University of Nottingham Malaysia, CelcomDigi inks MoU to foster digital talents of tomorrow

• Aims to equip students with skills for future digital demands
• Both parties to develop AI, Industrial XR/Metaverse solutions

As part of nation-building efforts in fostering and developing digital talents of tomorrow, the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CelcomDigi Berhad.

In a statement, the university said, the multi-year partnership aligns both parties on a mutual collaboration to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Industrial XR / Metaverse solutions and capabilities, from unlocking innovative tech-driven education experience for UNM students to enhancing internal employee and operational processes.

The MoU was signed by Professor Sam Kingman, interim provost and CEO of UNM, in the presence of Joachim Rajaram, chief corporate affairs officer of CelcomDigi, and was witnessed by Professor Ir Dr Mohd Shahir Liew, vice provost of Research and Knowledge Exchange of UNM, and Nik Naharudin Bin Mohd Nasir, director Digital Talent and Entrepreneurship; Digital Industry Acceleration Division of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Through the three-year partnership, the MoU has outlined multiple collaborative efforts to the benefit of both students and employees. CelcomDigi and UNM will collaborate to develop AI and Industrial XR / Metaverse solutions and capabilities that will be used internally within the company. It is envisaged that these solutions will be able to further drive operational efficiency whilst improving the employee experience. 

CelcomDigi, through its in-house built solutions, has seen benefits from the deployment of AI and will now collaborate with the university to further enhance these solutions. From an educational perspective, both parties will seek to explore combining workshops, practical training, and corporate opportunities, empowering UNM students to participate in internship and work placement programmes at CelcomDigi.

On the operational front, both parties will work towards the establishing of CelcomDigi as a one-stop-centre for UNM’s connectivity solutions and managed service partner, to enable 4G/5G/Direct Internet Access, WiFi and software-defined wide area network across the university and student-teacher community businesses. Through the engagement of CelcomDigi as one of UNM’s official corporate partners, both parties will also explore potential ways for reskilling and upskilling opportunities for CelcomDigi employees, such as in micro-credential courses of part-time postgraduate degree programmes.

Speaking on the importance of securing future digital talents, Professor Sam Kingman, commented that, “Our collaboration with CelcomDigi unlocks new possibilities for us to drive digital transformation, and open doors for our graduates to practical learning with a leading industry giant, either through internships or employment opportunities after they have graduated. We are also excited for the potential of immersive learning experiences for our students through the adoption of Industrial XR / Metaverse and AI technologies, and the opportunities at-hand to innovatively reimagine the tertiary education experience. The future is now, and only by developing and empowering students can we secure their capabilities to meet digital demands of the future.”   

Additional joint project opportunities include thought leadership engagements, from discussing the importance of industry stakeholders in bridging the gap between academia and the workplace, to how UNM research agendas can accelerate the adoption and application of AI technologies by tech companies such as CelcomDigi.