Future-proofing the workforce
WHILE Industry 4.0 transforms our lives, it also transforms the way a university should deliver knowledge, as well as the forms of knowledge that should equip the future workforce.
Through the constant innovation and delivery of a wide range of programmes with technology as a common core, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) constantly seeks to unleash the potential of Industry 4.0 education by developing first-of-its-kind Industry 4.0relevant programmes, carefully designed together with its industry advisory panels to equip students with the latest technical and soft skills required by the future job market.
While Industry 4.0 also impacts the global business, accounting and finance spectrum, students undertaking studies in Business Management, Accounting, Banking and Finance are also exposed to Industry 4.0relevant areas, such as Financial Technology (FinTech), Digital Marketing, E-Business and Blockchain.
While a university campus serves as the arena for talent development, world-class facilities within the APU campus support the Industry 4.0-focused teaching and learning process by providing students an ecosystem for their development.
Creativity and innovation are nurtured through discussion spaces, think tanks and Innovation Labs within APU’s iconic campus, strategically located in Technology Park Malaysia (TPM), Bukit Jalil.
Industrial-grade infrastructure exposes students to real-time data and scenarios, training them to become competent technology professionals even before they graduate. For instance, the APU CyberSecurity Talent Zone features military-grade real-time cybersecurity monitoring software at the full-fledged Cyber Threats Simulation and Response Centre and Security Operations Centre. In the era of Industry 4.0, practical knowledge becomes as significant as academic and theoretical knowledge.
Industry 4.0 adoption and development requires a high level of critical thinking skills. Apart from providing world-class facilities, a university is responsible for developing innovative teaching and learning methods to produce graduates who can think critically, act innovatively and communicate ideas effectively.
APU has embraced technology with stateof-the-art engineering practices to feed knowledge and practical skills to students.
Industry 4.0 is all about the “industry”. While a university serves as a platform for developing talent, it is vital to ensure talents nurtured are in accordance with the industry.
At APU, industrial partnerships with innovative accelerators such as GrowthX Academy and Supercharger further enhance the platform for students to realise their ideas. The formula has proven a success, as APU students have been victorious in national and international level competitions organised by major industry players.
Under this formula, over 40,000 alumni are employed globally in reputable multinational companies.
Being an Industry 4.0-ready graduate also means a student has to be capable of communicating effectively in this era of globalisation and multiculturalism. APU students operate within a globalised campus environment with students from over 120 countries and continuous immersion in multicultural discourse, as events such as Independence Days, Multicultural Nights and other cultural celebrations take place regularly. The continuous cultivation of global outlook within the campus builds students’ confidence and equips them with relevant cross-cultural communication skills, making them workplace-ready even before they graduate.
In line with its practical teaching methods, APU instils practical workplace skills within the curriculum. As a unique feature, its students dress in professional attire, while adhering to a professional code of conduct on campus. Together with over 10,000 industrial partners and potential employers, APU creates an environment that simulates the future workplace. The transformation from high school-leaver to industry-ready graduate is a crucial process, where a university plays an important role.
APU has earned an enviable reputation as an award-winning university at national and international levels.
APU was announced as among the Highest Rated Emerging Universities in Malaysia, being rated Tier 5 (Excellent) under the Setara 2011 Ratings by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and has maintained this Excellent rating in the Setara 2013 Ratings and the latest Setara 2017 Ratings. Under the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2017 Ratings, APU was awarded 5 Stars in four categories – Teaching, Employability, Facilities and Inclusiveness. In 2017, APU was also announced as one of Malaysia’s Premier Digital Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) for its commitment in offering top-notch digital technology courses and ensuring highly skilled graduates continue to flourish and fill future digital job demands locally and globally.
■ For more details, visit www.apu.edu.my, email info@apu.edu.my, or contact student services at 03-8996 1000 or hotline 1300 888 278. To be connected, join APU’s Facebook at www.facebook.com/apuniversity