KUALA LUMPUR • The Malaysian government is sending 30 public university lecturers to train under 10 chief executive officers for six months to a year, to show the educators the impact of disruptive technology in the working world.

The tie-up is the second phase of the CEO@Faculty programme, with the first phase seeing top industry players lecturing at public universities to bring undergraduates up to speed on what is happening in industry.

Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh said he wants three-tenths of university lecturers to have industrial experience.

"We're redesigning higher education to address disruptive technologies," Datuk Seri Idris told The Sunday Star.

"We have to stay relevant and competitive by providing graduates with the exposure, curriculum and experiences that are relevant to the workforce. We want to produce graduates who view themselves not only as jobseekers, but as job creators (too)."

There are 20 public universities in Malaysia, with nearly 32,000 lecturers.

Datuk Michael Tio, group CEO and managing director of logistics company PKT Logistics, said: "When I give lectures, I reach 2,000 students. But when I mentor a lecturer, he or she can train many more."

Mr Tio, who is also an adjunct professor at Universiti Utara Malaysia, added: "If I'm selected to be part of this second phase, I'll not only share my knowledge on logistics, but also on leadership, soft skills and company culture."

Said Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan: "After the industry stint, lecturers can convey their experience to students, stressing the importance of creativity and innovation for tomorrow's workforce."

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK