BEIJING: A total of 220 Chinese companies are offering 5,125 places to Malaysian students for short-, medium- and long-term training related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which is seen as a game changer in boosting the TVET industry in Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the offer is the result of a collaboration between the National Organisation of Skilled Workers (Belia Mahir) and the TVET industry in China, specifically Beifang Automotive Education Group and Tang (M) International Education Group, through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed here last night.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman, said that the training quota includes 500 places for Malaysian Chinese students and 200 places each for the Indian community, Sabah and Sarawak.
"Various training or courses are provided through this collaboration, especially related to the automotive field focusing on electric vehicles (EV), renewable energy vehicles (REV), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI).
"Short-term training lasts for three months, medium-term training for six months and long-term training ranges from six months to three years," he said at a press conference after attending the Malaysia-China International Industry-TVET Education Cooperation Programme and witnessing the signing of the MoU. Ahmad Zahid is making an official visit to China from May 22 to this Saturday.
Beifang Automotive Education Group is an automotive education brand with an independent institution in China that provides a research and development centre with a large number of practical teaching equipment, real vehicle cutting, and extensive equipment for students to disassemble and assemble for practice.
Meanwhile, Tang International Education Group offers intelligent teaching and learning services, including professional Chinese language education, vocational education, continuing and lifelong education through information technology by collaborating with experts and partners from various fields.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development minister, said besides having the opportunity to learn TVET in China fully funded, this initiative is also seen as a pathway for skilled workers to earn premium salaries when Chinese industries investing in Malaysia hire them.
"It is fully funded by the industry in China ... while Malaysia only provides air tickets and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has also agreed to fund the airfare.
"This training offer has already begun, and we have sent 850 Malaysian students, with the remainder starting from this month until 2025 in stages," he said, adding that the total funding cost for the short-term alone is RM30 million.
Ahmad Zahid said that the Malaysia-China Institute (MCI) also provides basic Mandarin language knowledge as preparation for students participating in the training in the republic.
When asked about certification for the training, he said it is recognised by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) and the Department of Skills Development, which have merged to form a single accreditation body for TVET-related courses.
Commenting on the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) survey that found fewer than 40 per cent of the 262 private companies polled hire TVET graduates, he said it is likely an early study before the training offer and the National TVET Policy were launched.
"I hope a new study will be conducted by MEF and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) because their needs are productivity and skilled workers ... certainly, internal training needs to be conducted and productivity can be guaranteed.
"Therefore, in the TVET courses conducted (by Belia Mahir in collaboration with Beifang and Tang), we prepare skilled workers, and it will certainly add value to the productivity of the workforce offered in various TVET fields," he said. -- BERNAMA