- By the end of the year, Microsoft AI agreement will have 100 school students at the end of the year.
- Akar , a PayNet plan, creates a digital skill pipeline for the future of the financial sector.
Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd ( PayNet ), a talent provider for the financial sector, has started the second phase of its national talent development initiative Program Akar ( the Malay language word for “root” ) with a new emphasis on artificial intelligence and data science for Malaysia’s financial services industry, expanding its role in its almost eight year existence. 100 students may be chosen for the six-week programme, which PayNet will pay entirely.
The curriculum, which is supported by Microsoft’s AI for Malaysia’s Future ( AIForMYFuture ) initiative, aims to prepare university students for roles in the rapidly changing financial sector.
According to Farhan Ahmad, Group CEO of PayNet,” We view skills development as federal enhancement,” meaning that the country’s development may be hampered if it is unable to produce the talent required by industry to fuel its growth and advancement. Farhan goes on to say that” Program Akar is about preparing students for jobs, but it’s also about preparing them to direct Malaysia’s digital economy with goal.”
According to Amir Hibban, a student at Multimedia University ( MMU), the students appear ready for the challenge. He said,” Being selected for Program Akar feels like a big step forward. Sharing and being chosen is how exciting I think I feel.” Not every time you get the chance to learn from actual business leaders about AI and online payments. I’m looking forward to seeing how this will affect my future and how it will help me find a place in Malaysia’s modern economy.”
The success of the software will be determined by students ‘ ability to secure jobs or employment options in the financial services sector, according to PayNet. Plan Akar aims to strengthen Malaysia’s economic ecosystem and foster long-term economic resilience in an exceedingly AI-driven environment by connecting learners to hands-on learning, mentoring, and work placements within Malaysia’s top financial institutions.
The captain group, which includes 25 MMU students, will be Akar’s second cohort for 2025. By the end of the year, PayNet intends to expand the program to incorporate 75 more students from other regional universities.
Microsoft-related agreement focuses on AI
” AI is changing every part in every field, including economic service,” he said. By working with PayNet through Program Akar, we are assisting in the development of a century of expertise who are equipped with AI and modern skills to succeed in accordance with Microsoft’s AIForMYFuture initiative,” said Laurence Si, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia.
As part of Malaysia’s wider efforts to develop modern skills, Microsoft’s AI teaching methodologies are integrated into this second Akar. Application lovers PEOPLElogy Bhd and Futuresparx Sdn Bhd provide the system.
Microsoft, which announced its ambitious” AI for Malaysia’s Potential” action in December 2024, was a natural partner for PayNet.
comprehensive education that addresses economy requirements
Software Akar provides individuals with a three-pillar curriculum that includes:
- Values-Driven Enrichment – Fostering management, integrity, and a future-ready mentality
- Knowledge of electronic payments – covering the development of cash, banking systems, online payments, and transaction security
- AI & Data Science Mastery: combining fundamental information with critical wondering and practical applications
Following the initial cohort, which generally focused on online payments and fog technologies through a collaboration with AWS, the curriculum was developed in response to feedback from monetary industry partners.
While the pillars of the Digital Payment Knowledge and AI & Data Science Mastery are visible areas of focus, Jun Maria Tan Abdullah, Senior Director of Program Akar, noted that the value of the values-driven element:” Critical thinking is vital. The students must be more imaginative and strategic because they will learn it quickly after they receive it. We must not only concentrate on the systems, but also on developing their strength skills to be more holistic.
For the July 2024 group of 50 technology and IT students from the Kuala Lumpur-based Asia Pacific University of Technology &,  , Innovation ( APU), who were chosen through an analysis and discussion process, were chosen. The plan included 45 days of online learning, two days of physical education, and 47 days of training with  . Finally, they completed a three-month internship with monetary institutions throughout the nation. According to APU, the fully funded training cost US$ 2, 743 ( RM12, 000 ) for each student.  ,
Selection procedure for individuals
Malaysian Bachelor’s Degree learners in their final or last year are eligible to enroll in the system and seek internship or job placement opportunities. Candidates may fulfill a certain set of requirements:
- Minimum CGPA of 3.00
- Now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer technology, or other technology-related fields.
Candidates who qualify pass both professional and cognitive tests to assess both their technical and soft skills.
Transactions processed by PayNet, Malaysia’s national payment system, totaling US$ 1.4 trillion ( RM 6.1 trillion ), or 3.3 times GDP, are processed annually. Services like DuitNow, JomPAY, and MyDebit, which are a key component of regular financial deals in the nation, are included in the ecosystem’s retail payment habitat. Additionally, the business is in charge of Malaysia’s real-time financial QR payment system, which is compatible with techniques in Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Dashveenjit Kaur contributed to the post.