Internationally-recognised accreditation for skilled workers

PUTRAJAYA: Holders of the Malaysia Skills Certificate (SKM) in some fields will soon be internationally-recognised following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with several global accreditation bodies yesterday.

The three MoUs signed were between the Skills Development Department (JPK) and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Technological Association of Malaysia (TAM).

The MoU between JPK and CompTIA will give candidates-in-training or those who have completed SKM Levels 2 and 3 in Computer Networking a dual certification from a professional body that is internationally recognised.

In the MoU between JPK and LCCI, the latter will offer dual certification to SKM holders in Accounts Clerk and Accounts Supervisor.

The MoU with TAM will acknowledge SKM, Malaysia Skills Diploma (DKM) and Malaysia Advanced Skills Diploma (DLKM) holders as members of TAM, thus raising the Malaysian skill certification standard.

“This will put their achievement on par with global standards,” said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, who witnessed the signings.

He said these collaborations would increase the confidence of foreign investors and multinational companies in Malaysia’s skilled workforce and make vocational and technical training more attractive to students.

Currently, Malaysia’s student enrolment in technical and vocational streams at the upper secondary level lies at 10 per cent, a figure the government hopes to double by 2020.

Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, had reportedly said the country’s most challenging task was to produce a work force that could meet the needs of local industry, that is, at least 3.3 million skilled workers within the next 10 years.

CompTIA chairs and manages the Initiative for Software Choice as well as provide professional certification in the information technology industry. It’s “A+”, “Network+”, and “Security+” certifications have been accredited by the American National Standards Institute since April 2007.

LCCI has been offering their International Qualifications globally for over a century and were awarded by the Education Development International, a leading award body accredited by the British government.

The International Qualifications are also available in over 5,000 approved schools, colleges, universities and private training companies in more than 120 countries.

Based in Subang Jaya, TAM represents technical professions, crafts and trades as well as all grades of personnel from technicians up the highest professionals in Malaysia.