We don't just run trainings. We fix performance problems.
The Dune Academy runs workshops, team-building and leadership programmes for startups, SMEs and corporate teams. Our in-house and public programmes are claimable under the HRD Corp levy, and we make the claim hands-free for your HR team.
Every programme is built around the goals of the company sending the people, not a standard slide deck.
Custom-built training. Designed for each organisation's needs and challenges, so it stays relevant and people stay engaged.
Focus on core challenges. We work on the problems your teams actually face and give them the skills to get past them.
Long-term behaviour change. The aim is lasting change in how teams work together, not a good feeling that fades by Friday.
The HRD Corp levy, in plain terms
You're already paying for training. The question is whether you're using it.
Every month, covered employers pay a levy to HRD Corp based on their Malaysian employees' wages. That money sits in the employer's own account, ready to pay for approved training. It doesn't go back to you as cash.
When nobody in the company owns the balance, it tends to pile up. We see it often: an HR team stretched across payroll, hiring and compliance, with a five-figure levy balance nobody has touched for a year.
HRD Corp Reg. No. 202401032112, valid until 18 April 2027. See our certificate
Who pays, and how much
10 or more Malaysian employees: registration is compulsory. Levy is 1% of monthly wages.
5 to 9 Malaysian employees: registration is optional. Levy is 0.5% of monthly wages.
Wages means basic salary plus fixed allowances, for Malaysian employees only.
What you can spend it on: approved training by a registered provider, like The Dune, for your own staff.
Summary based on the PSMB Act 2001 and HRD Corp guidelines. Rules change, so check the current position with HRD Corp or ask us.
How a claimable programme works
Four steps, and we do most of the paperwork
Scope
We talk to the managers involved, agree the goal and pick or adapt a programme.
Quote & documents
You get a quotation, course outline and trainer details, formatted for the HRD Corp grant application.
Grant approval
Your HR team submits the application in the employer portal. We're on hand if HRD Corp asks questions.
Deliver & close
We run the programme, then send attendance, evaluation and invoice so the claim can be completed.
Levy eligibility checker
How much could you spend on training this year?
Answer five questions for a quick estimate. Nothing is sent to us unless you choose to get in touch.
Waiting for your details
Tell us about your organisation
Enter your headcount and payroll. We'll estimate your annual levy contribution and whether you're likely to have funds waiting to be used.
This is an estimate for planning only. Your actual levy balance, and any expiry dates, are shown in the HRD Corp employer portal. Eligibility is decided by HRD Corp.
Most popular programmes
What companies book us for most
Each programme runs in-house and is adapted to your team. Most are also available as public runs.
6 programmes
Team buildingHRD Corp claimable
Team Alignment Program
Team-building
In-house
Whole teams and departments
A team-building programme that gets departments working from the same values and goals. Indoor strategy challenges and outdoor games show people how their individual strengths add up to shared results.
Programme highlights
Build collaboration and trust across departments and levels
A more positive, motivated working culture
Stronger communication between teams
Stepping out of comfort zones to reach a shared goal
For managers who have to keep a team steady while plans keep changing. Real-world frameworks and practical simulations on leading through ambiguity, communicating direction and keeping performance up under pressure.
Programme highlights
Resilience and clarity when change comes quickly
Communicating direction when the answers are incomplete
Strategy only matters if it gets delivered. Hands-on tools and exercises for planning well, changing course quickly and delivering on scope, budget and time without burning out the team.
Programme highlights
Aligning stakeholders and priorities before work starts
Managing scope, budget and time without team burnout
Managing Diverse Teams for Results and Productivity
Turning diversity into a performance advantage
In-house · Public
People managers
Most teams now mix cultures, functions, generations and working locations. Practical exercises and case discussions on leading that mix well, whether the team is hybrid, cross-functional or spread across countries.
Programme highlights
Leading across cultural, functional and generational lines
Psychological safety and fair team dynamics
Recognising and managing unconscious bias
Using different perspectives to generate better ideas
A hands-on workshop on using AI as a creative partner to plan, write and design content that still sounds like your brand. Participants leave with a 30-day content plan.
Programme highlights
Finding audience insights with AI
Keeping a consistent brand voice with structured prompts
For professionals buried in information, writing and competing priorities. How to use AI as a daily thinking partner to summarise, organise, write and decide faster.
Programme highlights
Cutting through information overload
Writing and planning faster with structured prompts
Every module can be combined into a custom programme for your team.
Soft skills
Emotional intelligence
Critical thinking & problem solving
Effective communication
Resilience & adaptability
Working well across teams
Leadership
Technical skills
AI tools
Marketing
Digital marketing
Sales
ISO training
Data analytics
Project management
Team building
Stress management for high-performing teams
Cross-functional collaboration
Conflict resolution
Shared goal setting & accountability
Creativity and play in problem solving
Recreational bonding experiences
The Dune Academy management service
Your HRD training, managed end to end
Running HRD training on top of everything else is a lot for an HR team that is already stretched. We act as your in-house HRD support and take the whole process off your hands.
We become your HRD partner, so your organisation gets the most out of its HRD Corp funding while you focus on growing the business.
We identify workforce skills gaps and the operational problems behind them.
Plan the year
A tailored 12-month HRD training roadmap, aligned with your business goals.
Handle the claims
We apply for and manage your HRD Corp claims through the portal.
Run and improve
We coordinate trainers, schedules and delivery, and keep improving the programme as results come in.
FAQ
HRD Corp levy and training questions
What is the HRD Corp levy?
Under the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act 2001, employers in covered sectors pay a monthly levy to HRD Corp (Human Resource Development Corporation). Employers with ten or more Malaysian employees pay 1% of those employees' monthly wages. Employers with five to nine Malaysian employees can register voluntarily at 0.5%. The money is held for the employer to spend on approved training for its own staff.
Can we claim The Dune's programmes against our levy?
Yes. The Dune is an HRD Corp registered training provider, and our programmes are claimable. Your HR team applies for the grant through the HRD Corp employer portal (eTRiS) before the training starts. We provide the course details, trainer information and quotation needed for the application.
What happens to levy we don't use?
Levy balances are subject to HRD Corp's utilisation policy, and unspent funds don't stay available indefinitely. Check your balance and any expiry dates in the employer portal, or ask us to go through it with you.
How far ahead do we need to book?
For in-house programmes, allow three to four weeks. That covers the needs analysis, adapting the material and getting the grant approved before the start date. Public runs can be booked up to around two weeks ahead, subject to grant approval.
Do you offer training that isn't in the catalogue?
Yes. The catalogue covers our regular programmes. If you need something specific to your industry or systems, we design it with you and, where appropriate, have it registered so it can be claimed.
What does a training needs analysis involve?
Short interviews with the managers who will be sending staff, a look at the targets or problems behind the request, and sometimes a quick survey of participants. It usually takes a week and keeps the programme focused on what the business actually needs.
Plan your training around your levy
Tell us your headcount, the teams you want to develop and your rough timing. We'll suggest programmes and show how they fit against your HRD Corp balance.
