Additional programmes are expected to be implemented to enhance the skills of the domestic workforce by leveraging underutilised sources of talent through Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. These initiatives are designed to equip individuals with sought-after skills, thereby increasing their chances of securing high-quality employment opportunities.
The Managing Director of the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia believes that the presence of skilled professionals is a vital component in the ongoing growth of any industry. As such, he anticipates that 42MY will play a significant role in supporting Malaysia’s start-up and tech ecosystem by developing and nurturing local talent, which will aid the country’s digital economy and strengthen its IR 4.0 capability.
The collaboration demonstrates the potential benefits of partnerships and cooperation, and the wealth fund is excited about collaborating with like-minded partners who share the same objective of enhancing Malaysia’s digital and skilled talent supply.
The wealth fund has plans to implement additional initiatives aimed at upskilling and reskilling Malaysia’s domestic workforce. The strategy involves mobilising underutilised sources of talent by repurposing Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. The primary objective is to equip individuals with high-demand skills to facilitate their access to top-quality employment opportunities.
An impact assessment framework called the SEMARAK Initiative is being developed. It converges global methodologies but is adapted for the Malaysian context.
MDEC is working to push forward digitalisation in Malaysia. They have developed a series of programmes aimed at preparing individuals for the digital future ahead. For example, eRezeki was established to help low-income groups and other citizens by providing them with opportunities to earn additional income by completing digital assignments using online sharing economy platforms. Participants are matched with digital work that aligns with their skills.
In addition, the Tech Talent @Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) initiative was also set up. This initiative involves the participation of Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTIs), the top tertiary institutions in Malaysia that focus on digital technology.
These institutions have a proven track record of producing high-quality graduates for high-value digital tech-based employment through research, education policies, industry connections, and career development services.
In addition, MDEC has other related initiatives to nurture the talent pipeline. These include:
- Digital Tech Faculty Expert Program (DTeX): this programme aims to create a pool of digital tech subject matter experts among faculty members of Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTIs) and partner universities. The programme is structured to strengthen the quality of teaching and learning in digital tech education. It also creates a platform for technology partners to collaborate with PDTIs and partner universities to actively participate in nurturing and developing industry-ready teaching talent from the tertiary education level.
- Internship & Employment: Partnering with industry players in the ecosystem allows university students to access internship and employment opportunities. Furthermore, upskilling programs are offered to prepare job-ready graduates for the industry.
- Micro-Credentials: Micro-credentials are short and affordable online courses that provide digital certification upon completion, aimed at improving specific skills or competencies. They can be developed by universities, industries, or professional certification bodies and can be stacked for full credentials via transfer of credit. They are also known as digital badges, nano degrees, web badges, mini degrees, or open badges.