In a momentous celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (IWFCIM) and tech giant Microsoft have unveiled the Ready4AI&Security skilling initiative. This landmark program, under the banner “Inspire Inclusion,” is designed to narrow the educational and industry divide, preparing skilled professionals in the burgeoning fields of Generative AI and cybersecurity.
This ambitious initiative pledges to endow 200 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) educators with cutting-edge knowledge in Generative AI and cybersecurity. These educators are set to relay this valuable knowledge to a staggering 5,000 TVET students, ensuring that 60% of these beneficiaries are female students from esteemed institutions like UniKL, Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA, various polytechnics, and community colleges governed by the Jabatan Pendidikan Politeknik dan Kolej Kommuniti, Ministry of Higher Education.
Salwana Ali, President of IWFCIM, expressed her enthusiasm about the initiative, stating, “I am delighted to play a role in bridging the demand side of businesses and the supply side of educational institutions in addressing the digital gap of skills for the future of work and the ever constant challenges of cybersecurity in our connected world today. And it is even more meaningful to be able to do this with 60 percent women participation.”
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Participants in the TVET program will undergo an extensive 32-hour training course, including Microsoft Security Compliance and Identity Fundamentals, supplemented by self-paced learning in generative AI.
Azizah Ali, Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft Malaysia, underscored the initiative’s significance, saying, “The Ready4AI&Security Malaysia initiative is a reflection of Microsoft’s commitment to ensure that Malaysians are equipped with the skills to thrive in the growing AI-enabled economy. Through this collaboration with IWFCIM, we aim to not only empower students with in-demand AI skills and ensuring employability in the near future, but also contribute to a more secure and resilient digital ecosystem through cybersecurity literacy.”
The Ready4AI&Security initiative is a vital step towards equipping Malaysia’s youth with essential skills for the workforce. With a focus on promoting women’s participation, this collaboration between IWFCIM and Microsoft is poised to forge a more secure and inclusive digital future. This initiative is part of Microsoft Philanthropy’s Cybersecurity Skilling initiative which now extends its reach to multiple countries, aiming to bolster the global cybersecurity workforce through partnerships with non-profits and educational institutions.
