Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said 1,000 individuals aged 30 and below were expected to benefit from the cooperation between the state government and Akademi J&W Sdn Bhd.

“The programme has been designed to aid Penangites who did not have the opportunity to further their studies in public universities and also could not afford to study in private universities.

“Now, a platform has been provided to enable them to work and study towards a diploma or degree that is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency under the Wawasan Open University, Open University Malaysia and Lincoln University College,” he told a press conference here today.

Chow and state social development and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Chong Eng were present to witness the signing of the memorandum of understanding between state secretary Abdul Razak Jaafar and Akademi J&W Sdn Bhd managing director Tan Guan Heng.

Chow also hopes to see more such collaborations and commitments in the future so as to produce more competitive and quality human capital.

Meanwhile, Tan said job opportunities would be provided by about 120 companies in the state that have collaborated with Akademi J&W, with basic monthly salary beginning at the minimum wage of RM1,200 as well as with EPF and Socso contributions.