Sunway aims to produce 10,000 tech-adept pupils

Education group’s innovative 42KL initiative up to task

“Businesses, regardless of size, would need to leverage on these technologies to increase productivity, improve livelihood and drive economic growth.” Prof Datuk Elizabeth Lee

PETALING JAYA: With Covid-19 having accelerated the adoption of digital technology by “several years”, businesses in Asia require new strategies and practices to stay competitive in the new environment, says Sunway Education Group chief executive Prof Datuk Elizabeth Lee.

Addressing participants at the “MY42: Cultivating Malaysia’s Next-gen Tech Talents” conference yesterday, Lee said the continent was geared up for emerging technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things concept which are transforming the way businesses operate.

“Unfortunately, these technologies are also widening the digital divide between the needs of the industry and that of current skills, as well as the capabilities of talents.

“Hence, moving forward, businesses, regardless of size, would need to leverage on these technologies to increase productivity, improve livelihood and drive economic growth,” she said.

She added that Malaysia in particular would need more inclusive highly-skilled tech talents to meet these challenges, while quoting a 2015 Mckinsey Global Institute research that noted if women were to play an identical role in labour markets as men, it could contribute to as much as US$28 trillion (RM127.7 trillion), or a 26% growth, to the global annual gross domestic product in 2025.

Elaborating on the need to foster skilled tech talents in the country, Sunway Group Bhd chief innovation officer Matt van Leeuwen said Sunway Education Group is targeting to develop 10,000 skilled students within the next 10 years through its 42KL initiative.

The initiative is an innovative programme without fees and instructors in which students mentor each other through peer-topeer learning.

Van Leeuwen said the Kuala Lumpurbased 42KL, which opened its doors in May last year, is open to anyone who is keen to develop their technological skills, and has seen participation from entrants across all income groups in the country.

He added the initiative utilised a practical, project-based learning method that emphasised teamwork between students, to prepare them for employment in the workforce.

Managing director of 42, Sophie Viger, said the shortage of tech talents was not limited to Malaysia or Asia but was a worldwide phenomenon.

Citing a study, she stated Europe was seeing a shortage of about 700,000 tech-skilled employees, and up to 85% of jobs in 2030 have not been created.

However, she stressed it was essential for students be trained in skills that were “specific to humans”.

“We want our students at 42 to develop creativity, collaboration skills, empathy, communication, critical thinking, problem solving and adaptability,” said Viger, adding the programme allowed students to develop at their own pace.

Moving forward, she highlighted the 42 project, having been deployed in 47 campuses across 26 countries, would be expanded into Africa in 2023.

In total, Viger revealed that 42 had currently accepted 15,000 students worldwide, and is targeting to reach 25,000 students by 2025.