Malaysia-China Cooperation To Prepare Talent For Higher-Value Jobs
By Mohd Yusof Saari
TIANJIN (China), Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia-China cooperation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has secured thousands of training opportunities for Malaysians, with the partnership now focusing on developing skilled talent for high-value jobs in emerging technologies.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the partnership had secured 5,125 training opportunities in 2024 and another 2,500 placements for 2026, alongside the provision of training equipment, including electric vehicles, for hands-on learning.
He said the cooperation underscored the importance of aligning skills development with industry requirements to ensure that investment and talent development progressed together.
“What matters most to me is what these achievements mean for our young people: new skills, stronger careers and better lives,” he said in his keynote address at the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference 2026 (WVTEDC 2026) at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre here Friday.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of Malaysia’s National TVET Council, said the next phase of the country’s TVET development would focus on high-end TVET (Hi-TVET), covering artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, semiconductors and other emerging technologies, to prepare workers for higher-value employment.
He said TVET participation in Malaysia grew by more than 33 per cent between 2020 and 2025, with nearly 57 per cent of school leavers who continued their studies choosing TVET in 2025, while graduate employability reached almost 96 per cent.
“Our next task is to turn greater participation into greater capability,” he said, adding that cooperation with China demonstrated how this could be achieved.
Citing the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project as an example, Ahmad Zahid said 208 Malaysians had completed railway training in China this year, helping to build local expertise in railway operations and maintenance.
He said the same principle applied to the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, where investment and talent development needed to progress hand in hand.
Ahmad Zahid also highlighted initiatives announced by the Malaysia-China Industry-Education Alliance worth approximately 49 million yuan, including 1,000 scholarship opportunities and 2,000 training opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia-China Institute in Bagan Datuk will cater for up to 2,000 students across 18 priority fields, supporting joint curricula, instructor training and technology transfer, he said.
Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia would focus on strengthening industry-led workplace learning, equipping instructors through exchanges and industrial attachments, and developing joint applied research to address industrial challenges.
He also called on more Chinese enterprises operating in Malaysia to support these efforts through apprenticeships, specialised certification and career opportunities.
“I have always believed that friendship between nations should create real opportunities for their people, and through our TVET partnership with China, I have seen that belief become a reality, opening doors for thousands of young Malaysians,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
