Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced its partnership with Universiti Malaya (UM) through the Alibaba Cloud Academic Empowerment Program (AAEP) to introduce the frontier curriculum in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) for the students and educators at UM. The two parties also jointly unveiled the launch of the Alibaba Cloud internship program and the Alibaba Cloud Academy Skills Centre at UM. The collaboration aims to cultivate the next-generation of leaders and local digital talent in Malaysia.
Through the partnership, UM’s students and educators will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of cloud technologies by engaging in cutting-edge technology workshops, comprehensive training sessions available both online and offline, and a range of certification courses offered through the AAEP program.
Alibaba Cloud and UM exchanged the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a ceremony at UM, during which they unveiled the launch of the Alibaba Cloud Academy Skills Centre at UM. The Skill Centre serves as a hub for training sessions, workshops, and boot camps and will feature monthly themes covering a range of topics, from AI to Database Management to Elastic Computing, ensuring a well-rounded education for participants.
Additionally, Alibaba Cloud launched a new internship program called “Future Star” in Malaysia, with UM being the pioneer university for the program. The program offers a dynamic platform for talent development, providing interns with a unique blend of comprehensive training, real-world experience, and exclusive mentorship that lasts for three to six months. Structured to offer a holistic understanding of various roles within Alibaba Cloud, "Future Star" ensures that interns are well-prepared in the digital era to contribute to the cloud computing industry.
“Fostering a digital future requires a proactive approach that supports individuals and organisations at the forefront of digitalization. This is in line with our continuous commitment and investment in nurturing the digital talents in Malaysia. We are delighted to welcome Universiti Malaya as a valued partner in the Alibaba Cloud Academic Empowerment Program (AAEP), as well as for the Alibaba Cloud Skills Centre and our first internship program in Malaysia. We welcome UM’s forward-thinking initiatives and unwavering commitment to empowering learners, and educators with the necessary tools and skills. We firmly believe that through this partnership, they will be better positioned to gain digital insights and seize a multitude of opportunities in an increasingly digitalized world.” said Sean Yuan, Regional General Manager of Indonesia and Malaysia, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.
“Since the outset, we have recognized that technology plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and advancement in Malaysia. Consequently, all our programs, including forthcoming initiatives, are firmly rooted in technology. We have consistently provided our educators and students with the necessary digital tools to stay at the forefront of these advancements,” said Professor Ir. Dr. Kaharudin Dimyati, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Universiti Malaya. “The integration of AAEP into our teaching curriculum is a testament to our commitment, as it will bolster our existing programs and contribute to the development of graduates and professionals poised to lead digital growth in their respective fields.”
The AAEP program will provide students from UM with access to Alibaba Cloud Academy’s cloud computing and e-learning resources through a series of seminars, special guest lectures and interactive workshops. They can access over 300 online & offline certification courses, 16 professional certifications, 250 online hands-on labs with over 300 associated partners worldwide from the Alibaba Cloud Academy.
Alibaba Cloud will organise comprehensive orientation programs focused on cloud computing, security and database for the academic staff at the UM and enable educators to understand and deliver Alibaba Cloud courses which they can integrate into their curriculum as teaching aids. The technology company will also play an advisory role in enriching UM academic program to ensure that they stay relevant to the industrial need.
The Alibaba Cloud Academic Empowerment Program (AAEP) is a global education program that aims to help schools and students gain access to Alibaba Cloud learning resources and nurture future talent in the areas of cloud computing, data intelligence, and cloud security. The program works directly with accredited universities and other educational institutions to provide resources and tools to educators, students, and researchers.
The freshly inked partnership is yet another demonstration of Alibaba Cloud’s long-term commitment to creating a sustainable pool of digital talent. This initiative aims to build a robust digital workforce and position Malaysia as the upcoming technology hub.