The successful conclusion of the Mobile Application Challenge 8.0 has further strengthened Sarawak’s position as an inclusive and attractive platform for both local and international participation in digital innovation and talent development. The competition was organised by the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), in collaboration with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), SRAMS Sdn. Bhd., and Sarawak Skills, reflecting strong cooperation between academia, industry, and skills development institutions.
Designed to equip students with practical skills in mobile application development, innovation, and emerging digital technologies, the programme provided participants with hands-on exposure to real-world problem-solving, structured mentorship, and professional project presentation. Selected teams progressed through a guided development process before presenting their final solutions at the Grand Final, ensuring that participants gained not only technical competencies but also industry-relevant experience.
This year’s edition of the programme attracted 100 participants from 12 institutions, reflecting strong interest from across Malaysia and the region. The participating institutions included Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Multimedia University (MMU), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Curtin University Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS), Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), Padang State Polytechnic, Indonesia, as well as Sarawak Skills.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, 20 projects were shortlisted to compete at the final stage. The diversity of institutions represented at the Grand Final underscored the programme’s growing appeal as a regional platform that welcomes participation from both local and international students, while encouraging cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Speaking at the Closing Ceremony, The Honourable Wilfred Yap Yau Sin, State Assemblyman for N12 Kota Sentosa, said, “Programmes such as the Mobile Application Challenge play an important role in nurturing young talent and encouraging innovation among our students. By bringing together academia, industry, and skills development institutions, this initiative helps prepare our youth to contribute meaningfully to Sarawak’s and Malaysia’s digital future.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Hallman bin Sabri, Executive Director of Sarawak Skills, highlighted, “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.By guiding students from ideation to functional solutions, this competition provides a valuable platform for young innovators to apply AI and mobile technologies to address real-world challenges.”
The Mobile App Challenge 8.0 was made possible through the generous funding support of SRAMS Sdn. Bhd. as the Main Sponsor, together with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). The continued collaboration between UNIMAS, industry partners, and Sarawak Skills demonstrates a shared commitment to developing digital- and AI-ready talent while positioning Sarawak as a welcoming destination for innovation-led and internationally engaged programmes.
By bringing together students from a wide range of institutions and countries, the Mobile App Challenge continues to support local talent development while enhancing Sarawak’s visibility as a regional hub for digital innovation, skills development, and international collaboration.
The Closing Ceremony was also graced by Datuk Peter Ong Yii Boon, Managing Director of SRAMS Sdn. Bhd.; Prof. Dr. Jane Labadin, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak; and Assoc. Professor Dr. Cheah Wai Shiang, Project Manager of the Mobile Application Challenge 8.0, reflecting strong support from government, industry, and academia.
