INDUSTRY & TRUCK NEWS: FIRST BATCH OF IKBN STUDENTS COMPLETE TRAINING AT MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA’S APPRENTICE TRAINING CENTRE

Celebrating the graduation of National Youth Skill Institute (IKBN) students from the FUSO Training Program, a collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, and Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. (sixth from left) Secretary General, Ministry of Youth And Sports Malaysia, Datuk Jamil Bin Salleh; (seventh from left) Minister of Youth And Sports Malaysia YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin; (eighth from left) Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner; and (ninth from left) Vice President, Commercial Vehicles, Mr Albert Yee, with the graduates.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) today awarded eleven students from the National Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) with a certification of completion following a successful training stint of the Mercedes Benz Malaysia-IKBN FUSO Training Program at its Apprentice Training Centre in Shah Alam. The event held earlier today in Kuala Lumpur was attended by  Minister of Youth And Sports Malaysia YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO Dr Claus Weidner as well as the senior management of Mercedes Benz Malaysia, officials from  the  Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia and those from IKBN.

The graduates, aged 19 to 25 years, underwent a three-month intensive product and systems training which included both theory and practical aspects regarding the maintenance and repair of FUSO trucks Mitsubishi FUSO is a division under MBM). The graduates acquired soft skills through their retail experience in a workshop environment as well as training in maintenance repairs, electrical, trouble-shooting and other relevant topics.The programme which commenced in October 2015, was the result of a year-long discussion and preparation between Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and IKBN. The programme was formalised under a Memorandum of Understanding, signed in August 2015.

These eleven graduates are the first to graduate. They have been guaranteed job placement with a one year contract at 9 FUSO dealerships throughout Malaysia. 

What I've also witnessed was the awarding of certificates to three IKBN trainers who underwent training under something called the 'training the trainers' program. This would definitely benefit IKBN with better equipped trainers and lecturers.

 I also witnessed the emphasis on the usage of English throughout the short course. The eleven graduates who aren't well versed in the language were actually forced to change and adapt. The reason for this is simple, English is the language that is used in the technical documents as well as the diagnostic systems. The graduates had to adapt and learn. I must also admire their determination as the best student, had to come up and give a speech which was done mostly in English. And you can tell it took much effort. 

I threw a question to Mr Khairy Jamaluddin on whether IKBN will make English a major teaching language as it seems to be the language of technical matters and most technical journals and documents are in that language. He mentioned that this should be done gradually as implementation is not as simple because the trainers, teachers and lecturers themselves have to be prepared to use the language. It makes sense as if there the trainers cannot teach in English properly, then no knowledge would be imparted on the students. He said that IKBN has targeted 15% use of English in courses within the next five years as the increase must be gradual for both sides to cope. This is good news to me. I do not like the majority of the youth in Malaysia to be left behind when it comes to technology and technical knowledge.

In continuing to develop the nation’s youth, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, through its Apprentice Training Centre, is currently in discussion with IKBN to explore further opportunities of enhancing the programme (this would mean an inclusion of Mercedes Benz passenger cars and also Mercedes Benz branded trucks). Established over 30 years ago, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Apprentice Training Centre has to date trained more than 700 apprentices, all of whom have been absorbed into the luxury marque’s nationwide dealership network.

PRESS RELEASE
First batch of IKBN students complete training at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Apprentice 
Training Centre


Kuala Lumpur, 2 February 2016 – Mercedes-Benz Malaysia awarded 11

students from the National Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) with a

certification of completion following a successful training stint at its

Apprentice Training Centre in Shah Alam.

The graduates, aged 19 to 25 years, underwent a three-month intensive

product and systems training which included both theory and practical

aspects. During the training programme, the graduates acquired soft skills

through their retail experience in a workshop environment as well as

training in maintenance repairs, electrical, trouble-shooting and other

relevant topics.

“Through the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Apprentice Training Centre, we are

proud to witness the graduation of this first batch of 11 participants from the

National Youth Skills Training Institute, and we congratulate them for their

successful completion of the training programme. It is fulfilling to see that

within just four months of signing the MOU with the Ministry of Youth And

Sports, we have our first batch of graduates. Training and development of

youth is important to us, and certainly part of the Mercedes-Benz DNA. We

hope to continue supporting the advancement of skills of Malaysian youth in

whatever way possible,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO,

Dr Claus Weidner.

The programme which commenced in October 2015, was the result of a

year-long discussion and preparation between Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, the

Ministry of Youth and Sports, and IKBN. The programme was formalised

under a Memorandum of Understanding, signed in August 2015.

“We are pleased to congratulate our pilot batch of graduates. They are a

testament of the smart partnerships the Ministry of Youth and Sports has

with industry partners such as Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. We often discuss

up-skilling and the development of Malaysia’s youth, and today, we are

very proud to witness the success that has resulted from this. Our youth,

such as the graduates we have here today, are the future of our country and

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Corporate Communications

we hope that they will do well and positively contribute to the workforce,”

said Minister of Youth and Sports, YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin.

Speaking about his experience from the pilot programme, Dinesh A/L Guna

Saigaran, aged 23 shared, “This is a very good programme for our

generation and has many benefits. It has taught us how to perform engine

maintenance and specification. I highly recommend other IKBN students

and our younger generation to participate in this programme.” From the

same programme, Mohamad Rizal Bin Phaper, aged 22, spoke about

learning soft skills, he explained, “The course has given me more

confidence, and I am now able to speak and communicate better in

English.”

In continuing to develop the nation’s youth, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia,

through its Apprentice Training Centre, is currently in discussions with

IKBN to explore further opportunities of enhancing the programme.

Established over 30 years ago, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Apprentice

Training Centre has to date trained more than 700 apprentices, all of whom

have been absorbed into the luxury marque’s nationwide dealership

network.

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