KUCHING: A total of RM23 million has been allocated for 1,000 interns or graduates in 2025 under the Graduates Enhancement Training Sarawak – Work Readiness Programme (GETS-WRP).

This programme is designed to equip Sarawakian graduates with the relevant skills, knowledge, and work experience needed for a seamless transition into the workforce.

The GETS-WRP is a 12-month on-the-job training programme aimed at helping Sarawakian graduates to acquire practical skills in various industries.

Through this programme, interns will receive a monthly allowance of RM1,500 and they will have internship opportunities in both public and private sectors.

The programme focuses on the development of soft skills, leadership abilities, and team-building experiences to better prepare participants for the demands of the working world.

Apart from that, it also emphasises key components that include employability skills, real-world work experience, internships, and on-the-job training.

The programme also designed to facilitate the transition from academic life to the workforce by offering customised and contextualised training while helping to build youth confidence.

In addition, the GETS-WRP provides temporary employment as a measure to reduce graduate unemployment, while focusing on achieving long-term job placement by collaborating with government agencies and private companies.

The programme structure consists of two phases over one year whereby the first phase, known as the Career Enhancement Skills Programme (CESP), spans three months and focuses on providing participants with critical soft skills and work-readiness knowledge.

While the second phase involves a nine-month internship or on-the-job training placement at one of GETS-WRP’s partner organisations.

This phase allows participants to gain real-world experience in a professional environment, effectively bridging the gap between academic learning and industry expectations.

To be eligible for GETS-WRP, applicants must be Sarawakian, aged between 20 and 30 years old, unemployed at the time of application, hold at least a degree with a CGPA of 2.8 or higher or a professional qualification from a recognised institution, pass the interview process, and not have participated in any previous GETS-WRP programmes.

The 2025 intake schedule for the programme, set for January, April, and July, will be administered and delivered by the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence Sdn. Bhd. (SCOPE), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yayasan Sarawak.

For further inquiries about the programme, interested individuals can contact the GETS Secretariat by email at nadzirah@scope.net.my or claudius@scope.net.my, or by calling 082-231230. -UKASnews