The World’s First Certified E-Commerce Programme For Youth With Autism In Malaysia

Today, 2 April, is World Autism Day.

In conjunction with this special day, the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) has launched its Certified E-Commerce Specialist (CES) Level 1 Programme.

The specialised training and internship programme aims to empower youth with autism in Malaysia with skills in digital marketing and e-commerce, thus unlocking new career prospects for the community.

Aligned to this year’s World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) theme of Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World, the inaugural programme welcomes young adults with autism aged 16 to 21 years across Malaysia to register for its first intake scheduled to begin by middle of April 2021.

“The Certified E-Commerce Specialist (CES) Level 1 Programme allows us to break from
tradition and open new doors for the autism community”

“Traditionally, the retail and hospitality industries have been common employers of adults with autism,” said the NASOM Programme Head – Vocational, Saffiza Anuar.

“We believe as the world advances technologically, it is important to groom our young people with the relevant skills, thus promoting equal opportunity in the digital sphere for people with autism to thrive as independent adults and contribute as productive members of the society.”

Global retail e-commerce sales have been on a growth trend in recent years, with Covid-19 being a notable accelerating factor.

As a result, businesses have sped up plans to digitalise operations and capitalise on its benefits including new opportunities to serve customers previously unreachable due to geographical limitations. Evidently, this trend has resulted in the surge of demand for skilled talent in e-commerce and digital marketing.

The training run by Y Ventures Group Ltd supported by NASOM is an entry level programme tailored to the existing experience and skills sets of each student

Students at level 1 will undergo 6-weeks of training covering six (6) basic skills of e-commerce:

• Creating WordPress websites
• Learning how to market a business online
• Digital photography tools
• Using social media in business
• Learning SEO
• And an introduction to Adobe Photoshop CC

In Southeast Asia and Malaysia specifically, career opportunities for youth with autism remain low

A policy paper by the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) revealed a need for more training and jobs opportunities for youth with autism at varying levels.

“There is a need to recognise that autism affects individuals differently and to varying degrees and as such, a onesize-fits-all approach is insufficient. While a focus on training for low-skills employment is important for individuals with autism who demonstrate impaired intellectual ability, it ultimately excludes many capable individuals from finding meaningful employment,” the institute stated in its policy paper titled ‘Living With Autism in Malaysia’.

“NASOM is proud to partner with Y Ventures Group Ltd, a data-driven e-commerce listed company in Singapore with core competencies in developing and executing training curriculums related to e-commerce and technology aimed at nurturing talent to spearhead businesses in the new digital economy.

“We believe individuals with autism, particularly the students of this course, will greatly
benefit from being mentored by industry experts. Moreover, the hands-on opportunities through paid internships attached to the programme will allow students to apply their knowledge in the working world, proving that in spite of their autism spectrum condition, they can be as capable as any young adult,” explained Saffiza.

Y Ventures Group Ltd Co-founder and Managing Director, Adam Low also expressed his hope that through this programme, which is currently the first of its kind in the world offered to autistic individuals, more associations can participate in giving more opportunities to autistic individuals to unlock their talents.

The programme will be conducted on an online platform and is opened to all Malaysian youth with autism. The first intake is scheduled to begin in mid-April 2021.

Saffiza hopes that as Malaysians observe World Autism Awareness Day, NASOM would be a step closer to achieving its vision for an inclusive society where people with autism could reach their full potential, participate in their communities and lead a meaningful life with dignity.

Visit NASOM’s Official website for more information

For details about the Certified E-Commerce Specialist (CES) Level 1 Programme or to enroll, please contact NASOM Programme Head – Vocational, Saffiza Anuar at +603 7832 1928 or email at [email protected]

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