Kuala lumpur: A total of 1,247 participants are currently enrolled in a four-month intensive training programme titled "1 NADI, 1 Prompt Engineer," designed to cultivate artificial intelligence (AI) talent across communities nationwide. The initiative aims to empower individuals to serve as AI prompt engineers within their local areas.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Mohd Arif Adenan, the head of the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) Office at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), stated that this free programme offers participants practical training and AI certification. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving Google, Multimedia University (MMU), and MIMOS Academy, aiming to equip individuals with the necessary skills to navigate the evolving digital landscape.
Participants who successfully complete the training will be equipped to embark on freelance careers, allowing them to work remotely without relocating to urban centers. Dr. Mohd Arif highlighted that high-speed Internet access provided by NADI enables participants, such as those on Pulau Banggi, Sabah, to complete tasks and generate income directly from their home locations.
The programme primarily targets individuals aged 40 and below, although the MCMC also encourages older participants with a keen interest in technology to join. The MCMC is also preparing to launch the NADI Academy in October, which will consolidate all courses into a single ecosystem. This academy will utilize AI-based systems to develop individual profiles, identifying participants' strengths in areas such as entrepreneurship, academics, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Dr. Mohd Arif expressed that the NADI Academy aims to guide participants in determining their next steps, whether in business administration, computer science, or other fields, while allowing them to contribute to their local economies without leaving their communities.
He further explained that the academy's profiling system would connect entrepreneurs with relevant agencies and guide young people in making informed educational and career choices. The initiative's emphasis on skill training is evident in the NADI Mahir initiative, which has trained approximately 27,000 participants in various fields since last year.
For those interested in starting businesses, NADI offers connections to financing agencies such as TEKUN Nasional and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) to facilitate access to capital. A notable success from the programme is the "Mahir Jahit" (Skilled Sewing) initiative, where 120 alumni produced and sold about 3,000 school uniforms last year, benefiting the community.
Dr. Mohd Arif emphasized the importance of financial planning, encouraging participants to avoid debt while promoting early saving habits. The programme's impact is evidenced by participants like Nurul Syuhada Rashidi, a single mother from NADI Kanchong Darat, who has regained her financial independence through regular sewing orders. Similar success stories include Nurul Aini Hayati Rashidi, earning RM1,400 monthly, and Rosnaniza Hasnan, who supports her child's university expenses with her monthly earnings.
The programme has also enabled participants like Nurul Huda Awang to manage daily expenses and reduce back-to-school costs by sewing uniforms herself, contributing to a sustainable livelihood for her family.