Kuala lumpur: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has formed a strategic alliance with Schneider Electric Malaysia and three industrial companies to train skilled electrical workers through the MARA-SWITCHPRO Apprenticeship Programme. MARA Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced that the initiative, which provides industry-based training and salary prospects of up to RM5,000 for participants, is conducted in collaboration with Schneider Electric Malaysia, Simatek Industrial Training, Starlight Electrical Industries Sdn Bhd, and Advance Industrial Solutions Sdn Bhd.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, participants will engage in six months of intensive training followed by six months of on-the-job training with the partner companies. This collaboration allows participants to earn the internationally recognized Schneider Electric Competency Certificate, enhancing their market value, securing industry placements, and providing structured employment opportunities after completing the program. Graduates may earn premium salaries, starting at RM5,000 per month, including allowances.
Asyraf Wajdi highlighted that MARA Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students with professional certificates, the Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM), or Malaysian Skills Certificates (SKM) Levels Four and Five, become more appealing to industries after undergoing the training and obtaining professional certification. He noted that all 18 participants of Cohort 1 completed their training and will now be placed in industries before joining the workforce in the participating companies.
He further stated that 22 participants from Cohort 2 will commence training in August, with a goal to recruit 200 participants over the next three years. MARA operates 270 TVET institutions nationwide, offering over 400 programs across various technical and vocational fields, with curricula adaptable to current industry needs. He encouraged more companies to partner with MARA across different industrial sub-sectors.
In a separate press conference, Asyraf Wajdi mentioned MARA's employability rate exceeding 99% this year, with diploma graduates and professional certificate holders securing starting salaries above RM3,000 per month. Samsung, for instance, plans to recruit approximately 700 MARA TVET diploma graduates this year, offering a starting salary of RM3,200 during a six-month on-the-job training period, which will increase to RM3,800 to RM3,900 per month after employment confirmation.
He also emphasized the collaboration between MARA and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in fulfilling the workforce needs of foreign investors in Malaysia. Through MIDA, foreign investors engage with MARA to identify necessary skills, human resource requirements, and training models before investing in the country, ensuring graduates are highly employable with salaries and allowances reflecting their competencies.