Kuala lumpur: Malaysia needs to move from a qualification-based education system to a competency-driven talent development ecosystem to meet the demands of the fast-evolving digital and artificial intelligence (AI) economy, according to Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body (GITC) chief executive officer Tan Sri Jamil Bakri. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between educational institutions and industry to ensure that graduates possess the skills required by employers.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Jamil stated that talent should be regarded as Malaysia's most strategic national asset as it determines the success of investments, innovation, productivity, and national competitiveness. During the dialogue session, 'Progressive Talent, Digital Skills and Future Workplace' at the International Regulatory Conference (IRC) 2026, Jamil urged education and industry sectors to work closely so employers can help shape the curriculum and define future skills. The session was moderated by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Murugappan Muthu.
Jamil highlighted that GITC is working to narrow the gap between graduates' capabilities and industry requirements through closer collaboration with employers, particularly in high-growth sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). He also pointed out the necessity for strengthening work-based learning, where final-year students spend up to a year attached to the industry to gain practical experience before entering the workforce. Additionally, he mentioned the expansion of lifelong learning, modular certification, and micro-credentials to enable workers to continuously reskill and upskill as technology evolves.
Meanwhile, NeX Academy chief executive officer Khim Tan stressed the importance of Malaysia moving beyond merely being a user of AI technologies and focusing on creating higher-value applications capable of generating greater economic returns. She noted that while Malaysia had made significant progress in areas such as semiconductor manufacturing, energy, and data center infrastructure, it still lagged in developing home-grown AI tools and commercial applications. Khim emphasized that while AI will continue to evolve, human capabilities such as critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and judgment remain indispensable in the workplace. Organizations should balance 'power skills' with digital competencies.
Eric Hu, Huawei Malaysia board director and Vice-President for Business Environment, added that future talents should not only understand AI fundamentals but also be equipped with practical capabilities in areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI governance, and enterprise applications. He noted that employers increasingly require graduates capable of integrating multiple technologies rather than possessing expertise in a single discipline. Hu mentioned that Huawei has partnered with universities, government agencies, and industry players to strengthen Malaysia's digital talent pipeline. Initiatives include Information and Communications Technology (ICT) academies, digital leadership programs, and AI training, with the aim to nurture 30,000 local AI talents over the next three years.
The third edition of the IRC, themed 'Shaping the Next Digital Era: Regulation, Resilience and Trust', which began yesterday, serves as a global platform organized by the MCMC, bringing together regulators, industry leaders, and experts to discuss the digital economy and regulatory issues in the communications and multimedia sector.