Latest news with #StevenSim
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Grant for high-tech workers to further skills
GEORGE TOWN: Workers in the advanced technology sector can now benefit from a grant to further develop their skill at any learning institutions of their choice, says Human Resources Minister Steven Sim ( pic ). He said the matching grant was a collaboration of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Corporation and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) under the Advanced Technology Meister Programme. 'Through the initiative, employers can jointly develop training programmes with their chosen learning institutions, supported by funding from HRD Corp through the levy system and NCIA under the 12th Malaysia Plan. 'If a company wishes to develop their manpower skills, they may not only utilise the levy from HRD Corp but also use grants from NCIA to increase the allocation amount. 'This effort reflects our commitment to building a highly skilled workforce and achieving the national target of 30% skilled workers by 2030,' Sim told reporters after launching the northern region National Training Week (NTW) 2025 Learning Tour in Bayan Lepas yesterday. Some 420 families of fishermen affected by the Silicon Island development project will also receive training to improve their career opportunities. 'The Training and Skills Enhancement Programme for families of fishermen and local communities is under the Focused Impact Training Initiative. 'A total of 420 participants from the community will receive training in various areas, including coxswain courses, site safety supervision, computer courses and safety officer certification. 'We want to ensure that families of fishermen are not left out of economic progress resulting from the Silicon Island development project by helping them secure high-impact employment opportunities, improve their income levels and uplift their socio-economic status,' he said. Themed 'Learning Beyond Borders', he added that the NTW programme has recorded over 3.2 million enrolment, exceeding its initial target of one million. He said the northern region alone has recorded more than 167,000 enrolment with almost 800 courses across Penang, Kedah and Perlis. Separately, Sim confirmed that discussions were being finalised for the ministry to work with the Penang government to develop the Penang Chip Design Academy in Bayan Lepas. 'This is a state government project and we are in discussion to finalise the collaboration between the ministry and the academy. 'As it specialises in developing the semiconductor and high-tech sector in Penang, we wish to add value and collaborate to upgrade the skills training programmes.'
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
HR Ministry to collaborate with Penang govt to develop Penang Chip Design Academy
GEORGE TOWN: Discussions are being finalised for the Human Resources Ministry to work with the Penang state government to develop the upcoming Penang Chip Design Academy. Its minister, Steven Sim said that as the institution intended to develop skilled manpower in the semiconductor and high-tech sectors in Penang, he hoped that the collaboration would add value and upgrade the skill training programmes. "It is a state government project and we are in discussion to finalise the collaboration between the ministry and the academy. "As it specialises in developing the semiconductor and high tech sector in Penang, we wish to add value and collaborate to enhance the skill training programmes," Sim told reporters on Thursday (June 19). Located at the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) building in Bayan Lepas, the academy would support the state's plan for the development of an Integrated Circuit (IC) Design and Digital Park. It is a key component of the Penang STEM Talent Blueprint and would be led by PSDC in collaboration with key industry players, Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool providers, academia, and InvestPenang. Sim had earlier officiated the northern region National Training Week (NTW) 2025 Learning Tour in Raia Inn in Bayan Lepas here. At the event, Sim said the Human Resource Development (HRD) Corporation and Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) have formed a strategic collaboration under the Advanced Technology Meister Programme (ATMP) to introduce the Matching Grant for skills development aimed at helping local industries upskill their workforce in advanced technology sectors. He added that some 420 families of fishermen impacted by the Silicon Island development project would receive training and skills development programmes in fields to expand their career opportunities. The NTW programme themed "Learning Beyond Borders", organised by HRD Corp, had brought together over 600 participants from various segments of the community, including school students, civil servants, community members, persons with disabilities (PWDs), cooperatives, and senior citizens, with the aim of empowering them with practical skills aligned with future workforce demands. To date, it has recorded over 3.2 million enrolments, exceeding its initial target of one million enrolments, with about 167,000 enrolments with almost 800 courses recorded across Penang, Kedah and Perlis in the northern region. NTW 2025 will conclude on Saturday (June 21) with the closing ceremony in Ipoh, Perak.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Human Resources Ministry to collaborate with Penang on chip design academy, announces skills initiatives
GEORGE TOWN, June 19 — The Human Resources Ministry is collaborating with the Penang state government to further develop a chip design academy aimed at boosting the semiconductor and high-tech sectors in the region. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said discussions are ongoing to finalise the partnership. 'This academy will produce more engineers, especially for the semiconductor and high-tech sectors in Penang,' he said during the launch of the northern region National Training Week here today. Sim stressed the importance of equipping the workforce with high-level skills to complement efforts to attract investors to Malaysia and Penang. 'We will announce this after it is finalised by this year,' he said. At a subsequent press conference, Sim noted that the academy is a state project previously announced by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. 'We want to collaborate with the state government to further develop skills training programmes in Penang,' he said. Sim also announced a strategic collaboration between HRD Corp and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) to offer matching grants for companies implementing skills development training for their staff. 'For instance, if a company develops a higher-level course such as a professional diploma, they will receive HRD Corp support in the form of a levy and, simultaneously, a matching grant from NCIA,' he said. This initiative will provide companies with additional resources to create advanced training programmes for their workforce. 'This reflects our commitment to developing a highly skilled workforce, aiming to reach our target of 30 per cent skilled workers by 2030,' he added. Sim also highlighted a special upskilling programme for fishermen and their families in southern Penang Island, approved under the Focused Impact Training Initiative (FITI). 'A total of 420 participants from the community will benefit from this programme, which includes training in fields such as boat driving, site safety supervision, security, and computer applications,' he said. The programme focuses not only on technical skills but also on communication and entrepreneurship. 'The objective is to ensure fishermen are not left behind in economic development resulting from the Silicon Island project,' Sim said, referring to the state's ambitious reclamation and industrialisation effort. The initiative aims to help fishermen transition to higher-impact careers, improve their income, and enhance their socio-economic standing.
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Govt amending National Skills Development Act to empower TVET
PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed to amend the National Skills Development Act 2006 to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the country. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim (pic) said through the amendment, the ministry aims to elevate the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) to a level equivalent to a degree or even a doctorate (PhD). He said the introduction of new and higher levels in the SKM was necessary, as the certificate currently only comprises levels one to five, which are equivalent to an advanced diploma. "I will table the amendment in Parliament and I urge all MPs to support it. I want (to increase the levels to) six, seven and eight so that TVET education can be considered on par with a PhD," he said when launching the P10X Academy Sdn Bhd here on Tuesday (June 17). He added that the public must change its perception of TVET institutions, as they offer vast opportunities for youth to acquire knowledge and new skills. "We want to draw parents' attention to TVET… we also want to cultivate the mindset that not everyone needs to go to university, as we also have TVET institutions for further studies," he said. Meanwhile, Sim said the integrated UP_TVET system has received 140,000 applications for admission to TVET institutions so far. "Perhaps one day, we will also include private TVET institutions so that students interested in such fields can access them through the same website," he said. – Bernama
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Govt agrees to amend National Skills Development Act to empower TVET
PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed to amend the National Skills Development Act 2006 (Act 652) to further strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country. Human Resource Minister Steven Sim said through the amendment, the ministry aims to elevate the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) to a level equivalent to a degree or even a doctorate (PhD). He said the introduction of new and higher levels in the SKM was necessary, as the certificate currently only comprises levels one to five, which are equivalent to an advanced diploma. 'I will table the amendment to this Act in Parliament and I urge all MPs to support it. I want that in addition to levels one to five, we include levels six, seven and eight so that TVET education can be considered on par with a PhD,' he said when launching the P10X Academy Sdn Bhd here today, He added that the public must change their perception of TVET institutions, as they offer vast opportunities for youth to acquire knowledge and new skills. 'We want to draw parents' attention to also want to cultivate the mindset that not everyone needs to go to university, as we also have TVET institutions for further studies,' he said. Meanwhile, Sim said the integrated UP_TVET system has received 140,000 applications for admission to TVET institutions so far. 'Perhaps one day, we will also include private TVET institutions so that students interested in TVET fields can access them through the same website,' he said.
