PETALING JAYA, 2 OCTOBER 2026 — CelcomDigi Berhad (CelcomDigi) has unveiled the next chapter of CD, its flagship talent development initiative aimed at preparing Malaysia’s next generation of talent through stronger collaboration between academia and industry. The latest phase is anchored by three key programmes — campus@celcomdigi, the Young Talent Programme (YTP), and Certifications — designed to equip Malaysians with practical workplace skills, leadership capabilities and competencies in emerging technologies.

The new phase of CD was officiated by the Director General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman, on behalf of the Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. The initiative is designed to support the evolving needs of Malaysia’s digital economy while contributing to the country’s long-term growth ambitions, in line with the aspirations of the Malaysia Higher Education Plan (RPTM) 2026-2035.

A key component of the initiative is campus@celcomdigi, a first-of-its-kind programme in Malaysia that brings industry experience into the classroom at an early stage. Through the programme, second-year students will work on real business challenges as part of their coursework, while receiving continuous mentorship from industry practitioners throughout their studies.

Selected final-year students will also have the opportunity to undertake industry residencies at CelcomDigi’s dedicated on-site campus at its headquarters. Working alongside experienced teams, students will contribute to live projects as part of their final-year experience, giving them valuable exposure to workplace practices and industry expectations before entering the workforce.

The initiative will initially be launched with four university partners — Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and HELP University. Through the final-year residency programme, CelcomDigi aims to reach more than 300 students annually, with plans to progressively expand the initiative to additional universities in the coming years.

Meanwhile, CelcomDigi’s Young Talent Programme (YTP), launched in 2025, continues to provide a structured two-year pathway for developing high-potential graduates. The programme combines rotational assignments, mentorship and hands-on participation in strategic business projects to help young professionals develop the skills, capabilities and mindset needed to succeed in modern organisations.

Following the successful inaugural cohort, YTP has welcomed its second batch of 20 high-potential young talents. The participants will embark on their career development journey across a range of disciplines, including Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data and Business Analytics, Digital Product Development, and AI and Automation.

Completing the CD portfolio is the Certifications programme, which builds on the foundation established through CelcomDigi Metaversity™ to broaden access to learning opportunities in emerging technologies. Through recognised certifications in artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR), the programme provides Malaysians across different age groups with industry-relevant qualifications while helping them strengthen their digital capabilities.

CelcomDigi Chief Executive Officer Albern Murty said the company’s continued engagement with universities and Malaysian graduates has reinforced its belief that the country produces exceptional human capital with the capabilities needed to support Malaysia’s economic ambitions and the next phase of digitally driven growth.

He highlighted the important role of leading Malaysian corporations in working alongside the government to create an environment where young Malaysians can develop, innovate and take on leadership roles. Through CD, CelcomDigi remains committed to investing in talent development today to nurture a generation of Malaysians who can build their careers, innovate with greater freedom, develop strong character and contribute to shaping the nation’s future.

Overall, the expanded CD ecosystem reflects CelcomDigi’s continued commitment to developing future-ready talent by connecting academic learning with real-world industry experience. By providing pathways spanning education, workplace exposure, leadership development and technology certifications, the initiative aims to help equip Malaysia’s workforce with the skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital economy.