IBM and Biji-biji target 41,000 learners with free AI training in Malaysia

The program will combine school-level AI education with Agentic AI, software and web development training for TVET learners and adults by the end of 2026.

IBM Malaysia and Biji-biji Initiative plan to provide free AI and digital skills training to 41,000 learners by the end of 2026

IBM Malaysia and Biji-biji Initiative have agreed to provide free AI and digital skills training to 41,000 students, young people and adult learners across Malaysia by the end of 2026.

Delivered through IBM SkillsBuild, the collaboration divides training between two tracks. One will introduce high school students to AI fundamentals, while the other will focus on Agentic AI, software development and web development for learners in Technical and Vocational Education and Training and adults in the workforce.

The high school track is supported by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and will combine theory with examples of AI use in industry. The announcement does not identify participating schools, specify how the 41,000 places will be divided between the two tracks or provide enrollment arrangements.

Biji-biji will contribute its community connections and industry engagement. The Malaysian social impact organization says it has worked with more than 836,000 people and supported over 130 projects since 2013.

Connecting TVET learners with employers

Alongside technical training, Biji-biji plans to hold an industry symposium presenting AI and digital talent from TVET institutions to IBM clients and partners. The organizations position the event as a route into employment for participants and a way for companies to meet trained technology workers.

Ts. Dr. Azmir Yunus, Head of Secretariat at the National TVET Council of Malaysia, connects the program to the country’s focus on matching vocational training with employer requirements.

“One of the key priorities of the National TVET agenda is ensuring that skills development remains responsive to the evolving needs of industry, particularly in high-growth areas such as artificial intelligence and digital technologies,” he says.

IBM is also working separately with MyDigital Corporation through the Rakyat Digital initiative to develop AI and digital skills among Malaysians. Both efforts support Malaysia’s stated ambition to become an inclusive and sustainable AI nation by 2030.

The Malaysia program contributes to IBM’s global commitment to train 30 million people by 2030, including two million learners in AI by the end of 2026.

IBM SkillsBuild’s open platform offers more than 1,000 courses in 20 languages, covering AI, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, sustainability and workplace skills. Participants can earn IBM-branded digital credentials. The announcement does not provide a registration date or explain how learners can access the two Malaysia-specific training tracks.