Environmental Scan 2017 | Page 43

Environmental Scan 2017: Human Capital Issues within the Medical Devices Sector Recommendation 6 6 Promote continuous learning and upskilling to companies and industry professionals Recommended Actions Stakeholder E.O.I. IMPACT M H AMMI, MARGMA H H Industry, MIDA, Socso H H AMMI, MARGMA, HRDF M H To encourage training and upgrading of skills, which are becoming increasingly important in the rapidly evolving industry, public and private institutions of higher learning (IHLs) may consider to offer lifelong learning scheme for the medical devices related courses. Through this scheme, IHLs can provide better support to their alumni by keeping them updated on the latest development within the industry and providing the relevant courses for reskilling / upskilling at a discounted course fee. Initiative 6.1 The National University of Singapore (NUS) has recently developed a program, called NUS Lifelong Learners, which all NUS alumni are automatically eligible for continuing education and training (CET) courses. For a start, NUS will draw up plans for each student's career and learning path, for up to 20 years from the time he is admitted. IHLs Under this program, NUS Alumni can enjoy the privileged opportunity to study up to a maximum of 2 modules over a 3-year period. NUS will offer virtual vouchers to alumni to offset the cost of one of its CET courses of their choosing. To encourage all employees who are dealing with regulatory affairs or internal quality audits to undergo training for ISO 13485:2016 and possess medical device auditor certification. Initiative 6.2 Initiative 6.3 Initiative 6.4 Personnel in the company who are extremely well versed with the regulatory environment can also become certified trainers through HRDF’s Train The Trainer (TTT) program. They can then enable more talents to become ISO 13485:2016 certified. To encourage professionals or workers who are being retrenched from other industry but with relevant skills and experience to upskill themselves and join the medical devices industry. This can be done by tapping on the database of the newly implemented Employment Insurance System (EIS). At the moment, companies have the misperception that the cost of bringing in trainers from overseas are not covered under the HRDF schemes and the high cost incurred for such training are hindering them from planning a more effective training program for their employees. Industry associations can consolidate the training needs from companies and work closely with HRDF on the subsidy to bring in overseas experts to Malaysia to train the locals. 43