KUCHING: Sarawak’s efforts to position itself as a welcoming platform for digital innovation and talent development were reinforced following the successful conclusion of the Mobile Application Challenge 8.0, which attracted participation from local and international institutions.
Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap Yau Sin, who officiated at the closing ceremony, said programmes that bring together academia, industry and skills institutions are crucial in nurturing future-ready talent.
“Programmes such as the Mobile Application Challenge play an important role in nurturing young talent and encouraging innovation among our students,” he said, adding that such initiatives help prepare youth to contribute meaningfully to Sarawak and Malaysia’s digital future.
The competition was organised by the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, in collaboration with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, SRAMS Sdn. Bhd. and Sarawak Skills, reflecting strong cooperation between academia, industry and skills development institutions.
The programme was designed to equip students with practical skills in mobile application development, innovation and emerging digital technologies through hands-on problem-solving, structured mentorship and professional project presentations, with selected teams progressing through a guided development process before presenting their final solutions at the grand final.
This year’s edition attracted 100 participants from 12 institutions across Malaysia and the region, namely UNIMAS, University of Technology Sarawak, Multimedia University, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Curtin University Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, i-CATS University College, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, Xiamen University Malaysia, Padang State Polytechnic of Indonesia, as well as Sarawak Skills.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, 20 projects were shortlisted to compete at the final stage, with the diversity of institutions represented underscoring the programme’s growing appeal as a regional platform that encourages cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Sarawak Skills executive director Hallman Sabri said the competition provided valuable exposure for students to apply advanced technologies to real-world challenges.
“Sarawak Skills strongly believes that the future workforce must be equipped not only with technical skills, but also with digital, analytical and problem-solving capabilities, particularly in areas related to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies,” he said.
The Mobile App Challenge 8.0 was made possible through funding support from SRAMS Sdn. Bhd. as the main sponsor, together with MDEC, demonstrating a shared commitment to developing digital- and AI-ready talent while enhancing Sarawak’s visibility as a hub for innovation-led and internationally engaged programmes.
The closing ceremony was also graced by SRAMS managing director Datuk Peter Ong Yii Boon, UNIMAS Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology dean Prof Dr Jane Labadin, and associate professor Dr Cheah Wai Shiang, the project manager for the Mobile Application Challenge 8.0.
