Alibaba Cloud partners UM to elevate Malaysia’s digital competence
KUALA LUMPUR: Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence arm of Alibaba Group, has joined forces with Universiti Malaya (UM) in a strategic collaboration under the Alibaba Cloud Academic Empowerment Programme (AAEP).
The partnership seeks to introduce an innovative curriculum focused on cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) for UM students and educators, contributing to the development of the next generation of leaders and digital talent in Malaysia.
The collaboration encompasses a range of initiatives, including the launch of the Alibaba Cloud internship programme and establishment of the Alibaba Cloud Academy Skills Centre at UM.
This skills centre will serve as a central hub for technology workshops, training sessions and boot camps, covering diverse topics from AI to Database Management and offering a well-rounded education to participants.
“UM students and educators will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding of cloud technologies through cutting-edge workshops, comprehensive training sessions (both online and offline), and certification courses provided by the AAEP programme,” according to a press release.
The partnership was formalised via a recently-signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) at UM, during which Alibaba Cloud also introduced the ‘Future Star’ internship programme in Malaysia, with UM being the inaugural university to participate.
According to the release, this programme aims to provide interns with comprehensive training, real-world experience, and exclusive mentorship over a period of three to six months, preparing them to contribute effectively to the evolving cloud computing industry.
It also quoted Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Indonesia and Malaysia regional general manager Sean Yuan as expressing his enthusiasm about the partnership and of Alibaba’s commitment to fostering digital talents in Malaysia.
“The AAEP programme will provide UM students with access to Alibaba Cloud Academy’s resources, including over 300 online and offline certification courses and 250 online hands-on labs,” he said.
Meanwhile, UM deputy vice-chancellor (Research & Innovation) Prof Dr Kaharudin Dimyati in the release highlighted the university’s commitment to technologydriven growth and lauded the integration of AAEP into their curriculum as a step toward developing graduates and professionals capable of leading digital advancements in their respective fields.
“The AAEP programme is part of Alibaba Cloud’s global education initiative, aiming to provide learning resources in cloud computing, data intelligence, and cloud security to schools and students.
“Alibaba Cloud will organise orientation programmes for UM’s academic staff, focusing on cloud computing, security and database, and will play an advisory role in enhancing UM’s academic programs to align with industry needs,” he said.
He added the partnership underscores Alibaba Cloud’s dedication to cultivating a sustainable pool of digital talent, contributing to Malaysia’s emergence as a prominent technology hub in the future.