BUILDING a future-ready workforce by embedding digital and artificial intelligence (AI) competencies throughout the education system should be among Sarawak’s top priorities as it advances towards becoming a developed state by 2030, according to education experts and community leaders.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) senior lecturer at the Faculty of Language and Communication, Chuah Kee Man, said Sarawak’s long-term competitiveness will depend on how effectively it prepares its people for an increasingly digital and knowledge-driven economy.
“Digital and AI competencies should become core skills alongside communication and critical thinking because they will underpin almost every profession in the future,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Chuah said these competencies should be strengthened across the entire education ecosystem, from schools and universities to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), to ensure graduates possess skills that remain relevant in the future workforce.
He added that stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry is equally important to narrow the gap between classroom learning and workplace demands.
Students, he said, should receive greater exposure to real working environments through internships, industry-led projects and work-integrated learning programmes so they graduate with the practical skills employers are seeking.
Beyond curriculum improvements, Chuah said equitable access to quality education remains crucial, particularly for rural communities.
He called for continued investment in digital infrastructure and teacher development to ensure students across Sarawak have equal opportunities to benefit from quality education.
“As industries evolve more quickly, people need opportunities to reskill throughout their careers rather than relying on a single qualification,” he said.
He said flexible upskilling and lifelong learning initiatives would help Sarawakians remain competitive in a rapidly changing labour market while improving their quality of life.
Looking ahead, Chuah believes Sarawak should harness AI in sectors where it already enjoys strategic advantages, including renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare and environmental management.
“AI creates the greatest value when it addresses real local challenges rather than simply adopting new technology,” he said.
He also urged the state to strengthen its innovation ecosystem by investing in research, start-ups and local talent, saying a resilient knowledge economy is built on developing local ideas and solutions rather than depending primarily on foreign technologies.
Echoing the importance of talent development, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) president Rizzo Mungka Rechie said the state’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) has laid a strong foundation for improving access to higher education.
He said the next step should be ensuring graduates are equipped with industry-recognised professional qualifications that meet the demands of Sarawak’s expanding economy.
“To fully maximise this historic foundation and align with the state’s drive to produce skilled workers under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, the next priority must be fast-tracking graduates into highly skilled professionals through certifications under statutory bodies such as the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM),” he said.
Rizzo said structured apprenticeships and on-the-job training programmes would better prepare graduates for careers in industrial development, green energy and digital industries while future-proofing Sarawak’s workforce.
He also advocated combining professional certification with technology-driven commercial agriculture to develop a new generation of high-value agropreneurs and reduce the wealth gap between urban and rural communities.
To improve opportunities for Dayak youth and graduates, Rizzo proposed expanding targeted bursaries for micro-credentials and professional accreditations, alongside establishing more rural digital innovation hubs.
He said such initiatives would enable rural youth to participate in the global digital and gig economy without leaving their hometowns.
Rizzo also proposed establishing a dedicated Dayak Start-Up Fund backed by corporate mentorship to encourage graduates to become entrepreneurs and competitive local vendors.
“This would provide graduates with the confidence and support needed to move from being job seekers to job creators who can generate wealth within their own communities,” he said.
Looking towards the next decade, Rizzo said Sarawak should leverage its growing position in green energy and digital transformation by placing professionally certified Dayak talent into global supply chains, carbon markets and advanced industries.
He added that the Dayak community’s close connection with Sarawak’s natural resources provides unique opportunities for BEM-registered engineers and MBOT-certified technologists to lead in green technology, carbon trading and environmental sciences.
Rizzo also said digital trade and remote technology-based employment could enable rural communities to market local products globally while allowing professionals to build successful careers without relocating to urban centres.
“Our goal is to ensure Dayak professionals remain globally competitive while contributing meaningfully to a high-income Sarawak where no community is left behind,” he said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Pantai Damai Branch Youth Wing, Nur Ashniza Ashwin Usin, said the state government should prioritise creating quality employment opportunities, addressing rising living costs and making home ownership more affordable.
She said PCDS 2030 had established a strong foundation through investments in strategic sectors, but the focus should now be on ensuring these developments translate into well-paying jobs for Sarawakians.
“The next step is to ensure these investments create more quality, well-paying job opportunities for Sarawakians,” she said.
Nur Ashniza said while many young people are employed, some continue to face financial challenges due to the rising cost of living, with some taking on additional part-time work to make ends meet.
She said strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), digital skills, entrepreneurship and industry-linked training would help youth seize opportunities created by Sarawak’s growing economy.
“At the same time, development must remain inclusive by ensuring rural youth have equal access to quality education, digital connectivity, healthcare and employment opportunities so that no one is left behind,” she said.
Looking ahead, Nur Ashniza said Sarawak should continue investing in high-growth sectors such as renewable energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), tourism, agrotechnology and creative industries, which have the potential to create high-income jobs for young Sarawakians.
She also called for stronger support for entrepreneurship through funding, mentorship and start-up ecosystems to equip youth with future-ready skills and create pathways between education and industry.
“My aspiration is to see a Sarawak that is progressive, inclusive and united, where every young person has the opportunity to succeed regardless of their background or where they come from.
“By creating meaningful opportunities here at home, our young people can build successful careers and make a lasting impact without having to look elsewhere,”she said.
