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UMS recognised as premier digital tech institution
Wilson (seated, centre) with invited guests and attendees during the CSR @ UMS 2025 Programme held at the university today.
KOTA KINABALU (June 20): Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), hosted the CSR @ UMS 2025 Programme, a corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at advancing digital talent and digital literacy across the campus community.
The event, held today, was officiated by Deputy Minister of Digital, Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong, who also presented the Premier Digital Tech Institution (PDTI) plaque to UMS's Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FKI), formally recognising it as a strategic driver in the nation's digital ecosystem.
'Today marks the formal recognition of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FKI), UMS, as one of Malaysia's premier digital tech institutions.
'This accolade is more than a symbol of academic excellence. It comes with a weighty responsibility. FKI is now the only PDTI-recognised institution in Sabah, positioning UMS as a key talent development hub for East Malaysia,' Wilson said.
He further emphasised that the PDTI status enables strategic access to industry collaboration, knowledge transfer, lecturer training and hands-on student exposure to emerging technologies and critical industry-relevant digital skills.
Wilson noted that UMS's recognition adds to the success of the national PDTI ecosystem spearheaded by MDEC since 2017. The initiative, developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) and various technology industry partners, is one of the country's flagship programmes to bolster digital talent.
To date, 46 faculties from 28 higher education institutions nationwide including 11 public universities, 10 private universities and seven polytechnics have been conferred PDTI status.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), MDEC's talent development programmes have benefitted nearly 400,000 students through various initiatives such as hackathons, digital literacy workshops, industry talks, bootcamps, seminars and professional certification schemes.
For 2025 alone, MDEC is tasked with equipping 150,000 students across all levels with digital and entrepreneurial skills, with PDTI institutions playing a critical role in achieving this nationwide target.
As part of the UMS programme, a digital literacy workshop was also held, aimed at introducing fundamental technology awareness, enhancing digital capabilities among students and staff and promoting responsible, inclusive use of digital tools.
'Programmes like this demonstrate the immense potential when government, industry and academia work together.
'Together, we can nurture a digitally literate society, one that not only adopts technology, but uses it ethically and strategically,' Wilson added.
Among those present were UMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Kasim Mansor and Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Associate Professor Ts Dr Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Hijazi.
In his remarks, Kasim described the PDTI recognition as a historic milestone for UMS, symbolising not just academic and research excellence in digital technology, but also UMS's emerging role as a regional leader in digital talent development, in line with its aspiration of being the brain of Borneo.
