Kuala Lumpur, 29 September, 2016 – With the support of the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), Microsoft Malaysia today showcased the latest in education solutions that are used to digitally transform traditional classrooms today.
Ybhg Prof Madya Dr Arham Abdullah, Director, Division of Industry Relations at Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) emphasized the importance of technology in the 21st century education landscape. “The Ministry aspires to create a higher education system that can set a global example and that enables Malaysia to compete in the global economy. Players like Microsoft are frontrunners in enabling innovations and transforming the way education is imparted. We will continue to partner with them to construct a system that is less focused on traditional, academic pathways and places an equal value on much-needed technical and vocational training to increase employability,” he said, adding that MoHE was actively pursuing technologies and innovations to address students’ needs and enable greater personalization of the learning experience.
Nik Ariff Nik Omar, General Manager, Public Sector Group, Microsoft Malaysia agreed that technology will play a bigger role in transforming the education systems in days to come. “We foresee 21st century education evolving rapidly with technology at the forefront to nurture students and equip them with life and work skills to compete globally,” he said.
“With millennials making up approximately 62% of workforce in 2015, together with increased access to technology such as mobile, and cloud – there is a high demand for digital content and experiences through various apps and online platforms. With these technological advances, we are enabling and creating new scenarios and experiences for both teachers and students alike, coupled with different modes of engagements. This naturally lends to shifts in teaching and learning, which is what we are demonstrating today.”
Echoing Nik’s sentiments, Dr Kalai Anand Ratnam, Senior Lecturer & Technology Specialist, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation, demonstrated some key Microsoft technologies that have transformed his classroom into a platform for collaborative learning. One such tool is Microsoft’s Skype for Business — part of Office 365 for Education — enabling communication and collaboration from almost anywhere at any time on any device.
“Besides the ease of access made possible by cloud based technology, the learning tools by Microsoft ultimately enhance collaboration inside and outside of the classroom, while providing a wide range of real-life learning experiences globally as students connect with educators and gain resources worldwide,” said Dr Anand.
With digital transformation in education as its key focus, Microsoft will continue promoting 21st century learning in Malaysia. “We remain committed to working with the government, local partners, communities, schools and educators to use the power of information technology to provide accessible learning on-the-go,” said Nik.
