Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation launches its Google for Education Centre of Excellence and seals a strategic partnership with CloudMile, strengthening Malaysia’s AI talent ecosystem through industry-aligned innovation and hands-on learning.

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On 13 February 2026, the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) marked a defining milestone in its digital transformation journey with the official launch of the APU Google for Education Centre of Excellence (GCoE), alongside the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with CloudMile.

The double ceremonies underscored APU’s commitment to shaping Malaysia’s AI and digital talent ecosystem at a time when artificial intelligence and cloud technologies are transforming industries worldwide.

Distinguishedly witnessed by Ts Dr Sheila Mahalingam, Principal Assistant Director of the Digital Ministry, the occasion brought together key leaders from government, industry and academia in a shared vision to cultivate next-generation digital talent. 

A Strategic Step Towards an AI-Driven Nation

In an era defined by rapid technological disruption, strong partnerships between higher education institutions and global technology leaders are no longer optional — they are essential.

The collaboration between APU and Google for Education reflects a shared ambition: to prepare talent for an AI-driven future, to strengthen industry–academia integration, and to position APU as a leading hub for next-generation technologies and innovators. 

The simultaneous partnership with CloudMile, a leading Asian cloud and AI company headquartered in Taipei and Singapore, further reinforces this commitment. Specialising in cloud migration, machine learning and big data analytics, CloudMile brings regional expertise and industrial depth to the partnership.

During the dialogue session with APU’s academicians, Ts Dr Sheila Mahalingam remarked, “The launch of the APU Google for Education Centre of Excellence reflects Malaysia’s forward-looking ambition to become an AI-driven nation by 2030.”

Her statement resonated strongly with the audience, framing the initiative within the broader national agenda.

She further emphasised, “Under the Malaysian Digital Blueprint, talent development remains a central pillar, and strong public–private partnerships are essential to achieving this vision. By integrating Google for Education’s teaching and learning, and Gemini AI capabilities into higher education, we are equipping students with real-world, future-ready skills. This collaboration between APU and CloudMile strengthens our digital ecosystem and accelerates the nation’s journey towards innovation-led growth.”

More Than a Lab — A Launchpad for Excellence

Spearheaded by Professor Ir EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer (CIEO) at APU, and Ms Nur Azyyati Binti Ahmad, Senior Lecturer for Cloud, Networking & IoT (CNT), School of Technology (SoT), the APU Google for Education Centre of Excellence is designed as a living innovation hub.

It is not merely a physical space housing cutting-edge facilities. Rather, it serves as a dynamic bridge between academic theory and industry-grade practice. The ribbon-cutting ceremony opened new pathways for mentorship, certification and career progression for APU students. 

By establishing this CoE, Google for Education provides a centralised, scalable hub designed to modernise the academic landscape through a robust “train-the-trainer” model. This framework empowers educators to become certified digital champions, ensuring that pedagogical expertise and the latest technology updates — from Google Classroom enhancements to the use of Chromebooks — are seamlessly cascaded to both lecturers and students.

At the heart of this innovation is the integration of Gemini, Google’s most capable AI, which provides hands-on experience in generative AI for lesson planning, personalised student feedback and research. This strategic model not only bridges the digital divide but also fosters a future-ready culture where AI-assisted teaching and learning become a standard for academic excellence and institutional efficiency.

The ceremony was attended by notable industry leaders, including Mr Umang Varma, Head of Customer Engineering – Malaysia, Google; Mr Vincent Loke, Sales Manager, CloudMile; Mr Muhundhan Kamarapullai, Chief Digital Officer, MRANTI; and Mr Mohd Safuan Mohd Zairi, Chief Ecosystem Officer, Ecosystem Development, MRANTI.

Pioneering Edge Computing Education with Industry Integration

Elaborating on the syllabus integration, Ms Nur Azyyati explained, “Our Edge Computing module reflects APU’s commitment to curriculum innovation. We are among the first universities to integrate cloud technology directly into Edge Computing, with Google for Education as our primary partner. As no ready-made syllabus existed, we developed a customised end-to-end framework — from Google Coral Edge TPU devices to Vertex AI modelling and analytics dashboards. The module has since expanded to our Nepal counterpart, while our Gemini-powered AI Automated Marking Agent has gained regional recognition for educational excellence.”

Showcasing Student-Led Innovation in Action

The launch event was not solely ceremonial; it was demonstrative.

At the newly launched APU Google for Education Centre of Excellence, Eric Hendryani, President of the Google Developer Group (GDG) on Campus at APU and a Computer Science (Cyber Security) student, delivered a live technology demonstration. 

He introduced GDG’s role in nurturing innovation and hands-on learning before unveiling a digital application developed in a cloud-based environment. The demonstration highlighted its interface design, technical workflow and scalable cloud infrastructure, reflecting strong student-led innovation and practical implementation skills.

Earlier, Cloud Engineering students Rahhulann, Muhammad Norikmal Bin Azmi and Wong Ka Sheng presented an AI-powered IoT and Edge computing system capable of processing real-time sensor and camera data to optimise energy usage in smart environments. The architecture ensures scalability, operational efficiency and privacy-conscious automation. These are key considerations in today’s data-driven world.

Leadership in Dialogue and Vision

The event also featured a high-level academic dialogue led by Professor Dr Ho Chin Kuan, Vice-Chancellor of APU, alongside senior university leaders including Professor Vinesh, CIEO; Professor Ts Dr Murali Raman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Associate Professor Dr Thang Ka Fei, Senior Head of School of Technology; Associate Professor Ts Dr Tan Chin Ike, Head of School of Computing; Assistant Professor Dr Julia Juremi, Head of Forensic and Cyber Security Research Centre (FSEC); Hema Latha Nair, head for Centre for Analytics (APCA); Assistant Professor Ts Dr Siti Azreena, Head of XR Studio;  Assistant Professor Ir Narendran Ramasenderan, Director of APU’s Centre for IoT and Drones (CREDIT) and Dr Beh Ching Yew, Head of Entrepreneurship & Innovation. The discussions centred on curriculum integration, research collaboration, certification pathways and the long-term sustainability of AI-driven learning ecosystems.

Preparing Students for What Comes Next

As industries are reshaped by artificial intelligence, cloud computing and intelligent automation, APU is redefining education through its Google for Education Centre of Excellence. 

By integrating real-world platforms, structured mentorship, enterprise tools and industry certifications into the academic journey, APU nurtures graduates who are adaptable, innovative and globally competitive. 

Through its partnership with CloudMile, the University is not only preparing students for future careers but empowering them to lead Malaysia’s digital transformation with confidence and vision.