Malaysia will extend its flagship National Training Week (NTW) to citizens of all ASEAN member states for the first time, offering access to more than 65,000 free courses both online and nationwide from June 14 to 21, 2025.
The move comes under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and marks a regional milestone in skills development cooperation.
NTW 2025 serves as the centrepiece of the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS), a Malaysian-led initiative aimed at making ASEAN the world’s most skilled region.
It is expected to engage at least five million participants across the bloc, with an estimated training value of over USD600 million.
The initiative is spearheaded by Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources, through the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), and features contributions from major global and regional institutions including Microsoft, Udemy, Awantec, and Alibaba Cloud.
Courses span a broad range of growth areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, green technology, leadership, and soft skills.
NTW is designed to be the largest and most inclusive training initiative in Southeast Asia, supporting workforce development through both digital and in-person formats.
The programme was launched during the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium (AHCDIS) in Kuala Lumpur, which convened over 300 participants from government, industry, labour groups, and multilateral agencies.
Speakers emphasised the need for coordinated investments in workforce skills aligned with broader economic and development strategies.
Regional and international institutions including the ASEAN Secretariat and the International Labour Organization (ILO) endorsed the initiative, citing its potential to drive inclusive growth and resilience.
NTW complements a series of regional forums and conferences scheduled under AYOS throughout the year, positioning Malaysia as a leading voice in human capital development.
The expanded NTW offering underscores Malaysia’s strategic intent to move ASEAN beyond traditional manufacturing and towards higher-value, innovation-driven industries by equipping its workforce with future-ready capabilities.
Business News Asia