PERMATANG PAUH — National Training Week (NTW) 2026 concluded its fourth annual edition having logged nearly 675,000 participations nationwide, establishing the state-backed upskilling initiative as a primary driver for Malaysia’s workforce modernization goals.
Speaking at the NTW 2026 Grand Finale held at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Penang Branch, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan highlighted the program as a vital platform for citizens—particularly youth—to enhance their technical capabilities in response to shifting global market demands.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, alongside Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) leadership.
Record Reach Across Demographics
Organized jointly by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and KESUMA, the week-long national drive ran from July 20 to July 26 under the theme “Learn. Grow. Elevate.”
Data released by event organizers revealed broad participation metrics across rural and urban centers:
- Courses & Providers: 1,619 registered training providers delivered 8,682 free physical and virtual courses.
- Total Participations: 674,818 enrollments were logged nationwide by July 24.
- Demographic Range: Participants ranged from ages 3 to 89, covering workers, students, homemakers, and retirees.
Course offerings spanned technical and professional disciplines, including AI prompting, drone piloting, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and automotive maintenance.
Upskilling to Support High-Income Ambitions
Addressing attendees in Permatang Pauh, Ramanan stated that continuous skill acquisition is essential to ensuring Malaysian workers remain competitive as the nation moves closer to high-income status.
“A country’s greatest asset is its human resources. Pushing for continuous workforce upskilling is no longer optional; it is a necessity to ensure our people remain relevant in current and emerging economic sectors,” Ramanan said.
HRD Corp Chief Executive Officer Datuk Shahul Dawood confirmed that the agency will continue expanding strategic public-private partnerships beyond the event to maintain free, year-round access to professional development programs across all state sectors.
