Photos by: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Nazuar Sailin & AI Singapore
SINGAPORE, 5 December 2024: Four distinguished academics from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) have achieved certification as instructors for the prestigious AI for Good (Educator) programme, organised by AI Singapore and Meta. This milestone was reached following their successful completion of an intensive four-day Train-the-Trainer session at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
The AI for Good (Educator) programme is part of Singapore’s national to promote AI literacy and awareness. Spearheaded by AI Singapore and Meta, with support from the National Research Foundation and administered by NUS, the initiative equips educators with the tools to train learners in their respective communities.
The UUM academics who received full sponsorship to participate in the programme are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Izwan Nizal Shaharanee, Director of the University Teaching and Learning Centre (UTLC); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Nazuar Sailin, Director of the Institute of Excellent Teachers and Leaders in Education (IETLE); Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Jastini Mohd Jamil, Co-Curriculum Centre Coordinator and ISDIM Research Fellow; and Dr. Nurliyana Bukhari, Deputy Director of UTLC and IETLE Research Fellow.
Fully sponsored to participate, these academics represented UUM’s School of Quantitative Sciences (SQS) and School of Education (SOE), joining 75 educators from Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines in completing the programme.
The AI for Good initiative aligns with Singapore’s National AI Strategy, which aims to train 15,000 individuals in AI by 2030. Certified trainers are expected to reach 100 learners each within a year, potentially benefitting 5,000 students across ASEAN. For UUM, this initiative is projected to impact at least 400 educators and students on campus, as well as communities in the surrounding region.
During the programme’s closing ceremony at Meta, Assoc. Prof. Dr Siti Nazuar Sailin shared her vision to empower educational leaders and teachers as scholars, driving transformative change in education. She plans to conduct workshops specifically for in-service and pre-service teachers in rural Kedah, focusing on revolutionising teaching and learning through AI integration. Her initiative aims to enhance student engagement and retention while addressing pressing educational challenges in underserved areas. By doing so, she seeks to create ripple effects that will extend AI-powered education to broader audiences and foster lasting transformation in the teaching profession.
As Director of the University Teaching and Learning Centre (UTLC), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Izwan Nizal Shaharanee, plans to integrate the AI for Good programme into the professional development initiatives for UUM academics. His primary focus is on enhancing instructional delivery in higher education by embedding AI tools into teaching practices. Leveraging his role, Dr. Izwan aims to position AI literacy as core element of UUM’s strategy to enhance teaching and learning experiences. He emphasised that cultivating a culture of AI-enabled teaching excellence is essential for establishing UUM as a leader in digital transformation.
In addition, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Jastini Mohd Jamil will direct her efforts toward empowering UUM students with practical AI literacy and skills. As part of her execution plan, she aims to integrate the AI for Good programme into co-curricular activities and workshops. Her goal is to enhance students’ analytical and problem-solving capabilities by exposing them to AI-driven tools and real-world applications. By doing so, she seeks to nurture a generation of future-ready graduates who can confidently leverage AI to tackle complex challenges in their careers.
Moreover, Dr. Nurliyana Bukhari, in her dual roles at UTLC and the Institute of Excellent Teachers and Leaders in Education (IETLE), will focus on transforming higher education through AI-driven digital content creation. She plans to enhance the development of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and micro-credential (MC) programmes by integrating AI-driven tools and methodologies. Her vision includes creating more interactive, personalised, and scalable learning experiences, empowering educators with cutting-edge tools for instructional excellence, and making learning accessible to diverse audience.
Reflecting on the significance of the programme, Dr. Siti Nazuar said, “Although the AI for Good programme is a Singapore national initiative, the participation of Malaysian academics significantly enhances local AI efforts, such as Malaysia’s AI untuk Rakyat initiative. By applying the knowledge and skills gained from this programme, UUM academics are poised to contribute to national AI strategies and elevate AI awareness and application across diverse Malaysian communities.”
Supporting this stance, Dr. Izwan Nizal concluded, “This programme represents a significant milestone in expanding AI education and creating transformative impacts. By equipping educators with the tools and skills needed to integrate AI into their respective domains, we are not only shaping the future of AI talent and innovation but also solidifying UUM’s role as a catalyst for digital transformation in education and beyond.”
By participating in this initiative, UUM reinforces its commitment to advancing education and leveraging AI for societal advancement, ensuring Malaysia remains at the forefront of regional AI development.
