Through the launch of the REHDA Institute Youth Initiative (RIYI) 2026, the Institute is building a bridge that connects university learning with industry reality before graduates even enter the workforce.
The first corporate mentorship session, held recently, brought together selected students from over 15 universities across Malaysia for early exposure, direct engagement, and an honest introduction to the professional world.
From Classroom to Career: Making the Transition Real
The mentorship session marked the first of three engagements planned throughout the year. It focused on something many graduates only encounter too late, understanding what working life actually demands.
Students were introduced to career pathways, industry expectations, and the dynamics of the built-environment sector. More importantly, they engaged directly with corporate leaders, gaining insights that textbooks rarely provide.
For Datuk Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip, Chairman, REHDA Institute and Independent, Non-Executive Director, AYER Holdings Berhad, the initiative reflects something deeper than mentorship.
“RIYI is more than a mentorship programme. It represents a strategic response to Malaysia’s evolving skills challenges,” he said.
A Structural Challenge, Not Just a Graduate Problem
Malaysia’s graduate employment landscape has shown improvement on the surface. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, unemployment among graduates has declined to around 3.2%.
Yet, over 1.6 million graduates remain underemployed in roles that do not match their qualifications or skills. This disconnect signals a deeper mismatch between academic preparation and workplace realities. In industries like the built environment, where over 300,000 graduates are employed and more than 140 supporting industries are interconnected, the consequences are even more pronounced.
Building Talent Pipelines, Not Just Filling Roles
Choy Kin Mann (Director, Masteron and Federal International Holdings Berhad), Wie Jay Sern
(COO, Pesona Metro Holdings Berhad), Vinny Chong Mae Vin (Senior Manager, Lagenda Properties Bhd),
Wang Chong Hwa (CEO, Northern Region, Paramount Property), Faizul Ridzuan (CEO, FAR Capital), Chan Leng
Wai (Independent Director, Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd), Alvin Ong (MD, EdgeProp Malaysia),
Dato’ Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip (Chairman, REHDA Institute and Independent, Non-Executive Director, AYER Holdings
Berhad), Coco Ooi (GM, Business Development, Marketing & Sales cum Customer Relationship Management,
FBG Holdings Berhad), Roger Ong (CCO, Feruni Ceramiche Sdn Bhd), and Imran Clyde (Executive
Director/Founder, Nextdor Property Communication).
From an industry perspective, employability is no longer about immediate placement. It is about long-term capability.
Chan Leng Wai, Chairman of Likei Logistics Services Bhd and Independent Non-Executive Director of TalentCorp Malaysia, frames it clearly:
“Employability is about building leadership pipelines, not just filling roles.”
Programmes like RIYI give employers early visibility into emerging talent while allowing them to shape expectations from the outset. The result in a smoother transition into employment and a faster progression into meaningful contribution.
Universities as Partners, Not Just Providers
The initiative also signals a shift in how universities are positioned within the employability ecosystem.
For Datuk Seri Dr Michael KC Yam, Chancellor of University of Wollongong Malaysia and trustee of REHDA Institute, the role of universities must evolve alongside industry expectations.
“Strengthening partnerships helps align academic preparation more closely with real-world practice,” he noted.
Institutions such as University of Wollongong Malaysia, alongside peers like Universiti Putra Malaysia, Taylor’s University and Sunway University, are participating in this initiative as collaborators in talent development. Students participating in the programme represent universities across Malaysia, including Universiti Putra
Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Teknologi
MARA (UiTM), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM), UCSI University, INTI University, HELP University, Taylor’s University, Sunway University, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Monash University Malaysia and University of Wollongong Malaysia.
An Industry-Wide Effort
What gives RIYI additional weight is the breadth of industry support behind it.
Companies such as Sime Darby Property, Paramount Property, Avaland and Feruni Ceramiche are among the corporate partners contributing to the programme. Their involvement signals a shared recognition: workforce readiness is a coordinated effort across education, industry, and policy.
Looking Ahead: From Initiative to Institution
With two more mentorship sessions scheduled for June and September, the programme will evolve from foundational exposure into deeper exploration, covering productivity mindset, career progression, and leadership readiness.
At its core, RIYI is addressing an often overlooked reality, the transition from university to work does not begin after graduation, it begins much earlier. By embedding industry exposure into the student journey, REHDA Institute is preparing graduates for jobs and for contribution; to a critical challenge of building a workforce that is not only qualified, but truly ready.
