KUALA LUMPUR, 16 NOVEMBER 2009 – To enhance the development of a highly-skilled workforce, Malaysian ICT government agency Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) has announced a collaboration with IT firm Agilent Technologies.
MDeC and Agilent will develop the skilled workforce through the MDeC-Agilent Industry-Academia Collaboration, according to MDeC chief executive officer, Dato’ Badlisham Ghazali.
“Agilent and MDeC will collaborate to equip local universities with the technical capabilities to deliver cutting-edge measurement technologies,” said Badlisham. “The collaboration also includes the deployment of Agilent instruments in 20 universities and the enhancement of the existing university curriculum with application know-how.”
“Lecturers, tutors and postgraduate research students from identified universities in Malaysia will undergo training, beginning early next year, at their respective institutes, which will have Agilent’s electronics instrumentation, measurement and testing solutions in their laboratories,” he said.
Reinforces government goal
"Today’s industry-academia collaboration reinforces the government’s goal for a steady and continuous supply of skilled workforce to meet the increased demand for such workers in the ICT industry,” said Badlisham.
He said MDeC realised various steps had to be undertaken to meet this demand because an estimated 10,000 knowledge-worker job opportunities would be available by 2010. “To produce a generation of skilled, knowledge workers, educators at the institutions of higher learning (IHLs) and industry trainers must also enhance their knowledge, experience and be attuned to the latest technological developments in ICT.”
”MDeC’s collaboration with world-renowned Agilent Technologies demonstrates the efforts of both parties to provide the best and latest technology training programmes for students, academic staff and trainers,” said Badlisham.
He said the electronic instrumentation skills and knowledge development programme would train about 3,000 engineering graduates from local universities each year. “These engineers will eventually be involved in the product, process and equipment areas; testing, debug/rework and failure analysis; design validation and test development; as well as design and development in the electronics industry.”
”The success of our nation’s innovation agenda relies on our efforts to build on the skills of our people,” said Agilent Technologies president, Malaysia and Singapore, Gooi Soon Chai. “This is the greatest global competitive advantage that will make Malaysia one of the best places to do world-class research, bring great ideas and products to the global marketplace and attract investment in new areas with high growth potential.”
”Agilent, in its almost 38 years in the country, has been investing steadily in human capital development,” said Gooi. “In collaboration with the Malaysian government and local universities, the company has spearheaded the creation of an R&D ecosystem that aims to build a conducive environment for the exchange of knowledge, skills and best practices.”
