(From left) Jagdish, Reaburn, Chang, Len Talif, Awangku Merali and Amirin during a photocall.

 KUCHING: The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) says the digital economy would require more than one million digital workers such as coders, application developers and software engineers by 2025.

The Malaysian government launched various initiatives in preparing today’s students for the future and a key priority of the Ministry of Education is to ensure these students are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the future workforce.

For this end, ‘The Future in Tech: Sarawak’ workshop was held here on Wednesday.

It sought to highlight the key skills and knowledge needed for the future of our students and children.
The workshop was jointly organised by Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and Tegas Digital Innovation Hub, and is supported by Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) and the University of Melbourne.

“In the 21st century, a recent US report from the Department of Labour suggested that up to 65 per cent of today’s students will be employed in jobs that do not yet exist.

“The workshop seeks to explore key skills and areas of study which may be important in preparing them for an uncertain technology-driven future,” said a press statement received here on Wednesday.

Austrade has been essential to this programme in providing the linkage and access to the University of Melbourne, which will feature Assoc Prof Dr Shanton Chang from the university’s Department of Computing and Information Systems.

Further to this initiative, Australia is currently working closely with local government bodies and universities to develop digital learning opportunities. The quarterly workshop, targeted at students, teachers and parents, creates an opportunity for Australia to share knowledge, expertise and experience with Malaysia.

Held at Tegas Digital Innovation Hub in Icom Square here, which boasts 5,100 square feet of space comprising co-working spaces, event spaces, maker’s corner, sky booth, sound and video production room.

The hub offers start-ups ready- access to funding and facilitation opportunities, entrepreneur-friendly eco-system and talent development programmes, which would encourage talented individuals to innovate and produce creative ideas.

To further strengthen and enrich the eco-system, Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas) has signed 11 MoUs with strategic partners to promote creativity and innovation as well as provide growth opportunities for start-ups. These companies include Sarawak Shell Bhd, MaGIC, Austrade, SME Corporation Malaysia, Swinburne University of Technology and IME Group of Companies.

Tegas chairman Datu Len Talif Salleh, who is also Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, attended the event yesterday.

He was quoted as saying that the digital innovation hub was a precursor to the proposed digital village at Samajaya, which is currently in the design stage and would be fully operational by the first quarter of 2020.

Austrade senior trade and investment commissioner for Malaysia and Brunei, Daniel Havas said: “Public-private academia collaboration will be vital to encourage youths from just being users of digital innovation to becoming producers or digital innovators.”

With the announcement in Budget 2018 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, RM4.9 billion has been allocated for the Technical and Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) sector with the aim to produce highly skilled talent for the future workforce.

Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus director of Marketing and Recruitment Jagdish Singh, Austrade Singapore Trade Commissioner Teliessin Reaburn, Tegas COO Awangku Merali Pengiran Mohmed and community coordinator of MaGIC Sarawak Amirin Arsyan also attended the event.

For further information, members of the public can contact education manager at Austrade Melissa Tan via Melissa.Tan@austrade.gov.au or 012-6859272.