In October 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance in Malaysia during the AWS Cloud Day event. This initiative, in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), seeks to revitalize tech education, link learners to in-demand tech positions, and cultivate a high-skilled tech workforce.
To accomplish its objectives, the Tech Alliance assembles a coalition of organizations from the industry, educational institutions, and government sectors. Malaysian participants include Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTI) like Asia Pacific University and Taylor’s University, community organizations such as The Asia Foundation, and employers such as CIMB, Deriv, PayNet, and Petronas.
Anuar Fariz, Chief Executive Officer at MDEC, highlighted the impact of this partnership: “Our collaboration with the AWS Tech Alliance has been instrumental in arming Malaysia’s Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTI) with the essential tools and resources to cultivate a robust pipeline of highly skilled digital talent. By leveraging AWS’s expertise and validated skills maps, we’re enabling our institutions to address the skills gap, modernize their curriculum, and produce graduates who are fully equipped to drive Malaysia’s digital transformation. This strategic partnership aligns perfectly with our national digital agenda, Malaysia Digital (MD), and has the potential to impact over 25,000 students across our 24 PDTI higher education institutions.”
Demand for cloud and AI skills is increasing in Malaysia. The AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Region launched in August 2024, with a planned investment of $6.2 billion (MYR 29.2 billion) through 2038. This new AWS Region will be crucial in advancing the nation’s digitization ambitions and innovation across Southeast Asia. It will help organizations in Malaysia meet the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL) goals and advance the country’s Malaysia MADANI vision to build a highly skilled, innovative, prosperous, and sustainable economy.
Research by BCG, BCG X, and MDEC indicates a growing demand for cloud computing, software development, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics talent in Malaysia. The accelerating move to cloud IT infrastructure and emerging innovations such as Generative AI will increase the demand for skilled professionals and fuel job creation through digitization.
However, talent shortages are becoming apparent. According to AWS-commissioned research by Gallup, 78% of Malaysian employers surveyed are actively recruiting for roles that require digital skills, but 85% report difficulties in finding suitable candidates. Regarding AI skills, research by Access Partnership for AWS found that nearly nine in ten Malaysian employers consider hiring AI-skilled talent a priority. However, 81% struggle to locate suitable AI professionals, indicating a significant skills gap. Employers in Malaysia are prepared to offer over 40% higher salaries to workers with AI skills and expertise. Furthermore, 97% of Malaysian employees anticipate a positive impact from their AI skills, leading to increased job efficiency, greater job satisfaction, and faster career advancement.
AWS works with educational institutions to develop comprehensive skills maps based on extensive market research and input from local employers to address the talent shortage. These skills maps define the specific competencies needed for various IT roles, like software development, cloud support, and data analytics. The Tech Alliance uses these skills insights to support higher education institutions. This helps those institutions modernize their study programs, ensuring that students gain the most relevant and employable skills, preparing them for future careers.
The existing AWS training programs are also being expanded through the Tech Alliance. AWS Academy provides cloud-based programs for higher education institutions, preparing students for industry-recognized AWS certifications and high-demand jobs. This program helps educators stay updated on AWS cloud innovation. AWS Educate offers extensive cloud computing training, allowing learners to progress independently. Learners are able to find job opportunities on the AWS Educate Job Board, and earn digital badges. AWS Skill Builder is an online learning center offering over 600 free courses. The center has role-based training and learning paths that focus on specific roles.
Local employers actively shape the activities and value delivered by the Tech Alliance. Employers provide vital insights into hiring demands and the specific skills required for entry-level tech positions. Direct engagement with students includes applied learning activities such as:
- Tech talks: Industry experts lead sessions on cloud technology, industry trends, and professional skills.
- Job preparation events: Employers give work experience, mentoring, and hiring feedback, as well as hold job fairs.
- Technical skilling events: Employers assess potential candidates’ skills through hands-on workshops, hackathons, and cloud skills competitions.
Students participating in the Tech Alliance have the chance to work with real-world scenarios, gain valuable industry skills, and network with potential employers.
Yong Yung Hao, an Asia Pacific University (APU) ICT Diploma holder and eCloudvalley Engineer, describes the positive value of the initiative: “Collaborating with the AWS Skills to Jobs team during the AWS Jam in APU was a pivotal experience for me. The hand-on challenges and expert insights from AWS Partners gave me an opportunity for me to showcase my skills. This experience has unlocked exciting career opportunities and transformed my career path in technology!”
Through this holistic approach, the AWS Tech Alliance Malaysia aims to establish a strong pipeline of job-ready, highly-skilled tech talent to support the digital transformation of Malaysia. Peter Murray, Malaysia Country Manager, AWS, notes, “The launch of the AWS Tech Alliance Malaysia is a testament to our long-term commitment to upskilling Malaysia’s workforce for the jobs of the future. Since 2017, we have trained over 100,000 individuals in the country on cloud computing skills. By addressing the skills gap and preparing learners for in-demand tech jobs through Tech Alliance, we are proud to develop the local cloud talent pipeline alongside partners like the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, connecting students to high-value employment opportunities [at more than] 40 businesses in Malaysia. This initiative will complement the 3,500 full-time equivalent jobs that the AWS Malaysia Region is expected to support annually as we help to drive the nation’s digital transformation goals.”
