Malaysia unveils strategic report to close workforce talent gaps

Key industry and academia leaders in Malaysia have joined forces through the Industry-Academia Collaborative initiative.
By: | December 13, 2023
Topics: Learning and Development | Malaysia | News

Bridging the gap between talent demand and supply while nurturing a skilled future workforce is the focus of Talent Corporation Malaysia’s (TalentCorp) newly launched Sector-Focused Industry-Academia Collaboration (IAC) Workshop report.

The report complies findings and insights from 10 IAC workshops held in 2022 across key sectors like STEM, tourism, animation and gaming, electrical and electronics, and medical and healthcare. These workshops brought together over 550 industry, academia, and professional body representatives to discuss sector-specific challenges, in-demand skills, and potential solutions.

V. Sivakumar, Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia, said TalentCorp’s efforts brought together key industry and academia stakeholders to address talent challenges and identify potential solutions through the exchange of knowledge, insights and experience. “The findings are key in helping policymakers understand the practical implications of their decisions and make policies that are more effective, feasible, and conducive to spur economic growth,” he added.

Sivakumar also highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering a skilled workforce, emphasising Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for private sector involvement in spearheading skills centres. This initiative aligns with TalentCorp’s Future Skills Talent Council, which aims to bridge the gap between graduates’ skills and industry needs.

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According to Thomas Mathew, Group CEO of TalentCorp, the initial 10 IAC workshops were driven by the need to address talent gaps within the Malaysian ecosystem. He further emphasised that the IAC report serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to collaborate with the government, industry players, and academia on talent solutions.

“At TalentCorp, we have started using the insights and findings to ensure that our new initiatives, such as the sector-based Future Skills Talent Council, is strategically aligned to industry and the nation’s needs,” he said, reported New Straits Times.