Google looks to ignite digital passion amongst Malaysian students

Google Ignite, a training-to-internship programme piloted by Google Malaysia, is back for the second year.The programme focuses on the development of digital marketing skills on Google platforms inclusive of certification for Malaysian university students. The program kicks off this week and ends in August with a Google Ignite 2016 job fair that plans to place at least 150 of the highest performing students and graduates with internship positions in digital agencies and brands in Malaysia.Students who don’t manage secure internships will still be equipped with Google AdWords certification.Denise Gamo, head of SMB Marketing at Google Malaysia said:“Today’s consumers inform their decisions in micro-moments - the intent-rich moments when decisions are being made or preferences being shaped. There are many moments, but the ones that matter to brands are those I-want-to-know, I-want-to-go, I-want-to-do and I-want-to-buy moments. These micro-moments reveal not just who consumers are, but more valuably, what their intent and needs are.”She added Google Malaysia is keen to help move the digital ecosystem forward by helping students jumpstart their career in digital marketing and at the same time help grow the pool of digital talent in Malaysia. The company hopes the recurring programme will help produce more ‘digitised’ fresh graduates.Throughout the duration of the program, Google is providing the universities with online learning resources for self-studying and in-university training on Google AdWords in order to certify students and ensure their eligibility for internship opportunities with top employers in Malaysia.This arrangement allows university students to pursue new learning above and beyond what is currently offered in their faculties, get valuable training that they would otherwise only get as an employee, and take advantage of internship opportunities Google has created as part of this end-to-end program.This year, the training program involves 16 university campuses: HELP University, INTI International Universities and Colleges (KL, Subang, Penang, Nilai and Sabah), Limkokwing University, UCSI University, MMU Cyberjaya, MMU Malacca, Monash University, Sunway Ipoh and Nottingham University, Taylor's University (Lakeside), UTAR (Perak and Sungai Long).