POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., May 26 – The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’® (IAOP) Certified Outsourcing Professional® (COP) program has received its first government endorsement from Malaysia as an approved training program to build the nation’s ranks of knowledge-enabled professionals.

The COP program -- which distinguishes professionals as leaders in outsourcing – is the first senior management program the Malaysia government has given its endorsement to.

The federal government of Malaysia has approved the COP program for inclusion into its Capability & Capacity Development initiatives under the auspices of the Ministry for Science, Technology & Innovation.

“We are pleased to continue to grow our partnership with the Malaysia government to train and certify COPs,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett. “This government endorsement is a powerful testament of the continued growth and acceptance of the COP program and the tremendous impact it can have on transforming not only individuals but also companies and entire nation’s workforces.”

The recognition will provide key subsidies for Malaysia citizens taking both the COP master classes and pursuing certification. Multimedia Development Corp. (MDeC), a national parastatal agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation, will market the IAOP developed program along with the Ministry.

Through the Capability & Capacity Development Program Malaysia is working to transform its workforce to higher skill levels and become a developed nation by 2020.  

“The COP program is clearly aligned toward MSC Malaysia’s national initiative to create a knowledge-enabled workforce” said Rob Cayzer, General Manager, Business and Market Development, MDeC. “The certification program will help us reach our goals of developing more competent and globally aligned leadership in the ICT sector, especially in the sourcing marketplace.”

Said Srikrishna Vadrevu, CEO, Sigmax-e Services & Committee Member, Outsourcing Malaysia: “The COP program will be a great asset to Malaysian executives looking to gain expertise in the rapidly growing and evolving business of outsourcing. I am sure a qualification like this will stand out and cry for attention when HR folks are searching for the right qualifications in a large pile of resumes”

“Nations in their pursuit of creating forward-looking and globally-oriented industries in the ICT sector have been grappling with one principal demand factor -- realigning and continually creating a talented knowledge-enabled workforce that's ready for the intricacies and complexities of a globalized world,” said Bobby Varanasi, Chairman & CEO, Matryzel Consulting, who holds the COP designation and is IAOP’s Asia Ambassador.

“Having proven its place as a premier global standard of excellence in the sourcing marketplace, COP is well positioned to address these very needs,” Varanasi said. “The Federal government’s adoption of the COP program reinforces not just IAOP's commitment to professional standards, but also its contribution to the needs of a growing marketplace where governments are increasingly emphasizing the need for such standards. This is an excellent recognition for the COP program and I'm sure it is just one of many more to come.”

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