đź“ť Summary
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing lifelong learning and regional collaboration through its participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) 2026 Conference on Lifelong Learning. The conference highlighted the importance of universities in fostering continuous learning and preparing future-ready societies, with a focus on digital transformation and industry-academia-government partnerships. UTM presented several papers and was awarded the Best Presenter Award for its contribution on AIoT-based hackathons as a lifelong learning ecosystem.
KOTA KINABALU, Jul 5 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing lifelong learning and strengthening regional collaboration through its active participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) 2026 Conference on Lifelong Learning, held from 3rd to 5th July 2026 at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kota Kinabalu.
Themed “Bridging Borders, Building Futures: Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development and Digital Transformation in Asia,” the conference brought together higher education leaders, academics, policymakers, and industry representatives from across the region to explore innovative approaches to lifelong learning in response to rapid technological advancement and evolving workforce demands.
The conference was officiated by Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah, Dr. Andi Md Shamsureezal Mohd Sainal, on behalf of the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Hj. Hajiji Hj. Noor. The event underscored the critical role of universities in fostering continuous learning and preparing future-ready societies.
Throughout the three-day conference, participants engaged in discussions on transforming higher education institutions into lifelong learning universities by integrating flexible learning pathways, digital learning, and innovative governance models. The conference also highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration among universities, industry, government, and communities to ensure higher education remains relevant and responsive to societal needs.
A key highlight of the conference is the keynote speaker, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), Dato’ Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shatar Sabran. He urged higher education leaders to adopt a future-oriented mindset and embrace transformative initiatives that respond to the evolving needs of learners and industry. He highlighted key initiatives such as the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), including APEL.A (Access) and APEL.Q (Qualifications), micro-credentials, and Work-Based Learning (WBL) are important enablers of lifelong learning and flexible education pathways.
As part of its commitment to advancing lifelong learning, UTM is one of the selected institutions appointed as an APEL.Q Assessment Centre, providing prospective learners with an alternative pathway to access higher education through the recognition of prior experiential learning.
Several country papers were presented during the conference, representing Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Indonesia, highlighting diverse perspectives and best practices in advancing lifelong learning and sustainable development across the region.
UTM was represented by Manager of International Alliances, Global Strategy & Engagement, UTM International, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Suhana Mohamed Sultan. She presented a paper entitled “AIoT Hackathon as a Lifelong Learning Ecosystem for Community Empowerment Through Sustainable Innovation” under the Community Empowerment thematic track.
Her presentation demonstrated how Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT)-based hackathons can serve as an effective lifelong learning ecosystem, offering a more engaging and experiential alternative to conventional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes.
Drawing on a series of AIoT hackathons organised by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), with strong support from assistant engineers, postgraduate students, and undergraduate volunteers, the initiative successfully engaged 482 participants from 102 schools through a combination of intensive virtual and face-to-face learning modules based on the Conceive–Design–Implement–Operate (CDIO) framework.
The programme not only enhanced participants’ digital competencies and innovation skills but also empowered local communities by encouraging the development of sustainable, technology-driven solutions to real-world challenges.
In recognition of the quality, relevance, and impact of her presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suhana was honoured with the Best Presenter Award, bringing pride to UTM and reaffirming the University’s commitment to excellence in research, innovation, community engagement, and knowledge sharing at the regional level.
Beyond this individual accolade, UTM’s contributions extended to other accepted papers, including one by Assoc. Prof. Sr. Ts. Dr. Noorsidi Aizuddin Mat Noor on reimagining housing affordability and sustainable urban futures, which was accepted for oral presentation. These contributions aligned closely with the conference’s core themes of digital transformation and industry–academia–government partnerships.
The conference concluded with a closing ceremony led by the Conference Chairman, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fauziah Sulaiman, followed by a campus tour of UMS and a briefing on the upcoming ASAIHL Conference, which will be hosted by Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, in December 2026.
