KUALA LUMPUR, 3 NOVEMBER 2023 – Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and Ericsson have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to promote the ‘MY5G Ericsson Malaysia Pioneers Programme’ in higher education institutions nationwide, in a joint initiative to support the country's digital aspirations.

One of the key objectives of this programme is to empower students from diverse academic backgrounds with the necessary skills, knowledge, and awareness of cutting-edge technologies. The comprehensive curriculum enables students to develop a holistic understanding of the digital landscape and be well-prepared to embrace the opportunities presented by the 5G era. By offering this programme for free, DNB and Ericsson intend to bridge the digital divide and ensure equal access to digital education for all students.

The online programme is divided into three modules and aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). Upon successful completion of the courses, students will be awarded a digital badge from Ericsson, a global leader in 5G. This badge can be digitally embedded into a student’s profile on leading online job portals, displaying their commitment to continuous learning and digital proficiency.

It is envisioned that via this programme, the knowledge and skills gained through the program would enhance the opportunity in their employability in a competitive job market. In addition, the programme also equips students with the necessary skills to excel in their future careers, demonstrating their readiness to embrace the digital revolution.

Since its go-live on 11 January 2023, this programme has gained traction in engaging universities and inspiring student participation. With a current commendable registration count of more than 10,000 students and ongoing active participation from 126 universities, including all 20 public universities, this truly reflects the growing enthusiasm among students and higher education institutions to adopt emerging technologies. Polytechnics and community colleges will be onboarded in the next phase of this programme.

During his speech at the recent Graduate Job Market Conference, Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin welcomed such Government-industry collaboration between MOHE, Digital Nasional Berhad and Ericsson, saying, “By strengthening ties with industries and implementing specific and strategic measures, it would ensure that upcoming graduates possess the necessary skills that are industry-related, through more focused and targeted approaches, and directly addressing the industry’s needs.”

Meanwhile, Datuk Ahmad Zaki Bin Zahid, Chief Strategy Officer of Digital Nasional Berhad, said that human capital development in digital competency and upskilling is important to ensure that Malaysia has the right talent to operate and gain from the investments made in the state-of-the-art 5G infrastructure. “Digital Nasional Berhad is proud to be part of this initiative to prepare students in higher education institutions with knowledge and insight in the digital industry. We will continue to demonstrate our strong support towards Ministry’s aspiration to find the best way to mobilize resources and expertise, so that an ecosystem that supports quality graduates can be strategically formed.”

David Hägerbro, Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, said, “Ericsson is honoured to partner with DNB and the Ministry of Higher Education to help develop Malaysia’s talent, which is vital towards realizing Digital Malaysia. We are excited to work together to ensure that even more students can benefit from the programme, so that they can be prepared to take advantage of the various opportunities ahead of them that will be driven by Malaysia’s world class 5G network and digitally driven future.”

To learn more about the MY5G Ericsson Malaysia Pioneers Programme, please visit https://www.ericsson.com/en/about-us/company-facts/ericsson-worldwide/malaysia/my5g-ericsson-educate

About Digital Nasional Berhad

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) is a Minister of Finance Inc. company, mandated to deploy Malaysia’s 5G network and infrastructure on an accelerated schedule. DNB will exclusively own, build and manage the 5G network and provide wholesale 5G services to licensed service providers, as well as infrastructure and technology services to support and enable businesses and government capabilities. DNB is licensed as a telecommunications operator by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. Please visit https://www.digital-nasional.com.my for more information.

Digital Nasional Berhad Media Contact:

Nurul Dayanna Norji
Manager, Corporate Communications
dayanna.norji@digital-nasional.com.my

Irwan Abdul Rahman
Head, Corporate Communications
irwan.rahman@digital-nasional.com.my