by ANIS HAZIM / pic by BERNAMA

IBM Skills Build will support Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) in upskilling 1,000 students annually in various courses related to technology and digital.

The courses include the foundation in artificial intelligence (AI), beginner and core in cloud computing, fundamentals in cybersecurity, advanced data science, foundation in blockchain and environmental sustainability.

“The programme empowers students with the valuable digital skillset needed to improve UMT graduates’ employability as it helps validate students’ knowledge of technology and potential to perform in technology industry jobs through IBM courses,” IBM said in a statement last Friday.

IBM Skills Build is a free, digital training programme that helps learners develop valuable new skills and find jobs, regardless of their background or education.

It will also offer participants IBM-branded digital badges and certifications upon successful course completion.

IBM Malaysia MD and technology leader Catherine Lian said the company is committed to joining hands with academia to uplift the quality of local graduates, while adding value to their learning.

“The critical skills needed by candidates in their entry-level jobs are often not evident upon their entry into the workforce.

“This programme is a valuable tool for us to act actively in the development of skills that will open new paths, especially for the underserved communities,” Lian said.

She is optimistic that the collaboration will help to prepare the students for the job market, contributing to a more inclusive society, ready to meet the needs of an innovation-driven economy.

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.

Meanwhile, IBM Skills Build has more than 1.6 million users globally.

“Collaboration between academia and the private sector is needed to transform education, nurturing skilful graduates who are resilient, future-proof and able to compete on a global level,” UMT VC Prof Datuk Dr Mazlan Abd Ghaffar said.

Notably, the courses are not only targeted at students, but also 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.

In previous year, IBM had collaborated 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,” it said.