Datu Len Talif Salleh
KUCHING (Nov 18): Nine local tech talents have been welcomed by Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas) to its pilot Tegas Tech Immersion Programme (TTIP).
They are Reng Yi Kueh (junior web developer for FutureLab), Ika Sulastri Mohammad Dahlan Donald (concept artist for Moredoor), Nur Adilya Osman (junior data analyst for SnappEd), Macmillan Christopher (junior fullstack developer for CtrlD Studio), Chester Lagan Parag (junior backend developer for Borneo Digital), Desmond Wong Leh Ping (junior web developer for ERM Planet Australia), Nur Haziqah Taib (junior programmer for ERM Planet Australia), Soo Siu Ming (full-stack developer for myPAMS) and Siti Amirah Athirah Ismawandy (junior programmer for Kloena Digital).
They comprise tech talents, fresh graduates and students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Curtin University Malaysia, University Technology Sarawak (UTS), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak and Oxford Brookes University, England.
These participants had, during the selection period, gone through an aptitude test and interviews with Tegas, ecosystem partners and programme alumni or startups.
Tegas chairman Datu Len Talif Salleh said the TTIP is a 6-month residency programme which aims to empower tech talents, students and fresh graduates to jumpstart their careers in the innovation entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The programme runs from November 2021 to May 2022 in partnership with Tegas ecosystem partners and programme alumni (startups), namely Moredoor, ERM Planet Australia, FutureLab, Kloena Digital, myPAMS, Borneo Digital, CtrlD Studio and SnappEd.
He explained through this programme, the tech companies will provide business and technical exposure and mentorship as well as empower participants with technology skills for employability.
Apart from that, the participants will get to enhance their existing skill sets, whilst expanding their mindset and experience through real-world projects, mentorship and training. They will also gain experience working in a tech/startup environment to not only put their knowledge into practice but also to learn and understand what it takes to run a startup.
He also said during this programme, participants will get a chance to be in charge of projects such as improving the User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) of a website, creating data dashboards, designing and developing new products, to name a few.
Apart from that, they will get the opportunity to fully immerse themselves with the startup that they are working with, by being in charge of implementing a project within the startup which in return becomes an added value towards their professional growth as well as portfolio.
“The Tegas Tech Immersion Programme has been designed to offer tech talents, students and fresh graduates an end-to-end experience, from enhancing their existing skill sets, whilst expanding their mindset and experience through real-world projects, mentorship and training.
“This programme provides a tech skilling experience that connects tech talents more readily with new job opportunities. We are proud to collaborate with universities and ecosystem partners as well as programme alumni for this programme, who are deeply committed to building a vibrant and inclusive innovation entrepreneurship ecosystem in Sarawak.
“I would like to thank all institutes of higher learning for promoting this first of its kind tech talent development programme in Sarawak in their respective institutions, and encouraging their students and alumni to participate in it,” he said.
The benefits of the programme include a monthly allowance of RM1,200, business/technical exposure and mentorship from selected Tegas ecosystem partners and startups, and access to Tegas Digital Village & Digital Innovation Hub co-working spaces, startup programmes and ecosystem network.
Tegas has also collaborated with Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub where startups and the participants will be receiving Azure Credits, usage of Microsoft 365, GitHub Enterprise and personalised support from Microsoft Azure.