UNIMY has been recognised at the Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards 2026, receiving the IT – Education award in recognition of its strong contribution to technology-driven, industry-linked higher education in Malaysia. The award acknowledges UNIMY’s work in integrating artificial
intelligence, cybersecurity readiness, and sustainability-oriented technology laboratories into its academic ecosystem.

This recognition reflects more than a single institutional achievement. It affirms UNIMY’s larger direction as a future-focused university that seeks to position itself as a meaningful bridge between academia and innovative industries. At the centre of this approach is a clear educational philosophy that, students must graduate not only with academic qualifications, but also with the technical skills, applied exposure, and professional readiness required by the digital economy. As highlighted in the award coverage, UNIMY has structured its education model around industry participation, practical technical training, professional certifications, and laboratory-based learning. Industry practitioners also contribute directly to teaching and technical discourse, ensuring that students are exposed to current developments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data systems.

One of the university’s key initiatives is the introduction of its Bachelor’s in Artificial Intelligence programme. Developed in response to Malaysia’s growing need for talent in AI development, machine learning, and intelligent systems, the programme is designed to prepare graduates
for emerging roles in the country’s digital economy. The curriculum covers both foundational AI knowledge and more advanced areas such as agentic AI, reflecting UNIMY’s effort to remain aligned with technological change rather than respond to it belatedly.

UNIMY’s emphasis on strategic partnership has also played a major role in strengthening its academic and innovation ecosystem. A notable development is its collaboration with i-Sprint, which has led to the establishment of Malaysia’s first Application Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration Lab at UNIMY. This facility provides exposure to quantum-resistant encryption and cybersecurity systems relevant to financial institutions and technology organisations, with technologies connected to practices used by more than 170 financial institutions worldwide. This places UNIMY in a significant position within the national conversation on cyber resilience and 1 future-ready digital security.

In a further step towards linking digital capability with sustainability, UNIMY has also collaborated with Squarecloud to develop an ESG Lab and Centre of Excellence. The facility uses an AI-driven platform for energy optimisation and building performance analytics, creating opportunities for postgraduate research in machine learning, building systems, and energy data analysis. This initiative is particularly important because it reflects Prof. Dr. Vikneswaran Nair (Deputy Vice Chancellor), celebrating the award with Dr. Noor Azizah Binti Atdenan (Registrar) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Azlinah Md Lazam (Head of Deans) UNIMY tech byte Volume 1, Issue 7 – 30 April 2026 Page 4a broader understanding of digital education, one that connects technological advancement with environmental responsibility and applied sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Vikneswaran Nair (Deputy Vice Chancellor), celebrating the award with Dr. Noor Azizah Binti Atdenan (Registrar) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Azlinah Md Lazam (Head of Deans)

The strength of UNIMY’s model is reinforced by a growing ecosystem of academic, certification, research, and industry partners. The award coverage identifies collaborations with international academic institutions such as the University of the West of England Bristol, Oxford Brookes University, University of Brighton, Northumbria University, and Shandong Polytechnic, as well as industry and certification partners including Alibaba Cloud, CompTIA, Fortinet, i-Sprint, Masverse, and NetAssist. Through these linkages, certification pathways, and virtual lab platforms, UNIMY continues to strengthen its promise of career-ready education.

This award is therefore not merely symbolic. It represents recognition of a deliberate institutional strategy to align academic delivery with technological relevance, industry demand, and national development priorities. For UNIMY, the honour serves as both affirmation and responsibility. Affirmation that its direction is gaining recognition, and responsibility to continue producing graduates who are prepared to contribute meaningfully from their first day in the workforce.