UCSI University, Alibaba Cloud to boost supply of digital talents

• To empower digital talents with cloud computing knowledge
• Students, lecturers to receive certifications upon completion

UCSI University and Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to introduce the cloud computing curriculum at UCSI University for its students and staff.

In a statement, the university said this collaboration aims to further support the nation’s digital economy by empowering digital talents and tech professionals through professional cloud computing education.

UCSI University vice-chancellor and UCSI Group chief executive officer, Siti Hamisah said “As UCSI University has implemented IR 4.0 into all of our courses, it is critical for students and professors to stay current on industry trends and be prepared for the future working environment.” 

“I am confident that by working with Alibaba Cloud, we will be able to prepare our students and lecturers for the digital cloud transition,” said Siti Hamisah.

By leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s expertise in cloud technology and UCSI’s rich education resources, UCSI said the collaboration aims to provide advanced knowledge and skill sets in cloud computing to university students and lecturers. 

As part of the Alibaba Cloud Academic Empowerment Program (AAEP), Alibaba Cloud said it will also guide, engage, and empower them as the next generation of IT and cloud professionals for a minimal cost.

Kun Huang, general manager of Malaysia for Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said the company has been dedicated to providingcloud services to its customers, and will deliver exactly these experiences to UCSI to help students and staff get the best learning resources in the industry so they can better seize the opportunities provided by the digital era. 

“In the future, we hope to work with our local partners to play a pivotal role in creating a sustainable pool of digital talent which would contribute to the digitalisation of the nation,” he said.

Students and lecturers will be able to get certifications after finishing the cloud computing programme as a result of this collaboration, UCSI said, adding that these students will have free access to the computing and e-learning resources on Alibaba Cloud.

UCSI University will also include Alibaba Cloud Academy courses in its Institute of Computer Science and Digital Innovation programmes such as the Bachelor of Business Information Systems, Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) Mobile Computing and Networking, Master of Technopreneurship, Master of Science in Computer Science, and more. 

In addition to the programmes, the University and Alibaba Cloud said they will co-organise seminars, workshops and training activities on cloud computing, security, and databases, among other topics.