Justifying a Study on Constructing a National Human Resource Development Model as Practiced in Malaysia

Abstract

The globe has been confronting a new set of challenges. Such challenges are unique to each country context. The overarching challenge, all above other challenges is, to seek appropriate knowledge as a tool and mean to resolve such challenges. A critical such knowledge to be accumulated in all days is on how to develop people or human resources. However, with the existing knowledge claims in this regard, countries have been unable to resolve such challenges. Human Development, one such knowledge claim, is too broader, and therefore, no guided protocol is suggested in finding solutions. Human Resource Development, as another such knowledge claim is too limited in scope to address broader level challenges. National Human Resource Development (NHRD) has emerged to bridge this gap, emphasising people oriented solutions to resolve country level challenges. The NHRD literature encourages NHRD country case studies, and that, justifications for starting NHRD country case studies is needed.This study justifies such a research on NHRD practices in Malaysia's country context, using content analysis. As a result, this study has shown higher level country challenges, derived a need of people based approach in resolving such challenges, highlighted NHRD as capable as possible in guiding to establish people development knowledge claim, and finally justified an NHRD research to be done within Malaysia's context to see how Malaysia practices NHRD.