Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to strengthening human capital development through the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 Roadmap to produce a skilled workforce for future industries, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology and other high-impact sectors.
His speech, delivered by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Dr Andi Md Shamsureezal at the opening of the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) International Conference at Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s (UMS) Chancellor Hall on Saturday, said the conference theme, “Bridging Borders and Building Futures: Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development and Digital Transformation in Asia”, was timely amid rapid global transformation.
Hajiji said Sabah continued to face challenges in expanding lifelong learning due to its vast geography, diverse population and the digital divide between urban and rural communities, but the State Government was addressing these through greater collaboration among higher learning institutions, community colleges, vocational centres and non-governmental organisations.
He said artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning and digital platforms were transforming education, commerce, governance and society, creating opportunities for universities to expand access through online learning, micro-credentials, virtual classrooms and AI-assisted personalised education.
Hajiji also welcomed the participation of delegates from eight countries and 12 research papers at the conference, while commending Universiti Malaysia Sabah for advancing lifelong learning through its outreach, professional development and community engagement programmes, and expressed hope that more institutions would undertake similar initiatives.
