Daniel Lim
The SkillUP app was launched at the V-Plaza Hotel in Kuala Belait yesterday, following successful engagement sessions with industry leaders last March and August. The app aims to provide industry leaders ease in acquiring clear insight on the local workforce’s skills and competency levels.
Held in conjunction with Energy Industry Engagement Day, the launch was led by the Manpower Industry Steering Committee (MISC) Working Group for Energy (MISC-WG Energy), a committee under the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC), with the support of Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP).
Deputy Minister of Energy cum guest of honour Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw was welcomed upon arrival by MISC-WG Energy Lead Hajah Rosita binti Haji Hassan.
Hajah Rosita reiterated the importance of holding the engagement sessions to continue the dialogue on local manpower development, allowing the industry to step up and create more local employment opportunities.
She applauded the collaboration between MISC-WG Energy, Ministry of Education (MoE) and industry partners in making significant progress towards the objective of developing the competency framework to strengthen the capabilities of the local workforce through the iSkill programme.
Hajah Rosita said the MISC-WG Energy is transitioning into the execution phase – when new initiatives will be rolled out, adding, “We have reviewed the existing programmes and made changes to ensure the competency development programme remains relevant and dynamic to meet the requirements.”
The Energy Industry Engagement Day aimed to update the energy industry and its business partners on the MISC-WG Energy implementation plan affecting the workforce development programmes with focus on competence development programmes, work placement with the industry, and competence assessments.
This includes the launch of the SkillUP digital application, developed in tandem with the iSkill programme to ensure every trainee in the industry meets the prescribed standards set. This led to the MISC-WG Energy, with support from BSP, embarking on the digital approach, as it helps provide ease monitoring, tracking, as well as certifying the development of skills and competence of the local workforce industry-wide.
Being a career and skills tracking application for contractors, employees and regulators in the energy industry, the SkillUP app allows individuals to record their learning and training progress with every achievement or experience notched. The app has the potential to be rolled out into other industries.
A video outlined the SkillUP application, following which presentations were held discussing the application as well as the iSkill programme.
As a new Competence Development Programme developed through close collaboration between the Energy Industry with support of MISC-WG Energy together with Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE), the programme has since undergone a rigorous process to match and align industry requirements and expectations from the local workforce.
Skill modules in the programme have also been mapped to recognised international standards, with the current phase of the iSkill programme focussing on key skill set in the form of programmes being offered by IBTE that includes iSkillTM NTEC Level 3 Welding, iSkillTM ISQ Level 2 Scaffolding, iSkillTM ISQ Level 2 Riggers, iSkillTM ISQ Level 2 Blaster Painter, iSkillTM ISQ Level 2 Marker/Pipe Fitter and ISQ Level 2 Welding.
The guest of honour later toured the booths. Deputy Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the MoE cum MISC Deputy Chairman Dr Chin Wei Keh; key stakeholders from the Prime Minister’s Office, MoE, Ministry of Energy, MPEC Secretariat; as well as government agencies and leaders from the energy industry participated.