National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR Limited) expanded its international collaboration through a new partnership Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), Malaysia.
The aim of the partnership is to develop railway skills curriculum for professional certificates, as well as to establish the latest railway technology training facilities for rail industry players such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), computer-based training (CBT), virtual classroom in order to facilitate, upgrade and expedite the process of up-skilling, re-skilling, occupational analysis, supply and demand mapping and others.
Witnessed by the Malaysian Minister of Transport, Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Ir Dr. Wee Ka Siong, his counterpart the UK Minister of State for Transport, Chris Heaton-Harris and the British High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Malaysia, His Excellency Charles Hay, the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) was held at Ministry of Transport (MOT) Malaysia, through a virtual meeting.
The agreement was penned by Chief Executive Officer KTMB, Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin, whilst NSAR Limited was represented by Mr. Neil Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of NSAR.
NSAR was established to enable the sector to deliver a modern and efficient, world class railway through the development of a high skilled and productive workforce.
National Rail Centre of Excellence (NRCOE) has been established under purview of MOT to spearhead the development in railway industry, including education and training within railway sector by continues engagement with academics, training providers and certification bodies, both local and abroad.
Malaysian Railway Academy (MyRA), the Human Capital Development (HCD) arm of KTMB and a locally accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre, trains 10,000 staffs and third parties annually in the field of train operations & traffic control, track safety, rolling stocks & railway infrastructure maintenance engineering as well as in soft skills courses directly related to rails.
Through this MoC, KTMB and NSAR steered by NRCOE, will further strengthen their cooperation as strategic partners for capability and capacity in developing professional training programme, not only for KTMB workforce, but to all rail industry in Malaysia and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Moving forward, KTMB and NSAR are highly committed to develop the human capital needs in railway sector. By nurturing more qualified and top-quality talent, they will drive productivity and improve competitiveness and ultimately enhance rail industry performance globally.
The investment made by the Government will ensure Malaysia receives the full economic benefit in rail and infrastructure development. The MoC is valid for three years; but may be extended upon agreement by both parties.