Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDEC) have renewed their collaboration to prepare Malaysian students and the workforce for a digital economy.

Ericsson will provide access to its global Ericsson Educate 21st Century Technologies course – a free, self-paced online learning program – that is designed to enhance the skills of the Malaysian workforce as well as interested tertiary-level students across all disciplines in information and communication technology (ICT).

The program aims to help bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, empowering them for the digital economy.

The content is designed for students as well as professionals who wish to gain or improve their skills in areas such as 5G and telecommunications as well as related technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning. Those who complete the assessment at the end of the course will earn a digital badge from Ericsson.

Working adults interested in the program can sign up for it at: Program for workforce while students can do so at: MY5G Pioneers Programme

Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh David Hägerbro says, "Malaysia now has a world class 5G network that provides a strong digital infrastructure that can power its ambition to become a leading digital nation."

"This is expected to be a catalyst for Malaysia's digital transformation and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. To drive the country's digital transformation, the knowledge and skills of the country's students and workforce in 5G and related technologies must be developed. The collaboration with MDEC will help equip Malaysia's workforce with the skills needed to take up these jobs," Hägerbro explained.

5G will enhance automation, robotics, and IoT in manufacturing, strengthening Malaysia's strong adoption of Industry 4.0 and positioning it as a high-tech hub. It will also bridge the rural-urban divide, create thousands of jobs, and boost high-skilled employment. An Ernst & Young report projects that 5G could increase Malaysia's GDP by 5% (RM122 billion) by 2030.

Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC, emphasized the significance of the renewed partnership with Ericsson in driving Malaysia's digital transformation.

"The collaboration with Ericsson is a crucial step towards equipping our students and workforce with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital economy," said Ts. Mahadhir Aziz.

"By providing free access to Ericsson Educate's comprehensive learning resources, we are not only bridging the gap between academic learning and industry demands but also fostering a robust talent pipeline that will support Malaysia's ambition to become a leading digital nation. This initiative will empower our people with knowledge in cutting-edge technologies like 5G, and AI, ensuring they are well-prepared for the high-tech jobs of the future and contributing to the country's economic growth and innovation."

The MoU exchange formalizing the collaboration was conducted by Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh David Hägerbro and, CEO of MDEC Ts. Mahadhir Aziz. The event was witnessed by Minister of Digital YB Gobind Singh Deo together with Ambassador and Head of the European Union delegation to Malaysia H.E. Michalis Rokas,

The exchange was hosted at an event organised by EUROCHAM Malaysia during which another significant MoU was exchanged between EUROCHAM Malaysia and MDEC to bolster and solidify a collaboration within the digital economy sector as well as to foster a mutually beneficial relationships between the Malaysian digital ecosystem and the European business community.

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