Celebrating three big wins (from left), Assoc Prof Dr Thang Ka Fei, Ts Nur Zahdi Mohd Nor Aldin, Mr Muhammad Anis Ur Rehman, Prof Ir EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Prof Dr Ho Chin Kuan, Prof Ts Dr Murali Raman, Prof Dr Mohammad Falahat, and Assoc Prof Ir Dr Siva Kumar Sivanesan.
THE Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) once again proved its leadership in higher education by emerging as the sole winner in three major education categories at the prestigious 25th PC.com Readers’ Choice Awards.
Held on Sept 24 at Sunway Resort Hotel, the Oscar-style ceremony marked the silver jubilee of the awards under the theme “The Dawn of AI” and had over 250 nominations across 70 categories.
APU was named Best Tech University, Best AI University and Best Future-Ready University – a feat that underscores its position as Malaysia’s leading private higher education institution.
Voted by more than 36,000 readers nationwide, this triple recognition reflects APU’s unique strength in nurturing talent for the digital economy.
The event was attended by APU’s management and academic leaders: vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ho Chin Kuan, Academic Development and Strategy deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Murali Raman, chief innovation & enterprise officer Prof EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, School of Technology senior head Assoc Prof Dr Thang Ka Fei, School of Engineering head Assoc Prof Dr Siva Kumar Sivanesan, Strategic Research Institute director Prof Dr Mohammad Falahat, Quality Management director Nur Zahdi Mohd Nor Aldin and Student Services senior director Muhammad Anis Ur Rehman.
Consistency and continuity in excellence
This year’s victory carries added significance as it represents the third consecutive year APU has secured top honours at the awards.
Having won similar accolades in both 2023 and 2024, the university has demonstrated not only academic excellence but also consistency in delivering quality, innovation and relevance across its programmes.
The sustained recognition highlights APU’s reputation and reaffirms its identity as an innovation ecosystem – a space where industry partnerships, cutting-edge research, and agile curriculum design converge to produce graduates who are highly employable, entrepreneurial and globally competitive.
Leading in technology and AI
APU’s win as Best Tech University reflects its strong integration of emerging technologies such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive media into its academic framework.
These areas form the backbone of the university’s forward-looking programmes, ensuring that students gain both technical expertise and industry relevance.
Meanwhile, the Best AI University title acknowledges APU’s pioneering efforts in AI education. From specialised academic programmes to real-world collaborations, APU has established itself as a trailblazer in preparing graduates for the AI-driven future.
Its Digital Learning Hub and the Unesco Chair Malaysia initiative have trained more than 7,000 individuals worldwide in Generative AI applications for education.
Adding to this momentum, APU organised the Great Malaysia AI Hackathon 2025, recognised in the Asean Book of Records as the largest industry-academic AI hackathon.
The landmark event drew 1,741 participants, including 1,547 students from over 50 universities and 194 professionals, in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Future-proofing graduates for global careers
However the most defining award is Best Future-Ready University, which underscores the university’s ability to anticipate workforce trends and equip graduates with future-proof capabilities such as problem-solving, digital agility and global employability. Its curriculum is strategically designed to stay ahead of digital disruption, with future-focused programmes spanning AI, Cybersecurity, Cloud Engineering, Data Analytics, FinTech and Immersive Media.
From diploma to PhD level, graduates are empowered to be entrepreneurial, globally employable and ready to lead in a rapidly changing world.
The Higher Education Ministry’s latest Graduate Tracer Study reaffirms this strength, reporting a 100% graduate employability rate at APU. With more than 80,000 alumni worldwide, the university continues to live out its philosophy of “employability by design”.
National, global recognition
In 2025, APU has accumulated a series of accolades, such as Malaysia’s Best University for AI Excellence at the EDUCOOP Private Education Excellence Awards, recognised as Employers’ Choice of University 2025 in Talentbank’s national survey, and celebrated its students’ outstanding achievements in both national and international competitions.
On the global stage, APU secured Global Quality Accreditation by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and achieved a position in the QS World University Rankings 2026, placing it among the top 2% of universities worldwide.
Vision beyond awards
“These achievements belong equally to our students, whose creativity, resilience and success truly define APU’s reputation,” said Prof How.
They are both a validation of our journey and an inspiration to keep innovating and leading.”
Looking ahead, APU aims to strengthen its global partnerships, deepen research and innovation, and enhance employability ecosystems. The university’s vision extends beyond sustaining its 100% graduate employability rate by seeking to empower graduates for global career mobility and leadership roles in the digital economy.
