On March 22, 2024, the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) and nine other esteemed public and private universities made a pivotal commitment to adopt immersive learning modules offered by CelcomDigi Metaversity. This groundbreaking initiative, unveiled in Petaling Jaya and officiated by Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, marks a transformative shift towards experiential education within a virtual environment.

Prof Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, APU’s Chief Innovation Officer and Enterprise Officer (3rd from the right) joins the leadership of nine universities in posing for a group photo at the launch of CelcomDigiMetaversity at the company headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

The immersive modules empower students to apply their skills across diverse sectors, from healthcare to robotics and cybersecurity, fostering innovation and practical expertise. Graduates of these courses will earn a metaverse certification accredited by VIRNECT and XRA, enhancing their marketability in emerging industries.

Under the partnership, CelcomDigi will collaborate with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to implement advanced metaverse, XR, and AI educational solutions across 21 universities nationwide, with a particular focus on fostering Industry 4.0 talent.

APU’s team (from left): Ts Dr Siti Azreena Binti Mubin, Prof Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Mr Imran Mahalil, Sagar Prema Rajan, and Tan Yan Wen, at their project booth during the event.

APU, together with these nine universities: Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), MAHSA University, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), and UniversitiTeknikalMalaysia Melaka (UTeM), will leverage CelcomDigi's connectivity solutions to drive digital transformation and innovation, bolstered by 5G and IoT technologies.

Tan Yan Wen (left), an APU student from the XR-Studio, explains the mechanics of the mixed reality technology project to Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (right), the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, and the audience.

The launch event showcased the APU XR Studio team's cutting-edge Mixed Reality (MR) technology, demonstrating the university's commitment to pioneering digital education while addressing UN’s Sustainable Development Goals No. 4, 9 & 15 under the leadership of Professor Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, APU’s Chief Innovation Officer and Enterprise Officer.

Together with Ts Dr Siti Azreena Binti Mubin, Senior Lecturer of the School of Computing (SOC), members of APU’s XR Studio team which included Mr Imran Mahalil, the VR Engineer and lecturer; Mohammad Tahmidul Hasan and Sagar Prema Rajan, Master's students at XR-Studio; and Tan Yan Wen, a multimedia technology student, had the opportunity to present their innovative project outcome to the guest of honour and audiences at the event.

Through this initiative, APU and its partners are poised to spearhead a new era of immersive education, bridging academia and industry to nurture tomorrow's digital leaders.