The youths of today are the workforce of tomorrow, and stepping into a professional industry like Information Technology requires a solid foundation in essential skill sets. Recognising that high school leavers from B40 communities often lean towards the gig economy over professional careers due to limited opportunities, Arvato Systems Malaysia has since launched the TechTrekkers program to address this challenge.
The TechTrekkers initiative, part of Arvato Systems Malaysia’s Corporate Responsibility pillar focused on Social Responsibility, is tailored to help school leavers develop valuable skill sets and enhance their employability in the knowledge economy. This program provides insight into the IT industry and equips students with fundamental computing skills, motivating them to consider a career in Information Technology.
According to Benjamin Dorsch, Managing Director of Arvato Systems Malaysia, “Through TechTrekkers, we aim to create a future talent pipeline that meets the demands of the IT industry that hopefully addresses the skills shortage in the workforce. By providing training and education in these areas, we hope to bridge the skills gap and ensure that our youths are futureproofed for the jobs of the future.
It is our humble hope that with this effort, we can empower youths to take charge of building their own future pathways and be in a position to not only change their own future but that of their family’s as well. By investing in the education and skills development of youths, we can create opportunities for economic mobility and build a workforce that is prepared for the future.”
Since June 2024, Arvato Systems Malaysia has empowered its Corporate Responsibility social group to form a TechTrekkers committee which has been instrumental in mobilising efforts under the program.
Alongside fellow Arvatorian volunteers, as employees are fondly known as, the TechTrekkers committee has committed to spending their Friday evenings, twice a month, to introduce youths under the program to basic Information Technology skills and soft skills development. The 11-week module, developed in partnership with the Local Education District (PPD Bangsar Pudu office), includes:
- Computer Fundamentals
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Introduction to Programming
- IT Security Awareness
- Soft Skills Development
- Career Guidance (catered to youths aged 16 and above)
Youths from the program included students from Mary’s Orphanage, an existing partner of Arvato Systems Malaysia’s Corporate Responsibility social group, as well as a total of five national public schools (Sekolah Kebangsaan) in the Kuala Lumpur region. These five schools —SMK Seri Permaisuri, SMK Cheras, SMK Seri Tasik, SMK Bandar Tun Razak, and SMK Cochrane— were all linked to Arvato Systems Malaysia through the PPD Bangsar Pudu.
The program, which culminated on 11 October 2024, was recognized by the Ministry of Education Malaysia with a corporation certificate that highlights the initiative in alignment of the Ministry’s Future Marketplace Program 2024 in two areas:
- Delivering digital proficiency training, such as website design and development, to students from selected secondary schools within the PPD Bangsar/Pudu district.
- Providing human skills training and career guidance to assist students in identifying job opportunities aligned with their IT skills.
Through TechTrekkers, the team collectively hopes to make a lasting impact on the lives of youths, ensuring the initiative remains a sustainable Corporate Responsibility program that equips students with foundational IT skills and inspires them to pursue IT careers.
