Malaysian Investment Development Authority together with Malaysia Productivity Corporation and Intel Malaysia handed over Intel’s Artificial Intelligent (AI) Kits to 5 local universities, namely Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Universiti Tenaga Nasional and Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation for students to get exposed to new technology like AI.
Designed with innovation in mind, the ‘AI-based machine vision’ kits align with the growth of emerging technologies by providing educational institutions with an avenue to equip future talents with AI skills.
The effort is part of the Artificial Intelligence for Universities (AI4U) programme launched by the organisations in November 2021. It is to facilitate the building of their respective AI Labs among these institutions to cultivate computational thinking skills among students of various fields of study. This sponsorship is aimed to enhance training and learning capabilities, initiate research in technology theories and design and introduce intelligent computing and machine learning.
Dato’ Arham Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA who attended the event said “AI education unlocks collaborative and remote learning, giving communities of learners ubiquitous access to knowledge and self-development. Besides creating high-value job opportunities, we are responsible for preparing our aspiring young technology innovators and leaders because they are crucial to nation-building in this technologically driven era.”
Director General of MPC, Dato’ Abdul Latif Hj. Abu Seman who echoed the sentiment added that as technology evolves, employers are asking for graduates with different skills as well and higher education will need to respond accordingly.
The selected universities are expected to establish their respective AI labs that can serve to empower students of all faculties to learn and experience AI. This programme is also designed to have the computer science faculty of the universities to be the peer trainer of their respective computer science students and lecturers to the rest of their faculty.
