Petaling Jaya, 22 April 2022: Undergraduate students at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) can now enrich their knowledge in Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Mindfulness through IBM SkillsBuild. The collaboration is the first of its kind for UMT and aims to introduce students to topics related to technology. The program empowers students with the valuable digital skillset needed to improve UMT’s graduate employability as it helps validate students’ knowledge of technology and potential to perform in technology industry jobs through IBM courses.

IBM SkillsBuild is a free, digital training program that helps learners develop valuable new skills and find jobs, regardless of their background or education. It offers participants IBM-branded digital badges and certifications upon successful course completion. Through IBM SkillsBuild, IBM will support UMT’s commitment to upskilling 1000 students per year in AI (Foundations), Cloud Computing (Beginner and Core), Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Data Science (Advanced), Blockchain Foundations, and Environmental Sustainability. The courses are not only targeted at students but also benefit lecturers of UMT as a part of their upskilling journey. UMT will also get access to the experts within IBM for mentorship, technical training, academic-industry pathway planning, and workplace learning support under the collaboration.

According to Catherine Lian, Managing Director and Technology Leader, IBM Malaysia, “The critical skills needed by candidates in their entry-level jobs are often not evident upon their entry into the workforce. At IBM, we are committed to joining hands with academia to uplift the quality of local graduates while adding value to their learning. Around the world, IBM has educational initiatives, with IBM SkillsBuild being one of the flagships of our collaborations with the public and private sectors. This program is a valuable tool for us to act actively in the development of skills that will open new paths, especially for the underserved communities.”

“I  believe that  the  collaboration with  IBM  will help  us  to prepare our students for the job market, contributing to a more inclusive society, ready to meet the needs of an innovation-driven economy. By adding new technology subjects to Computer Science in Ocean Engineering course and introducing two new courses to the students - Data Analytics and Information Computing, our students will have relevant skills to build a future-ready workforce. Collaboration between academia and the private sector is needed to transform education, nurturing skillful graduates who are resilient, future-proof, and able to compete on a global level,” says Professor Dato' Dr. Mazlan Abd Ghaffar, Vice-Chancellor of UMT.

IBM has pledged to upskill 30 million people globally with skills needed for jobs by 2030, to prepare professionals of all ages, careers, and social conditions for the professions of the future. IBM SkillsBuild has more than 1.6 million users globally. In Malaysia, the collaboration with UMT marks the beginning of the expansion of IBM’s education project in the East Coast region of Malaysia.  In 2021, IBM also announced a collaboration with Politeknik Balik Pulau (PBU) to establish the IBM SkillsBuild@PBU Learning Institute. The IBM SkillsBuild@PBU Learning Institute would create new learning pathways for students and help them understand how their coursework, field experience, and the future workplace are connected.

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About UMT

For more information about UMT go to: https://www.umt.edu.my/

About IBM & Education

For more information go to: https://www.ibm.org/impact/education

Media Contact:

Trista Efendi

Communications, IBM Malaysia

Trista.efendi@ibm.com