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National Training Week (NTW) 2026 wrapped up with 674,818 participations recorded nationwide
The event capped off a week-long campaign that gave Malaysians free access to skills training ranging from AI prompting and drone handling to entrepreneurship, digital marketing and vehicle maintenance.
Organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), the fourth edition of NTW offered 8,682 courses through 1,619 training providers.
HRD Corp Chief Executive, Dato' Shamir Aziz.
Image via HRD CorpImage viaParticipants ranged from as young as three years old to 89, reflecting the initiative's aim of making lifelong learning accessible regardless of age or background.
Human Resources Minister Dato' Sri R Ramanan said the initiative was about creating opportunities for Malaysians from all walks of life
Speaking at the NTW 2026 Grand Finale at UiTM Penang Branch in Permatang Pauh, he said: "This event is very close to my heart. In essence, NTW represents opportunity for the youth, workers, homemakers, retirees, and anyone who wants to build a better future."
He also explained how Malaysia's greatest asset is its people, adding that continuous learning will become increasingly important as industries continue to evolve.
"If Malaysia wants to achieve greater success and continue creating prosperity for its people, the nation must be proactive in ensuring that citizens always have the opportunity to improve the quality of their skills and be exposed to new skills so they remain relevant in the current and future economy," he said.
He also added that KESUMA would continue expanding access to skills development programmes nationwide, saying the ministry would remain on the ground to listen to the needs of the people and stay committed to serving all Malaysians while working to create more opportunities for everyone.
NTW 2026 was launched in Sandakan on 18 July, officiated by Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan — the first time the initiative had kicked off in Borneo since it was introduced in 2023
The two-day grand finale in Penang offered a range of free courses and activities, featuring technology demonstrations, exhibitions, skills workshops, and a Learn-A-Thon run, which drew around 3,500 participants on the second day of the event.
HRD Corp chief executive Dato' Shamir Aziz said the response showed growing interest in lifelong learning across Malaysia.
"As of July 24, nearly 675,000 participations were recorded across more than 8,600 courses offered by over 1,600 training providers nationwide.
"This response reflects the enthusiasm of Malaysians to keep learning, as well as the strong commitment from the government, industry, and training providers in fostering a lifelong learning culture.
"HRD Corp will continue to strengthen strategic collaborations with all parties to ensure upskilling opportunities remain accessible to all Malaysians, not only during NTW, but throughout the entire year," he said.
