IBM and Biji-biji Initiative to equip 41,000 Malaysians with AI and digital skills

IBM Malaysia, through its IBM SkillsBuild programme, has partnered with Malaysian social impact organisation Biji-biji Initiative (BBI) to provide free artificial intelligence (AI) and digital skills training to 41,000 students, youth and adult learners across Malaysia by the end of 2026.

The initiative is supported by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and forms part of IBM’s broader collaboration with MyDigital Corporation under the Rakyat Digital initiative. T

he programme is aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) talent pipeline and improving access to digital career opportunities.

The collaboration combines IBM SkillsBuild’s free AI and digital learning resources with BBI’s community reach and industry engagement. It will focus on two talent development tracks designed to connect learners with technology skills and potential employment opportunities.

The first track will introduce high school students to AI fundamentals through structured learning that combines theoretical knowledge with real-world industry use cases. The programme is intended to expose students to emerging technologies at an early stage and support the development of an AI-ready talent pipeline.

The second track will focus on TVET learners and adult workforce participants, with training in areas including Agentic AI, software development and web development. BBI will also organise an industry symposium to showcase technology talent from TVET institutions to IBM’s clients and partners, with the aim of strengthening connections between trained workers and potential employers.

The partnership comes as Malaysia continues to expand efforts to develop AI and digital capabilities across its workforce. IBM said the collaboration contributes to its global commitment to equip 30 million people with skills by 2030, including two million learners in AI by the end of 2026.

IBM is also collaborating with MyDigital Corporation through the Rakyat Digital initiative to expand access to digital and AI skills among Malaysians. The partnership is aligned with Malaysia’s wider digitalisation agenda and its ambition to develop an inclusive and sustainable AI ecosystem by 2030.

According to IBM’s 2026 CEO Study, 77% of surveyed CEOs believe talent and technology leadership roles are converging. 

The finding points to the growing importance of aligning workforce development with technology adoption as organisations seek to capture the value of AI.

“Artificial intelligence is becoming a key driver of innovation, productivity, and economic growth. Expanding access to quality AI and digital skills development is therefore essential to ensuring that all Malaysians can participate meaningfully in the digital economy,” said Gobind Singh Deo, Malaysia’s Minister of Digital.

He added that the IBM-Biji-biji Initiative collaboration complements the country’s digital agenda and supports its aspiration to become an AI Nation by 2030.

Ts. Dr. Azmir Yunus, Head of Secretariat, National TVET Council of Malaysia, said the partnership supports the national TVET agenda by ensuring that skills development responds to changing industry requirements, particularly in high-growth areas such as AI and digital technologies.

Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility, said expanding access to practical AI education would be important as AI changes the skills required across industries.

Rashvin Pal Singh, Group CEO of Biji-biji Initiative, said the organisation's focus was on connecting education and skills development with industry requirements and employment opportunities.

IBM SkillsBuild is a free education programme offering courses and learning resources in areas including AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analysis and cloud computing. Its online platform offers more than 1,000 courses in 20 languages, alongside workplace skills such as design thinking. Learners can also earn IBM-branded digital credentials.

The IBM-Biji-biji Initiative collaboration is expected to expand access to technology training while strengthening links between education, workforce development and industry demand as Malaysia continues its digital transformation.