WORKFORCE PRODUCTIVITY AND PROSPERITY THROUGH AI-DRIVEN, PRO-GROWTH POLICIES

Venue: Taipei City
Date: July 21, 2026

The Department of Skills Development (DSD) was officially represented by Dr. Nor Salwa binti Hamdan, Senior Principal Assistant Director of the Information Management Unit (Planning, Development and International Division), at the APEC Workshop on Advancing Workforce Productivity and Prosperity Through AI-Driven, Pro-Growth Policies.
The two-day international workshop was organized by the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG) and took place from 21 to 22 July 2026 in Taipei City.

The workshop convened representatives, experts, and policymakers across APEC member economies to exchange insights, practical strategies, and policy approaches on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance workforce productivity, improve job quality, ensure workplace safety, and foster overall workforce readiness amid rapid technological transitions.

Key Takeaways and Strategic Follow-up for DSD

Based on sessions and best practices shared during the workshop, several strategic initiatives were identified to strengthen Malaysia's skills development framework:

• Strengthening NOSS as a National Skills Language:

  Exploring approaches to broaden the role of the National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS) as a common competency reference language bridging jobs, skills, training, certification, and industry needs, including enhancing skills data interoperability.

• Dynamic, Data-Driven NOSS Development:

  Establishing a data-driven NOSS review mechanism utilizing industry demand indicators, emerging technology trends, and graduate outcomes to strategically prioritize, update, and develop new standards.

• Integrating AI Competencies into Work Activities:

  Identifying occupations impacted by AI advancements and embedding "AI-assisted competencies" into relevant work activities, while continuing to emphasize task-based training and human professional judgment.

Through active engagement in multilateral platforms such as APEC HRDWG, DSD continues to align national TVET standards and digital skills policies with regional benchmarks to cultivate a highly competitive and future-ready workforce

Reported by : Dr. Nor Salwa binti Hamdan

APEC WORKSHOP:  "Enhancing The Cross-Border Development of Skilled Professionals Across the APEC Region"

Venue: Video Conference

Date: January 27, 2023

This online workshop seeks to promote the further development and utilization of skilled professionals across the APEC region. Good practices were shared on cross-border initiatives and measures by the government and private sector to develop skilled professionals through education, training and the creation of new job opportunities.

These initiatives were conducted due to the demand for skilled professionals is expected to grow over the course of the APEC region’s recovery from the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is because, skilled professionals are key to growth and innovation in a diverse set of industries and business sectors, such as the fields of digitization and supply chain management.

Attended by : Mdm. Meena a/p Ramalingam

> Webinar Input

Virtual Workshop - Life-Long-Learning and Skilling:

Creating Onramps for Unemployed and Displaced Adults to Access Upskilling and Reskilling Opportunities

Venue: Video Conference

Date: August 3 & 5, 2022

The APEC Life‐Long Learning and Skilling project focuses on helping economies develop policies and practices for re‐engaging and supporting unemployed and displaced workers in accessing life‐long learning, credentialing, skilling, and training opportunities. It is designed to help economies improve their processes to identify and conduct outreach to displaced and unemployed workers and then support these adults to pursue opportunities that will lead to re‐employment. This project will bring experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders together from member economies to share practices and models of successful cross‐sector partnerships. Participants are helping in developing policy outcomes and identifying best practices to be incorporated in a final guide document.

Attended by : Ts. Ramzi bin Dol @ Abdul Wahid 

> Agenda

Series of Informative Webinars for the APEC Life-long Learning and Skilling Project

Venue: Video Conference

Webinar #1: Innovative Policies

Date: May 4, 2022

Attended by :

1) Mdm. Meena a/p Ramalingam

Webinar #2: Community Colleges

Date: June 1, 2022

Attended by :

1) Mdm. Nurhayati Binti Niyaz

Webinar #3: Partnerships for Success

Date: June 14, 2022

Attended by :

1) Mdm. Masni Binti Mahat

2) Mr. Khairul Anuar Bin Mahmood

Reference:

> Agenda

APEC Project Quality Trainings at SOM 1 2022

Date: February 14 & 17 ,2022

Venue: Video Conference

Applying for APEC Funding: Developing Quality Concept Notes & Project Proposals Briefing of APEC Project contribute to :

1. Translate APEC policy objectives into actions and outcomes that advance the 2040 Vision.

2. To progress the ECOTECH Agenda by building capacity in APEC economies

MU Project Quality Training:

Implementing APEC Projects: Practical Tips on Preparing Budgets, Events and Publications

Attended by : Mdm. Saluwa Binti Masdar

Reference:

> Document Circular

APEC Closing the Digital Skills Gap Forum: Enabling Career Pathways for Economic Mobility

Date: June 19, 21 & 26 2021

Venue: Video Conference

The theme of this year's 2021 Forum is Enabling Career Pathways for Economic Mobility, which will help APEC economies better understand ways to support their workforce to retrain and improve skills along their career paths, including apprenticeships and industrial training programs as well as skills training programs under the Government. Further, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), an estimated 24 million jobs worldwide could be created in a green economy alone, by 2030.

Attended by : Ts. Syarumiefizal bin Baharum

Reference:

> Agenda

> Presentation slides:

Slide 1

Slide 2

Slide 3

Slide 4

Slide 5

APEC Report 1

APEC Report 2

Knowledge Sharing on Outreach Programme With Malaysian Stakeholders On Submission Of Apec Concept Notes For Project Session 2/2021

Date: April 23, 2021

Venue: DSD Office

Attended by : Ts. Syarumiefizal bin Baharum & Ts. Mohmad Zairi bin Ramly

Reference:

> Presentation slides:

1. Sharing session

2. Submission of APEC Concept Notes

> APEC Concept Note

> Guidebook on APEC Projects (Edition 15)

Webinar on APEC Closing the Digital Skills Gap Report, Trends and Insights, HRD 05 2020A (Perspective on the supply and demand of digital skills and degree of digitalization)

Date: January 27, 2021

Venue: Video Conference

Attended by : Ts. Mohmad Zairi bin Ramly

Reference:

> Documents

THE 27TH APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS’ MEETING

Date: 20 November 2020

Venue: Kuala Lumpur - Video Conference

The Economic Leaders of APEC, stand united in our determination to enable the Asia-Pacific region to successfully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts. We are committed to protecting our people’s lives and safeguarding their health. We resolve to further navigate the region towards recovery along the path of strong, balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure economic growth. Our coordinated action and cooperation are more important than ever to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 and realise new and emerging opportunities for prosperity for all.

COVID-19 is one of the most challenging health and economic crises of our times. We express our deepest condolences to those who have suffered and lost loved ones. We are saddened by the devastation to jobs and livelihoods as a result of widespread economic disruption and we are grateful to those serving on the frontline.

We are meeting virtually for the first time in our history under the APEC 2020 theme of Optimising Human Potential towards a Resilient Future of Shared Prosperity. Pivot. Prioritise. Progress. We have aligned our efforts along the priorities of: Improving the Narrative of Trade and Investment; Inclusive Economic Participation through Digital Economy and Technology; and Driving Innovative Sustainability.

[ Readmore...]

 Reference:

> APEC PUTRAJAYA VISION 2040