KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — MBCS, the media-fuelled creative content practice within the IPG Mediabrands network, has announced the launch of MBCS Academy, a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative that allows underprivileged youth to pursue a higher education while gaining work experience within the advertising industry.
The MBCS Academy “Work & Study” program is designed specifically for Malaysian B40 SPM & STPM school leavers, representing families from the bottom 40% of income earners in Malaysia. The program offers successful applicants a salaried, full-time employment in advertising with MBCS, and an opportunity to further tertiary education through a subsidized diploma/degree study program at a partner university.
Stanley Clement, Chief Executive Officer of MBCS Academy, said, “There are many young people who end up missing out on life’s opportunities merely because they can’t afford to get into tertiary education. The MBCS Academy is specifically designed to give a leg up to these talented young people who might otherwise be left behind. It also gives young school leavers a first-hand look at the advertising industry as an apprentice, without having to have a paper qualification in hand. It is our hope as an industry to change the world with what we do. This is our way, one student at a time.”
The MBCS Academy begins with a six-month internship as a starting point to allow candidates to get a broad grasp of the industry and working life. At the end of the internship period, successful interns will be offered full-time employment with a study subsidy to further their education at partner institutions —CATS College, INTI International University, Open University Malaysia & Veritas University College.
Stanley added, “We are excited to open this up to eligible school leavers who received their results this week. Those of us in advertising understand the importance of molding a new generation of capable talents to serve our creative and innovation needs of tomorrow. As a people-first agency, MBCS is excited to give back to society in this unique way by nurturing talents with real working experience by the time they graduate.”
See the MBCS Academy application form. Further questions about the program may be directed here.
View the interview on MBCS Academy with Stanley Clement.