Malaysia’s digital transformation efforts received a significant boost at the Huawei ICT Competition Malaysia 2024–2025 Awards Ceremony, where 16 outstanding students and instructors were recognised as grand prize winners. Competing in four key tracks—Cloud, Network, Computing, and Innovation—these winners were selected from a competitive pool of over 1,200 participants from 40 public and private universities nationwide. The event was co-organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
In the Innovation Track, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) claimed the grand prize, led by instructor Chong Yung Wey and students Lim Miin Ning, Naomi Tham Kah Mun, and Bok Wei Hong. USM Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and developing industry-ready graduates. He stated, “USM’s victory in the Innovation Track of the Huawei ICT Competition reflects our ongoing efforts to nurture innovative talent, enhance graduate employability, and solidify our position as a leader in technological advancement.”
The Cloud Track grand prize was won by Universiti Malaya (UM), with instructor Dr Rafidah Binti Md Noor guiding students Chew Ying Ying, Lee Xim Er, and Cheu Zi Yuan to success. Reflecting on the achievement, Dr Rafidah said, “This grand prize is more than a trophy; it symbolises the power of teamwork and the boundless potential of ICT. We are deeply grateful to Huawei ICT Academy Malaysia for this invaluable opportunity.”
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) emerged as the winner of the Network Track, led by instructor Ahmad Alauddin Ariffin and students Nurul Natasha Nabilah Mohd Dino, Nur A’in A’liya Ahmad Alauddin, and Anis Nadira Noor Maisam. Expressing her excitement, Nurul Natasha shared, “This achievement is even more meaningful as it’s my second time in the competition. Reaching this level is a dream come true, and I am immensely grateful for the guidance and support of my instructors. I feel inspired to give my all as we prepare for the regional stage.”
For the Computing Track, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR, Kampar) secured the grand prize. Under the leadership of instructor Dr Aun Yichiet, the winning team comprised students Liew Zheng Xian, Ng Shi Qi, and Har Sze Hao. Dr Aun described the victory as a moment of pride, saying, “Winning the Huawei ICT Competition’s Computing Track is a testament to the power of teamwork, determination, and strong partnerships with Huawei. It’s heartening to see our students grow into future changemakers. Huawei’s commitment to developing a talent-rich community is remarkable, and this win reinforces our belief that perseverance and the right support can turn dreams into reality.”
In addition to the student awards, six dedicated instructors were recognised for their commitment to nurturing ICT talent, receiving the Huawei Malaysia Most Dedicated Instructors 2024 award. The honourees included Dr Lee Sui Ping (Xiamen University Malaysia), Dr Ng Kok Why (Multimedia University), Dr Lee Fong Yee (Multimedia University), Dr Tan Soo Fun (Universiti Malaysia Sabah), Dr Noorhayati Md Noor (Universiti Teknologi MARA), and Dr Azliza binti Mohd Ali (Universiti Teknologi MARA).
Huawei Malaysia Outstanding ICT Academies 2024 were also announced, with six institutions recognised for their exceptional contributions to advancing ICT education. The honorees were Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Multimedia University (MMU), Universiti Malaya (UM), Xiamen University Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and INTI International College Penang.
The grand prize winners will now progress to the regional stage of the competition, set to take place in February 2025, where they will compete with other top-performing teams from across the region.
Speaking at the ceremony, UMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Hj Mansur emphasised the alignment between Huawei’s commitment to ICT education and UMS’s mission to cultivate skilled, future-ready leaders. He stated that this shared goal would continue to drive the development of Malaysia’s digital talent.
The awards ceremony was officiated by Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, who represented Higher Education Minister Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. The event was also attended by prominent figures such as MOHE Secretary-General Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Zaini Ujang and Higher Education Director-General Datuk Professor Dr. Azlinda Azman.
An important highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and Huawei Malaysia. The MoU aims to facilitate knowledge-sharing on emerging technologies and the provision of real-world expertise, as well as access to state-of-the-art resources and cutting-edge facilities.
The ceremony was preceded by the Digital Talent Forum Day 2024, organised by Huawei Malaysia in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and MOHE. The forum brought together over 100 instructors from 30 universities, along with key stakeholders from the government, academia, and industry. Discussions focused on ICT education in the digital economy, innovative teaching methods, and strategies for accelerating digital transformation in education.
With the grand prize winners set to compete at the regional stage, the Huawei ICT Competition Malaysia 2024–2025 has once again highlighted the nation’s growing pool of digital talent. This initiative underscores Huawei Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening the digital talent pipeline, fostering innovation, and driving Malaysia’s technological advancement.
