42 Malaysia and MyDIGITAL work to bridge tech talent gap

• 12,000 cybersecurity talent to achieve 25,000 workers by the end of next year
• Opening Penang and Johor campuses this year, with Sabah and Sarawak in the future

42 Malaysia (42MY) and MyDIGITAL Corporation have signed a MoU to address Malaysia's tech talent shortage. The partnership aims to develop digital skills, focusing on cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. This collaboration aligns with Malaysia's goal to fill 12,000 cybersecurity positions and create 500,000 new digital economy jobs by 2025, underscoring the need for efficient tech education and workforce development strategies.

42MY is part of the global Ecole 42 network, a French-founded coding school. This nation-building initiative, supported by Sunway Education Group, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, and Dana Impak, offers free computer science education to individuals over 18, regardless of background or prior skills. It operates without classes, teachers, or tuition fees.

The first  Malaysian campus of 42, 42 Kuala Lumpur (42KL), established in 2020, is situated within the FutureX building in Sunway City and operates with 42’s innovative model in a collaboration between Sunway Education Group, Sunway iLabs and Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Jeff Sandhu, Chief Operating Officer of 42MY, explained their unique approach: "In less than 18 months, we can nurture someone into an industry-ready talent with no prior qualifications, not even SPM." The school aims to produce 10,000 industry-ready graduates by 2033. Currently, 150 graduates have been placed in the industry, with each campus expected to produce 200 industry graduates annually at full capacity.

Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital Malaysia, emphasised the urgent need for rapid skill development in the tech sector. "We've got to create new modules that are quick, easy to understand, and scalable so that people can upskill and reskill themselves in a matter of months," he stated at a press conference following the MoU signing at Sunway FutureX.

The minister also highlighted the urgent need for tech talent development. "Digital talent is crucial in an age where AI is projected to affect almost 40% of jobs worldwide," he elaborated. "For example, in the cybersecurity sector, Malaysia needs to meet at least 25,000 workers by the end of next year. Currently, there are 13,000 workers in the field, leaving us with a shortage of 12,000 workers."

Gobind emphasised the importance of reskilling and upskilling workers while they are still employed. He stressed the need for businesses to integrate upskilling programs to ensure their workers are ready to transition into new roles as traditional jobs evolve.

With that in mind, the government is planning to introduce tax exemptions in Budget 2025 to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-medium enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt AI and other technologies. The minister expects more precise implementation details to be disclosed by early next month.

"With nearly 97% of the nation's businesses being SMEs, it ultimately comes down to how fast we can get everyone on board," Gobind said. "If we can get them to adopt technology and AI solutions, you will see tremendous growth in the country's digital economy."

To address these challenges, the MoU between 42MY and MyDIGITAL aims to develop Malaysia's digital talent landscape, particularly in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI. This partnership aligns with the government's goal of creating new mechanisms to build talent quickly, as traditional three-year degree programs are no longer sufficient in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Following the launch of the first campus, 42KL, 42MY is set to open new campuses in Penang and Iskandar Puteri, Johor, with plans for future campuses in Sabah and Sarawak. The Penang campus is targeted to open in time for this year's SPM students, aiming to provide opportunities for those who may not perform well in traditional academics.

Ellina Roslan, Senior Director of MyDIGITAL Corporation, outlined potential areas of collaboration, including "joint research and development, cross-border talent exchange programs, collaborative workshops, public-private partnerships, and the involvement of 42 Malaysia in MyDIGITAL's Executive Digital Leadership Program."