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As Malaysia accelerates its digital transformation and positions itself to become one of the world's top 20 AI economies by 2030 through the National AI Roadmap 2021-2025, a degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a strategic investment for future professionals. With AI expected to contribute exceeding RM60 billion to gross domestic product (GDP), the nation demonstrates unprecedented commitment to building an AI-ready workforce and establishing Malaysia as a regional leader in digital innovation.

By 2030, AI is expected to contribute USD115 billion to Malaysia's productive capacity, creating massive economic opportunities that AI graduates can capitalise on. This ambitious vision is supported by the recently established National AI Office (NAIO), launched on December 12, 2024, which serves as the central body championing the nation's AI agenda across government, businesses, and communities. The government's commitment is further evidenced by Malaysia's 2025 budget, which allocates MYR600 million for AI research and development and MYR50 million to expand AI-related education.

Malaysia's AI transformation is anchored by several comprehensive national initiatives. The National AI Roadmap 2021-2025 provides the strategic framework for becoming an AI-powered nation, focusing on governance, talent development, and industry adoption. The Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint positions digital transformation as a cornerstone of Malaysia's economic future. Most significantly, the MyMahir National AI Council for Industry (MyMahir-NAICI) was launched in May 2025 as a major initiative to strengthen AI workforce development efforts. This Council operates on four strategic pillars: AI Talent Development, Industry Integration, Policy and Funding Alignment, and Stakeholder Governance, ensuring that Malaysia's workforce evolution aligns with real-world industry needs.

The job market data reveals compelling evidence for AI career prospects. According to PwC's 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer, AI-related job postings in Malaysia have grown by 103% since 2021. Despite a general slowdown in job postings, the share of AI-related roles peaked at 2.0% in 2024, indicating sustained demand for AI talent across sectors, including information and communication, manufacturing, and healthcare. The scale of AI's impact on Malaysia's workforce is substantial, with approximately 620,000 jobs, or 18% of formal sector roles in Malaysia, expected to be significantly affected by AI over the next three to five years. This transformation has created 60 emerging roles across AI, digital, green, and deep tech sectors, including positions such as AI engineers, machine learning specialists, and data scientists.

The opportunities for qualified AI professionals are amplified by a significant talent shortage that presents unprecedented career prospects. A 2024 Amazon Web Services report found that 81% of Malaysian employers struggled to hire AI talent, despite 90% prioritising AI skills. The World Bank estimates that Malaysia has only 3,000 AI professionals, while demand is expected to reach 30,000 by 2030. To bridge this gap, major initiatives are underway, including Microsoft's AI for Malaysia's Future (AIForMYFuture) initiative, which aims to train 800,000 Malaysians by 2025 through online modules and hands-on workshops. Despite challenges, 79% of Malaysian professionals expect their roles to evolve due to AI, highlighting both the urgent need for upskilling and the tremendous opportunities available for properly trained AI professionals.

Malaysia's AI ecosystem is strengthened by world-class infrastructure developments that provide students and professionals with cutting-edge resources. Microsoft's new Malaysia West cloud region offers hyperscale data centres with vast computing power, enabling local organisations to train, test, and deploy AI solutions at scale. The establishment of the Microsoft National AI Innovation Centre, in collaboration with NAIO, EY Malaysia, and PETRONAS Leadership Centre, accelerates the development of local AI solutions, creating additional opportunities for AI graduates to contribute to groundbreaking projects.

In this dynamic landscape, academic institutions play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of AI professionals. ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University offers a distinctive Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence that provides students with state-of-the-art facilities, impactful research opportunities, and a vibrant academic community. Students benefit from a dedicated AI and Machine Learning Lab equipped with high-performance GPU-powered systems, NVIDIA Jetson Nano, and IoT prototyping kits to support hands-on learning in real-world applications.

The programme uniquely provides access to ºìÐÓÊÓƵ's High Performance Computing (HPC) service, powered by cloud-based NVIDIA GPU-accelerated computing on AWS, giving students a competitive edge through hands-on experience with industry-relevant tools and infrastructure. The programme is led by a team of world-class academics and researchers actively involved in funded research projects in machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and smart systems. This comprehensive approach ensures that students are immersed in a dynamic ecosystem that bridges academic knowledge and industry practice through project-based learning, capstone projects, and internship placements.

As part of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, students participate in AI-focused competitions, coding hackathons, innovation challenges, and collaborative projects through ºìÐÓÊÓƵ iLabs. They are also supported by an active AI and Data Science student club, mentoring programmes, and leadership development opportunities. With access to a digitally connected smart campus and strong industry linkages, BSc AI students at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ are uniquely positioned to become highly skilled, future-ready AI professionals.

The programme is designed to equip students with comprehensive foundations in intelligent systems, machine learning, and decision-making frameworks. Students can choose from two specialised pathways: Robotics, focusing on the integration of AI with robotic systems and automation technologies, or Advanced AI, emphasising cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques, deep learning, and neural networks. This flexible structure prepares graduates for diverse career paths, including Computer Scientist, Data Analyst, Artificial Intelligence Engineer, Computer Analyst, Computer System Engineer, and Automation System Engineer. The emphasis on both theoretical foundations and practical applications ensures graduates can contribute effectively to industry, research, and community initiatives through innovative AI solutions.

With robust government support, exploding industry demand, unprecedented infrastructure development, and world-class academic programmes like those offered at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University, pursuing an AI degree in Malaysia represents more than just educational advancement. It positions students at the forefront of a national transformation that aims to establish Malaysia as a regional AI powerhouse. As Malaysia progresses toward its goal of becoming a top 20 AI economy by 2030, AI graduates will be the architects of this digital future, equipped with the skills to drive innovation, lead industries, and contribute to the nation's technological sovereignty.

The convergence of Malaysia's ambitious national AI strategy, the critical talent shortage, and the availability of world-class educational programmes creates an unprecedented opportunity for students considering an AI degree. Those who enter this field now will not only benefit from the growing demand for AI expertise but also play a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia's AI-driven economic transformation and establishing the nation as a leader in the global AI landscape.

Associate Professor Dr Anwar Bin P.P. Abdul Majeed
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Email: [email protected]

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References
1.    Chang, L.K. (2025, August 29). Malaysia targets top 20 AI economy status by 2030 with a new national roadmap. Malay Mail.  
2.    LAW Partnership. (2025). Artificial Intelligence 2025 - Malaysia. Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guides.  
3.    TalentCorp Malaysia. (2025, May 23). TalentCorp and MyDIGITAL Launch MyMahir National AI Council for Industry to Accelerate Workforce Readiness.  
4.    ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University. (2025). Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence. Faculty of Engineering and Technology. /faculty-of-engineering-and-technology/courses/bachelor-of-science-honours-artificial-intelligence 
5.    National AI Office (NAIO). (2024, December 12). The National AI Office. MyDIGITAL.  
6.    Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. (2023, November 3). Malaysia's National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap 2021-2025.