MDEC Premier Digital Tech Institution (PDTI) Awards 2023

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) continued to extend its tradition of winning awards by achieving multiple successes under the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)’s Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTI) Outstanding Awards 2023, which were announced on 21st March 2024.

APU’s School of Computing (SOC) was awarded the prestigious MDEC PDTI Outstanding Faculty (University Category) Award 2023. SOC distinguished itself as the top performer among 42 faculties/schools across 24 public and private higher education institutions specialising in digital tech education in Malaysia.

In addition, Mr Jack Lai Yong Geat, a lecturer from APU’s School of Media, Arts and Design (SoMAD), stood out as one of the Outstanding Faculty Members among the contenders by winning third place in this category.

Rounding up the wins, APU’s talented students won three awards in the Outstanding Student Category. Nixon Cheng Yi Heng, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Games Development student, proudly secured First Place for the Outstanding Student Award, followed by Cyber Security student Chang Shiau Huei in second place. Equally impressive was Information Systems Security graduate Loh Kae Shyan, who claimed a consolation prize in this category.

These five awards represented the highest number won by any university in the 2023 Awards and bears testimony to the passion, dedication and sheer drive of APU’s talented academic staff and students.

APU’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ho Chin Kuan (4th from the left) celebrates the significant triumph of winning multiple titles 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, Mr Jack Lai Yong Geat, Assoc Prof Dr Tan Chin Ike, Prof Dr Murali Raman.

Since 2017, under the oversight of the then Ministry of Communication and Multimedia with the support of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has spearheaded the PDTI initiative, aiming to bolster Malaysia's digital tech industry.

APU's appointment as among the inaugural group of PDTIs by MDEC in 2017 underscores its commitment to advancing digital education, a status it has maintained to date. The PDTI initiative serves as a vital bridge between industry demand and local talent supply, playing a pivotal role in nurturing highly skilled professionals for the digital economy. Annually, these awards recognise institutional and individuals' outstanding contributions and advancements.

Throughout 2023, the School of Computing, under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr Tan Chin Ike, showcased its award-winning credentials by forging collaborations with over 11 key industry players in the computing, technology and game development sectors. Additionally, its students and academic staff also claimed more than ten top awards titles across various national and regional competitions.

Cheng Yi Heng's Outstanding Student Award stemmed from his involvement in nine international competitions, including the DB-SNUbiz Global Startup Challenge 2023 and the 2023 4th All-American DAVINCI International Innovation and Invention Expo. Chang Shiau Huei attained first runner-up status with her remarkable participation in 11 international and eight national competitions, including the 2023 Women's Society Of CyberJutsu (WSC) CTF, winning five championships in total. Loh Kae Shyan clinched three national championships at CYDES 2023, Hack A Day – Securing AI: PwC CTF 2023, and APU Internal CTF 2023, among other winning factors.

Mr Jack Lai Yong Geat's achievement as the 3rd Place Award winner of Outstanding Faculty Member highlights his dedication to upskilling and applying new knowledge in animation, enriching students' learning experiences and contributing to research endeavours.

Reflecting on these accomplishments, Assoc Prof Dr Tan observed that "Winning the 2023 Outstanding Faculty Award reaffirms that the school is meeting the evolving needs of industry and society by nurturing and creating innovative talents in the computing and creative technology spaces."

He further emphasised, “The PDTI initiative aims to establish a sustainable pipeline of job-ready graduates capable of meeting industry demands, a mission APU has excelled in for over 30 years. As the saying at APU goes – we do not merely produce graduates but rather cultivate talents who offer top-notch value to the industry. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle wrote – ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.’ APU cultivates this habit of excellence amongst its staff and students.”

A collection of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)’s Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTI) Outstanding Awards 2023 won by APU’s talented academic 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 emphasised APU's ethos of creating graduates who add substantial value to the industry.

“At APU, we have always made it our priority to provide the best possible tertiary experience and the most practical industry knowledge and skills for our talents. The philosophy for creating and nurturing employable talents is in APU’s DNA.”

APU's triumph at the MDEC PDTI Outstanding Awards 2023 underscores its dedication to excellence in Digital Tech education and in supporting the development of Malaysia's digital economy. As its CEO Datuk 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 provide our academic staff with valuable insights into industry practices which are then embedded into our curriculum. The remarkable achievements by our faculty and students in 2023 truly fill us with pride.”