By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Sept 27 – The state government, via Invest Selangor Bhd, has renewed its collaboration with Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) to focus on bridging the gap between academic institutions and real-world industry requirements in the rail industry through the Industry-Academia Collaboration (IAC).
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han commemorated the cooperation at an event on Monday (September 25), highlighting the significance of such efforts in leveraging upcoming opportunities in the state’s rail sector.
“Our goals today are to outline the collective possibilities to strengthen this industry ecosystem and to find the best delivery method to prepare industry-ready talent in the rail industry.
“As we embark on our third IAC, this time in the rail industry, we carry forward the spirit of collaboration, determination, and the aspiration to make a meaningful impact.
“The rail industry is an essential pillar of our economy, with vast opportunities for advancement, innovation, and sustainability. Through this partnership with Talentcorp and our esteemed stakeholders, we aim to harness these opportunities and shape the future of the rail sector,” he said in his keynote speech at the IAC Workshop in Rail on Monday.
Prior to the third collaboration, Selangor successfully organised two IACs in biotechnology and logistics with TalentCorp.
Meanwhile, Ng said the state administration has also established the Selangor Rail Council in 2021 to strengthen the rail ecosystem in Selangor.
In meeting the demands of the state’s increasing population, which has reached approximately 7.2 million as of July 2023, the rail industry, particularly in urban areas, is essential to domestic urban mobility.
“The increase of population compounded by the migration from rural to urban areas is being given attention by the state government.
“This factor directly impacts the growing demand for public amenities, notably public transportation services, which include the ongoing development of rail services within the city to serve the needs of the population.
“Among the council’s objectives are to develop and formulate programs as well as to promote this industry,” he said.
The council is chaired by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, and its members include representatives from the Transport Ministry, state government, local councils, related Federal and state agencies, and industry associations.
With the substantial growth in the rail industry that demands a more skilled workforce and in support of Selangor’s development as a rail industry hub, Ng said the council has also included prominent education institutions as its members, including Tunku Abdul Rahman University (UTAR), Kuala Lumpur University (UniKL), and Tun Hussein Onn University (UTHM).
“These institutions will play a pivotal role in nurturing industry talent and ensuring the establishment of a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem.
“ I believe that the continuous coordination with universities and training institutions is vital to ensure minimum skills gap and mismatch for the rail industry,” he said.
Ng added the focus on the rail sector is also in line with the National Transport Policy 2019 – 2030 (NTP), which advocates the use of public transport, focusing on a more environmentally friendly transport ecosystem.
