MDEC, MOE to expand Digital Maker Hubs nationwide by end 2021

  • Target to equip 188 places with Digital Maker Hubs by end of 2021
  • Partner with industry players, like-minded organisations to achieve target

MDEC, MOE to expand Digital Maker Hubs nationwide by end 2021 FOLLOWING the successful efforts to establish Digital Maker Hubs in 24 schools in 2020, the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MoE) and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) have recently embarked on an initiative to scale this model to more schools around the country via public-private-partnerships.

Digital Maker Hubs are spaces to learn and practise digital creativity and innovation, or spaces equipped with digital maker facilities and courses. Students can create and invent projects and learn new things using a variety of digital making tools and materials.

In a statement, the MoE said it is looking to expand the reach and value of these hubs by partnering with industry players and other like-minded organisations to achieve its target of equipping 188 places with Digital Maker Hubs by end of this year. This includes an additional nine schools nationwide presently.

MDEC, MOE to expand Digital Maker Hubs nationwide by end 2021 “MoE has seen promising results from the Digital Maker Hubs via MDEC’s early efforts, specifically in strengthening digital creativity and innovation amongst students,” said Maznah Abu Bakar, the director of MoE’s BSTP (Bahagian Sumber dan Teknologi Pendidikan) (pic).

“We are keen to replicate this model in other schools and look forward to more industry players and government agencies coming on board to equip more schools and community places with such tools.”

Maznah said MDEC’s initiatives such as this one, are aimed at creating a future-ready workforce, by equipping them with digital skills required to meet the demands of digital jobs.

Citing data from the World Economic Forum in its 2020 Future of Jobs Report, the MoE estimates that 85 million jobs will be displaced by automation by the year 2025. But 97 million new jobs will be created within the same time frame, largely in roles that require data and digital tech skills, it added.

MDEC said the availability of such spaces is key to nurturing the younger generation for future jobs.

MDEC first championed and implemented Digital Maker Hubs in 2018, under the #mydigitalmaker movement. It was described as a joint public-private-academia initiative to introduce and nurture digital competencies among Malaysian students.

The programme falls under MDEC’s Digitally Skilled Malaysians, a key pillar under the agency’s strategic framework “to accelerate the nation’s digital economy vision for the many.”

“Despite the pandemic posing challenges in education and talent development, MDEC remains committed to working with ecosystem partners to equip young learners to be future-ready,” said Dr Sumitra Nair, head of digital skills and jobs at MDEC.

“Organisations that support the establishment of Digital Maker Hubs will be providing much-needed assistance to young talents, equipping them with critical skills needed to advance the digital economy.”

Besides equipping 24 schools with Digital Maker Hubs, MDEC has worked with various NGOs, state governments, universities and enterprises to establish 67 Digital Maker Hubs outside schools, totalling 90. A full list of all these Digital Maker Hubs can be found here.

MOE and MDEC is inviting sponsors from corporates and industry players to support schools and community places that have been earmarked for the establishment of Digital Maker Hubs.

For more information, contact here.

 

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