ASTRICE specialises in technical training for sewerage systems.
Indah Water Konsortium’s training centre empowers professionals to meet the evolving needs of the sewage and sanitation industry
IN the dynamic field of sewerage systems and sanitation, Industry 4.0 and wastewater treatment technologies must continually advance to stay relevant and efficient.
This shift requires both talent and the workforce to expand their skills and knowledge to adapt to these innovations.
Recognising this need, the national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd, is prioritising skill and knowledge enhancement for its staff and industry professionals, particularly in the sewerage sector.
IWK’s chief executive officer, Narendran Maniam explained that as an advocate for advancing knowledge within the sewage sector, the company established a dedicated training centre in Feb 2006.
This centre focuses on technical training in sewerage systems, offering both theoretical and practical instruction.
“As it expands, the training centre not only shares knowledge with local stakeholders but also collaborates with international players.
“It focuses on capacity building in areas such as customer relations, health and safety, the fundamentals of sewerage systems, and new technologies, processes, and skills,” Narendran added.
After more than a decade, in 2021, IWK rebranded its training centre as the Asian Sewerage Training, Research & Innovation Centre of Excellence (ASTRICE), aligning with its strategy to advance knowledge, skills, and competencies to meet both present and future industry needs.
With a vision to become a regional hub for knowledge exchange, ASTRICE now focuses on seminars, forums, and conferences, and collaborates with international water operators to drive innovative programmes forward.
Future forward
Over the years, ASTRICE has successfully built partnerships with global water operators and certification bodies, strengthening corporate ties and opening avenues for potential ventures beyond Malaysia – particularly within Asia – for wastewater service provision.
The centre also offers a wide range of training programmes, including faecal sludge management, sewerage journey in Malaysia, non-mechanical sewerage management, fleet management, urban centralised treatment plants, effective management of effluent and wastewater treatment, operation and maintenance of sewerage systems, and river management.
ASTRICE offers more than 49 specialised courses spanning a range of topics.
ASTRICE courses blend practical and theoretical knowledge, ensuring participants are thoroughly prepared to excel in their roles.
Covering an extensive range of topics, it offers 49 specialised courses, including subjects like trenchless technology for sewer network maintenance, the design and construction of sewage treatment plants, and more.
Moreover, ASTRICE is a registered training provider under the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRDCorp), making all its training programs eligible for claims under the Skim Bantuan Latihan Khas (SBL-Khas) initiative.
Tailor-made courses
ASTRICE’s programmes are tailored to a specialised audience within the sewerage sector, serving IWK staff, commercial and industrial establishments, local authorities, government agencies, property developers, educational institutions, and local communities.
Training is conducted by IWK’s subject matter experts and external sewerage specialists to ensure a high standard of education.
ASTRICE also offers a comprehensive suite of support services, including course advisory, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and continuous professional development.
In addition to that, they offer competency matrix framework development to identify training needs and gaps.
These programmes have fostered numerous success stories, including the International Eco-Tourism and Edu-Tourism Programme.
Through this initiative, participants visited notable local tourist sites while gaining insights into Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) and its impact on rivers.
Highlights included the Melaka River – a celebrated success story in Malaysia – and the River of Life Project in Kuala Lumpur, which revitalised rivers into vibrant, economically valuable waterfronts.
ASTRICE has become a leading hub for knowledge exchange in the sewage industry.
These achievements have garnered international attention, positioning ASTRICE as a sought-after training and consulting provider for 20 organisations across countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Senegal, and various other Asian and African nations.
ASTRICE now stands as a premier hub for knowledge exchange in the sewage industry, offering a wide range of training programmes designed to meet the needs of both internal employees and external participants.
With a strong emphasis on seminars, forums, and conferences, ASTRICE is poised to establish itself as the leader in sewerage education and innovation throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Additionally, it has taken an innovative step to enhance the training experience by developing a virtual reality (VR) learning module.
This immersive approach allows participants to engage in hands-on troubleshooting and practical exercises, moving beyond traditional theoretical training methods.
How to join
To pre-register for the courses of your interest, visit ASTRICE’s landing page at https://astriceiwk.carrd.co/ and complete the online form.
Registered participants will receive a confirmation email, which includes detailed fee structures and payment deadlines.
The full-programme list can be found here
