The Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC) of Sungai Long Campus hosted a talk titled “Bridging the gap from academic knowledge to workplace skills” on 18 July 2024. The event drew 114 attendees.

The speaker, Mr Elaiyaraj Retnam, is the Vice President of Training Market at HRD Corp (Human Resources Development Corporation). He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Training Development and Career Development from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He has deep expertise in micro-credentials, learning consultancy, and corporate learning programme design and is also an adjunct professor at UPM.

The talk aimed to address several key objectives, including exploring the distinctions between academic knowledge and workplace skills, presenting strategies for integrating practical skills into academic programmes, and highlighting the importance of management and networking skills.

Mr Elaiyaraj began by recounting his personal journey, highlighting how he progressed from having limited English proficiency and a career as a full-time athlete to achieving considerable success through relentless effort and skill development. By working hard, staying dedicated, and seizing every opportunity to enhance his knowledge and soft skills, he was able to excel in his career.

He then discussed the concept of “global drivers”, which are factors influencing employability rates. These include technological advancements, climate and environmental changes, shifts in globalisation patterns, demographic changes, and, more recently, the impact of the pandemic. Mr Elaiyaraj elaborated on how these factors affect employability rates and their potential to transform societies, economies, and the future of work.

The speaker emphasised the importance of effective and inclusive skills development and lifelong learning initiatives in enhancing the responsiveness of the workforce to both current and future labour market demands, positioning these initiatives as crucial enablers of human development. He underscored that continuous or lifelong learning is vital for adapting to the evolving needs of the workforce. Moreover, he pointed out that future employees must learn to apply their skills effectively. Additionally, he introduced the concept of “unlearning”, which involves discarding outdated beliefs to relearn information with a renewed perspective.

As the talk drew to a close, Mr Elaiyaraj urged attendees to identify and cultivate their unique strengths or a skill in which they excel, encouraging them to refine this skill to make it a standout asset. He also emphasised the value of networking, noting that strong connections can significantly enhance both employability and long-term career prospects.

The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, followed by a souvenir presentation from DSSC lecturer Mr Edwin Moses to Mr Elaiyaraj, and a group photograph session.