MDEC, SAS collaborate to bring in-demand analytics to students
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has collaborated with SAS, a leader in analytics, to jointly launch SAS Software Certified Young Professionals (SCYP) programme for students in Malaysia, the first in Southeast Asia.
The SCYP programme aimed to equip at least 500 students this year with in-demand analytics knowledge and expertise in a Covid-19 impacted employment market, while helping to meet the growing demand for data science and analytics professionals across industries in the region.
“Our strategic partnership with SAS aligns perfectly with our commitment to ensuring delivery of technology relevant programmes to Malaysian students and help Malaysians make the digital leap into the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“We see our public-private partnership initiatives such as SAS contributing to Malaysia’s overall growth of the data science skills required in the workforce to support the digitally-driven economy, which is also critical to meet the demand of the current and future job market,” MDEC chief executive officer Surina Shukri said in a recent statement.
The government through MDEC has identified technology as the key enabler to respond to the new normal and to address the economic situation.
As a result, MDEC has been actively promoting the #SayaDigital movement and the government’s PENJANA programmes that will create industry-ready digitally-skilled Malaysians.
“SAS has a deep-rooted history in academia. Launching a programme to empower Malaysian students with SAS analytics knowledge and expertise helps in answering the rising demand for technology professionals in Southeast Asia,” SAS Malaysia managing director Cheam Tat Inn said.
“Business organisations need people who can make sense of data, manage and analyse it, build models and determine what information delivers the most value. Students with an analytical skillset will be highly sought after,” he said.
The SAS SCYP programme will enable students to work towards SAS certification in programming, machine learning and visual analytics through e-learning courses at their own pace.
The collaborative and engaging programme facilitates learning by having students join SAS Communities and register for online SAS webinars, led by SAS experts, where they can ask questions and be provided with the latest information.
Upon certification, SAS offers support in connecting students with SAS customers looking for young data science professionals.
There are currently three courses available for students in Malaysia and Vietnam, and five courses available for students in Indonesia.
SAS has recently supported eight award programmes for students and educators to acknowledge the significant contributions to advancing analytics education, and has collaborated with educational institutions to develop more local talent in data science, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Source: NST