TO PREPARE MALAYSIAN BUSINESS LEADERS FOR INDUSTRY 4.0

DEVELOPMENTS in digital technology are driving exponential changes in the global business environment requiring business leaders to have a new set of skills, mindset and behaviour. Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, recently announced the launch of the new Oxford Leadership 4.0 Immersive Learning Lab for corporations designed to build the capabilities and skills of Malaysian and Asean business leaders to respond to changes in the complex and fast-changing environment.

“The Immersive Learning Lab is a dynamic, immersive process that supports leaders from Malaysia and Asean as they navigate the leadership challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution,” said Dr Elaine Heslop, director of corporate education. “The Lab provides a place to question assumptions and build a deeper understanding of how firms succeed in this emerging context.”

The Oxford Leadership 4.0 Immersive Learning Lab is one of the programmes launched to support Malaysia’s ambitious plans for economic growth. Supported by the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) of the Malaysian government, and the

REAT Britain Campaign, led by the Department for International Trade, the programme has been especially developed in partnership with leading Malaysian training provider K-Pintar.

“The Immersive Leadership Lab marks a new direction in our executive practice at Oxford. We are delighted to be working with colleagues across Malaysia, a burgeoning economy in the world, on how to engage and confront the new challenges posed by Industry 4.0”, said Dr Marc Ventresca, academic director of Oxford Leadership 4.0 Immersive Learning Lab for Corporations.

The Immersive Learning Lab consists of a five-day residential module at Oxford Said’s executive education facilities in Oxford. It has been designed to equip senior business leaders with the knowledge and capability to move away from traditional notions of hierarchical leadership, to be more agile and resilient leaders, and make organisations less vulnerable to critical changes in the wider business and social context.

Commenting on the launch, Mr RA Thiagaraja, chief executive officer of K-Pintar Sdn Bhd said, “In the context of Industry 4.0, much has been said about new technologies, robotics and automation but I believe that the companies which are best equipped to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution are those which start by looking at and investing in human capital.

“Human capital is the most important, yet the most underrated asset. Companies must begin by preparing their workforce with the right skill sets and capabilities. It’s also about ensuring you have the right executive leadership team in place.”