Amazon Web Services (AWS) has entered into a partnership with Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education, specifically the Jabatan Pendidikan Politeknik & Kolej Komuni (JPPKK), to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) training and workforce development in the country. This collaboration follows a study conducted by Access Partnership for AWS, which revealed that 81% of employers in Malaysia experience challenges in sourcing AI talent, despite 90% recognizing the significance of skills in this domain.
Focus on Technical and Vocational Education
The initiative will focus on training both educators and students, particularly within the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector. JPPKK has been designated as an AWS Authorized Training Partner and plans to collaborate with AWS to provide extensive cloud and AI training programs across various educational institutions, including 36 polytechnics and 105 community colleges throughout Malaysia. Over 140,000 students are expected to benefit from access to more than 200 specialized online courses in AWS cloud and AI.
Online Courses and Learning Opportunities
Since the launch of a course on responsible AI principles in September 2024, over 1,000 students have participated, learning about generative AI challenges and ethical AI system development. Additionally, participants are using the Amazon Bedrock Guardrails service, which assists in designing applications that evade inappropriate content.
The Importance of Collaboration
Y.M. Tengku Besaruddin Shah bin Tengku Yaakob, director of the instructional and digital learning division at JPPKK, highlighted the importance of technical and vocational education in aligning with Malaysia’s technological advancements and national objectives, such as the MyDigital Blueprint initiative. He underscored that the collaboration with AWS plays a critical role in promoting AI integration in educational institutions.
POLYCC Large Language Model League 2024
In an effort to further develop AI competencies, AWS and JPPKK, with support from the Jabatan Digital Negara (JDN), recently hosted the inaugural POLYCC Large Language Model (LLM) League 2024. This competition was designed to provide practical experience in generative AI within a gamified setting, attracting participation from 1,500 students and faculty members from polytechnics and community colleges.
Training and Competitions
Participants were trained to create AI models that reflect Malaysia’s linguistic and cultural contexts, utilizing Amazon SageMaker JumpStart, a machine learning hub, to refine their models. The culmination of the competition saw teams presenting their AI solutions to judges and live audiences, evaluating crucial factors such as cultural relevance and technical execution.
Recognition and Future Aspirations
The team from Politeknik Mukah Sarawak received recognition for presenting the most comprehensive and accurate AI model. Encik Suhaili Bin Aleh, the team’s director, expressed satisfaction with their accomplishment and expressed hope for further exploration of emerging technologies in educational contexts.
AWS Commitment to Digital Future
Peter Murray, AWS Malaysia’s country manager, emphasized the vital role that cloud and AI technologies play in shaping Malaysia’s digital future and reiterated AWS’s commitment to empowering the upcoming workforce through strategic partnerships and educational initiatives. Since 2017, AWS has trained over 100,000 individuals in Malaysia in cloud-related competencies, positioning the country to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Source: AWS