Kampar Oct 17: The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting said the Government has drawn up Talent Roadmap 2020 under the Economic Transformation Programme to attract global talents and facilitate networking of top talents to propel Malaysia to be a high-income economy.
To achieve these objectives, there is need for sustained contribution from the private sector, be it from local industry players or through foreign direct investments, he said, adding that Huawei Technologies Malaysia Sdn Bhd is one of the firms which has stepped forward to sign an agreement help the Government to produce 10,000 IT professionals in the next five years.
He pointed out that Huawei had in June 14 signed MOUs with 10 Malaysian universities which included Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman which is the first among them to set up the UTAR-Huawei Networking Lab. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak.
Tan Sri Ong, who is also the Chairman of Malaysia-China Business Council, was speaking at the opening of the UTAR-Huawei Networking Lab at UTAR in Kampar today.
He said the UTAR-Huawei initiative is a win-win partnership because it enables UTAR to have the facility and courseware to offer programmes of up-to-date and globally relevant ICT knowledge and skills. UTAR graduates after the training will be awarded accreditation which would enhance their employability because of Huawei’s strong reputation.
UTAR President Prof Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik said 97 per cent of UTAR graduates are able to find jobs within six months after their graduation. With the new training programme, he hoped the percentage would be raise to 99 per cent.
Those who attended the opening ceremony included Mr Tony Zhang,Vice President of Huawei South Pacific Region Enterprise Business Group and Ms Ng Wan Peng, COO of Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC).
Under the co-operative programme, UTAR would acquire high-tech ITC equipment from Huawei to set up the networking laboratory in the university in Kampar to provide pre-graduation training. The lab was set up at a cost of RM300,000 with UTAR providing the building and Huawei the teaching courseware.
With the signing of the MOU, Huawei is now providing special training programmes for UTAR lecturers and students. At the moment, four lecturers and 27 UTAR undergraduates are already undergoing relevant training.
UTAR has identified Huawei as its first networking partner to provide internship for its undergraduates in order to produce more IT professionals.
Source: The China Press
(Compiled and translated by Hoo Ban Khee)
