HRD Corp inks MoU with Shuto Iko College of Medical Care & Welfare, Japan

Monday, 10 June 2024 – The Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), with the Shuto Iko College of Medical Care & Welfare during its five-day visit to Japan recently.

The delegation was led by YB Mr Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Human Resources, Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Sri Khairul Dzaimee Bin Daud, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Human Resources, together with Datuk Wira Shahul Dawood, HRD Corp’s Chief Executive, and its representatives.

The collaboration will pave the way for HRD Corp to offer professional Japanese aged care certification courses to Malaysian talents. It will also enable HRD Corp to procure aged care training technology and certification from Japan. Through the collaboration, HRD Corp will also identify and equip Malaysian trainers and training providers to enable them to offer the Shuto Iko curriculum and certification programmes in the future.

The MOU was signed by Datuk Wira Shahul Dawood and Mr Yohei Toyoda, and witnessed by YB Mr Steven Sim Chee Keong and YBhg Dato’ Sri Khairul Dzaimee together with Ms Koto Kuma Corporate Headquarters International Student Department Manager and Ms Kyoko Tsugiyama Corporate Headquarters Medical and Welfare Field International Exchange Officer.

Speaking at the MOU Signing Ceremony, YB Mr Steven Sim said, “The collaboration between HRD Corp and Shuto Iko is a timely initiative. It will complement the government’s efforts to invest in and regulate the care economy, given its potential to contribute between 10 per cent and 39 per cent of a country's gross domestic product. I hope this will recognise it as formal employment that benefits our society and economy, I hope Malaysians will be energised to explore professional employment opportunities within this sector.”

According to Datuk Wira Shahul Dawood, “We are pleased to continue expanding our offerings to all Malaysians through this partnership with Shuko Ito. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the care sector is growing in all regions and expected to create more jobs in the coming years. By formalising the care economy, and offering an internationally recognised certification, particularly in aged care vocational training, Malaysian care workers can enjoy equal pay for equal value while also having the opportunity to upskill, professionalise and move up the career ladder in the future.”

Shuto Iko College of Medical Care & Welfare is one of the nine (9) schools under the Japan Educational Foundation. It focuses on a holistic approach to care training, through professional certification courses that are supported by state-of-the-art care technologies. The institution specialises in providing short and long term professional certification courses endorsed by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to all high school leavers. The college also boasts a near 100 per cent employment rate due to its holistic mentorship programme.

Following the MOU, HRD Corp and Ministry of Human Resources delegates also toured Shito Iko’s facilities to gain a better understanding of its programmes. The MOU was signed as part of HRD Corp’s official visit to Japan, which included meetings and engagements with the Japanese Human Resource Development Bureau (HRDB), Tokyo Technical College (Nakano Automotive Campus), Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), and the National Institute of Technology, Tokyo College (KOSEN).

This article was provided by HRD Corp.

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