The employment market is changing everyday as digitalization sweeps Malaysia. Companies are adopting digital ecosystems, running digital offices and even working remotely. Digital transformation has led to new roles or upgraded roles, driven by technological advances. Reskilling and upskilling can help you to learn the knowledge you need to stay competitive as the demand for new skills increases. Those two terms sound like the same thing, but what is the difference? 

“Upskilling” is the process of learning new skills, while “Reskilling” is the process of learning new skills so you can do a different job, or cover more bases. Both are now effective strategies to equip yourself with key skills that employers are looking for.

The Roar Skills Programme is a joint programme between S.T.I College and MeReka that is specially designed with skilled trainers to upskill and re-skill students from the B40 community through SKM Skills Training. Jump started on 18 December 2020, this programme aims to empower students with a range of courses including Microbit and IoT Programming, English for Digital Business, Fundamental of Web design, Social Media and MIT App Inventor. 

8 experienced trainers worked systematically with 38 eager participants to improve their employability. We spoke with the programme trainers and participants to understand their HLF programme journey and they were truly chuffed! Many called it a new experience that helped them improve their skills and knowledge. 

Anis, a Microbit and IoT Programming trainer described her teaching journey as fun and unexpected! She created new creative ways to draw in her students who became less attentive in class due to using digital platforms like Zoom. Her students concurred that her classes were fun and unexpected. Arwin called her course “awesome” and did find that excitement from her creative tactics. 

English for Digital Business trainer, Hemasha, was impressed by the programme. She called it well-structured with “defined learning objectives for each module.” She especially liked the design and nature of the programme, she mentioned that “there was ample time between the hiring, content planning and session execution which gave space for lots of R&D.” Hemasha has extended experience in virtual training but highlighted that teaching students from the B40 community was “something new” to her, “being able to communicate with them and understand their challenges was an eye opener.” 

Social Media student, Izzat said her course made the elusive world of digital marketing “simple.” It gave her the opportunity to fully explore it as she believes it gives her an edge in the employment market, especially as a freelancer. Similarly, Khairul, a student from the MIT App Inventor course found his course gave him distinction in the employment market as he also gained knowledge in social media marketing. He went on to say that continuously scaling yourself is vital to your employability. Khairul plans to use the skills and knowledge he acquired here to make improvements in the business and IT world in his own right. 

Speaking of students who already have plans to start their own business; Irham, a very engaged student, said that the Fundamental of Web Design course gives him “great potential” as he plans to create a website and app for his small business. His trainer, Sharifa was extremely impressed and pleased that her students were active in class participation in asking questions. The structure and experience of training in this matter was new to her but she thoroughly enjoyed the impact it left on her. She added that her experience was particularly interesting because the electric industry isn't as digitized as other industries yet.

“The current pandemic situation has had a huge impact on the country's economy and changed the business environment to a more focused skills and digitalization industry. We believe that education is an effective way to stimulate the economy and with this program, we hope it can provide opportunities to those in need as well as improve their living standards", said Rashvin Pal Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Mereka.

Be sure to look out for more programmes like this from us as we strive to create an alternative education space that aims to teach the skills of the future, in order to build a talent pool that is resourceful, engaged and informed enough to take on the challenges of the future.