UTM AI Faculty Receives Over 60 International Applications For Second Cohort

JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 7 (Bernama) – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), the first of its kind in the country, continues to attract international students with over 60 applications received for the second cohort in October.

The faculty's dean Prof Dr Mohd Naz'ri Mahrin said the number involved international candidates who applied directly to UTM without going through the University Admissions Unit (UPU).

“Our first cohort currently consists of 114 students, including 14 international students from China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Middle East. For the October cohort, over 60 international student applications are already on the list, but not yet finalised,” he told Bernama recently.

He said the encouraging response was driven by UTM’s global reputation, which is currently ranked 153rd in the QS World University Rankings, as well as international recognition of its academic programmes offered.

In addition, UTM's position in the top 100 in the QS subject ranking for Data Science and AI is also among the factors contributing to the confidence of applicants in pursuing their studies with FAI UTM.

"For example, international students choose UTM because our certificates are recognised and enables them to continue their studies or work in other countries such as Canada, Australia and the United States. Moreover, Malaysia is also more strategic and the cost of living is lower than countries like Singapore," he said.

According to him, the Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence with Honours programme at FAI UTM is offered for three years, with three semesters per year, and includes four main branches, namely Robotics & Automation, Intelligence Informatics and Creative AI.

He said that the faculty is also supported by more than 60 lecturers specialised in the field of AI in addition to 40 experts from the field of Engineering, bringing the total academic and support staff to 150 at present.

"This faculty received an initial allocation of RM20 million. Apart from training experts in the field of AI, we are also responsible for helping other public universities develop their own AI programmes or faculty," he said.

UTM's AI Faculty was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on May 10, 2024, which among other things aims to train AI talent with knowledge, skills, ethics, and competencies in the field of AI with a focus on attracting domestic and foreign investors while strengthening the local industry.

— BERNAMA