Bringing together learners, educators, and industry professionals to empower tomorrow’s digital leaders
Johor Bahru, Malaysia — The future of digital innovation took centre stage at the University of Southampton Malaysia on 20-21 June 2025, as the third edition of Johor Digital Literacy Day (JDLD) brought together a vibrant mix of students, educators, industry experts, and policymakers. With the theme “AI for All: Your Launchpad to the Future”,this two-day event ignited enthusiasm for AI skills and digital literacy, empowering younger generations to thrive in an increasingly tech-driven world.
JDLD 2025 was organised by D.E.W. Technology (an ICDL Accredited Test Centre), alongside ICDL Asia and the Malaysia PropTech Association as co-organisers. The event also received strong support from the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC), TalentCorp (an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources), and the University of Southampton Malaysia, proudly serving as its host institution.
The event was also made possible through the generous support of main sponsor AirTrunk, a leading hyperscale data centre specialist. Community partners including Enterprise Ireland, Gamuda AI Academy, Women in Tech Global, and Imagine AI added value to the event with expert-led workshops and collaborative initiatives.
Day 1: Regional Collaboration and Hands-On AI Challenge
The event commenced on 20 June with a ceremony featuring remarks from distinguished guests. Mr Desmond Lee, Managing Director of D.E.W. Technology, welcomed attendees before Ms Emma McLoughlin, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland in Malaysia, and YB Wong Shu Qi, Chairperson of TalentCorp, officially launched JDLD 2025.
“JDLD plays a crucial role in connecting education and industry, ensuring our youth are equipped for a digital future,” said YB Wong, emphasising the event’s role in bridging education with employability.
Participants then engaged in sessions designed to provide insights on fostering collaboration. Dr Nur Syafiqah Abdul Rahim from JTDC shed light on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), highlighting the region’s strategic development opportunities.
Subsequently, Mr Muhammad Noor Ridzuan Md Noor Elham, Assistant Sector Head for Southern Region at TalentCorp, shared details regarding the agency’s MyMAHIR platform, which allows users to identify potential roles, explore opportunities for upskilling and reskilling, and discover new career paths. The collaboration between ICDL Asia and TalentCorp at JDLD 2025 is a follow up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between both parties at the ICDL Asia Digital Literacy Day in November 2024.
Meanwhile, participants in the student competition proceeded to the computer lab for an AI Chatbot Development challenge. Prior training was provided by D.E.W. Technology on large language models (LLMs) and the use of intuitive no-code platforms to build functioning AI chatbots. The participants were able to successfully deploy their chatbots via web-based interfaces, in this immersive experience aimed at nurturing practical skills in artificial intelligence.
The day concluded with a guided tour of the University of Southampton Malaysia campus, offering students a glimpse into a dynamic, world-class learning environment that supports cutting-edge digital education.
Day 2: Digital Empowerment, Strategic Partnerships, and Industry Insights
JDLD 2025 resumed the next day, with an opening address from Mr Nigel Ngiam, Market Development Manager at ICDL Asia, followed by a Welcome Speech from Professor Ehsan Mesbahi, Academic Provost and Associate Vice President (International) Malaysia at the University of Southampton Malaysia. Prof Mesbahi highlighted the university’s commitment towards fostering digital excellence in research innovation and industry-driven academic transformation, leading by example through his future-facing expertise as a pioneer in AI.
Ir Dr Ahmad Syahrin Idris, Mr Herman Raban, Professor Ehsan Mesbahi, Mr Nigel Ngiam, Dr Daniele Gambero
Next, a Keynote Speech was delivered by Mr Herman Raban, General Manager of the Johor Strategic Human Capital Unit (Unit Strategik Modal Insan Johor, SMI), which is also the secretariat of JTDC. He reinforced the state’s ongoing dedication towards cultivating a digitally fluent workforce: “Our goal is to nurture a workforce ready to embrace AI and digital technologies, driving Johor’s economic growth.”
Participants then proceeded to the second component of the student competition, the Preliminary Round of ICDL Asia Digital Challenge 2025. First held in 2017, the Digital Challenge has attracted the participation of over 39,000 students and 700 institutions from 18 countries across the Asia Pacific region.
Having gone through the pre-event eLearning material, participants completed their respective ICDL modules in Application Essentials (secondary) and Spreadsheets (tertiary), which led to them being awarded the internationally recognised ICDL digital skills certification.
Outstanding participants from this competition were also selected to receive free entry to the National Round of the Digital Challenge, where they will compete with students from other education institutions across Malaysia, and stand a chance to advance to the Asia Pacific Grand Finals in August 2025.
Having completed the competition aspect of JDLD, participants then enjoyed enlightening sessions conducted by Dr Daniele Gambero (President of the Malaysia PropTech Association) and Mr Edwin Loh (Founder & CEO of Imagine AI), as well as a workshop on prompt engineering by the University of Southampton Malaysia Computer Science Student Club. They also had an opportunity to explore several partner booths, where they learned about various initiatives related to digital skills and employability.
Landmark MoU in Empowering Women to Embrace Technology
A highlight of JDLD 2025 was the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICDL Asia and Women in Tech Global, symbolising a strong commitment towards closing the gender gap in technology roles across the Asia Pacific region. Both parties endeavour to advocate the importance of digital inclusion in empowering sustainable development, through initiatives such as mentorship, career coaching, and upskilling programmes.
The exchange of MoU documents followed an impactful workshop by Ms Yuki Aizawa, APAC Director at Women in Tech, who offered practical guidance on navigating challenges unique to women in technology careers and emphasised the importance of supportive networks and fostering environments where diverse voices flourish.
This MoU reinforces JDLD’s broader mission to go beyond developing digital competencies, by championing inclusivity and equal opportunity within the digital economies of Malaysia and the wider ASEAN and APAC regions. “Inclusive leadership and digital resilience are essential for a thriving tech community,” Ms Aizawa underlined.
Forum on Digital Skills for Employability
The afternoon continued with a forum, which served as a pivotal platform for cross-sector dialogue on the critical intersection of education and industry-ready skills. Moderated by Mr Nigel Ngiam, the panel brought together distinguished experts:
- Ir Dr Ahmad Syahrin Idris, Assistant Professor and Deputy Head of Electrical & Electronic Engineering programme at the University of Southampton Malaysia (sharing his perspectives from tertiary academia)
- Dr Daniele Gambero, President of the Malaysia PropTech Association (with his outlook representing employers from multinationals to MSMEs)
- Mr David Kang, a Computer Science teacher from Tenby International School Tropicana Aman (sharing his viewpoint as a K-12 educator)
- Mr Edwin Loh, Founder & CEO of Imagine AI (with his insights as an entrepreneur across multiple AI fields)
Their discussion centered on bridging the widening gap between traditional education models and the rapidly evolving demands of the workforce, particularly in AI and digital skills. Emphasising multidisciplinary and cross-functional learning, they highlighted how cultivating adaptability, critical thinking, and hands-on experience through efforts such as internships and apprenticeships, can better prepare students for the realities of employment in an AI-driven world.
The panel also explored how collaboration between educators, industry, and government agencies is vital towards creating pathways that equip youths with relevant digital skills, thus enhancing their productivity and employability, and fostering lifelong learning.
Celebrating Student Achievement
The Awards Ceremony was a celebratory highlight of JDLD 2025. Ms Pei Jet (PJ) Lim, Head of Malaysia at AirTrunk, delivered a heartfelt and inspiring address in recognising the participants’ dedication and their spirit of innovation and learning. She also emphasised the vital role of digitally proficient talent as a driving force behind Malaysia’s technological advancement.
The outstanding achievements of students in the AI Chatbot Development competition were honoured with the following awards:
Secondary Category
Champion: Felicity Leu Le Hui (Paragon International School)
1st Runner-Up: Shawn Ang Zen Xun (Paragon International School)
Tertiary Category
Champion: Samin Sarwat (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM)
1st Runner-Up: Lim Shao Yang (Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, TAR UMT)
2nd Runner-Up: Chew Fong Yee (Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, TAR UMT)
League Champion (best performing institution): Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, TAR UMT
Meanwhile, the following participants were shortlisted for the National Round of the ICDL Asia Digital Challenge 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Secondary Category
| Name | Institution | Track |
|---|---|---|
| Felicity Leu Le Hui | Paragon International School | Design |
| Shawn Ang Zen Xun | Paragon International School | Design |
Tertiary Category
| Name | Institution | Track |
|---|---|---|
| Chong Kah Lok | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, UTHM | Design |
| Daniel Teh Lian Sheng | City University | Emerging Technologies |
| Ler Yong Li | City University | Emerging Technologies |
| Lim Shao Yang | Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, TAR UMT | Emerging Technologies |
| Low Nam Lee | Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, TAR UMT | Emerging Technologies |
| Muhammad Firdaus | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, UTHM | Business |
| Nur Muhammad Qasim Abdul Rahman | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, UTHM | Design |
| Paing Hein Htet | University of Southampton Malaysia | Design |
| Samin Sarwat | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM | Emerging Technologies |
| Thong Yuen Chin | Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, TAR UMT | Business |
In addition, there was a special award announced in conjunction with Women in Tech for the top female participant from the overall JDLD 2025 competition, namely Chew Fong Yee from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT). She will receive a free ticket to join the Women in Tech APAC Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 18-19 September 2025.
As Johor Digital Literacy Day continues to evolve, it has set a new benchmark for collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity in the region’s digital landscape. Since the inaugural JDLD in 2023, which saw around 30 participants, the event has now grown threefold.
Everyone involved in JDLD 2025 – from the organisers and partners, to the participating students and educators – all share a goal of using AI as a catalyst for creating opportunities, empowering individuals, and driving meaningful growth.
Technology is not just something that we use, but something that opens doors and uplifts communities to move forward together. At ICDL, we believe that access to technology and developing digital skills significantly improves lives, and that no one should be left behind in this era of digital transformation.