UTS, Global Resources ink MoU on technology, AI programmes

by · Borneo Post Online
(From second left) Wong and Dr Khairuddin exchange the MoU after the signing ceremony, while Ling (left) and Dr Mohammad Shahril (right) look on.

SIBU (Sept 20): University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and Global Resources Management Sdn Bhd (GSM) will collaborate to establish academic programmes and research on technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) took place here yesterday between UTS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Khairuddin Ab Hamid and GSM executive director Sylvester Wong Hsiang Hui, witnessed by deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) Prof Dr Mohammad Shahril Osman and GSM managing director Dato Stanley Ling Tiung Leng.

Dr Khairuddin said the objective of the collaboration was to bring together the strengths of UTS and GSM towards creating a smart campus with an AI laboratory facility, in alignment with the government’s initiatives under the Sarawak Digital Blueprint 2030.

He also highlighted some of the key enablers to accelerate Sarawak’s goal as a leading digital economy and society such as technology, infrastructure, connectivity, as well as human skills and capabilities.

“For the aspects of capabilities and skills, this is where the university will play its role. GSM, on the other hand, will provide the platform and solution,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wong expressed his hope that this partnership would build a foundation for the university’s digital transformation, thus benefit the state as a whole.

“We are still young, even in Malaysia, when it comes to digitalisation. We need to go for digitalisation first, and only then we can go for cloud and other processes to make this university a smart university,” he said.

He also emphasised on the needs for UTS to be equipped with infrastructure such as a data centre so as to accelerate the digital transformation.