In a strategic move to strengthen Malaysia’s cyber workforce and support national digital resilience, BlackBerry Limited has partnered with Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) to launch CyberNext — a national training initiative offering free cybersecurity education to 1,000 students and 250 lecturers.
Announced today in Kuala Lumpur, the CyberNext Programme is scheduled to begin this July at the Malaysia Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE) in Cyberjaya. The initiative comes in tandem with the CCoE’s first anniversary, and is supported by global training bodies ISC2 and CompTIA.
Structured in two six-month phases over a year, the CyberNext Programme delivers hands-on, role-based training from foundational to intermediate levels. Participants will gain practical skills aligned with industry standards, including globally recognised certification opportunities.
The collaboration aligns with the Malaysian Government’s broader agenda to upskill home-grown talent in critical fields and foster digital sovereignty — a focus recently underscored by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“We are proud to join forces with TalentCorp to empower Malaysia’s next generation of cyber defenders to be better prepared for tomorrow’s threats,” said Jaclyn Sim, BlackBerry’s training manager at the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. “The CyberNext initiative is one of several programmes at this world-class training facility designed to prepare workers at different levels for a wide range of roles, supporting Malaysia in its efforts to develop local cybersecurity talent, boost capacity and become a recognised leader in the region.”
The programme not only targets students but also includes upskilling for 250 university lecturers through customised training in line with evolving cyber threats and technologies.
TalentCorp talent principal, Badrie Abdullah, said the initiative reflects the agency’s commitment to addressing Malaysia’s digital skills gap. “Professionals with cybersecurity skills are consistently in high demand, as identified in TalentCorp’s Critical Occupations List; yet the local supply remains limited. Through the CyberNext Programme, we are embedding world-class training into the national talent pipeline,” he said.
He added that the initiative would contribute to building “a competitive, inclusive, and future-ready workforce.”
CyberNext also aims to drive stronger collaboration between academia and industry while producing job-ready graduates in a sector that continues to face global talent shortages.
The launch coincides with a public open day at the Malaysia CCoE on Thursday, 8 May. The event will feature expert panels, cybersecurity demonstrations, interactive games, and exhibitions for students, educators, industry professionals, and government representatives.
Established in Cyberjaya, the BlackBerry CCoE is the first of its kind in the region. It serves as a regional hub for cybersecurity education, offering certification programmes, practical training, professional coaching, and a community of practice for learners and professionals alike.
More information about CyberNext, including registration details and course listings, is available via the Malaysia CCoE and TalentCorp websites. 