- The iCadet programme gives students hands-on industry experience from year 2
- Embeds AI across 10 faculties and 99 programmes, positioning it as Malaysia’s AI hub
At the MDX Summit 2025, Multimedia University’s president, Prof. Dr. Mazliham Mohd Su’ud, laid out the new reality: AI is not a course you add on; it is a capability you embed. At MMU, that is not just buzzwords but reality — since 2022.
“From coding and software engineering to IR4.0, digital technology has always been in our DNA. As we enter the AI era, it is only right for MMU to claim its place as the nation’s AI hub. Today, all 10 faculties with 99 programmes are embedded with AI,” he said.
Curriculum first: building FAIE, threading AI across disciplines
MMU has restructured its offerings, renaming a core faculty the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and Engineering (FAIE), with undergraduate pathways in Intelligent Robotics and Applied AI.
Not everything sits within FAIE. Traditional AI tracks — such as large language models and software applications — are anchored in the Faculty of Computing and Informatics and the Faculty of Information Science and Technology. The aim is to strike a balance between theory and practice, aligned with career paths.
Cross-disciplinary application is deliberate: law students are trained to work with AI tools, animation students use AI in production workflows, and strategic communication students learn to apply AI for engagement analytics and content development.
Industry early and often: iCadet as the bridge
The iCadet programme integrates industry into the degree. From year two, students work with partners such as Telekom Malaysia, Maybank and Malaysia Aviation Group, applying classroom learning to real projects over extended periods — not just during a final-year internship.
The value is clear: repeated exposure to live environments builds practical skills, context and adaptability — qualities employers actively look for and demand.
Ethics and trust as part of the skillset
Technical ability is necessary but not sufficient. First-year modules in ethics, integrity and leadership are embedded in the curriculum, often delivered with industry participation. MMU’s values shorthand, GEMS — Generosity, Ethics, Mindfulness, Sociability — serves as a behavioural framework.
Professional certifications are also integrated where relevant, meaning graduates leave with both a degree and market-recognised credentials. “Trust comes from reliability, honesty and competence. Without these, you cannot build trust,” said Prof. Mazliham.
Founded in 1996, MMU is approaching three decades of contribution to Malaysia’s digital sector. Its focus now is to turn more students from competent users into confident builders.
“We are at the beginning of a new era. Everyone is starting from the same point. This is the time for our students to explore, experiment and grow into experts. We do not wait for the future; we build it together,” Prof. Mazliham said.
