Malaysia deepens national AI partnership with Microsoft, expanding nationwide AI skilling

• Initiative expands AI skilling across educators, MSMEs and public sector
• Programme builds on Microsoft’s track record, reaching 80,000 learners in pilot phase

Malaysia’s Ministry of Digital and Microsoft has announced the launch of Microsoft Elevate, an expanded national AI capacity-building initiative to strengthen Malaysia’s AI readiness, aligned with the country’s AI Nation 2030 ambitions.

Officiated by minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo, the partnership broadens Malaysia’s AI skilling agenda to include educators, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), retired servicemen and women, learning institutions and members of the civil service. Delivered in partnership with the National AI Office (NAIO), Sekretariat Majlis TVET Negara, alongside Biji-biji Initiative and Mereka, the initiative reflects a coordinated effort to prepare all segments of Malaysian society for the AI era.

Microsoft Elevate aims to reach learners across Malaysia through a phased roadmap to 2030, progressing from skilling and workforce activation to sector deepening and long-term sustainability. The pilot phase, launched in January, has reached 80,000 learners to date.

This builds on Microsoft’s support for Malaysia’s digital and AI development, including skilling 800,000 Malaysians through its AIForMYFuture initiative and 1.53 million through the Bersama Malaysia initiative across cloud, AI and cybersecurity.

Gobind said, “As Malaysia accelerates its ambition to become a regional AI hub, building digital capabilities that reach every segment of society is essential. Achieving meaningful progress requires strong collaboration between the public and private sectors. We welcome Microsoft Elevate, supported by NAIO and Sekretariat Majlis TVET Negara and implemented by Biji-biji Initiative and Mereka, to strengthen AI readiness and digital inclusion, ensuring Malaysians from all walks of life are ready to participate in an AI-driven future.”

As organisations adopt AI-enabled ways of working, the strength of Malaysia’s future workforce will depend on how skills are developed early, consistently and in line with real-world demands.

Malaysia’s AI Nation 2030 vision recognises that becoming an AI-driven nation requires not only technology adoption but also people who can use AI confidently, institutions that can deploy it responsibly and ecosystems that translate capability into impact. This requires a coordinated, cross-sector approach involving ministries, agencies and partners to reach key segments of society:

• Educators and learning institutions: Teachers across K-12, TVET, community colleges and universities gain practical, role-based AI skills to integrate AI into teaching, curriculum design and student engagement.
• Micro, small and medium enterprises: Businesses will receive targeted AI literacy and productivity training to adopt AI tools for operations, customer engagement and competitiveness.
• Retired servicemen and women: Veterans transitioning into civilian roles or community leadership will gain foundational AI skills, ensuring they remain active contributors to Malaysia’s economic and social development.
• Institutional leaders and management: Heads of schools, TVET institutions, government agencies and community organisations will be equipped to lead AI adoption within their institutions – setting policies, establishing norms and driving responsible implementation from the top down. 
• Students and youth: Young Malaysians across K-12 and TVET institutions gain foundational and applied AI skills matched to real-world needs, building the talent pipeline for Malaysia’s AI-driven economy. 

Rashvin Pal Singh, group CEO of Biji-biji Initiative and Mereka, said, “For AI to create impact, it must reach classrooms and communities in practical and accessible ways. Through Microsoft Elevate, we are working with the National AI Office and Sekretariat Majlis TVET Negara to translate AI into everyday practice in ways that are inclusive and relevant. This initiative represents an important step in ensuring that no one is left behind as Malaysia builds its AI-ready future.”

Dr Jasmine Begum, general manager, legal and government affairs, Microsoft Asean, said, “AI delivers value when people understand how to use it meaningfully and responsibly. Microsoft Elevate is designed to build capabilities at scale, supporting communities, enterprises and public sector institutions to adopt AI confidently and responsibly. Through these programmes, we aim to ensure Malaysia’s AI ambitions are realised in a way that delivers long-term impact, enabling more people to gain the skills, access and support they need to thrive in the AI economy.”

Microsoft Elevate is a global initiative aimed at equipping communities with AI skills, knowledge and tools. It is being rolled out across Southeast Asia and beyond, supporting governments and institutions as they prepare people for an AI-powered economy.

For more information, please visit: https://microsoftelevate.biji-biji.com