KESUMA and Huawei Malaysia debut Smart Classroom POCs in bid to modernise TVET ecosystem

JOHOR BAHRU, 13 July 2025 – The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), in collaboration with Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Huawei Malaysia), is strengthening the link between education and industry with the Proof-of-Concepts (POCs) for one (1) Smart Classroom and five (5) Digital Classrooms taking off in six JTM Advanced Technology College (ADTEC JTM) Campuses, which will end in December 2025.

Now operational at the ADTEC JTM campuses in Senai, Pasir Gudang, Pedas, Selandar, Perai and Jerantut, the Smart Classroom PoCs play a vital role in advancing the modernisation of Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem and aim to enhance teaching and learning through hybrid environments that leverage the integrated Learning Management System (LMS) and Huawei’s IdeaHub interactive smart boards.  

The ADTEC JTM Senai Campus has been designated as the national reference site for ADTEC JTM, and there are now already more than 41 Manpower Department (JTM) trainers trained by Huawei Malaysia.

Human Resources Minister YB Steven Sim Chee Keong emphasised the importance of integrating technology into the TVET teaching culture and to use it as a tool to ensure consistent and high-quality lesson delivery.

“Feedback from instructors and students have been overwhelmingly positive and we are greatly encouraged by the level of engagement on the ground. The six completed model Smart Classroom PoC sites are now open for visits by other ministries, agencies and training institutions to enable knowledge-sharing and to encourage broader adoption of this model across the TVET ecosystem,” said Sim.

The Proof-of-Concepts (PoCs) for the Smart Classroom and Digital Classroom initiatives, which will be implemented over a six-month period, will provide ADTEC JTM with sufficient time to comprehensively assess their effectiveness. This includes evaluating key performance metrics, gathering ADTEC JTM’s trainers' experience feedback, and formulating recommendations for a potential Smart Classroom phased rollout at selected ADTEC JTM Campuses in the near future,” he added.

Should ADTEC JTM choose to adopt the Smart Classroom upon completion of the PoCs, Huawei Malaysia will continue to train TVET trainers,  equipping them with the necessary skillsets to enhance smart teaching and learning. This commitment will also apply as the Smart Classroom initiative expands to other TVET institutions.

The Smart Classroom PoCs enable cross-campus content sharing, hybrid instruction and on-demand access to high-quality digital teaching materials. The system also supports real-time recording and playback of practical skills demonstrations, while centralising lesson material management for consistency across campuses.

The Smart Classroom PoC initiative stems from a broader KESUMA–Huawei Malaysia collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Malaysia–China Summit in December 2024. The partnership includes capacity-building, infrastructure support, on-site training and integrating advanced technologies such as 5G, transmission and cloud computing into Malaysia’s TVET ecosystem, aligning it with industry needs and national goals.

Earlier this year, KESUMA and Huawei Malaysia launched the TVET JTM–Huawei Learning Centre at the ADTEC JTM Campus Kuala Lumpur. The first training module introduced there was the Microwave Module, which has since trained over 700 telecommunications and IT professionals. The programme is on track to reach its target of 2,000 participants.

Sim also stressed the need for urgent reform in workforce training citing that over 620,000 jobs in Malaysia are at high risk of automation. “Our responsibility as the Ministry is clear: to equip Malaysians with the skills, tools and confidence to navigate and lead in this new landscape. Initiatives like the Smart Classroom PoC are a key part of that response,” he said.

He added that he is confident that by combining smart education, skilled talent and strategic partnerships, such as that with Huawei, Malaysia will continue to be a digital economy leader and powerhouse of the region.

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