While the introduction of disruptive technologies is set to multiply growth in the economy, Yasmin Mahmood, CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has highlighted the importance of nurturing a ‘digital workforce’ to meet the rising digital economy’s demand. Commenting at the launch of the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ), Yasmin further urged employees to adapt as disruptive technologies quickly modify the job landscape.

Essentially, what Yasmin is urging is Malaysians to be equipped with for the rising digital economy is digital literacy - a competency of growing significance which many jobseekers and employees are still unaware of, according to a recent survey INTI International University & Colleges commissioned between 102 employers and 214 graduate employees.

Defined as the ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate, use, share and create value for an organization or process, digital literacy has recently seen a rise in value by employers in Malaysia as digitisation rapidly becomes central in business operations, with most (30 percent) regarding it as the most essential skill needed to excel at a job.

However, only a minority (4 percent) of graduate employees recognised its rising significance, with most (29.5 percent) ranking communications skills as the most vital instead.

The stark mismatch in expectation between employers and employees alerts us to the need to not only address the gap but to make the latter aware of the growing need to equip themselves with digital literacy in an economy that is rapidly being transformed by disruptive technologies.

As Malaysia gear itself for the increasingly digital landscape, institutions and the government need to collaborate more to not only cultivate industry-ready talent but also address the lack of awareness in graduate employees concerning the importance.

As a higher learning institution which prioritises the employability of its graduates, INTI International University & Colleges has launched several industry-relevant programmes which incorporates digital literacy. An example is the INTI Bachelor of Business degree of which syllabus was devised based on the survey which uncovered gaps in expectations between employers and employees.

Furthermore, INTI partnered with IBM to introduce the IBM Innovation Center for Education (ICE) programme - a series of Undergraduate Programs and Academic courses for the Computing & IT and Business verticals.

While the digital economy poses new challenges for employability, INTI continues elevating its commitment to develop the employability of its graduates – standing on records wherein 98 percent of INTI graduates are employed within six months of graduation, while 25 percent receive job offers even before they graduate. Eighty two percent are also paid higher than the market average, highlighting their edge over their peers.

With these figures having been validated by BDO Governance Advisory, INTI remains the only institution of higher learning who can vouch for its employability outcomes.

To conclude, efforts to equip our workforce for the digital economy must begin with creating awareness - in this case, communicating to employees and future jobseekers the rising need to develop digital literacy in an economy that is gradually being transformed by disruptive technologies. With awareness only can we proceed to more effectively usher our current and future workforce into the digital economy.

TIMOTHY BULOW is chief executive officer, INTI International University & Colleges.