Kuala lumpur: In a labour market increasingly shaped by automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), academic qualifications alone are no longer enough to ensure workers are equipped with the skills industries require. Malaysia's labour market is grappling with a two-pronged challenge. On one hand, many Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers and university graduates are turning to gig and flexible work to earn a living. On the other hand, employers continue to struggle to find local workers with the technical skills needed to meet operational demands.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this disconnect has fuelled a growing skills mismatch and underemployment, where the capabilities and qualifications of the local workforce are not fully utilised by industry. Recognising the challenge, Malaysia's talent development strategy has shifted from a classroom-centred approach to workplace-based learning that equips individuals with the necessary skills and experience. To support this transformation, Academy in Industry (Akademi Dalam Industri or ADI), which began as the Academy in Factory initiative in 2021 before being rebranded in 2023, was introduced as an industry-led talent development platform.
Under the ADI Employment programme spearheaded by the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), participants undergo a 'place and train' approach, allowing them to work while upgrading their skills, as well as gaining hands-on industry experience, building their competencies and earning government-recognised skills certification.
Muhammad Shairiel Ikmal Abdul Hadi, 23, from Telok Panglima Garang, Selangor, entered the ADI Employment programme in 2023 armed only with his SPM qualification. With no skills whatsoever, he began working at metal packaging company Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd in Batu Caves. He also attended classes at the Kuala Lumpur Industrial Training Institute (ILP) before applying his newly-acquired skills on the actual machines, technology and operating systems in the factory.
Participants who demonstrate strong performance and commitment may receive salary reviews and promotions within about two years after completing the programme. Some are even selected to become assistant trainers, helping mentor future ADI participants. The effectiveness of the approach was evident when Kian Joo Can Factory trainees in the packaging printing discipline won gold and silver medals at the Department of Skills Development's Malaysia Youth WorldSkills 2024 national competition, reflecting the ability of workplace-based training to produce highly skilled and competitive talent.
While Kian Joo Can Factory illustrates how ADI accelerates the development of skilled workers, snack manufacturer BJC Foods demonstrates how companies can build their own training ecosystem to cultivate talent tailored to their operational requirements. Its managing director Phillip Leong Wai Kok said the company joined the ADI programme in 2025 after facing persistent challenges in recruiting local workers who were not only willing to work but also possessed the potential to develop long-term careers with the company.
Unlike many companies that rely on external training institutions, BJC chose to establish its own in-house academy. The company trained 10 internal instructors, developed its own training modules and used its standard operating procedures as the foundation of the curriculum, ensuring every competency taught directly reflects the company's operational requirements.
Leong said the company's food processing module is among the earliest industry-developed modules under the ADI Employment programme. Although it is based on the NOSS framework, the curriculum has been extensively customised, with each competency unit aligned to the company's actual work processes before being compiled into an official training manual for instructors and ADI participants.
Participants undergo approximately 18 months of training for SKM Level 3 while simultaneously completing the competencies required for Level 2. "In the past, employees may have simply followed instructions. After completing ADI, they understand the entire production process and become true specialists. That also enables them to become ambassadors for the company because they genuinely understand our products and operations," he said.
The programme has delivered encouraging results, with eight of the nine participants in the first intake remaining with the company. Their success has inspired more existing employees to apply to participate in the ADI programme. Encouraged by the positive response, Leong said the company is prepared to increase future intakes. When it comes to selecting participants, he stressed that academic qualifications are not the company's primary consideration. Instead, greater emphasis is placed on work aptitude, personal character and commitment.
"To me, ADI offers a second chance, especially for SPM school leavers who are unable to pursue further studies. Don't give up because this programme gives you the opportunity to work while continuing your education," he said.