KUCHING – In a bid to strengthen digital leadership and promote innovation, the Business Development Academy (BDA) successfully organized the “AI for Leadership: Driving Productivity and Innovation in the Digital Era” course on 9 December 2025. The initiative is designed to equip participants with essential skills to strategically apply artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing organizational productivity.
The course was led by Ts. Syahrul Nizam bin Junaini, a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and a Research Fellow at the Data Science Center and CSIDH, UNIMAS. Recognized as one of Malaysia’s leading academics, Ts. Syahrul Nizam has received numerous accolades, including the Malaysia National Academic Award in 2017, the Sarawak Maal Hijrah Award in 2018, and the Malaysia Digital Transformation Award in 2024.
As an active contributor to national AI development, he serves as a member of the National AI Office (NAIO) for the AI talent working group and is an expert in the Strategic AI Group for Education (SAGE-AI) at UNIMAS. During the course, participants were introduced to practical strategies for integrating AI into business operations, improving decision-making processes, and enhancing service delivery efficiency.
The program emphasized the importance of leveraging AI not just as a technological tool, but as a strategic asset that drives innovation and creates value within organizations. Participants engaged in interactive sessions, case studies, and scenario-based learning to deepen their understanding of AI applications in real-world business contexts.
Organizers expect the course to significantly enhance the digital capabilities of Malaysian professionals, encouraging the adoption of AI-driven solutions across various sectors. The initiative also aligns with Malaysia’s broader vision of becoming a digital economy hub and strengthening its competitive edge in the global market.
With programs like the BDA AI leadership course, Malaysia continues to nurture forward-thinking leaders who are ready to harness the power of AI for productivity, innovation, and sustainable growth.
