Kuala lumpur: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes in Malaysia need to be expanded to include advanced space technology to meet the growing demands of the country's burgeoning space industry, beyond just the aerospace sector.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) Director-General Datuk Azlikamil Napiah highlighted the necessity of developing a skilled local workforce proficient in satellite development, component assembly and testing, satellite operations, and space support systems. While several TVET institutions currently offer aerospace-related programmes focused on aviation technology, Azlikamil emphasized the importance of broadening the curriculum to encompass various facets of space technology.
MYSA organized engagement sessions with key TVET stakeholders last May to assess the needs, challenges, and opportunities in strengthening human capital development within the national space sector, said Azlikamil. The discussions are currently at the proposal stage, aiming to integrate space technology modules into the TVET curriculum across upstream, midstream, and downstream segments.
Azlikamil underscored the critical role of integrating space technology knowledge into TVET to ensure graduates are equipped with skills that match industry requirements. He stated that the space sector needs a significant skilled workforce, including engineers, technicians, and specialists in assembly, testing, and maintenance.
Human capital development, as one of the five key pillars of the National Space Policy 2030, is crucial for Malaysia to cultivate its own expertise rather than relying on foreign skilled workers indefinitely, Azlikamil noted. The space industry offers broad career opportunities in engineering, electronics, data analysis, robotics and automation, software development, component manufacturing and maintenance, and space law.
The proposal to enhance local talent through TVET is timely, particularly as the space sector aims to contribute approximately RM10 billion to Malaysia's GDP and create around 5,000 new jobs by 2030, Azlikamil added.
Azlikamil also highlighted the expected growth in career opportunities within space law, facilitated by university courses and the expanding Malaysian space ecosystem. The enactment of the Malaysian Space Board Act 2022 (Act 834) has increased student interest in regulation, compliance, and liability management.
He emphasized the significance of a structured legal framework, given the potential liability implications of space activities, and how it creates new job prospects. Azlikamil noted Malaysia's emerging role as a reference point for space legislation in Southeast Asia, following the enactment of the National Space Policy 2030 and the Malaysian Space Board Act 2022 (Act 834).