BELIA GENERASI SELANGOR @ UIS TARGETS SOCIAL MOBILITY, ADDRESSES YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

BANGI, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- The Belia Generasi Selangor @ Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS) initiative has been introduced to enhance social mobility among youth in Selangor through industry-based training, aimed at addressing unemployment and skills mismatch in the job market.

The initiative, organised by UIS in strategic collaboration with DHS Hospitality Academy Sdn Bhd, Akademi Hospitaliti Daya Siswa (ADHS) and McDonald’s Malaysia, with the support of Yayasan Selangor, is a fully sponsored hospitality programme targeting youths aged 17 to 25, and is open to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders, youths who did not complete SPM, unemployed graduates, as well as individuals from the B40 and M40 income groups.

McDonald’s Malaysia senior vice president Azhar Darbi said the company is a key strategic partner in the initiative, providing up to 2,000 placement opportunities annually to programme participants.

Azhar, who is also McDonald’s Malaysia’s chief people officer, said participants would be offered the opportunity to enrol in the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3 programme in food preparation, with all costs - including monthly allowances, placement and tuition fees - fully borne by the company.

“Upon completing SKM Level 3, participants may choose to further their studies at UIS, with full sponsorship from McDonald’s for those who qualify and excel, or proceed to the Malaysian Skills Diploma, with opportunities to subsequently pursue a bachelor’s degree at UIS,” he said at the programme’s press conference here today.

Also present were UIS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Farid Ravi Abdullah, Yayasan Selangor chief executive officer Raja Nazirin Shah Raja Mohamad, and DHS Hospitality Academy Sdn Bhd group director Dr S. Sri Kumar.

Meanwhile, Mohd Farid Ravi said the programme was designed to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and youth employability, particularly in the hospitality and food service sectors, which require a workforce equipped with practical operational skills rather than solely theoretical knowledge.

He said UIS leverages the institution’s strengths through a comprehensive training ecosystem encompassing facilities, teaching staff, accommodation, as well as personal and career development modules. The approach aims to ensure that participants not only secure employment but also benefit from a structured career development pathway that supports social mobility and improved living standards.

He added that the programme’s first intake is scheduled for March, with a registration fee of RM200 for eligible participants.

“We want participants, parents and guardians to understand that this programme is not merely a course, but a structured pathway from training to employment, supported by industry partners who are genuinely prepared to accept participants and guide them to the next level,” he said.

On a related note, Raja Nazirin Shah described the programme as an important initiative in addressing student dropout issues and the future prospects of youths, particularly in Selangor, noting concerns over the number of students who did not sit for the SPM examination last year.

“We are very grateful that UIS has come forward with this initiative as it creates space for long-term solutions to the challenges faced by student dropouts and graduates who lack clear career pathways,” he said.

-- BERNAMA