The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has strengthened its commitment to immersive education through a new partnership between its XR Studio and apoQlar Medical, a leading medical software firm headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. This collaboration is set to push the boundaries of Extended Reality (XR) in medical education, enhancing opportunities for students and advancing innovation in the healthcare sector.

As Malaysia's first higher education institution to establish spatial computing facilities dedicated to Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), APU’s XR Studio is at the forefront of digital transformation in higher learning.

On October 28, 2024, both APU and apoQlar Medical signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) during a formal ceremony at APU’s campus located in Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. The signing was officiated by Professor Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, APU’s Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer, and Mr Sirko Pelzl, CEO of apoQlar Medical. 

“We are excited to deepen our collaboration with APU, using XR to advance Malaysia’s medical education landscape. This partnership aligns with our mission to elevate medical training and foster a positive impact on the future of healthcare professionals,” said Pelzl. 

This partnership opens up a wealth of experiential learning opportunities. Through the collaboration, APU students will gain the chance to complete remote internships and industrial training with apoQlar Medical, working directly with industry-grade XR tools and systems. Additionally, the alliance will focus on joint research and development of new XR applications, offering APU talents and staff vital upskilling in state-of-the-art XR applications tailored for the healthcare industry.

ApoQlar Medical’s mission is centred on transforming pre-operative planning and medical training by integrating 3D visualization and XR/VR technologies. This partnership represents a promising step forward for both organisations, as they work together to advance healthcare education and improve surgical precision through immersive, state-of-the-art solutions. 

Reflecting on the initiative, Dr Siti Azreena Mubin, Assistant Professor at APU's School of Computing (SoC) and Head of the XR Studio, shared, “We are thrilled to partner with apoQlar Medical to revolutionise medical education through cutting-edge XR technologies. This collaboration will empower our students with unparalleled hands-on experience, preparing them to excel in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry.” 

Prof Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, APU’s CIEO, concluded, “This partnership marks a significant step in APU’s mission to blend technological innovation with educational advancement. Through collaborations like this, we’re not only expanding our students' skill sets but also positioning APU at the heart of technological growth in healthcare. We look forward to seeing our students drive change in the healthcare sector with the expertise they gain here.” 

With APU XR Studio and apoQlar Medical joining forces, the future of healthcare education is set to enter a new realm of possibilities, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and cutting-edge XR technologies.