đź“ť Summary
The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) launched its Forward School Program under the MJIIT 2.0 initiative, empowering over 160 learners through a digital export workshop. The program focused on practical skills for cross-border e-commerce and aimed to connect the institute’s technical expertise with practical industry and community needs. The initiative is part of UTM’s ASCEND 2030 goals, aiming to promote lifelong learning, talent development, industry engagement, and community outreach.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 – The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), launched its inaugural Forward School Program under the MJIIT 2.0 initiative through an International E-Commerce and Digital Export Workshop at Dewan Azman Hashim, UTM Kuala Lumpur.
The workshop brought together more than 160 participants, including UTM undergraduate and postgraduate students, staff, alumni, small and medium enterprise (SME) owners and community members from B40 households, single mothers and persons with disabilities (OKU). Led by Forward School MJIIT 2.0 initiative head, Ts. Dr. Zulhasni Abdul Rahim, the program focused on practical skills for cross-border e-commerce.
The initiative forms part of MJIIT 2.0, which aims to connect the institute’s technical expertise with practical industry and community needs. The Forward School is intended to extend access to digital skills beyond traditional degree pathways and support UTM ASCEND 2030 goals relating to lifelong learning, talent development, industry engagement and community outreach.
“The Forward School MJIIT 2.0 initiative was built with a clear dual purpose: economic empowerment and radical educational inclusivity,” said Ts. Dr. Zulhasni Abdul Rahim, programme lead.
“By equipping over 160 participants with practical cross-border e-commerce capabilities, we are shifting the paradigm from producing job seekers to nurturing job creators. These learners are now positioned to generate sustainable income in foreign currencies like USD directly from their homes, turning academic outreach into a real-world catalyst for national economic resilience under UTM ASCEND 2030.”
The full-day workshop featured cross-border e-commerce strategist Dr. Mohd Zulariffin Md Maarof, founder and lead trainer of Export Oversea Academy (EOA) and senior lecturer at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). The practical sessions covered eBay seller-account setup and verification, compliance requirements, product research, listing optimization, international shipping, platform fees and currency conversion to help participants understand how to manage online export sales.
The program also offered subsidised places for participants from underserved groups through strategic partners and provided 50 funded places for UTM students. Participants who fulfilled the workshop requirements received the UTM Certificate of Completion. The certificate was approved by the Joint Assessment and Certificate Approval Committee (JPPSP) and co-signed by MJIIT Dean Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain.
MJIIT plans to continue the Forward School initiative with hybrid masterclasses, specialised skills modules and mentoring intended to support learners’ progress and business development.
The program’s longer-term impact, including participants’ business outcomes and export revenue, will depend on results that can be tracked after the training.
