One of the world’s leading medical technology companies, B. Braun Medical Industries Sdn. Bhd. (BMI), saw the fruition of its pioneering BMI People Development Programme (PDP), with its inaugural graduation ceremony recently.
A total of 105 students successfully graduated from various courses under the programme and are now actively serving both in BMI and the broader industry. The PDP is designed to cultivate a high-performing culture by empowering B. Braun employees to take charge of their own career development. It covers both the technical and managerial development paths and is aligned with B. Braun’s promise of Sharing Expertise. It also supports the Malaysian government’s aim of creating a high-value workforce dedicated to excellence through the holistic upskilling of talents.
Via various public-private partnerships, five pivotal courses have been created specifically for the PDP. These courses are:
- Industriemeister (Bachelor Professional in Mechatronics), in collaboration with the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC), IHK Kassel-Marburg and the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC);
- German Dual Vocational Training – GDVT (Advanced Diploma in Mechatronics), in collaboration with the Malaysian Department of Skills Development (Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran -JPK), MGCC and PSDC;
- Professional Diploma in Industrial Technology & Management, in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP);
- Professional Certificate in Applied Operations & Management, in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM); and
- Professional Advanced Certificate in Applied Operations & Management, in collaboration with USM.
Industriemeister and GDVT directly support Malaysia’s strategic focus on elevating the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem, targeting those who are highly interested in pursuing a career in the technical stream. Meanwhile, the Professional Diploma, Certificate and Advanced Certificate courses provide an opportunity for employees to expand their development journey into managerial and leadership roles.
The five courses culminated in a celebration of excellence at a special graduation ceremony that was held at two separate locations, BMI and USM. Mr. Christian Kapischke, Senior Vice President, Operations & Head of Centre of Excellence, Intravenous Access (CoE IVA), B. Braun Asia Pacific was on site to present the respective certifications.
Mr. Kapischke said, “The BMI People Development Programme signifies B. Braun’s commitment to our people and the community we operate in. By investing in our people and equipping them with essential technical expertise and leadership skills, we are developing talents that will not only thrive in the changing world of work but redefine the economic landscape of the country. Our successful public-private partnerships will create opportunities for a better quality of life and brighter future, as we strive to protect and improve the health of people around the world.”
The programme is a key component of B. Braun’s efforts to re-design its workplace to adapt to an environment undergoing continuous change, particularly with the disruption brought about by digitalisation and innovations. The majority of employees in BMI, Penang work on the frontlines of manufacturing, and this initiative provides them the opportunity to progress and advance their careers through a non-mainstream approach.
BMI employee Prashantraj A/L Selvaraj, who was named Best Student, Professional Diploma in Industrial Technology & Management, said, “The programme offers a valuable learning experience for participants. The combination of 50% technical module and 50% management module, is a good balance of knowledge and skills to help broaden our exposure and equip us with the ability to solve real-time challenges in our jobs. Studying while working is never easy, so, I am grateful that in B. Braun, I received a lot of guidance, support, and encouragement from my colleagues and supervisors, to not just complete my course, but to excel in it. I look forward to contributing all that I have learnt and add value to my team.”
Also present at the graduation ceremonies were Mr. Daniel Bernbeck, Member of the Board and CEO, Malaysian German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC); Dr. Hari Narayanan, Chief Executive Officer of the Penang Skills Development Center (PSDC); Prof. Ir. Dr. Rizalafande Che Ismail, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, UniMAP; Prof. Dr. Azlan Amran and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Industry and Community Network, USM.
