MELAKA: The PETRONAS "BeDigital Bootcamp" aimed at enhancing local undergraduates’ digital literacy and exploring digital entrepreneurship has expanded to the southern states.
The ninth cohort of the BeDigital Bootcamp here comprised a total of 100 final-year students from five public universities, namely Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Johor and UiTM Cawangan Melaka.
The 12-day programme, which ended here on Aug 23, was the Bootcamp’s fourth destination for this year, after Sabah and Sarawak.
The modules, conducted primarily by PETRONAS staff including the boot camp's alumni, feature in-demand digital skills such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, as well as a "shark tank” pitch to enhance the participants’ presentation skills.
At the closing ceremony, PETRONAS senior vice-president of project delivery and technology, Mohd Yusri Mohamed Yusof said his team is excited to introduce the BeDigital Bootcamp to the southern region, underscoring PETRONAS’ commitment to developing talent and supporting the nation’s digital economy objectives.
“We firmly believe that our people are our greatest asset, shaping the future with their talent and dedication. The programme’s modules have been designed with this philosophy in mind.
"We aspire for the programme to not only enhance our talents’ professional skills but also empower them to become proactive contributors to societal progress," he said in a statement on Monday (Aug 26).
Melaka education, higher education, and religious affairs committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said there was a need to cultivate inquisitive minds, future-ready skills, and a drive for progress.
"The BeDigital Bootcamp stands out in this mission by emphasising digital proficiency, equipping our talents with the tools needed for a competitive job market and paving the way for our nation’s future," he said.
Rahmad noted that these initiatives are crucial in advancing talent development and achieving the national vision.
The programme was also supported by industry partners, including Johor Plantations Group Berhad, TLP Terminal Sdn. Bhd., Exxon Mobil and The eCEOs Sdn Bhd.
UTeM Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Ts. Dr. Massila Kamalrudin said the BeDigital Bootcamp is an ideal platform for university students to enhance their skills and boost their career prospects as the modules align with both current and future job market demands.
"This programme's modules are not only tailored to meet industry needs but also empower students to cultivate digital entrepreneurship skills, significantly enhancing their employability
as they prepare to enter the workforce," she added.
PETRONAS BeDigital Bootcamp was first introduced in Kota Kinabalu in 2022.
To date, a total of more than 700 students from 22 local universities from Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular
Malaysia had joined the boot camp.
The Bootcamp will be heading to Penang for the next cohort.
