PETALING JAYA (Oct 11): Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) has launched the Gamuda AI Academy aimed at cultivating the local talent pool for artificial intelligence (AI) to support Malaysia’s digital transformation.
The three month curriculum will focus on full-stack AI development which includes front-end, back-end and AI technologies.
The curriculum is run as a fully sponsored community project by Yayasan Gamuda, and is open to students, graduates, professionals and start-up founders up to the age of 40, who have an interest in learning AI.
The academy will also run a coding test and an interview for applicants to gauge their compatibility with the curriculum.
“The Gamuda AI Academy is our direct response to the call for a digitally empowered workforce. As we nurture the next generation of AI professionals, we are not just imparting technical expertise.
“We aim to position Malaysia as a global hub for AI and digital innovation, thereby accelerating the transition towards a high-income nation, characterised by a high-skilled workforce,” said John Lim Ji Xiong, group chief digital officer of Gamuda.
In addition to labs and lectures, the hands-on experiences that the academy offers will include access to the Google Cloud Skills Boost programme and Gemini Code Assist, as resources for an enriched learning experience and contributing experience with mentors, enabling engagement with the academy’s ecosystem of partners.
“Beyond the classroom, students [can also] gain valuable career development opportunities, including mentoring sessions, networking events, personal skills development, and priority access to internships and job placements within Google Cloud’s ecosystem of partners and customers like Gamuda,” said Lim.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, who inaugurated the event, said that while projections and forecasts of Malaysia’s economic growth bode well for the country, the nation must not be complacent and must continue raising the bar to transform Malaysia into a regional AI hub.
“This is merely the tip of the iceberg, given the fast pace of digital adoption. Modernising the workspace, workforce and keeping up with the latest developments is absolutely crucial. To avoid us from falling behind, the Digital Ministry takes talent development very seriously,” he said.
Gobind also said that these advancements empower people with disabilities, providing them with opportunities to pursue careers in the tech industry, and helping to narrow the digital divide.
“They should be empowered to contribute with a talent pool who can then assist businesses to embrace and utilise AI and other digital technologies, to enhance their operations,” he said.