TEGAS reaches 361,000 students through STEM, skills initiatives to prepare youth for S’wak’s future

Len (seated centre) will TEGAS board of trustees and the media during the TEGAS Media Night held at a hotel in Kuching on Oct 26, 2026.

By Christine T

KUCHING, Oct 27: Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) has reached 361,000 students through hands-on programmes since its establishment in 2012, as it continues to expand STEM education, technical and vocational training, and digital entrepreneurship opportunities across Sarawak.

Caretaker Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration, and Environment and TEGAS chairman Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the foundation remained committed to preparing Sarawak’s youth for the digital economy through practical learning, career development and startup support.

Speaking at the TEGAS Media Appreciation Night at a hotel here last night (Oct 27), he said the foundation had also given Sarawakian participants opportunities to gain international exposure through initiatives in Vietnam and Bangkok.

He said media partners played an important role in communicating TEGAS’ initiatives and educational opportunities to the public, particularly young people and communities at the grassroots level.

“The media serves as the driving force that translates policies and educational opportunities into narratives that are easy to understand and, ultimately, inspire the public,” he said.

Len said TEGAS had also spearheaded the Sarawak Career and Training Fair (SCaTFair) as a one-stop platform for career and training opportunities.

The 12th edition of the fair, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, PETROS and the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), attracted 35,000 visitors and offered 2,000 job vacancies this year.

In artificial intelligence (AI), TEGAS organised the TEGAS Borneo Makers Festival: AI for Makers in collaboration with the Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre on Aug 23.

The programme attracted more than 5,000 visitors to TEGAS Digital Village, introducing participants to AI-related skills and opportunities.

To widen access to technology education, TEGAS has also implemented the Project of Dreams Realised (PRO-DR) across 14 locations and established Think and Tinker Mini Labs in 25 rural schools.

Len said these initiatives aimed to ensure young people, including those in rural communities, were not left behind as technology continued to reshape education and employment.

Meanwhile, TEGAS continues to support local startups through TEGAS Digital Village and Digital Innovation Hubs in Miri and Bintulu, providing seed funding, mentorship and exposure to global opportunities.

Its programmes cater to businesses at different stages of development, including the TEGAS Pre-Accelerator Bootcamp for early-stage entrepreneurs, the EFXCO Unreal Engine Programme for game design and virtual production, and SCALE Sarawak, conducted in collaboration with Endeavor Malaysia, to help businesses expand.

TEGAS also collaborates with Shell Malaysia on Sarawak Shell LiveWIRE, a five-day entrepreneurship training programme designed to equip young entrepreneurs with essential business skills.

Successful participants can receive funding of up to RM15,000 at the State level, comprising RM10,000 from Shell and RM5,000 from TEGAS, or up to RM50,000 at the national level, comprising RM30,000 from Shell and RM20,000 from TEGAS.

Winners also receive three years of continued mentorship, opportunities to integrate into supply chains and access to international competition through the Shell Global Top Ten Innovators Awards.

Looking ahead to 2027, Len said TEGAS would continue developing initiatives to strengthen Sarawak’s digital and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

These include the TEGAS Community PlayFarm, which focuses on smart farming using the Internet of Things (IoT), the Sarawak Rocketeer CubeSat Challenge, and the development of TEGAS Lodge Sarawak to attract digital nomads.

He said TEGAS also wanted to expose Sarawakian youth to global startup opportunities, including through the Startup World Cup.

Len added that media organisations remained strategic partners in human capital development, helping ensure the public was aware of the opportunities available through TEGAS’ programmes.

Also present were the board of trustees of TEGAS deputy chairman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil; secretary Datuk Abdullah Saidol; treasurer Datuk Snowdan Lawan; board members Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing, Abdul Yakub Arbi, Wilson Nyabong Ijang, and Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor; and TEGAS chief executive officer Haji Udin Bujang. — DayakDaily