IPOH, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and HONOR Technology (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to establish the HONOR AI Lab @ UPSI, aimed at strengthening education, research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI).
UPSI Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff and HONOR Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Ethan Chen signed the MoA at a ceremony witnessed by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir at the main guest room of Dewan Tuanku Canselor, UPSI’s Sultan Azlan Shah Campus in Tanjong Malim today.
Md Amin said establishing the lab is a strategic step to expand access to AI technology and provide university members with industry-based learning opportunities.
He said the HONOR AI Lab @ UPSI will not only provide a platform for students to explore AI technology, but also enable lecturers and researchers to expand their research and develop innovations relevant to the needs of the country’s digital economy.
“The collaboration allows the UPSI community to gain hands-on experience with advances in AI technology, narrowing the gap between classroom theory and its practical application in industry.
“The facilities and programmes will help students develop their technical competencies and soft skills, while giving lecturers opportunities to improve their teaching and research through the application of AI technology,” he said in a statement released by UPSI tonight.
Md Amin said the lab will serve as a hub for various AI-related activities, including workshops, professional certification programmes, student mobility opportunities, industrial training, innovation competitions and knowledge-sharing sessions with industry players.
He said that, to strengthen academic and research capabilities, UPSI lecturers also have access to industry-standard AI computing equipment, development tools and supporting hardware to facilitate the integration of AI applications into the curriculum and the implementation of research and innovation projects.
“The facility is also expected to foster collaboration between academics and industry experts to explore advances in AI technology and develop solutions that address current needs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Md Amin said UPSI students can take part in project-based learning activities, innovation competitions, mobility programmes and industrial training to gain greater practical exposure to AI technology.
“The professional certification programmes will also enable students to develop technical competencies and entrepreneurial skills in line with national competency standards, enhancing graduates’ employability in an increasingly technology-driven job market,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chen said the collaboration with UPSI underscores HONOR’s commitment to expanding access to the AI ecosystem and developing local talent to meet the needs of the rapidly growing technology industry.
“HONOR is committed to making the AI ecosystem accessible to all users, and this partnership with UPSI is an important step towards empowering the next generation of Malaysian talent.
“By breaking down industry barriers and working closely with academia, we hope to build a value-sharing ecosystem that benefits students, researchers and the wider community,” he said.
The two-year agreement provides for the HONOR AI Lab to be located at Tuanku Bainun Library, owned and managed by UPSI’s Faculty of Computing and Meta-Technology (FKMT).
-- BERNAMA