ADI Apprenticeship Programme Nurtures Industry-ready Talent

MELAKA, June 17 (Bernama) -- The Academy of Industry (ADI) apprenticeship programme has moved beyond observational learning in the workplace, allowing students to perform real professional tasks while still studying, thereby narrowing the gap between education and industry needs.

More importantly, the programme’s structured exposure to the latest technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial automation, as well as opportunities for overseas work experience, gives young people a competitive edge in becoming highly skilled workers in the high-impact technology sector.

For Auni Hidayah Hamidon, 30, the ADI initiative not only provides an alternative pathway for young people to pursue education, but also serves as a platform to cultivate work discipline, technical competencies and self-confidence through structured industry training and mentorship.

The former apprentice at Muehlbauer Automation Sdn Bhd said the industry-based programme allowed her to further her studies in engineering while acquiring real-world work experience from an early stage.

She said the concept of learning while working in an actual industry setting, coupled with the industry-sponsored studies, was among the main reasons she chose to join the programme after completing a diploma in Applied Science at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).

“Usually, if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree, you have to think about the cost. But this programme allows me to study and work at the same time, while receiving an allowance and gaining valuable industry experience.

“I see this as a great opportunity because it allows me to pursue my interests while gaining valuable work experience early on,” she told Bernama.

Auni Hidayah said her three-and-a-half-year stint as an apprentice at the German-based company gave her valuable insight into the realities of the working world, particularly in the industrial sector, which she had previously only learned about in theory.

She also had the opportunity to visit Muehlbauer Automation headquarters in Roding, Germany, in 2022 and 2025, which gave her first-hand exposure to the realities of the workplace, including the demands of the job and the career prospects available through the ADI initiative.

The Muar, Johor native said early exposure to the factory working environment helped participants better prepare for workplace pressures and industry culture when entering the workforce.

“At university, the emphasis is more on theory, but here I learned what the real working environment is like, including communication, managing work pressure and working in a team.

“At the same time, it helps me improve my practical skills through daily tasks and gives me the opportunity to apply what I have learned directly in the workplace. When we are familiar with the environment early on, we are better prepared when entering the working world after graduating,” she said.

Auni Hidayah said that, apart from technical skills such as hands-on experience operating machines worth millions of ringgit, the mentoring and guidance system throughout the programme helps instil discipline and professionalism among participants.

“It is not just about learning skills here, but also about work discipline and how to become better workers. Each apprentice has a mentor who will always guide and correct us when we make mistakes, helping us to become more mature and responsible,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Naquib Muhaimim Badrul Hisham, 21, said the programme not only allowed him to pursue his Malaysian Advanced Skills Diploma, but also provided him with valuable industry experience.

In addition, he and several of his friends were given the opportunity to take part in production support assignments at Muehlbauer Automation’s branch in Wuxi, China, last April.

Ahmad Naquib Muhaimim said the opportunity opened up space for apprentices like them to experience international work cultures and observe the advancement of industrial technology abroad.

“This opportunity broadened our perspectives as we got to know many individuals with different backgrounds and experiences. We also gained valuable knowledge in technology, work systems and problem-solving within the industry,” he said.

He added that the learning approach, which combines about 20 to 30 per cent theory with practical training in the industry, gives apprentices a clearer understanding of real skills and allows them to apply what they learn in training institutions in actual industry situations.

“Without practical training, I personally would not know the use of that knowledge. But here, what we learn can be applied directly in our jobs.

“So we do not just follow seniors and take notes, but are treated as workers in the factory, including working in shifts, operating real machines and attending meetings,” he said.

-- BERNAMA