As the year of the snake welcomes the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, the culture of lifelong learning and skills enhancement has become more evident than ever in Southeast Asia. With numerous upskilling initiatives such as the National Training Week (NTW) 2025, tailored to meet the needs of diverse industries and minds, organisations together with Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) are working together to future-proof the nation’s workforce.
From 16 to 19 June 2025, UTAR Kampar Campus served as one of the key venues for personal and professional development, hosting eight training sessions in conjunction with NTW 2025. Organised by UTAR Centre for Corporate and Community Development (CCCD), the sessions attracted participants from both the UTAR community and the public.
NTW 2025 is an ASEAN-wide upskilling initiative launched by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), aiming to future-proof careers, bridge skills gaps, and ignite a culture of lifelong learning and skills enhancement.
Building on this collaborative effort, UTAR offered a diverse array of growth opportunities in various skill areas at its Kampar Campus, including team building, sustainability, soft skills, technology, education, research and development, workplace wellness, personal stress management, creativity, finance and business management.
Amidst the technological era, grasping the gist of the latest solutions is perhaps a mystifying process for many learners. Hence, a training session focused on the fundamentals is crucial. As the adage goes, ‘Strong roots produce beautiful leaves.’ Just as individuals are encouraged to build their nest egg before they move on to make investments with their hard-earned wherewithal, learners too must establish a solid foundation before branching out to grow colourful leaves.
Dr Nurul Afidah explaining the importance of 50/30/20 budget rule and emergency fund
Multiple training sessions at Kampar Campus resonated with this essence, particularly Personal Finance Strategies: A Smarter You by Dr Nurul Afidah binti Mohamad Yusof, an academic from the Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF). The personal finance management course equipped participants with the basic skills and knowledge needed to build their financial future, covering areas such as budgeting, debt management, and retirement planning.
Dr Nurul Afidah emphasised that while investment continues to be a trending topic globally, many individuals still lack a grasp of basic financial principles, often hindering their path towards long-term financial stability. Her session may not have highlighted more advanced financial strategies, but it instilled the idea that lasting success originates from mastering the roots of personal finance.
Money smart and mind-ready! Big smiles after an insightful session on personal finance strategies
Dr Seow (left) explaining the personality test result to a participant
The same applies to managing a workforce in a professional setting. Although some individuals may not aspire to be leaders, there will inevitably come a time when they are called upon to take initiative, guide a team, or make critical decisions. Without a solid understanding of leadership fundamentals, such moments can become missed opportunities. Recognising this, Empowered to Lead: The Modern Way, by THP FBF academic Assoc Prof Dr Seow Ai Na, offered participants practical tools and insights to develop essential leadership skills, regardless of their current roles.
Dr Seow’s training session explored various leadership styles and skills, introducing modern approaches to leading teams across diverse business contexts. Besides acquiring fundamental and advanced management knowledge, the course also emphasised the philosophy ‘put yourself in someone else’s shoes,’ highlighting the dual roles of both leader and follower. Understanding the dynamics between these roles not only contributes to a culture of diverse learning, but is also essential for building effective rapport and fostering collaboration in the modern and future workplace.
Following guidance, one step ready to walk the lead — participants delighted as the session sparked new perspectives on leadership and personal growth
In addition to these two training sessions, the other courses at Kampar Campus delved into various fields, all aiming to equip participants with practical skills and future-ready mindsets. Whether focused on self-improvement or discipline-specific competencies, each course contributed to shaping a potential future workforce equipped with the interdisciplinary knowledge required to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.
The NTW 2025 training sessions organised in UTAR Kampar Campus were as follows:
16 June 2025
17 June 2025
18 June 2025
19 June 2025
In line with NTW’s mission to build a future-ready workforce, UTAR is committed to fostering a culture of lifelong learning, practical skill development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. ‘Education is a right, not a privilege.’ Beyond striving for an inclusive education system, the university is committed to making upskilling opportunities accessible to diverse communities.
Through initiatives like NTW 2025, UTAR not only empowers its community but also contributes meaningfully to the national agenda of upskilling and reskilling learners—empowering diverse minds to shape an inclusive future through collaboration.
About NTW
The National Training Week was launched in 2023 by HRD Corp, in conjunction with KESUMA. It is a full week of nationwide training events and activities, bringing together organisations and people from various industries and backgrounds for learning and development opportunities. The training sessions are conducted through various learning methods and platforms, and are provided by local industry players free of charge to all Malaysians across regions.
This year’s NTW played a key role as one of the flagship initiatives in the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025. Themed Learning Beyond Borders, it extended accessible learning opportunities across ASEAN, fostering shared knowledge through partnerships for growth. The third iteration of NTW offered more than 71,000 free courses nationwide for over two million learners.
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