- The school’s 5 honors are the most won by any organisation in the 2023 Awards
- The School of Computing at APU stands out among 42 specialized characteristics teaching digital technology.
.jpg "APU’s vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ho Chin Kuan (4th from the left) celebrates the multiple wins under the MDEC PDTI Outstanding Awards 2023 with senior academic staff and student-winners. (From the left) Nixon Cheng Yi Heng, assoc prof Dr Thang Ka Fei, prof Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam; (From the right) Chang Shiau Huei, Jack Lai Yong Geat, assoc prof Dr Tan Chin Ike, prof Dr Murali Raman.")
The Asia Pacific University of Technology &; Innovation ( APU) continued to expand its winning streak with numerous accomplishments under the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation ( MDEC )’s Premier Digital Tech Institutions ( PDTI ) Outstanding Awards 2023, which were announced on March 21, 2024.
Its School of Computing, which is located in Malaysia, has won the MDEC PDTI Outstanding Faculty ( University Category ) Award 2023 and has established itself as the top performer among 42 faculties/schools spread across 24 public and private higher education institutions specialising in digital tech education.
Also, Jack Lai Yong Geat, a teacher from APU’s School of Media, Arts and Design, stood out as one of the Excellent University People among the contenders by winning second place in this group.
Rounding up the win, APU’s students won three honours in the Excellent Student Category. This includes Chang Shiau Huei, a student majoring in computer games development, and Nixon Cheng Yi Heng, a student with a Bachelor of Science ( Honours ) who won the Outstanding Student Award. Loh Kae Shyan, a student of Information Systems Security, won a compassion reward in this category.
These five awards show the most wins by any college in the 2023 Awards and demonstrate the commitment, passion, and large drive of APU’s accomplished academic staff and students.
Since 2017, under the supervision of the next Ministry of Communication and Multimedia with the help of the Ministry of Higher Education, MDEC has spearheaded the PDTI program, aiming to boost Malaysia’s digital technology industry.
The inclusion of APU as one of the annual party of PDTIs by MDEC in 2017 underlines its commitment to advance online education, a position it has maintained to day. The PDTI program plays a crucial role in nurturing highly experienced professionals for the modern market by acting as a bridge between native talent need and local talent supply. Annually, these prizes recognise administrative and people’ outstanding contributions and advancements.
Throughout 2023, the School of Computing, under the command of Associate Professor Dr. Tan Chin Ike, showcased its award-winning credentials by forging partnerships with over 11 key industry players in the technology, systems, and game growth sectors. Additionally, its students and academic staff won more than ten top awards in various regional and national competitions.
The participation of Chen Yi Heng in nine international competitions, including the DB-SNUbiz Global Startup Challenge 2023 and the 2023 4th All-American DAVINCI International Innovation and Invention Expo, earned him the Outstanding Student Award. On the other hand, Chang Shiau Huei attained first runner-up status with her participation in 11 international and eight national competitions, including the 2023 Women’s Society Of CyberJutsu ( WSC ) CTF, winning five championships in total. In addition to other notable victories, Loh Kae Shyan won three national championships at CYDES 2023, Hack A Day – Securing AI: PwC CTF 2023, and APU Internal CTF 2023.
The recognition of Jack Lai as the 3rd Place Award winner of Outstanding Faculty Member demonstrates his commitment to developing and applying cutting-edge knowledge to animation, enhancing student learning experiences, and supporting research projects.
Reflecting on these accomplishments, Dr. Tan noted that” the 2023 Outstanding Faculty Award confirms that the school is meeting the evolving needs of society and industry by fostering and developing innovative talents in the fields of computing and creative technology.” “
He added that APU has excelled in the field of job-ready graduates for over 30 years and that the PDTI initiative aims to establish a sustainable pipeline of job-ready graduates capable of meeting industry demands. According to the proverb at APU, we do not just produce graduates; we rather cultivate talents that provide top-notch value to the sector. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle wrote – ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. APU instills this quality in both its staff and students. ” Professor Dr. Ho Chin Kuan, vice-chancellor of APU, echoed this sentiment, underlining APU’s commitment to providing practical industry knowledge and fostering employable talents. He emphasized the importance of producing graduates who are highly valuable to the sector under the APU brand.
We at APU have always prioritized providing our talents with the best possible tertiary experience and the most practical industry knowledge and skills. APU has a strong culture that encourages the development of employable talents. ”
The APU’s success at the MDEC PDTI Outstanding Awards 2023 demonstrates its commitment to excellence in digital technology education and to supporting Malaysia’s digital economy’s growth. As its CEO Parmjit Singh noted, “Being part of MDEC’s Premier Digital Tech Ecosystem, APU collaborates with key stakeholders in prioritising student transformation into highly employable, competent, and future-proof professionals. Our key industrial partners offer our academic staff valuable insights into industry practices, which are then incorporated into our curriculum. Our faculty and students ‘ outstanding accomplishments in 2023 truly give us a sense of pride. ”