- Partnerships
With the ASEAN region set to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030 (IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2024), Malaysia is accelerating efforts to build future-ready workforces; an ambition underscored by its 2026 Budget plan. Through its talent assessment solutions, including PDRI by Pearson and TalentLens, Pearson is championing government-led initiatives such as the “ASEAN Year of Skills 2025”.
In direct response to findings by TalentCorp that automation and AI could affect 620,000 jobs in Malaysia, Pearson convened government officials, industry leaders, and educators at the AICB Centre of Excellence in Kuala Lumpur on 21 October. At an event focused on “The Future of Workforce Skills and the Transformative Power of AI,” participants discussed practical strategies to address the urgent need for upskilling and reskilling in an AI-driven economy.
Pearson’s senior leaders outlined support for Malaysia’s productivity and competitiveness goals:
- Craig McFarlane, Vice President, APAC, Pearson Enterprise Learning & Skills, presented findings from Pearson’s ‘Lost in Transition: Fixing the Skills Gap’ research. He emphasised the need for a fundamental shift in learning and skills development to meet employer demands in Malaysia.
- Elaine Pulakos, CEO of PDRI by Pearson, highlighted seven essential human-centric skills—resilience, adaptability, creative problem-solving, continuous upskilling, interpersonal savvy, cultural versatility, and critical thinking—as key to organisational success in today’s dynamic work environment. She outlined strategies for embedding these capabilities into workforce development and hiring practices in Malaysia.
- Ryan O’Leary, Chief Commercial Officer, PDRI by Pearson, showcased how scalable assessments can support national skills initiatives and lifelong learning—contributing to Malaysia’s long-term economic resilience.
The event also featured an AI roundtable with key industry figures, including:
- Dato’ J’ Palaniappan, Executive Chairman of the ASEAN Future Workforce Council (AFWC)
- Nazrul Aziz, Group Chief Strategy Officer at Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)
"Malaysia has many innovative approaches already underway to develop a future-ready workforce. We're honored to contribute our experience and our proven, research-backed tools to Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region," explained Elaine D. Pulakos, CEO of PDRI by Pearson. "We look forward to supporting organisations in identifying the skills and capabilities crucial to navigating economic shifts and technological change—that will continue to reshape the labour market."
Growing regional interest in workforce resilience
The timing of the event reflects growing regional interest in workforce resilience with Craig McFarlane set to speak at the ASEAN Business and Investment summit led by Lord Vaizey, UKABC Chair, in Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Jakarta on 24 October. Local industry leaders and policymakers will gather to identify opportunities to strengthen connections between education and employment, as new roles emerge in AI.
"Following the launch of our Pearson Professional Center in Kuala Lumpur last year, we're expanding our partnerships with educational institutions, enterprises, and government agencies in Malaysia,’’ commented Craig McFarlane, Vice President, APAC, Pearson Enterprise Learning & Skills. ‘’By sharing evidence-based, scientific research around critical skills while collaborating around technology-driven growth strategies, Pearson is proud to support the country's workforce development goals.’’
The views and statements in this article are provided for general information purposes only. While care has been taken to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, Pearson makes no representation or warranty regarding the completeness or continuing accuracy of the information. References to third-party organizations or initiatives are included for context and do not imply partnership, endorsement, or formal association.