BANGI, Jan 8 — The Belia Generasi Selangor @ Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS) initiative has been introduced to enhance social mobility among youth in the state via industry-based training, aimed at addressing unemployment and skills mismatch in the job market.
The initiative, organised by UIS in strategic collaboration with DHS Hospitality Academy Sdn Bhd, Akademi Hospitaliti Daya Siswa (ADHS) and McDonald’s Malaysia, with the support of Yayasan Selangor, is a fully sponsored hospitality programme targeting youths aged 17 to 25, and is open to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders, youths who did not complete their SPM, unemployed graduates, as well as individuals from the B40 and M40 income groups.
McDonald’s Malaysia senior vice president cum chief people officer Azhar Darbi said the company is a key strategic partner in the initiative, providing up to 2,000 placement opportunities annually to programme participants.
Participants will be offered the opportunity to enrol in the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level Three programme in food preparation, with all costs — including monthly allowances, placement and tuition fees — fully borne by the company.
“Upon completing SKM Level Three, participants may choose to further their studies at UIS, with full sponsorship from McDonald’s for those who qualify and excel, or proceed to the Malaysian Skills Diploma, with opportunities to subsequently pursue a bachelor’s degree at UIS,” he said during the programme’s media conference today.
Also present were UIS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Mohd Farid Ravi Abdullah, Yayasan Selangor chief executive officer Raja Nazirin Shah Raja Mohamad, and DHS Hospitality Academy Sdn Bhd group director Sri Kumar Sivakumaran.
Meanwhile, Farid said the programme was designed to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and youth employability, particularly in the hospitality and food service sectors, which require a workforce equipped with practical operational skills rather than solely theoretical knowledge.
UIS leverages the institution’s strengths through a comprehensive training ecosystem that encompasses facilities, teaching staff, accommodation, and personal and career development modules.
The approach aims to ensure that participants not only secure employment but also benefit from a structured career development pathway that supports social mobility and improved living standards.
He said that the programme’s first intake is scheduled for March, with a RM200 registration fee for eligible participants.
“We want participants, parents and guardians to understand that this programme is not merely a course, but a structured pathway from training to employment, supported by industry partners who are genuinely prepared to accept participants and guide them to the next level,” Farid said.
On a related note, Raja Nazirin described the programme as an important initiative to address student dropout issues and the future prospects of youth, particularly in Selangor, noting concerns about the number of students who did not sit for the SPM examination last year.
“We are very grateful that UIS has come forward with this initiative as it creates space for long-term solutions to the challenges faced by student dropouts and graduates who lack clear career pathways,” he said.
