How universities are preparing students to navigate a digital world
The growing influence of AI in our daily lives and in the workplace brings with it unprecedented changes in higher education trends within Malaysia.
MEDINA ONN24 Feb 2025 09:00am
Computer science's rise to fame could be attributed to the recent integration of AI in our workplaces. Photo: Canva
Thankfully, due in part to government policy shifts in the 1990s that pushed for the growth of private educational institutions, higher education is now a privilege that countless Malaysians can enjoy.
As of 2025, there are an estimated one million students enrolled in Malaysian universities, according to education consultancy platform YourUni. Around 681,000 are enrolled in public universities, with another 420,000 attending private institutions.
The growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in our daily lives and in the workplace brings with it unprecedented changes in higher education trends within Malaysia.
Many find themselves re-evaluating degree choices once thought to be future-proof for generations.
FACING THE FUTURE HEAD ON
We are living through unprecedented times — where the fear of our livelihoods becoming automated is a deeply realistic, tangible one.
Thus, prospective students should consider entering a field that is able to work in tandem with AI. This has led to computer science degrees becoming one of the most sought after programmes in Malaysian colleges.
With data from MYCentre4IR projecting that generative AI alone could unlock US$113.4bil (RM506.2bil) in productive capacity for Malaysia — it's no wonder that colleges are rushing to adapt to this sudden change in pace.
INTRODUCING NEW DEGREES
UCSI University exemplifies this with newly-introduced degrees in AI and Cybersecurity.
UCSI University vice-chancellor and president Prof Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir stated: "UCSI University has its finger on the industry’s pulse.
"In light of this, our AI and Cybersecurity programmes are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and agility to meet and exceed the present and future needs of the industry."
COMPUTER SCIENCE STILL POPULAR
Data from Monash University Malaysia also confirms the meteoric rise of computer science's popularity among prospective students.
Monash University vice president (education) Professor Stephen Boyle stated that the Bachelor of Computer Science programme is one of two degrees at their institution that witnessed the most explosive growth over recent years: boasting a 16 per cent increase in enrolment in 2023, and 22 per cent in 2024.
Computer science's rise to fame could be attributed to the recent integration of AI in our workplaces.
As industries become increasingly more digitised, the demand for professionals in computer science continues to soar — creating a sense of job security, and granting future graduates an estimated starting salary of up to RM3,500 to look forward to.
ENGINEERING DEGREES GOING STRONG
Engineering is another much sought-after degree that has managed to stand the test of time.
Based on the Education Ministry’s statistics from 1997 to 2020, over 400,000 engineering students graduated from Malaysian universities and colleges.
These numbers could be attributed to Malaysia’s rapid urbanisation. With each mega-highway paved and skyscraper erected to accommodate Malaysia's urban population of over 27 million, the demand for those equipped with the technological knowledge and skill needed to ensure the practicality and safety of these industrial projects only continues to grow.
It’s unlikely that AI will ever be able to completely replace those with the decision-making skills crucial to effectively manage and execute projects of such monumental scale.
Thus, an engineering degree can open up a whole new world of opportunity in the labour market — appealing to recent school-leavers with the promise of job security.
Some may also be attracted to engineering for the pay, with the salary for seasoned engineers in leadership positions paying up to RM20,000 thanks to high demand.
BUSINESS PROGRAMMES OFFER VERSATILITY
Alternatively, if STEM isn’t your calling, another popular and reliable degree programme to follow is business. Take note, having a clear vision of which branch of business you'd like to specialise in is critical to future success.
Notable choices include accounting — reported as the fourth most in-demand professionals in Malaysia as of 2021 — or marketing, with the Malaysian e-commerce and trade sector expected to make US$12.6bil (RM55.95bil) by 2024.
If you're interested in choosing business as a degree, rest assured that there are an array of reputable business programmes out there, all offered by top universities in Malaysia.
The business industry is also an incredibly versatile world, which may factor into its popularity. Degree holders are free to explore fields from human resources all the way to data analytics, making the path to business one paved with opportunity as the ability to efficiently network, communicate and lead is required in almost every industry.
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE
With the staggering rate at which technology has only continued to advance, to say that it has absolutely revolutionised the education industry is no exaggeration.
Countless students from all across the globe credit AI for streamlining their workflow, allowing them to maximise their output like never before.
However, on the other side of the coin; several students are also raising ethical concerns over the use of AI in academia, as well as the negative ramifications automation may have in their field of study.
We can't possibly fathom the heights technology will reach in the future. We can, however, rest assured that local institutions are hard at work, constantly innovating in their valiant efforts to ready the new generation to face this digital age head-on.
In a rapidly evolving digital world, adaptability is key. Take our quiz to find out whether you are able to embrace new technologies with ease, or face challenges when exploring something new. Click here to find out!
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