15/09/2026

TUESDAY | SEPT 15, 2026

12

EDUCATION NEWS

Leading varsities form Triple Alliance with shared purpose

IBS classrooms to help address school overcrowding MALACCA: The construction of additional classrooms using the Industrialised Building System (IBS) will enable special rooms currently used as temporary teaching and learning spaces to resume their original functions, said Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh. He said the move would help ease overcrowding while enabling schools to make better use of their existing facilities. “Some schools have had to convert special rooms, including music rooms and laboratories, into classrooms. “With this construction, the special rooms can once again be used for their intended purposes,” he told reporters after visiting Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Merdeka here recently. According to Wong, 53 schools in Malacca had benefited from the construction of additional classrooms using IBS, 49 of which had more than 35 students per class. He said three schools in the Kesidang state constituency, namely SK Malim, SK Taman Merdeka and SK Tengkera 1, had received a total allocation of RM3.3 million to construct 11 additional classrooms under the initiative, with completion expected by December 2026. “The additional classroom construction projects at the three schools are currently around 40 per cent complete and are expected to be completed before the 2027 school session begins,” he said. Commenting on the double cohort intake for Year One in the 2027 school session, Wong said 416,632 pupils had so far registered in the seven-year-old cohort, while 73,487 had registered in the six-year-old cohort. On teacher readiness, he said the Education Ministry had taken several measures, including placing Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) graduates this year, appointing reserve candidates for critical options and recruiting teachers on a Contract of Service (COS) basis. “A total of 3,150 people have already been appointed and are ready for placement in schools according to future needs,” he said. – Bernama

o Monash, Sunway and Taylor’s to share resources, pool expertise in education and research. PETALING JAYA: Students Monash University Malaysia, Sunway University and Taylor’s University can look forward to more opportunities to learn, conduct research and take part in activities across campuses following the launch of the Triple Alliance. Formalised on Sept 8, the partnership brings together institutions with more than 64,500 students and 5,657 staff. It covers five areas: education, research, shared resources, student life and community impact. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir launched the alliance at an event that also featured the inaugural Triple Alliance Philharmonic Orchestra concert at Sunway Square’s Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre. The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation has pledged RM5 million in seed funding to support the alliance, alongside contributions from the universities towards collaborative research. Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, who is also Sunway University chancellor, said students should be the partnership’s main beneficiaries. “I want our students to move freely across the vibrant ecosystem to learn together, conduct research together, compete in sports, enjoy the arts and culture together and most importantly, build friendship with one another.” Cheah said facilities and amenities in Sunway City, including libraries and the performing arts centre, had been opened to students and academics across the alliance. Research with practical uses The universities will pursue multidisciplinary research in areas including artificial intelligence, healthcare and digital innovation, while exploring joint grant opportunities and industry partnerships. Three initial research projects have already been selected. Sunway University president and vice-chancellor Prof Sibrandes Poppema said all three involved sustainability. He said the alliance’s success would depend on whether it produced research that improved lives, gave students opportunities they would at Ű BY AMEEN AZIZI

Monash, Sunway and Taylor’s will retain their individual identities and academic standards under the partnership. – HANDOUT PIC

otherwise lack and helped create technologies and enterprises. Monash University Malaysia president and pro vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said universities had a responsibility to work together on challenges facing society. “Universities have a responsibility not only to educate, but to work together to address the complex challenges facing our societies. The Triple Alliance demonstrates what is possible when leading institutions unite around a shared purpose. By combining our complementary strengths, we can broaden opportunities for our students, accelerate research and deepen our engagement with industry, government and communities. Together, we are helping position Malaysia as a globally recognised hub for education, innovation and talent development,” she said. Adeeba said Monash had recently hosted an Early Career Researchers Symposium as part of efforts to support young researchers. Beyond the classroom For students, the partnership also includes plans for access to facilities across campuses, collaborative entrepreneurship initiatives and lifelong learning programmes. Leadership activities, volunteerism, peer support networks and mental health initiatives are among the proposed areas of cooperation. Adeeba highlighted Thrive Together, a programme focusing on the well-being and mental health of students and staff. The collaboration also builds on the Triple Alliance Games, which brings students together through sport and reaches its fifth edition this year. Taylor’s University vice-chancellor and president Prof Barry Winn said the arts provided another way for students to develop interests

Cheah envisions Sunway City becoming a regional education and research hub, drawing inspiration from university clusters

in Boston and Cambridge. – THESUNPIC

understanding of AI among students more broadly, including elements related to the use and responsibility of AI technology,“ he said. Tuanku Syed Faizuddin said the university is also strengthening digital pedagogy and immersive learning. “UniMAP was reported as the runner-up in two categories of the Special Award of the Minister of Higher Education (AKRI) 2025, namely Blended Learning Experience and Face-to-Face Immersive Learning Experience. “This strength allows UniMAP to move from the identity of a conventional technical university to a university that combines engineering, technology, computing and AI,“ he said. He said that with the industry increasingly beyond their studies. “At Taylor’s, we believe a university education should create space for students to discover and pursue their passions beyond the classroom. The arts are an important part of that experience. They nurture creativity, discipline and confidence, while connecting people across different backgrounds and perspectives,” he said in the concert booklet. Sharing the stage The launch concert, titled The Alliance Awakens, brought together musicians from the three universities, with approximately 150 performers making up the orchestra and choir. Its programme spanned classical music, film scores and popular culture, including selections from Star Wars, Gustav Holst’s The Planets , Star Trek Into Darkness and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury . Malaysian composition Setia also featured alongside the Formula 1 theme and music from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Supported by the Triplet Orchestra Association as appointed artistic council, the performance extended the universities’ collaboration into the arts, giving students and alumni a shared platform to rehearse, perform and build connections across institutions.

AI, intelligent computing soar at UniMAP DA NANG: Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) is now expanding its technical identity to the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), data science, computer engineering and embedded systems through strengthening the field of smart computing. he said in conjunction with the closing of the International Leadership Mobility (ILM) 2026 edition here last week. At the event, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin also launched a Perlis kurma dish at Bharata Restaurant Ba Na Hills.

relying on automation, data and smart systems, this expansion is important to ensure that UniMAP graduates remain relevant in the digital economy and future technology. At this edition of ILM, the UniMAP delegation was led by Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra and was attended by the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil as UniMAP Pro Chancellor 1. Also attending were the chancellor’s daughters Hajah Sharifah Khatreena Nuraniah Jamalullail, who is also UniMAP Pro Chancellor 2, and Hajah Sharifah Farah Adriana Jamalullail, accompanied by UniMAP deputy vice chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Dr Shahriman Abu Bakar. – Bernama

He also said that AI and data now have applications across industries, including manufacturing, semiconductors, logistics, energy, smart cities and autonomous systems. “Therefore, mastery of this field provides UniMAP with the opportunity to combine engineering, computing and AI in talent development and research. “The AI approach is also not limited to specific programmes. UniMAP pays attention to the

The Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail as the Chancellor of UniMAP said the launch of the Faculty of Smart Computing this year marks the university’s efforts to ensure that traditional strengths in engineering grow in line with future digital technologies. “The smart computing field complements UniMAP’s existing strengths in electricity and electronics, automation and electronic systems,“

Banking & Finance

Education News/Health & Wellness TUES

ESG

Property

WED

MON

THUR