Talent Champion among Youth in Malaysia: A Conceptual Analysis

Talent champions are critical in driving a nation’s competitiveness in the new economy. However, Malaysia faces significant challenges in achieving this goal, as reflected by its drop to 45th in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2023. Despite the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (SPV2030) targeting 35% highly skilled workers, the Malaysian labour force remains dominated by 59.4% semi-skilled workers. This highlights the urgent need to analyse key indicators to improve tertiary education, enhance talent development policies, and benchmark Malaysia’s talent competitiveness against other nations. Aligned with the objectives of the National Education Blueprint, this study aims to explore the need for talent champions among Malaysian youth, to measure the underlying indicators for youth talent champions and to develop a talent champion framework among youth in Malaysia. This study will utilize non-probability sampling, specifically purposive sampling, to select participants from Malaysian higher education institutions and subject matter experts from relevant organizations. Data will be analyzed using both manual methods and content analysis software (NVivo 12). The development of the talent champion framework involves a systematic process that includes data collection and analysis, indicator weighting, framework development, and validation.Talent champion aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). By fostering a competent and competitive workforce, this study aims to support SPV2030’s goals of shared prosperity and strengthen Malaysia’s position in the global talent landscape.