Industrial Talk Report “Global Online Workforce”
My Technology and Information System’s mates and I were at Dewan Seminar for Industrial Talk by MDEC. This talk is basically for my TIS Industrial Talk Individual Report which need to be submitted exactly on 7 October 2018. Now, Let’s start by, what is MDEC?
MDEC is actually stand for Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn. Bhd. which is the holistic, government-owned agency. It was launched in 1996 to pioneer the transformation of Malaysia’s digital economy. Based on MDEC portal, MDEC pursues a digital future that unlocks significant economic, environmental, and social value within the nation. MDEC was entrusted to oversee the development of the MSC Malaysia initiative, the platform to nurture the growth of local tech companies whilst attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) and domestic direct investments (DDIs) from global multinational companies.
The industrial talk by MDEC is basically about their GLOW Program which represent as Global Online Workforce. According to the brochure, Global Online Workforce is a program that regenerating digital revenue for Malaysian citizen through the “crowdsourcing” method. Crowdsourcing? Crowdsourcing is digital revenue method where work is offered and implemented digitally in the global platform.
Executive Summary
This talk is specifically about Freelancers who succeed their career just by digital platform. This talk is really interesting as it compiled all the advantages that may not be exposed to the world of how powerful the internet platform could be. MDEC also provided some programs to help those who interested and need guidance for their future work. For example, Program Glow HLI’s which is for the future graduates from Faculty of Computer Science, Faculty of Art and Design and Faculty of Education. The excited part is, there’s no fees needed to join this program and it can either be as Elective subject for one semester or Embedded. Besides, GLOW also offered Fast Track Program which is free as well as the GLOW HLI’s program but it required 10 days of online monitoring and 2 days individual mentor session. But this time, those who’d join the GLOWHLI’s Program can’t join this Fast Track Program. This means that, future graduates have to decide whether they wanted to participate in GLOWHLI’s program or Fast Track Program. Not only that freelancer, qualified graduates and skilled pensioners can join this program, but also qualified housewives and young professionals (2-3 years working). Meanwhile, employees under Human Resources Development (HRDF) can participate in this “HRDF” Program which is a paid program.
This program proposed 2 different package which is 12 days package and 14 days package. For the 12 days package with RM4500, it purveys full-time intensive training with experienced mentor, individual mentor session for 3 days and MAFA activities. Full-time intensive training with experienced mentor, group mentor 5 days session, expertise as the members of Malaysian Freelancer Association (MAFA) and MAFA activities are offered in the 14 days package with RM2500. The advantages of joining any of the program offered by GLOW are individual mentor session and online monitoring throug out the program and expertise as the members of Malaysia Freelancer Association (MAFA).
The Industrial talk by MDEC started by welcoming the audience to 2018 eRezeki talk hosted by the School of Computing University Technology Mara by the MC and give some idea on the talk that will begin real soon. The Guest Speaker of the day was described by the MC which is quite interesting that he is actually one of the Master Trainers for GLOW Centre which stands for Global Online Workforce or formerly known as eRezeki in Southern Region. The MC also mentions that our Guest Speaker will be sharing a couple of glow workshop initiative which is one of the largest programs for digital academy in Malaysia. The Guest Speaker confidently introduced himself as Encik Mohd Ihsanuddin Jamhari who prefer to be called as Coach Ihsan. He preferred to speak in Malay because he didn’t prepare for English talk, so he suggested the International Student to join the 4pm MDEC Industrial Talk which is in English. He also volunteers to share the English slides at the eLearning UTM portal. He graduated in Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with Honours at UTeM and an Alumni of UTM in Master of Education (Technical and Vocational Education). The interesting part is he does not work in engineering or education sector, he works as a Full-Time Freelancer and did not regret of his choice. What is Freelancer? Freelancer is a person who works freelance which means they work based on their service. For example, if someone good at writing, they can provide transcribing service which is converting an interview to text or proof-reading service that check grammar, spelling and vocabulary.
Skills
MDEC creates some programs for Malaysians citizen to increase digital economy as Malaysia is more to conventional economy. There are three main focus program which is eUsahawan, eRezeki and GLOW program. Coach Ihsan also mention about Sharing Economy which is an economic model based on sharing under-utilized assets from Spaces to Stuffs to Skills for monetary or non-monetary benefits.
Now, the question is who and why do we need to participate? From the brochure, I found that experienced digital workers, qualified and skilled IPTA and IPT students and qualified retrenched private workers are promoted to join this program. Not only that, qualified and skilled housewives as well as qualified and skilled pensioners are also encouraged to participate is program. But the most interesting part is qualifications and skills in IT / ICT in programming, websites, mobile applications as well as design and creativity in graphic design and multimedia for students can actually participated in this program.
Advantages and benefits of joining the program
However, the selection criteria of global online workforce (GLOW) participants should be considered. Participants should show their qualifications and skills credential such as portfolios, resumes, certificates or job assignments and have email accounts, local bank accounts, PayPal account which is global payment transaction portals and virtual communication platforms. Commitment to become an active digital worker and generating digital income as well as English language proficiency for paperwork and interaction with overseas employers is also one of the criteria needed by the GLOW participants. Furthermore, MDEC get people to join their programs using the Massa media such as tv advertisement, radio advertisement and social media For example, my sister personally joins MDEC programs after she heard the idea of MDEC it in the radio advertisement. Not only that, I get most of MDEC update from the tv advertisement such as eRezeki, eUsahawan and many more.
Next, the impact of the program to Malaysia is that it portrays a community of capable digital workers and introduce freelancing as an alternative career for Malaysians through a global digital revenue platform. Besides that, it also increases Malaysia's Gross National Index, bridging the income gap and improving standards of living.
Last but not least, I honestly think that this programs really good for students no matter what course he or she take. These refer to our digital world where people find gadgets are more interesting and communication platforms like Instagram and Facebook are really important. People takes photo before they eat, people become model through this apps, and people even become rich just because of certain platform. For example, Jeff Bezos who is the owner of amazon that became one of the richest people in the world just by the amazon. He did not sell anything but he got rich because he provided a platform called amazon for people to sell things. This encourage me to be creative, think out of the box and make innovation as well as what Jeff Benzos did. However, when it comes to future work of a student, it’s so scary that most of unemployed people is graduated students.
To be frank, I really afraid of what’s coming, the fact that digital nowadays have gone too far as even the McDonalds used tickets and touch screen gadgets to pay for our orders and fewer workers needed at certain job such as cashiers. But, after I join this Industrial Talk, it helps me to get the idea of my future works which involved my Data Engineering course. I can be rich just by the digital platforms, digital applications and even data analysis employee which might be needed in certain company. As this program guarantee that students who join will become a better freelancer in the future, I can’t wait to participate on their upcoming programs. I believed that most students will have the same thoughts as mine.
