KUALA LUMPUR: Curriculum reviews have been done to 455 study programmes at public universities this year to ensure they keep up with modern technology, such as AI, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
The Higher Education Minister said the 455 study programmes reviewed included those from diploma level all the way to doctoral levels, as of Sept 30, 2026.
"The reviews took into account technological developments, changes in the industry landscape, as well as current workforce needs.
“For AI-specific programmes, the development and accreditation of programmes were strengthened through the Artificial Intelligence Programme Standards developed by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA),” he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 8).
Zambry was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) on initiatives to ensure graduates possess AI skills amid changes in the job market, and the ministry's targets for expanding AI and upskilling programmes.
To this, Zambry said 11 public universities currently offer AI-related programmes at various levels, with 30 programmes available at bachelor's, master's and PhD levels.
He said these programmes are expected to produce 30,000 graduates over the course of five years from 2025 to 2030 and that the ministry is working to further strengthen AI talent development through the establishment of more facilities.
“This includes the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), and the Faculty of Computing at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP).
“However, AI cannot be viewed as a specialised field; thus the Ministry also plans to ensure that 80% of bachelor's degree programmes at public universities are integrated with AI elements," he said.
He added that access to AI-related education had already been expanded, with all bachelor's degree academic programmes at public universities providing AI-related courses for students.
"This also includes AI in teaching and learning as well as research at the higher education level," he added.
