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The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has once again demonstrated its global leadership in digital education and interdisciplinary STEM innovation by securing a USD 150,000 Seed Grant under the prestigious Deep-Time Digital Earth (DDE) Big Science Programme. 

This major funding positions APU at the forefront of research in digital geoscience education, setting new benchmarks for the use of immersive technologies in teaching and learning. 

The grant supports APU’s newly formalised international partnership with three globally renowned institutions — the Suzhou Deep-Time Digital Earth Research Centre (Suzhou Centre), the Secretariat of Deep-Time Digital Earth Big Science Program (DDE) and the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) — in a joint effort to redefine how young learners understand and explore the Earth’s deep-time systems through cutting-edge digital technologies. 

A Global Partnership with Shared Vision

Suzhou Centre (administrative arm) and DDE, endorsed by UNESCO, stand among the world’s most ambitious scientific collaborations, integrating massive deep-time geoscience datasets to promote sustainable research and innovation. Meanwhile, AGI, based in the United States, is a globally respected institute dedicated to advancing the geosciences through research, education, and public engagement. 

The partnership agreement was formally signed on 1 September 2025 by APU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Ho Chin Kuan, Suzhou Centre Director Professor Jianbo Sun, and DDE Secretary General Dr Ishwaran Natarajan. This milestone marked APU’s inclusion in a network of elite global institutions striving to advance data-driven Earth systems education and research. 

Pioneering Research in Digital Outcrop Models

At the heart of this collaboration lies an innovative three-year research project titled “Innovative Uses of Digital Outcrop Models (DOMs) in Pre-College Education”, funded by the aforementioned grant. The project will explore the transformative educational potential of 3D Digital Outcrop Models — high-resolution virtual representations of geological formations — as tools for immersive, experiential learning. 

By integrating DOMs into general science and interdisciplinary classrooms, the project aims to enhance spatial reasoning, data interpretation, and scientific inquiry skills among upper-secondary and pre-university students in both Malaysia and the United States. These capabilities are increasingly vital in nurturing a future-ready workforce equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. 

Collaborative Leadership and Academic Excellence

The project is co-led by Professor Dr Abtar Darshan Singh, Director of APU’s Digital Learning Hub and UNESCO Chair on Harnessing Innovations in Technology to Support Teachers and Quality Learning, alongside Professor Edward Robeck from the American Geosciences Institute. 

Supporting the initiative from APU are Ir EUR ING Ts Dr Harvin Kaur Gurchran Singh, Assistant Professor at the School of Engineering (SoE), and Ts Jonathan JS Kovilpillai, Programme Manager of the Digital Learning Hub. 

Together, the team will co-develop lesson plans, assessment tools, and instructional content that integrate scientific, cultural, and environmental perspectives — embodying UNESCO’s call for transdisciplinary and inclusive education. 

Strengthening APU’s Global Standing 

This groundbreaking collaboration brings tangible, long-term benefits to APU:

• Research Leadership: Reinforces APU’s status as a regional leader in technology-enabled geoscience education, paving the way for joint publications, exchanges, and future global grants.
• Reputation and Recognition: Enhances APU’s global visibility as a multidisciplinary university committed to sustainability, innovation, and educational excellence.
• Talent Pipeline: Attracts students and scholars passionate about STEM, digital education, and cross-border research.
• National Contribution: Aligns with Malaysia’s national priorities in STEM, digital transformation, and future workforce readiness, supporting the nation’s MyDIGITAL agenda and the Ministry of Higher Education’s strategic goals.
   

Between 2025 and 2028, the project will roll out in phases — including pilot implementations in schools, teacher training, and iterative research leading to the publication of empirically validated teaching frameworks that can be adapted globally. 

A Vision for the Future of Digital Learning 

Reflecting on this milestone, Prof Dr Abtar Darshan Singh stated, “This Seed Grant is a catalyst for innovation. Through this collaboration, we will push the boundaries of how digital technologies can enrich learning in geoscience and beyond. It strengthens APU’s Digital Learning Hub as a centre of excellence for technology-driven education, where research, creativity, and inclusivity converge to empower the next generation of learners and educators.” 

With this bold step, APU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to bridging technology and humanity through education, driving meaningful global impact from Malaysia to the world.