LONDON: Malaysian talents overseas have received a pledge of support to facilitate their contributions to the country.
This commitment to empowering Malaysians in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to play an active role in national development initiatives was emphasised by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim during a TalentCorp event here.
Social Value Malaysia (SVM), a pioneering entity in social value and impact management in Malaysia, was awarded a pledge of support valued at £10,000 (RM59,925).
Through its Malaysia at Heart (MyHeart) initiative, TalentCorp is partnering with SVM to support its Invest4Good programme in Lahad Datu, Sabah, set to commence in August this year.
Sim said the collaboration will empower 60 teachers in Lahad Datu, enabling them to train over 120 primary and secondary school students in Robotics and AI fundamentals integrated into their classroom curriculum.
He said the MyHeart initiative reflected the ministry's commitment to talent and human capital development, encompassing all Malaysians including those living overseas.
"The Invest4Good for Sabah is crucial in unlocking STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education opportunities for our schoolchildren.
"We take pride in supporting Malaysians abroad eager to contribute their knowledge and experiences for the benefit of their homeland," he said.
Sim reiterated the government aims to facilitate the potential contributions and provide opportunities for all Malaysians to serve the country.
He said Malaysians overseas can apply to join TalentCorp MyHeart Innovate, while those in Malaysia can apply for its sister programme, TalentCorp MyNext Innovate.
TalentCorp's MyHeart initiative serves as a platform bridging the Malaysian diaspora community, aiming to unlock their potential contributions to Malaysia's advancement.
It operates through five key modules: collaborations, global networking, career opportunities, incentives, and facilitation for returning Malaysians.
This initiative is part of TalentCorp's strategies to foster human capital growth and development in Malaysia.
It complements various TalentCorp initiatives for Malaysians within the country, spanning skilled professionals, women, veterans, undergraduates, and school students.
These efforts collectively strive to optimise Malaysian talent, paving the way toward establishing a dynamic Malaysian talent hub.
Speaking to Malaysian journalists after the event held at the Royal Lancaster where about 300 Malaysian students and professionals attended, Sim said the ministry wanted to develop Malaysian talents not just domestically but also support the growth of Malaysian talents overseas.
Prior to the event, at a TalentCorp MyHeart 'Salam Dari Malaysia' outreach event in Tokyo, attended by over 180 Malaysians residing in Japan, Sim announced that TalentCorp will come on board as a strategic partner for the upcoming Malaysia-Japan Visionaries Conference 2024 (MJVC2024).
TalentCorp, in its first MyHeart collaboration, will provide a RM30,000 grant to ensure the conference's success.
Additionally, TalentCorp will allocate a RM50,000 bursary to assist up to 20 Malaysian researchers in participating in the conference in Tokyo.