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In October 2023, Deloitte SEA’s WorldClass team collaborated with Starlight Education to develop and launch SkillUp, a free e-learning platform with courses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), sustainability and job readiness. The platform’s aim is to equip students across Southeast Asia with the skills they need to succeed as they step into the professional world.

In January 2024, Deloitte Singapore hosted SkillUp ambassador and former NASA astronaut Charles ‘Sam’ Gemar on a visit to NorthLight School. Astronaut Sam shared inspiring stories about his space travels with students, and emphasised the importance of dreaming big and staying resilient in the face of challenges.

In February 2024, Astronaut Sam also participated in a SkillUp event organised by Deloitte Thailand at Srinakharinwirot University. The attendees gained valuable insights into the importance of STEM education and learned how the SkillUp platform can help deliver equal education opportunities.

‘SkillUp is more than just an online learning platform – it’s a catalyst for uplifting the lives of Southeast Asia’s youths. By prioritising access to STEM skills and job readiness, we’re equipping students with the tools they need to confidently shape their future,’ said Jeanette Juay, Deloitte Southeast Asia Chief Purpose Officer.

Watch an interview with Astronaut Sam here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5DPYfso2tE/

What is the best way to help new university graduates make purpose-driven decisions about their future careers?

To help answer that question, Deloitte SEA’s WorldClass team collaborated with MAD Courses, a social enterprise that offers interactive courses focused on sustainability and social innovation to students across Southeast Asia.

Together, we developed and launched a microlearning course based on ‘ikigai’, the Japanese concept of having a sense of purpose and reason for being. Through the course, we guided participants to reflect on their passions and strengths, and to make meaningful decisions about future roles as they prepared to enter the world of work.

Eighty-one students enrolled in the course for its launch at Dumaguete City’s Foundation University in January 2024. All the students agreed that the course has helped them explore ways of better using their strengths to reach their career goals. Around 10,000 students are expected to take the course in the upcoming academic year.

‘Fresh graduates can often find themselves underemployed and facing challenges as they try to navigate the job market. Our ikigai course aims to help educate and empower youths with the sense of purpose and job-readiness skills they need to better reach their career goals,’ said James Walton, Deloitte Southeast Asia Clients & Markets Leader.

On 24 February 2024, Deloitte SEA hosted the inaugural Deloitte AdvantEDGE programme in Kuala Lumpur. This initiative gives final-year university students access to skills and resources to help them succeed as they embark on their career paths.

Spearheading the programme’s development and delivery was our 2022 One Young World Ambassador, Nik Farah Nabilah Mohamad Sharan, who worked closely with our WorldClass team to create an enriching and impactful learning experience. Deloitte volunteers also lent their expertise to ensure the programme’s success.

Twenty-four students from universities across Malaysia signed up for the two-day programme, which included sessions on creating proposals, solving problems and discovering a ‘life purpose’ to effect positive change, both personally and professionally. The students also collaborated on a case study they presented to a panel of Deloitte judges, and took away best-practice tips on how to navigate today’s dynamic professional landscape.

‘Through Deloitte AdvantEDGE, we aim to equip final-year university students with the skills and insights needed for a better future. This underscores our commitment to fostering talent and driving positive change, in line with our WorldClass approach,’ said Nik Farah Nabilah Mohamad Sharan.

In August and September 2023, Sisters of Code (SoC), Cambodia’s first female coding club, ran training sessions for 18 of its students after attending a ‘train the trainer’ workshop conducted by the Deloitte SEA WorldClass team in September 2022. SoC provides free digital skills training to empower young women to enter the technology industry. Using ‘train the trainer’ learnings, the trainers taught their students ways to use technology through coding education. Through this, we empowered SoC to provide more young women with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to help them succeed in their careers. Many of the SoC students have been positively encouraged by the training and are more confident in their abilities to apply for scholarships and seek out new opportunities.

The workshop was part of Deloitte SEA’s Work Readiness initiative, which aims to upskill young people by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce. This includes job application techniques such as goal setting, personal branding, creating a strong resume and elevator pitch, as well as interview techniques relating to making good first impressions, learning to follow up, carrying out negotiations, and adopting a winning mindset.

Between September and December 2023, Deloitte volunteers also collaborated with the Cambodian Children’s Fund to run a Deloitte GROW programme for 20 Cambodian youths.

The Cambodian Children’s Fund is an award-winning non-government organisation that supports impoverished children and families through education, health and community programmes. Deloitte GROW is a financial literacy and entrepreneurship programme promoting education and skills development.

Our team members challenged the workshop participants to apply their knowledge and skills in growing a seed capital loan through a sustainable business idea. The youths came up with five creative ideas for business ventures that, as the workshop unfolded, all reaped significant profits – from 100 per cent to 250 per cent.

Deloitte Cambodia Country Leader Kimleng Khoy said, ‘Future innovators and leaders need new skills to help society meet the challenges of tomorrow. In line with this, Deloitte is investing in innovative approaches to support education and digital skills development, so everyone can succeed in the modern economy.’