JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 27 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through its Faculty of Computing, successfully organized the Skills2Work Data Centre Foundation Training in collaboration with The Asia Foundation (TAF) and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) under the Premier Digital Tech Institution (PDTI) initiative, with support from Microsoft.
The training aims to provide participants with foundational exposure while equipping them with essential theoretical, technical, and transferable skills, with a particular focus on the data centre industry. The modules covered include Information and Communication Technology (ICT) fundamentals, data centre operations, and job readiness acceleration, complemented by activities such as industry talks and industry visits that further enrich participants’ learning experience and connect them with real-world practices.
A total of 150 participants benefited from this training, representing three distinct cohorts. Cohort 1, conducted in August, comprised final year students from the Faculty of Computing UTM; Cohort 2, conducted in October, included participants from Politeknik Mersing Johor and Kolej Komuniti Tanjung Piai; while Cohort 3, conducted in November, engaged members of the wider community — fresh graduates and unemployed individuals seeking new opportunities.
The training culminated in the graduation of all three cohorts on 27 November, marking a proud milestone in Malaysia’s journey to advance digital talent development. The graduation ceremony was graced by Prof. Ts. Dr. Wan Mohd Nasir Wan Kadir, Dean Faculty of Computing UTM; Noraini Ayop, Director of Interconnection & Edge (APAC), Microsoft; Sharifah Shahirah Idid, Senior Program Manager, TAF; and Nik Hishamuddin Nik Mohd Yusoff, Senior Manager of Digital Talent–Tertiary, MDEC. The event was further honored by the presence and support of distinguished partners from the datacenter industry, state government agencies, and partner institutions. Their participation underscored the strong collaboration between academia, industry, and government in shaping Malaysia’s future-ready digital workforce.
In his opening speech, Prof. Wan Mohd Nasir said “As a PDTI recognized by MDEC, the Faculty of Computing UTM has long supported Johor’s growth as a hub for datacenter development. Over the past decade, Johor has become a preferred location for global technology companies, and UTM is proud to contribute through research, industry collaborations, and talent development. The Skills2Work Data Center Foundations Training was created to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry needs, equipping participants with essential knowledge and skills to succeed in high-demand sectors.”
In conjunction with the graduation ceremony, a panel discussion entitled Building the Future: How the Datacenter Industry Powers the Digital World was held, featuring distinguished speakers from Microsoft, MDEC and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (Malaysia), Darryll Sinnappa (Country Head). The panel discussion provided a dynamic platform for dialogue among stakeholders, partners, and participants, fostering meaningful exchanges on data centre talent development, ICT innovations, and the broader digital economy.
The Skills2Work Data Centre Foundation Training has successfully demonstrated the power of collaboration between academia, industry, community and government in nurturing Malaysia’s digital workforce. This initiative is closely aligned with UTM’s vision and mission. By bridging the gap between education and industry, Faculty of Computing UTM continues to reinforce its role as a PDTI while contributing to Johor’s emergence as a datacenter hub and Malaysia’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
