Malaysia, November 27, 2024 – The 8th ICDL Asia Digital Literacy Day, hosted this year by Multimedia University (MMU) and CNERGY in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, concluded with resounding success.
Drawing over 300 attendees from 15+ countries across the Asia Pacific region, this 2-day conference, themed “Enhancing Digital Skills for AI Driven Transformation” offered a pivotal platform for civil servants, academic leaders, industry experts, and training providers to advocate for the critical importance of digital literacy and digital upskilling in today’s technology-driven world.
Distinguished guests included YBhg. Mr. Fabian Bigar, Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital Malaysia, Her Excellency Orla Tunney, Ambassador of Ireland to Malaysia, Professor Dato’ Dr. Mazliham Mohd Su’ud, President & CEO of Multimedia University, and Mr. Damien O’Sullivan, CEO of ICDL Foundation. Their presence underscored the event’s significance in driving digital growth across Malaysia and throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Day 1 – Digital Transformation Highlights and Educators’ Showcase
The first day of this conference underlined the crucial role of digital skills in education, and the importance of partnerships in ensuring sustainable digital transformation. The sessions demonstrated how technology is catalysing progress across diverse sectors with representatives from Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) sharing success stories to inspire the audience, highlighting initiatives that are propelling Malaysia’s digital economy forward.
Spotlight on Sustainable Partnerships
Yayasan TM and CNERGY showcased case studies from their impactful partnership in implementing ICDL programmes across a scholarship initiative for deserving Malaysian students, emphasising collaboration as a cornerstone of advancing digital literacy and inclusion in society.
Educators’ Showcase Session
Another highlight of the day was the Educators’ Showcase Session, where four selected winners of the inaugural ICDL Digital Educators’ Awards presented their innovative pedagogical approaches. They shared best practices for leveraging ICT to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment, demonstrating how digital tools may improve educational outcomes and support the diverse learning needs of their students, thus raising the overall quality of education.
Day 2 – Best Practices and Workforce Transformation
The second day of this conference featured a Best Practices Sharing Session with insights from representatives of academic institutions, enterprises and industry associations, showcasing how digital upskilling supports the empowerment of their students and staff, leading to the growth and success of their respective organisations.
This year’s lineup included esteemed speakers from Marshall Cavendish Education (Singapore), EMG Education (Vietnam), Jiangsu Province Nanjing Engineering Higher Vocational College (China), CNERGY (Malaysia), Thailand Professional Qualification Institute, and the Digital Council of Thailand. Each speaker emphasised the role of digital literacy in driving not just organizational, but also national and regional transformation, sharing how ICDL has supported their initiatives.
Digital Skills for Employability
Experts from TalentCorp (Malaysia), Singapore National Employers Federation, Employers’ Confederation of Thailand, and YiCai Business School (China) shared their insights on how digital skills are critical in boosting employability and driving workforce transformation. These industry leaders presented solutions to workforce challenges and highlighted strategies for equipping individuals to meet the evolving demands of the digital economy. Their perspectives underscored the role of digital proficiency in addressing talent gaps and fostering a future-ready workforce.
Celebrating Achievements in Digital Literacy
ICDL Asia announced the winners of the ICDL Asia Digital Challenge 2024, an annual student competition highlighting the practical application of digital skills across the fields of business, design, and emerging technologies. This year, over 10,000 students from 14 territories participated in a transformative journey that culminated during this conference.
The ICDL Asia Partner Awards 2024 were also presented during this conference, to recognize and celebrate the achievements of ICDL partners that have significantly contributed to bridging the digital skills gap and advancing digital literacy across the Asia Pacific region.
In conclusion, the 7th ICDL Asia Digital Literacy Day held in Malaysia has left a lasting impact, fostering conversations on digital skills and innovation amongst all stakeholders in attendance. With the generous support of sponsors including Enterprise Ireland, Siemens, and Skillsbox, as well as co-hosts Multimedia University and CNERGY, the event’s success sets the stage for further progress next year.
Stay tuned for more updates and photos on our website and social media pages. We look forward to welcoming you to #DLDay2025 as we continue accelerating digital literacy and embracing the opportunities in the digital era.