KUALA LUMPUR: The combined effort of 11 public universities offering 30 AI-related programmes at various levels up to doctorate is expected to produce 30,000 graduates from 2025 to 2030, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (pic).
This focus on AI is part of a broad review of 455 study programmes at public universities this year to ensure their relevance to current and future needs, said the Higher Education Minister.
Such reviews, applicable for diploma level all the way to doctorate, are conducted through curriculum review committees that took into account the shifting technological and industrial landscape.
“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,” he said in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
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 offered AI-related programmes, with 30 programmes ranging from first degree to doctorate, with the expectation that 30,000 graduates will be created by 2030.
He added his ministry is working to further strengthen AI talent development through the establishment of more university 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.
Zambry 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.
This includes AI in teaching and learning as well as research at the higher education level.
