In the ever-evolving field of sewerage system and sanitation, Industry 4.0 and wastewater treatment methods must evolve to remain relevant and efficient. Moreover, investing in Industry 4.0 technologies requires talents and the workforce to broaden their skills and knowledge.
Recognising this fact, the national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd has always emphasised the importance of enhancing the knowledge and skills of its staff and industry players particularly in the sewerage industry.
IWK’s Chief Executive Officer, Narendran Maniam said, being an advocate for the need to enhance knowledge amongst practitioners in the sewage sector, IWK’s training centre was established in February 2006, and it is dedicated for technical training on sewerage system that focuses on theory and practical.
“As it expands, the training centre not only has shared knowledge for local players but also with international players, focuses on capacity building in areas of customer relations, health and safety, fundamentals of sewerage systems to new technology, processes and skills,” Narendran said.
After over a decade, in 2021, IWK has rebranded its training centre to Asian Sewerage Training, Research & Innovation Centre of Excellence (ASTRICE), perfectly aligning with IWK’s strategy to enhance knowledge, skills, and competencies to meet both current and future business and industry needs.
With a vision to become a regional hub for knowledge exchange, ASTRICE focuses on seminars, forums, and conferences, and collaborates with international water operators for innovative programs. ASTRICE has successfully maintained partnerships with global water operators and certification bodies, building corporate bridges and paving the way for potential ventures beyond Malaysia, particularly in Asia, for wastewater service provision.
ASTRICE offers a wide range of training programs, including Fecal Sludge Management, Sewerage Journey in Malaysia, Non-Mechanical Sewerage Management, Fleet Management, Urban Centralized Treatment Plants, Effective Management of Effluent and Wastewater Treatment, Operation and Maintenance of Sewerage Systems, and River Management.
The courses provide both practical and theoretical knowledge, ensuring participants are well-equipped to excel in their roles. These main topics branch into an extensive list of 49 courses, including Confined Space Training for Authorized Entrant and Standby Person, Trenchless Technology in Sewer Network Maintenance, Design and Construction of Sewerage Treatment Plant, and many more. The full-program list can be found in this link: https://astriceiwk.carrd.co/
ASTRICE’s programs cater to a niche audience that is in the sewerage sector, including IWK staff, commercial and industrial establishments, local authorities, government agencies, property developers, and educational institutions and communities. Training is delivered by IWK’s subject matter experts and external sewerage specialists, to ensure high-quality education.
ASTRICE provides a wide range of support services, including course advisory, technical support, networking opportunities, and continuous professional development. We also offer competency matrix framework development to identify training needs and gaps.
The programs have led to numerous success stories. One notable example is the International Eco-Tourism & Edu-Tourism Programme, where participants visited fascinating local tourist spots while learning about Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) and its impact on rivers. Highlights included visits to the Melaka River, a prominent success story in Malaysia, and the River of Life Project in Kuala Lumpur, which transformed rivers into vibrant, habitable waterfront icons with high economic value.
Due to these achievements, ASTRICE has attracted international attention, providing training and consultation to 20 organisations from countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Senegal, and various other Asian and African nations.
As of today, ASTRICE stands as a premier hub for knowledge exchange in the sewage industry, offering a wide range of training programs designed to meet the needs of both internal employees and external participants. With a focus on seminars, forums, and conferences, ASTRICE is set to become the leader in sewerage education and innovation around Asia Pacific.
ASTRICE has also taken a preliminary innovative step to enhance and improve training experience through the development of virtual reality (VR) learning module to stimulate hands and troubleshooting process instead of theoretical and conventional approach of training delivery.
How to Join:
To pre-register for the courses of your interest, visit ASTRICE’s landing page at https://astriceiwk.carrd.co/ and complete the online form. Successfully registered participants will receive a confirmation email with an official registration form to be completed. The email will also include a detailed fee structure and payment deadline. Courses fees are inclusive of food & beverages, training aid, facilities and certification.
ASTRICE is a registered training provider under Human Resource Development Corporation (HRDCorp) whereby all the training programs are claimable under “Skim Bantuan Latihan Khas” (SBL-Khas).
Contact Information:
For inquiries, contact Ms. Sara ([email protected]) or Mr. Mirza ([email protected]) or call us at +(6) 03-8996 7511/12/13.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
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