Petronas BeDigital Bootcamp aims to elevate students’ digital literacy in S’wak

KUCHING (Aug 10): The Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) BeDigital Bootcamp eighth cohort in Sarawak aims to enhance the digital literacy of local undergraduates to boost their employability and meet the demands of both current and future job markets.

The digital skills empowerment programme, which is aligned with the digital economy aspirations of Sarawak and the nation, saw participation from 99 students across seven universities and was supported by 24 hiring partners.

Petronas senior vice president of project delivery and technology Mohd Yusri Mohamed Yusof highlighted the bootcamp is continually updated to align with global joy demands while exposing students to technologies and careers that could be pivotal in the future.

“We have witnessed the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and an increasing demand for cybersecurity in recent years. Through the BeDigital Bootcamp, we are equipping our local undergraduates with the necessary digital and entrepreneurial skills to explore these fields, enabling them to chart their own career paths in a highly competitive market.

“By doing this, we hope our participants will not only succeed professionally but also contribute actively to the growth of Sarawak and the nation,” he said during the programme’s closing ceremony at a hotel here on Friday.

Mohd Yusri also emphasised Petronas’ commitment to securing a prosperous future for Sarawak by investing in its youth and providing them with top-tier educational resources.

The BeDigital Bootcamp modules are designed to enhance students’ job prospects, imiprove their marketability and explore digital entrepreneurship and include in-demand digital skills such as AI and cybersecurity as well as presentation skills honed through a shark tank pitch experience.

The 12-day programme, held at Swinburne  University of Technology Sarawak campus, featured these modules to provide a comprehensive skill set for the participants.

Launched in Kota Kinabalu in 2022, the BeDigital Bootcamp will soon expand to the southern and northern regions of Peninsula.

To date, over 600 students from 16 local universities across Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah, and Sarawak have participated in the bootcamp.

This cohort’s Female Best Camper award went to Kuching’s own Audrey Stefanie Julip, 24, who also received two employment offers from JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration (JX Nippon) and PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) following her outstanding performance in the bootcamp.

“I genuinely did not expect it,” the Bidayuh lass told reporters, adding she had anticipated an offer from PTTEP but not from JX Nippon.

Audrey shared she gave her best during the interview to showcase her potential.

“Knowing these companies are eager to cultivate younger minds and bring them into the industry made  me want to put myself out there so they could see the potential in the younger generation,” she said.

When asked about the possibility of being assigned out of Kuching or Sarawak, the Chemical Engineering major remained optimistic despite the potential challenge of being far from home.

“I believe in broadening my horizons. I have been in Kuching my entire life and if I have the opportunity to work outside of Kuching or even Malaysia, it would be a great chance for me to gain broader experience especially in the chemical engineering industry,” she said.

Also present was Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.