UPSI And Honor Ink MoU To Establish Region's First AI Education Lab

IPOH, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) is set to establish Southeast Asia's first AI Education Laboratory, following a new strategic partnership with the global technology brand, Honor.

The collaboration was formalised today through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at Honor's headquarters in Shenzhen, China.

In a statement today, UPSI said the MoU was signed by its vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff, and South Pacific Honor president, Li Jing.

It was witnessed by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) chairman and Special Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shaffie. 

Md Amin highlighted that the partnership will facilitate various collaborations on digital teaching and learning, joint research and publications, industry exposure, academic mobility, consultancy services, and community engagement in the field of AI.

The partnership will drive the transformation of the higher education system by introducing the region's first AI-based learning approach.

He said UPSI is proud to be the first public university in Malaysia to partner with an international technology company like Honor to develop the laboratory, which will be housed in the Tuanku Bainun Library at its Tanjong Malim campus.

The lab will function not only as a training and research centre for university staff and students but will also be opened to the wider community, providing public access to future-oriented, technology-driven learning experiences.

In a related development at the same event, a separate MoU was signed between UPSI Holdings Sdn Bhd (UHSB) and Honor, represented by UHSB's Board of Directors chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan.

Abdul Puhat explained that the MoU focuses on promoting, marketing, and selling selected Honor products to UPSI, other public universities, and government agencies nationwide. 

"The partnership also includes the exchange of technical expertise, the development of service strategies, and the establishment of on-campus drop-off or service centres to enhance customer support.

"We believe this initiative will position UPSI not just as a leader in teacher education, but also as a hub for educational technology innovation in Southeast Asia," he said, adding that the laboratory is expected to be completed soon. 

-- BERNAMA