Latest news with #reskilling
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NTW 2025 SETS RECORD WITH 3.5 MILLION PARTICIPANTS UNDER MALAYSIA'S LEADERSHIP OF AYOS 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- National Training Week (NTW) 2025 concluded with a groundbreaking 3.5 million participants, underscoring the region's growing commitment to upskilling, reskilling and inclusive lifelong learning. As the second flagship platform under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, the NTW 2025 was spearheaded by Malaysia's Minister of Human Resources (KESUMA), The Honourable Steven Sim Chee Keong, through its agency, Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD Corp), as part of a unified regional agenda to future-proof ASEAN's workforce and expand access to learning and development (L&D). At the launch of NTW 2025, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim underlined upskilling and reskilling as critical drivers of Malaysia's economic growth and regional competitiveness. "A country (Malaysia) cannot afford to remain stagnant by relying on outdated training models and traditional approaches. It is time to equip our people, especially the younger generation, with new and future-relevant skills." "Our teachers must be exposed to AI, just as our children must be educated in it. Only then can we begin to close the skills gap and ensure our people are prepared for what lies ahead," he added. Minister Sim who also delivered a speech during the opening ceremony shared that, "In conjunction with NTW 2025, we have collaborated with the Ministry of Education Malaysia to launch an initiative to empower artificial intelligence (AI) among educators through the AI-4-Educators programme," adding that the training initiative through the Learning Management System (SiPP) platform is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education Malaysia and Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp). "This initiative, which records over 395,000 teachers from across the country participating from 7 April to 12 June 2025, has also been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records for the largest participation of educators in an AI training programme," he said. Held from 14 to 21 June, NTW 2025 introduced the theme "Learning Beyond Borders", opening almost 73,000 free training opportunities to ASEAN citizens through a mix of in-person, live online, hybrid coaching, and self-paced e-learning. More than 12.3 million learning hours were recorded, supported by over 1,500 course providers, delivering training value exceeding USD 46 million. Among the most sought-after courses were: Generative AI for Everyone Cybersecurity Threat Management Drone Flying Skills for New Pilots Neurodiversity Virtual Training Using GenAI and ChatGPT The NTW 2025 Learning Tours concluded in Perak, underscoring its position as Malaysia's National TVET Corridor and KESUMA-HRD Corp's commitment to industry-driven skills across ASEAN. At the Closing Ceremony, Perak Chief Minister Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad reminded that while NTW has ended, its spirit and knowledge must carry on. "We are now in a new era where manual tasks are being taken over by automation and AI systems, fundamentally changing how we work and the types of skills required by the market," he said. NTW 2025 is one of seven flagship events under AYOS 2025, led by Malaysia to build a future-ready ASEAN workforce, alongside upcoming platforms such as the ASEAN Training Market Conference, ASEAN TVET Conference, National Human Capital Conference, Global Skills Forum, and the ASEAN Forum of Manpower Ministers. The portal remains open until December 2025, offering free, on-demand training regionwide. Visit: for NTW training on AYOS 2025 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE HRD CORP
Entrepreneur
21-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Companies Step Up Reskilling in the Era of AI
AI is not just reshaping industries; it's redefining the future of work. So, it's critical for companies to reskill and upskill their talent to remain relevant and co-exist with AI You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform industries, companies face a critical challenge: How to prepare their workforce for a future that looks vastly different from the past. To stay relevant, companies are taking on various measures to reskill and upskill their employees to mitigate the risk of turning them redundant. The World Economic Forum estimates that automation will displace 85 million jobs by 2025, and 40 per cent of core skills will change for workers. AI will usher in a new era of productivity and value, and business leaders in the C-suite should make employees part of that future. At IT services company Persistent Systems, continuous learning and development of its people has always been a strategic priority to ensure they remain relevant and future-ready. "Our talent strategy is rooted in a robust learning ecosystem, led by Persistent University and our Digital Engineering Academy. Our Digital Engineering Academy offers AI-personalized learning paths mapped to over 6,500 skills, enabling employees to gain both breadth and depth in emerging technologies," says Dhanashree Bhat, Chief Operating Officer, Persistent Systems. "Over 18,000 employees have completed internal foundational training in GenAI, and our teams have earned close to 4,000 external certifications. Beyond this, we are scaling access to deeper specializations in AI, ML, and GenAI through a mix of internal modules and industry-recognized certifications. We have over 22,000 partner certifications across a range of technologies, including AI, which are critical to driving customer transformation," says Bhat. Fidelity Investments' global capability center (GCC) in India has been a key part of the company's global operations for over two decades. With a talent base of over 7,000 associates in India, it plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and delivering business-critical solutions. "At Fidelity Investments India, we recognise that in today's fast-changing landscape, embracing the cutting edge of technology is key to making a difference. We look to develop solutions and experiences to meet the dynamic business requirements," says Srinivas Gururaja Rau, Head of Fidelity Fund and Investment Operations Technology India, Fidelity Investments. "We have embedded this culture of constant upskilling and reskilling across all levels of the organization. Whether it's through structured programs like LEAP, an upskilling cohort for early-career technologists, role-based learning journeys, internal technology communities, niche hackathon events, our innovation and patent programs, or regular hands-on certification and training programs, we provide a host of opportunities for our technologists to learn and work on the latest emerging technologies in financial services, to innovate for the future," says Rau. ACQUISITIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS Several companies are also acquiring niche startups and leveraging partnerships to enable their reskilling initiatives. For instance, IT major Accenture recently acquired edtech firm TalentSprint from NSE Academy Ltd. The acquisition is expected to bolster Accenture LearnVantage's ability to drive growth through key university certifications and high impact bootcamps, creating trained talent pools for enterprises and governments. As part of the acquisition, TalentSprint's team of approximately 210 professionals will join Accenture LearnVantage. "TalentSprint's end-to-end delivery capabilities of focused learning programs provide a competitive value proposition for learners and enterprises alike, making it a great fit for our expanding LearnVantage business," said Kishore Durg, global lead of Accenture LearnVantage. "The addition of TalentSprint further boosts our ability to meet our clients' demand for training, helping their people gain the essential technology skills in emerging areas needed to reinvent their organizations and achieve greater business value." Saurabh Kumar Sahu, who leads Accenture's India business, added, "India is witnessing a growing need for specialized technology skills at scale as enterprises accelerate their digital transformation efforts and Global Capability Centers evolve into R&D, innovation, and engineering hubs. We see significant opportunities to partner with these organisations to build a pool of readily deployable talent skilled in emerging technologies." The acquisition of TalentSprint complements Accenture's recent investments in Udacity and Award Solutions, and aligns with the company's USD 1 billion investment in LearnVantage over three years, announced in early 2024. "Since inception, our mission has been to equip learners with deep expertise for a disrupted world," said Anurag Bansal, Managing Director and CEO of TalentSprint. "Joining forces with Accenture LearnVantage allows us to scale our impact, delivering cutting-edge technology and next-gen management programs that are valued and trusted by students, professionals, organizations, and governments alike." French IT major Capgemini recently collaborated with the Nasscom Foundation to skill and certify more than 700 disadvantaged youths through their AI for Skilling program. As India moves swiftly towards an AI-driven future, the demand for a workforce proficient in AI competencies continues to grow. Capgemini and the Nasscom Foundation partnership plays a key role in helping to meet this demand by equipping the youth with advanced skills in generative AI, robotics, fintech, and more. Implemented currently in Delhi NCR and Bengaluru, the program is designed to provide a comprehensive 200-hour training, comprising over 140 hours of technical training and more than 60 hours of soft skills development. The initiative builds on Capgemini Digital Academy program, which trains thousands of youths across India in high-demand digital skills, creating opportunities for careers in technology. "AI is shaping a bold new era of work—one where innovation, inclusion, and human potential thrive together. Through Capgemini's Digital Academy, in partnership with Nasscom Foundation, we are bridging the digital divide - equipping the youth with industry-relevant AI and technology skills for meaningful careers. This initiative is also fuelled by the passion of our employee volunteers, who mentor and guide learners, reinforcing our commitment to inclusive growth," says Ashwin Yardi, CEO, Capgemini India. Commenting on the success of the initiative, Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation said, "AI is not just reshaping industries, it's redefining the future of work. Our collaboration with Capgemini, under the AI for Skilling initiative, reflects our shared vision of an inclusive digital economy, where marginalized youth have the opportunity to participate and break barriers to AI access. By enabling future-ready skills and focusing on foundational, core-work skills, we are investing in the potential of India's youth to fully embrace evolving digital opportunities." To ensure holistic development, the initiative extended beyond technical training and included expert sessions conducted by industry professionals, as well as aptitude-building modules, and awareness programs. Real-world exposure was also facilitated through corporate volunteer engagement and industry visits, helping learners gain insights into workplace expectations and the professional culture of the technology sector. CO-EXISTENCE OF HUMANS AND AI Persistent Systems is of the view that collaboration between human expertise and AI is a "force multiplier". As GenAI becomes integral to business workflows, it's driving faster decisions, greater scale, and more dynamic operations. In fact, according to McKinsey, 71 per cent of business leaders now report using GenAI in at least one function, up from 65 per cent in early 2024. "We follow a human-in-the-loop approach, where employees are involved in training models, prompt engineering, and validating outputs, ensuring AI remains contextually relevant, ethical, unbiased, and aligned with business goals. Our focus is on outcome-based learning. From customer interview coaching to internal mobility programs, we help employees apply AI-first thinking to solve real problems, bridging skill development with delivery impact," says Bhat. He says that across industries, roles are being redefined. Developers are moving beyond manual coding toward solution design, while business teams are using AI to personalize experiences and accelerate decisions. This shift empowers talent to focus on higher-value, creative, and strategic work. Ultimately, AI is elevating human potential, and that synergy is shaping more agile, future-ready workforces capable of delivering stronger outcomes in a dynamic, technology-first world.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OpenClassrooms and CompTIA team to expand cybersecurity skills and narrow the talent gap in Europe
CompTIA Security+ will serve as the foundation for training and certification Gdańsk, Poland, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new effort to grow cybersecurity talent in Europe was launched today by OpenClassrooms, a leader in online schooling, education-to-employment programs and career coaching for students worldwide, and CompTIA, the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products. The organisations will make the CompTIA Security+ certification exam available to learners completing the EU Cybersecurity Analyst reskilling programme of OpenClassrooms. The agreement was announced at this week's Digital Summit in Gdańsk, organized by Poland's Ministry of Digital Affairs. 'Teaming with OpenClassrooms advances CompTIA's pledge to offer aspiring technology professionals a progressive route to industry-leading certifications,' said Jason Moss, senior vice president, EMEA. CompTIA. 'Together we will equip individuals with the validated skills they will need to operate in SOC centres; carry out cybersecurity incident response activities; and improve organisational cybersecurity hygiene.' 'Our collaboration with CompTIA marks a major step forward in making cybersecurity reskilling both rigorous and accessible,' said Guillaume Houzel, managing director for growth, OpenClassrooms. 'By aligning our programs with the globally recognized Security+ certification, we are empowering career changers across Europe to confidently transition into in-demand roles like security analyst or incident responder. Together, we are building a pipeline of job-ready cyber professionals who meet the evolving needs of the European digital economy.' The first 10 learners who complete the programme will benefit from free access to the CompTIA Security+ certification exam. The agreement signed today is under the auspices on the Industry-Academia Network of the Cyber Skills Academy, an EU initiative aiming at addressing the growing cybersecurity skills and talent shortage in Europe. Established in 2023, the Network brings industry and academia to focus on aligning the needs of the cybersecurity job market with academic and training offerings that suit the current and emerging needs of the workforce. The partnership between CompTIA and OpenClassrooms supports the development of cybersecurity talent and skills needed to implement the NIS2 directive, Cyber Resilience Act, Cyber Solidarity Act and Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). Aligning with OpenClassrooms' commitment to making education more accessible, the programme will focus on individuals who come from backgrounds that are under-represented in the cybersecurity workforce, or who face barriers to education and career opportunities. More than 760,000 individuals around the world are CompTIA Security+ certified, making it the most widely adopted ISO/ANSI-accredited early career cybersecurity certification on the market. CompTIA Security+ also maps to the ENISA European Cybersecurity Skills Framework, a practical tool to support the identification and articulation of tasks, competences, skills and knowledge associated with the roles of European cybersecurity professionals. It is the EU reference point for defining and assessing relevant skills, as defined in the Cybersecurity Skills Academy. The CompTIA Security+ courseware and exam focus on the technologies, techniques and tools that cybersecurity professionals need to safeguard networks, detect threats and secure data. The certification is relevant to a variety of occupations, including security administrator, systems administrator, help desk analyst, security engineer and security analyst. About OpenClassrooms OpenClassrooms' mission is to make education accessible. We are an online school helping thousands of individuals all over the world develop their skills and progress in their career. About CompTIA CompTIA Inc. is the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products. CompTIA unlocks potential in millions of aspiring technology professionals and careers changers. Working in partnership with thousands of academic institutions and training providers, CompTIA helps students build career-ready skills through best-in-class learning solutions, industry-recognized certifications and career resources. Learn more at CONTACT: Steven Ostrowski CompTIA 630.678.8468 sostrowski@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
CNA
19-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
From classroom to control systems: An educator's journey into engineering
A missed job opportunity didn't discourage Ms Ong Ai Lian – it motivated her. Back in 2018, Ms Ong, formerly a design and technology educator, began her journey of reskilling. She enrolled in two specialist diplomas consecutively – one in business and big data analytics, and the other in advanced networking. Her growing interest in Industry 4.0 technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and big data sparked this change. With new knowledge under her belt, she landed a role as a project engineer in the communications and networks group at a local polytechnic's engineering school. There, she found inspiration watching lecturers work on electronics and robotics projects. When her contract ended, she applied for a role that required Python programming and experience with the Robot Operating System – but didn't get it. Undeterred, Ms Ong took the setback as a sign to keep learning. In 2022, she enrolled in the part-time Diploma in Engineering (Control and Automation) at Singapore Polytechnic. Singapore Polytechnic offers over 500 continuing education and training courses in high-demand areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, data analytics and engineering – empowering professionals like Ms Ong to shape their careers. Ms Ong considered several courses before choosing the Diploma in Engineering (Control and Automation). What stood out for her was the course's strong foundation in analogue and digital electronics, control systems, robotics and smart sensors – all key technologies driving Industry 4.0 and the digital transformation of manufacturing. She was also drawn to its hands-on learning approach and Singapore Polytechnic's reputation for academic excellence. 'The quality of teaching was excellent,' said Ms Ong. 'The lecturers demonstrated strong subject expertise and our projects challenged us to develop real-world applications.' Coming from a non-manufacturing background, Ms Ong initially struggled with unfamiliar industrial equipment. But with support from her classmates and lecturers, she was able to keep up. As a former educator herself, she appreciated how the lecturers went the extra mile to help students fully understand the material. One example she highlighted was Dr Yang Zhizong, who taught digital manufacturing. Drawing from his industry experience, he showed how classroom concepts applied in real-world settings. Another was Ms Lu Hongli, who taught smart sensors and actuators. Ms Lu used creative teaching methods, such as explaining filter circuits using electrocardiogram (ECG) signals as an analogy. 'Instead of just telling us which frequencies were passed or blocked, she used the ECG example to show how three different filters – low-, high- and band-pass – could each improve signal quality in different ways,' explained Ms Ong. She also recalled Mr Clement Chew, who taught the AI for Automation module. He created additional video tutorials with clear instructions to help students prepare for tests. When some students had trouble installing the required software for a lab test, Mr Chew even organised an extra Zoom session – outside class hours – together with another lecturer to troubleshoot their computer settings. Ms Ong found one of the most rewarding parts of her learning journey to be the diverse mix of classmates she met along the way. Her peers came from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds – holding qualifications from NITEC and diplomas to degrees and even a doctorate – and working across fields like research, engineering and manufacturing. 'It was an interesting mix. Everyone had their own strengths – some were better at hands-on tasks and working with equipment, while others excelled at understanding theory,' she noted. Collaborating with her teammates on projects gave her fresh perspectives and the opportunity to tap into a rich pool of skills. One teammate, a PhD holder in the bioscience industry, brought sharp research and critical thinking abilities. Another, a chemical engineer, provided practical knowledge about processing equipment such as valves and pumps. 'Each of us contributed our own expertise to make the projects a success,' shared Ms Ong. Her own background in teaching proved useful, too – especially when studying for semester tests. She often helped classmates by explaining concepts in simpler terms, using peer teaching techniques to reinforce learning. 'After reviewing the material, I'd teach it to a classmate. Once they understood, they would explain it to someone else. It helped us all deepen our understanding,' she explained. She also used teaching techniques like mnemonics to help a classmate remember equations. 'That experience reminded me how important it is to find the right way to communicate ideas to different learners,' she said. Having attained her Diploma in Engineering (Control and Automation), Ms Ong hopes to apply her enhanced skills to create smart, sustainable and automated solutions in fields like healthcare and logistics. She's also grateful to her classmates, some of whom have even shared job opportunities with her. Looking ahead, Ms Ong plans to further her education at the degree level. Students from this diploma programme are eligible for credit exemptions when applying to the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Electrical Power Engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology – making it easier to continue studying while working. 'I believe in lifelong learning,' said Ms Ong. 'Balancing work, studies and personal life can be tough, but it's doable – and definitely worthwhile. It keeps you relevant, builds resilience and helps you adapt in a fast-changing world.'
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Showdown looming at key summit hosted by Anthony Albanese affecting millions of Australian workers
Business groups and unions are on a collision course over priorities for a planned productivity summit despite the prime minister's optimism they can find common ground. Anthony Albanese has dismissed suggestions the roundtable, which will take place in August and is aimed at finding ways to lift the nation's economic output, would amount to little more than a Canberra talkfest. 'It is not unreasonable to bring people together ... business and unions have common interests, we have a national interest in boosting productivity,' he told ABC Radio on Wednesday. But Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said it was disappointing the union movement had taken the view that 'there's nothing to see here and that is all about cutting jobs and cutting wages and it demonstrably isn't'. 'One of the frustrating conversations to have with unions is to hear them say: 'Yes, of course there'll be AI but everyone's job will stay the same,' he told Sky News. 'Unfortunately it won't but we have to prepare people for that - and that will be a massive exercise in reskilling and retraining ... that's where this productivity summit is going to be so important.' Experts are concerned about Australia's lagging growth in productivity - a key economic measure of efficiency and long-term driver of improved living standards. Working Australians must be at the centre of the summit, ACTU secretary Sally McManus said. 'We need to leave behind the idea that productivity is equated with cutting pay and making people work harder for less,' she said. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said he was realistic about the potential for tangible outcomes at the roundtable. 'If it was easy, it would have been done already,' he told AAP. The scope of the Fair Work Act had grown significantly in recent years, which had a 'significant impact' on small businesses trying to hire staff, Mr McKellar said. Planned payday superannuation reforms also needed to be implemented in a way that didn't 'create a significant additional burden for small business', he added. 'We don't expect (the government) to revisit all of the industrial relations changes, but ... let's make some practical changes that make it easier for small business to create jobs and employ more people to promote productivity,' Mr McKellar said. Tax changes, cutting the regulatory burden and encouraging the uptake of digital technology would all be priorities for the business lobby, which singled out AI as a field that could make a big difference to productivity. Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood said it was important to be clear the target was 'not about working longer hours'. 'When we're talking about labour productivity, all it means is producing more for each hour worked,' she told ABC TV. 'This is about making sure Australians have the skills, that they have access to the technology, that we have great business processes that allow all of us to get more out of each hour that we put in.' Higher productivity was ultimately what drove improvements in incomes and living standards, and technological change was the most important driver of growth, Ms Wood said. 'Australia is lagging in the adoption of AI ... so that's certainly one of the areas of opportunity that we will be looking to,' she said. The commission's most recent report showed labour productivity fell 0.1 per cent in the December quarter and dropped 1.2 per cent in the past year. Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien said the opposition gave the government some credit for calling the summit. 'A round table. Yay!' Mr O'Brien joked during an interview on Nine's Today program. 'But look ... to be fair, at least they're recognising the problem ... so let's take that as a partial tick.'
