PROVIDING a platform for young Malaysians to hone their skills in order to pursue brighter prospects, StartupMalaysia, sponsored by Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd (MAVCAP), recently hosted SPARK X, a free virtual upskilling programme for youths aged 18 to 25.
Taking place over the course of three full days from May 6 to 8, the programme was aimed at equipping participants with skills in three key areas, namely the Basics of Design Thinking, Basics of Building a Website, and Basics of Communication and Digital Marketing with Social Media, said MAVCAP.
The programme is part of MAVCAP’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, as a means to provide young people with the necessary skill sets to navigate an uncertain future brought about by COVID-19.
“Areas such as design thinking, programming and marketing in the digital age are particularly relevant and timely during the pandemic, which has seen digital solutions and innovative businesses come to the forefront in a very significant way,” said MAVCAP acting chief executive officer Shahril Anas.
He added that these key skills are ideal for those interested in starting their own small ventures, utilising a website and social media as marketing platforms.
Participants can also use the knowledge gained to provide basic website management services to small businesses.
“This will also help young Malaysians supplement their income during this challenging period, and furthermore, these are valuable skills which they will be able to build on to grow their capabilities over the long-term,” he pointed out.
The virtual pilot SPARK X was held via Zoom and was well-received by the participants, with a strong attendance rate on all three days.
In total, there were 30 participants from diverse backgrounds and regions, with varying experience. Working in teams of three, they presented their ideas and completed websites to a panel of judges, which was all done virtually. – May 16, 2020, Bernama
