Celcom now a partner in MDeC’s eUsahawan programme

• To build 4G LTE sites and offer customised packages for eUsahawan campuses
• Programme aims to bring digital entrepreneurship skills into TVET curricula

CELCOM Axiata Bhd said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia’s national ICT custodian Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDeC) which will see it becoming the digital partner for the latter’s eUsahawan programme.
 
eUsahawan aims to bring digital entrepreneurship skills into the curricula of local Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, for both faculty and students. ‘Usahawan’ is Malay for ‘entrepreneur.’
 
Under the MoU, Celcom will be extending its 4G (Fourth Generation) network coverage further into TVET campuses, the company said in a statement.
 
Initially, 34 polytechnic institutions across Malaysia will become Celcom’s 4G LTE sites, which is expected not to solely benefit the students, but the surrounding community as well, it added. The company did not say how much it would be investing in this.
 
“We applaud MDeC’s initiatives in introducing eUsahawan as the platform in cultivating more skilful youth by building a base for their readiness towards digital entrepreneurship,” said Celcom chief executive officer Shazalli Ramly.
 
“The prominence of an enabler in digitalising these budding entrepreneurs however, cannot be denied … it is only appropriate for Celcom to walk the journey towards digitalisation together with MDeC,” he added.

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Celcom said it will also expand its connectivity services by covering more campuses with the installation of WiFi infrastructure in the institutions. Over 300, 000 TVET students in 462 institutions including universities and colleges will be able to enjoy better connectivity.
 
The MoU will also see Celcom providing SIM cards customised for eUsahawan students, as well as phone or tablet bundled packages. In the meantime, Celcom’s online platform, Escape, will be incorpoarted as a tool in the eUsahawan online learning syllabus.
 
Aspiring entrepreneurs will also be able to use Celcom’s online marketplace, 11street, as a part of their eUsahawan project.
 
11street Malaysia is hosted by Celcom Planet, a joint venture between Celcom and SK Planet, the Korean e-commerce open marketplace provider and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SK Telecom.
 
“To successfully roll out the eUsahawan programme, MDeC needs to create and grow a robust enabling ecosystem, and one way is through public-private partnerships such as this,” said MDeC chief executive officer Yasmin Mahmood.
 
“The connectivity by Celcom will not only allow the eUsahawan participants provide better service to their customers, but also help them be more efficient in managing their business.
 
“The success of this programme will see our young entrepreneurs evolve from job seekers to job creators, and in turn, contribute to the country’s digital economy,” she added.
 
eUsahawan kicked off in July 2015, designed and according to MDeC, 3,000 full-time students have been exposed in the pilot stage of the integrated curriculum designed by MDeC and partnering institutions.
 
Also, 77% of the students who managed to generate sales via online platforms collectively made RM1.3 million in sales, over six months.
 
In the pilot stage as well, 259 micro entrepreneurs participated in ‘pocket-sized’ weekend classes and collectively generated RM2.37 million additional sales via online platforms over seven months.
 
 Similar pocket-sized courses are currently being offered to micro entrepreneurs via selected TVETs nationwide, MDeC said.
 
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