MTDC preparing undergrads for Industry 4.0

BANGI: How does a new graduate adjust to technology rapidly changing the way we do things, jobs experiencing major transformations and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) which calls for new abilities?
In a step towards helping them overcome these challenges, the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) and Ministry of Education (higher education) organised a six-day Graduate Employability Industry 4.0 (GEI 4.0) programme at Hotel Tenera, Bandar Baru Bangi.
It started on July 1 and was officiated by Education Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Dr Mohd Gazali Abas, yesterday.
"Graduates make themselves marketable by being flexible and developing skills beyond what they acquired in university," said MTDC chief executive officer, Datuk Norhalim Yunus.
Held for the first time with MTDC, the national programme focused on training final-year students for the tech ecosystem.
"The programme will improve their employability and help them fill positions in tech companies backed by MTDC," said Mohd Gazali.
"MTDC's role is to identify and provide a platform for small and medium enterprises to participate in Industry 4.0, while institutions of higher learning should concentrate on producing graduates who are ready for it," said Norhalim.
Some 315 undergraduates were given the opportunity to attend the programme which included an Industry Speed Dating component where interviews were conducted by 83 local tech companies looking to fill 200 positions.
Successful interviewees would receive a six-month training stint and maybe a placement, too, if they excel at their work.
MTDC is a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd. Since the 7th Malaysia Plan, MTDC has been instrumental in the development of technology companies and the commercialisation of new technologies.
MTDC has now evolved to become an Integrated Venture Capital Solutions Provider – successfully managing grants, venture capital funds, technology centres and nurturing technology companies.
Under the 10th Malaysia Plan, the role of MTDC was expanded to create an effective ecosystem for commercialisation of home-grown technologies – to groom a new generation of technopreneurs through comprehensive nurturing services that support them all the way from laboratory ideas to full commercialisation. — Bernama