42 Malaysia and MyDigital Partnership

42 Malaysia and MyDigital Partnership

August 19, 2024 0 By Rowena Cletus

42 Malaysia (42 MY), the country’s first tuition-free coding school launched by Sunway, has formed a strategic partnership with MyDIGITAL Corporation to enhance Malaysia’s digital talent pool, focusing on cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony took place at the 42KL campus in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, with key figures in attendance, including YB Gobind Singh, Minister of Digital Malaysia; Ellina Roslan, Senior Director of MyDIGITAL Corporation; Professor Dato’ Dr. Elizabeth Lee, CEO of Sunway Education Group; and Jeff Sandhu, Chief Operating Officer of 42 Malaysia.

This partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both organizations to address the shortage of digital talent in Malaysia. MyDIGITAL, an initiative aimed at transforming Malaysia into a high-income nation and a regional leader in the digital economy by 2030, brings valuable public policy expertise to the collaboration. Meanwhile, 42 Malaysia, a joint venture between Sunway Education Group and Khazanah Nasional Berhad, offers a robust network of industry partnerships and an innovative education model to produce industry-ready talent.

The 42 program is part of a global movement, with 54 campuses in 31 countries, offering a unique, free-of-charge educational opportunity to individuals aged 18 and above, regardless of their educational or socioeconomic background.

YB Gobind Singh expressed his enthusiasm for the innovative peer-to-peer computer science school and the partnership, stating, “42’s mission is to provide sustainable professional integration into the labor market, aligning with the government’s goal to create a digitally-savvy, future-proof workforce and significantly boost our ability to produce high-quality talent. Digital talent is crucial in an age where AI is projected to impact nearly 40% of jobs globally, displacing some and complementing others. For instance, Malaysia needs at least 25,000 workers in the cybersecurity sector by 2025, but currently, there are only 13,000, leaving a gap of 12,000 workers.”

Ellina Roslan, Senior Director of MyDIGITAL Corporation, commented on the MoU, saying, “The MoU outlines various areas of potential collaboration, including joint research and development, cross-border talent exchange programs, collaborative workshops, public-private partnerships, and the involvement of 42 Malaysia in MyDIGITAL’s Executive Digital Leadership Program, which aims to develop digital leaders to guide their organizations through digital transformation. We are committed to working closely with 42 Malaysia to ensure wider reach, accessibility, and inclusivity of their programs to benefit more Malaysians.”

Professor Dato’ Dr. Elizabeth Lee, CEO of Sunway Education Group, who played a key role in establishing 42KL, the first 42 campus in Southeast Asia, stated, “This partnership with MyDIGITAL will enable more Malaysians to access free, high-quality education, leading to better opportunities in life.”

Jeff Sandhu, Chief Operating Officer of 42 Malaysia, added, “All Cadets who graduated from 42KL have secured coding-related roles with salaries above the national median. The 42 curriculum is a proven model. Together with MyDIGITAL, 42 Malaysia looks forward to a fruitful partnership that will contribute to the development of Malaysia’s digital economy and bring tangible benefits to the nation.”