09/12/2025

TUESDAY | DEC 9, 2025

12

EDUCATION NEWS

Licensed to deliver professional cybersecurity

A SIA Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) becomes Malaysia’s first and only university licensed by National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) to deliver profes sional-grade cybersecurity services. Through APU’s Forensic and Security Research Centre (FSeC), it safeguards SMEs while providing students with real industry experience, proving its capability beyond academia. APU has achieved a historic national milestone, marking its rise beyond an academic hub into a fully fledged professional service provider. More than merely a training ground for future-ready talents, APU today actively delivers mission critical support to the Malaysian industry as the only higher education institution licensed by the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) under the Cyber Security Act 2024 [Act 854] to provide Cybersecurity as-a-Service (CaaS). With NACSA’s endorsement, APU’s FSeC now stands as an approved national provider of Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) Services and Managed Security Operations Centre (SOC) Monitoring Services. With this recognition, APU joins just over 320 licensed organisations nationwide and stands as the sole representative from the academic sector entrusted with such responsibility, proving that its expertise matches industry standards expected of professional cybersecurity bodies. Among the key team members, Professor Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, APU’s Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer, Assistant Professor Dr Julia Juremi, Head of Forensics and Cyber Security Research Centre (FSeC), Reshiwaran Jegatheswaran, Cybersecurity Engineer and Zaid Ahmad as Technical Team Lead. They are supported by high performing students selected from over 1,500 undergraduate and Ű BY DHARSHINI GANESON

o APU is recognised for its world-class programmes

postgraduates programmes. “Through

in

cybersecurity

Banking & Finance Phuah Ewe Cheng, EY Asean SAP Co-Leader; and partner at Ernst & Young Consulting Sdn. Bhd. said: “We C.L.E.A.N., a wastewater management system to generate clean water and renewable energy via turbine power. Second runner-up produced a supplier management system to optimise cash flow and supply chain continuity for Malaysian electronics manufacturing services (EMS) firms. All three winning teams were also offered paid internships of no less than eight weeks or conditional offers of employment at EY in Malaysia. Throughout the programme’s three-month period, participants were challenged with case studies and interviews. They were also graded based on creative and analytical strengths, as well as practical skills, high performance team spirit and effective presentation skills. FSeC–CaaS, APU demonstrates how academia can directly contribute to national cybersecurity capability,” said Dr Julia. Our students gain invaluable hands-on experience, while SMEs gain access to licensed, world-class protection at an affordable cost,” she said. FSeC-CaaS delivers comprehensive cybersecurity services tailored specifically to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), ensuring accessibility to enterprise grade solutions that many businesses may otherwise lack. These include Security audits: Detailed assessment of cybersecurity readiness with actionable recommendations, Penetration testing: Ethical hacking exercises to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, as well as Network configuration and hardening: strengthening firewalls, VPNs, and wireless networks to withstand intrusion attempts. Since its establishment in 2024, FSeC-CaaS has successfully executed multiple engagements, most notably the security assessment of the Malaysian government portal “Portal Pertukaran Suka Sama Suka (P3S)”, launched in August 2025. This project reflects APU’s proven ability to

The whole team at the APU Forensic and Cybersecurity Centre is supported by top students from the undergraduate and postgraduate cybersecurity faculties.

deliver trusted, compliant, and high impact cybersecurity solutions aligned with national standards. As a university entrusted with this role, APU uniquely bridges academic

training and professional service delivery, offering real-time protection to businesses while developing industry-ready cybersecurity experts.

Through its CaaS initiatives, APU continues to protect businesses, empower students and reinforce Malaysia’s cybersecurity resilience.

Local university students win young technology award AN innovative solution using AI powered route optimization, real time tracking and automated returns to streamline large-item logistics captured the attention of a panel of judges, to become the winning entry at EY Young Technology Professional Challenge (EY YTPC) 2025. Lajulink, an integrated logistics ecosystem that uses AI-powered route optimization, real-time tracking and automated returns to streamline large-item logistics. First runner-up developed want to shape the future with confidence, and that is a core objective of the challenge. This initiative provides participants with the opportunity to explore diverse career paths in technology.

“Since we launched the challenge four years ago, over 1,000 university students had gone through our programme, leveraging technology to develop innovative solutions that simulate real-world issues and drive meaningful change from organizational levels to the broader societal ecosystem.” This year a record number of participants with 487 students from 45 institutions of higher learning worked on the challenge statement of digital transformation, driven by artificial intelligence (AI). With the support from industry professionals, participants developed solutions including AI-driven asset maintenance, fleet management route optimization, waste emissions management, customer churn prediction prevention and many others. Vipin Chandran, Managing

Team aumoutsider, comprising Chong Li Hang, Eng Yun Qi, Lee Weng Hong and Lee Ing Zhen from University of Malaya beat 138 other teams to bag the top prize with Lajulink. They received a cash prize of RM12,000 and paid internships of no less than eight weeks or conditional offers of employment at EY in Malaysia. It was first launched in 2022 to provide a platform for university students and young graduates to test their business acumen, commercial awareness and technology skills. In its fourth edition this year, the event culminated in an exciting finale where the top three winning teams were announced after a rigorous evaluation by a panel of judges from top corporate companies. Team aumoutsider presented

The talent from University of Malaya used Ai to develop a system that won them the top prize at the challenge.

smarter

and

achieve

better

Director of SAP Malaysia said: “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with EY to equip students with skills to become future technology leaders. At SAP, we are all about embedding AI into everyday business processes to support customers in aiming to work

outcomes. The AI-driven solutions developed by students have potential to create meaningful results across various industries, making them accessible and impactful.”

Education News/Health & Wellness TUES

ESG

Property

WED

MON

THUR