WBS, UKM FORGE PARTNERSHIP TO EMPOWER WOMEN VIA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

SHAH ALAM, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) has today entered into a partnership with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) to develop a Professional Certificate in Women's Leadership under its Women's Leadership Academy (AKW).

This significant initiative aims to build a more competitive, progressive and inclusive ecosystem for women leaders by 2030, aligned with the statewide target of achieving 30 percent female representation in decision-making roles at all levels.

WBS chief executive officer Siti Faridah Abdul Samad said the academy will provide professionally recognised training modules to enhance women's leadership capacity in the public and private sectors, as well as within communities.

"Previously, the AKW provided courses with certificates of attendance from the state government. Now, through this collaboration with UKM, participants will receive an accredited professional certificate, which makes the programme a formally recognised qualification.

"This is in line with our objective of preparing more women to advance their careers and, in the long term, to assume the highest decision-making positions within their organisations," she said following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) here today.

The event, presided over by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, was also attended by the Women's Development and Community Welfare state exco Anfaal Saari.

In her address, Anfaal said the government will enhance the already effective AKW programme into a recognised and accredited one that meets professional benchmarks.

She explained that the Professional Certificate in Women's Leadership will provide the women of Selangor not only with knowledge but also with formal recognition, enhanced credibility and access to broader leadership opportunities.

Anfaal emphasised that the academy's effectiveness is demonstrated by the achievements of its participants, who have successfully executed high-impact fieldwork.

She concluded by affirming that education is the most powerful vehicle for empowerment, one that enables women to become not mere followers, but leaders of change.

“We can provide aid and opportunities, but when we provide education, we provide the power for an individual to stand on their own and transform their life. This is the guiding philosophy of our work in Selangor,” she said.

Earlier during the ceremony, scholarships were presented to the fourth WBS cohort, comprising six new recipients: three at Master's level and three at PhD level.

The Master's level recipients were Tengku Husni Tengku Ab Razak, Rus Minah Sukim and Rusyaidatul Zhafirah Redza, while the PhD level recipients were Nor Yasmin Salim, Norazilawati Md Azizi and Irma Syuryani Jaswir.

Since its introduction in 2021, a total of 34 women have benefited from this scholarship, with 13 from Cohorts 1 to 3 having already completed their studies.

The scholarship is focused on fields such as gender studies, women's leadership, care economy, political science, social sciences and community development studies.

WBS also launched the new logo for AKW, a design incorporating elements of elegance, resilience and vision, signifying a new phase in strengthening the identity of women leaders in line with the aspiration to cultivate high-impact leaders.

-- BERNAMA