Huawei talks at UTAR connect classroom learning with AI, talent and cybersecurity realities

Huawei representatives delivered a series of industry talks during the Huawei Intelligent World 2035 session, held on 29 April 2026 at UTAR Sungai Long Campus. Held in junction with the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science Final Year Project Poster Competition, the session added an industry-facing dimension to the day by giving students a closer look at the technological shifts shaping the workplace they are preparing to enter.

The talks covered three closely connected themes: Huawei’s vision of an intelligent world, talent development for an increasingly competitive digital economy, and the growing importance of cybersecurity in an AI-driven environment. Taken together, the sessions gave participants more than a corporate overview. They showed how advances in connectivity, cloud services, AI and digital infrastructure are influencing the way industries operate, the skills employers now value, and the risks that come with deeper digital dependence.

Opening the session, Huawei Government Relations Manager Mr Muhammad Aiman bin Zakaria introduced the company’s broader technology ecosystem and its vision of an intelligent world. His presentation outlined Huawei’s work across connectivity, cloud computing, consumer devices and digital power solutions, including solar power, smart energy technologies and home electric vehicle charging solutions. He also drew attention to the role of 5G and related infrastructure in expanding digital reach and enabling more connected systems across industries and communities.

Mr Muhammad Aiman linked these developments to Malaysia’s own digital direction, stressing that the country’s journey towards becoming a more AI-driven nation will depend not only on infrastructure, but also on the readiness of its future workforce. His message to students was clear: AI literacy is no longer optional. Graduates who build a solid understanding of AI and digital technologies will be better placed to contribute meaningfully to industries that are changing rapidly under the influence of automation, data and intelligent systems. He also highlighted Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative as part of the company’s wider effort to support digital inclusion and sustainable development. Huawei states that TECH4ALL was launched in 2019 as its digital inclusion initiative.

The second talk, delivered by Huawei Talent Ecosystem Manager Ms Delea Tan, turned the discussion from technology trends to employability and skills development. She spoke about Huawei’s talent development initiatives and the need for students to keep expanding their knowledge across multiple areas of technology rather than relying on a single specialisation. In a job market that is becoming more demanding, she said, students need to actively build stronger profiles through training, exposure and continuous learning.

Ms Delea Tan noted that Huawei offers a wide range of learning opportunities and works with a broad ecosystem of industry partners to support upskilling and industry readiness. She also pointed to student-facing platforms such as competitions and training programmes that can help participants gain practical exposure, strengthen their credentials and better understand industry expectations. Among the opportunities mentioned were upcoming competitions in Jakarta and Shenzhen, which she described as useful avenues for students to challenge themselves and gain wider visibility. The underlying message of her session was practical and grounded: students who make the effort to learn continuously and engage with real-world platforms will be better prepared for the realities of the technology sector.

The final session, presented by Huawei Data Protection Officer Ms Hillary Bong, brought a necessary note of caution to the morning’s conversations. Focusing on cybersecurity and data protection awareness, she described cybersecurity as a double-edged sword in the age of AI. While artificial intelligence is increasingly valuable in cyber defence, it also creates new vulnerabilities and makes certain forms of attack more sophisticated.

Ms Hillary Bong explained that AI is now used to strengthen threat detection by identifying anomalies that fall outside normal behavioural patterns. Unusual logins, access at odd hours, unfamiliar locations or large-scale data downloads can be detected more quickly with AI-assisted monitoring. She also pointed to AI’s growing usefulness in identifying malware and ransomware, allowing organisations to respond earlier by distinguishing suspicious behaviour from benign activity. At the same time, she warned that cyber threats are evolving alongside these defensive tools. Among the risks she highlighted were AI-powered phishing, deepfakes, voice cloning and data poisoning, all of which show how the same technologies that improve efficiency can also be misused. Her talk underscored the need for students and future engineers to think not only about innovation, but also about trust, risk and responsibility.

Beyond the talks, the event also carried a lively industry engagement element through exhibition booths and lucky draw sessions involving Huawei and its partner companies. Based on the ceremony programme, the participating partners included Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, VSTECS Pericomp Sdn Bhd, Glocomp Systems (M) Sdn Bhd, Impact Business Solutions Sdn Bhd and Tec D Distribution (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. The lucky draw sessions, which featured a range of Huawei devices and accessories, added to the event atmosphere while giving students more opportunities to interact with industry representatives throughout the programme.

The Huawei talk series complemented the event’s academic focus by placing student work against a wider industry backdrop. For those presenting projects and preparing for graduation, the session offered timely perspectives on the expectations of a fast-changing technology landscape. More importantly, it reinforced a message that ran through all three talks: future readiness will depend not just on technical knowledge, but on the ability to keep learning, adapt to change and understand the broader implications of digital transformation.

Huawei is a global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, with operations in more than 170 countries and regions and services reaching more than three billion people worldwide. Founded in 1987, the company works across connectivity, cloud technology, smart devices, digital power and other ICT solutions. According to its latest official figures, Huawei invested CNY192.3 billion in research and development in 2025, or 21.8% of its annual revenue, and held 165,000 active patents by the end of the year. Through initiatives such as TECH4ALL, launched in 2019, Huawei also extends its focus beyond technology development to digital inclusion, education, sustainability and community access to digital opportunities.