THE National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) has announced the launch of its Certified E-Commerce Specialist (CES) Level 1 Programme.
This specialised training and internship programme aims to empower young people with autism in Malaysia with skills in digital marketing and e-commerce, thus unlocking new career prospects for them.
Traditionally, the retail and hospitality industries have been common employers of adults with autism.
This programme would enable a break from tradition and open new doors for the autism community, says Nasom programme head - vocational, Saffiza Anuar.
"We believe as the world advances technologically, it is important to groom our young people with the relevant skills, thus promoting equal opportunity in the digital sphere for people with autism to thrive as independent adults and contribute as productive members of society."
Global retail e-commerce sales have been on a growth trend in recent years, with Covid-19 being a notable accelerating factor.
As a result, businesses have sped up plans to digitalise operations and capitalise on its benefits including new opportunities to serve customers previously unreachable due to geographical limitations.
This trend has resulted in a surge of demand for skilled talent in e-commerce and digital marketing.
The training programme, run by Y Ventures Group Ltd and supported by Nasom is an entry level programme tailored to the existing experience and skills sets of each student. Students at level 1 will undergo 6 weeks of training covering six basic skills of e-commerce, namely, creating WordPress websites, how to market a business on the Internet, digital photography tools, using social media in business, how to achieve top search engine positions and introduction to Adobe Photoshop CC.
In South East Asia and Malaysia specifically, career opportunities for people with autism remain low. A policy paper by the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) revealed a need for more training and job opportunities for those with autism at varying levels.
We believe individuals with autism, particularly students of this course, will greatly benefit from being mentored by industry experts, says Saffiza.
Moreover, hands-on opportunities through paid internships attached to the programme will allow students to apply their knowledge in the working world, proving that in spite of their autism spectrum condition, they can be as capable as any young adult, she adds.
Y Ventures Group Ltd co-founder and managing director, Adam Low says through this programme, they aim to assist young adults to launch their journey as future digital and e-commerce trailblazers.
The programme will be conducted on an online platform and is open to young adults with autism aged 16 to 21 across Malaysia. The first intake is scheduled to begin by mid April this year.
For more information, contact 03-7832 1928 or send an email to saffiza@nasom.org.my