Empowering Malaysia’s youth: How hands-on learning is shaping tomorrow's leaders

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — The youth of Malaysia are stepping up to shape the nation's future through hands-on learning experiences, with a focus on practical skills and real-world problem-solving. UMW Toyota Motor has spearheaded two flagship programs, the Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) initiative and the Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP), which have nurtured local talent since their inception.

The TEY programme, in its 25th year, challenges secondary school students aged 13 to 16 to identify an environmental issue in their communities and propose practical solutions. Participants go through an eight-step Problem Solving Methodology (PSM) to develop, implement, and standardize their solutions. This year, 327 proposals were submitted, with 30 teams chosen to bring their ideas to life.

Notable projects include Sekolah Menengah Sains Seri Puteri's ScrubCycle, which turns used cooking oil into soap, and Malay College Kuala Kangsar's GoKitar platform, which redistributes unused groceries.

Meanwhile, the T-TEP initiative focuses on developing Malaysia's automotive workforce by providing hands-on automotive training to students across TVET institutes. Toyota has invested RM8.4 million to expand the program to 25 institutes across the country and Sabah and Sarawak, training 300 students annually. The program spans six months, with trainees rotating through various roles within Toyota service centres. T-TEP trainees have already gained valuable experience, with 250 interns subsequently hired.