The demand for tech talent in Malaysia is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.59% over the following three years, according to MDEC.
In response to increased demand for tech talent in the construction and environment industries that need to leverage XR skills, Taylor’s University has introduced two new XR infused programs: the Bachelor of Interactive Spatial Design (Honours) and the Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Sustainable Digital Construction Management.
These programs build on Taylor’s RM1.2 million Vortex XR Lab (Virtual Online Future Technology and Extended Reality), launched last August.
“These programs focus on IR4 as well as Smart Society 5.0, thus technologies like 3D printing, XR technology, advanced materials, AI, automation, etc. are integrated into the curriculum,” David said at the launch last month.
The demand for tech talent in Malaysia is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.59% over the following three years, according to the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).
The future won’t just be about having doctors and engineers; we need people in new, different areas, or Malaysia will have some difficulty achieving the digital economy, said Professor Dr. David Asirvatham, Executive Dean at Taylor’s University Faculty of Innovation & Technology.
“A lot of parents would send their children to more traditional programs like engineering and medicine, and we are trying to break this mould,” he added.
David stated, “That’s a huge jump! Market Research Future estimates that the global XR (extended reality) market was valued at US$27 billion (RM116.2 billion) in 2018 and is anticipated to reach US$393 billion (RM1.6 trillion) by 2025. The combination of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality is referred to as XR”.
“Additionally, if you look at the job market, traditionally the majority of tech talent and professionals are hired by tech companies, but the data shows that today’s jobs for technology professionals are from non-tech companies, like healthcare, consulting firms, banks, etc.,” he continued.
The Taylor version of the Bachelor in Spatial Design includes immersive XR technology and automation content for indoor and outdoor environments. It offers two specializations, smart home design and smart environment design, which involve students learning how to design smart living spaces that are personalized to individual needs and living styles.
The program focuses on producing designers, technologists, and entrepreneurs capable of creating immersive simulated environments like architecture, urban spaces, performances, events, museums, and more. Interactive space has become a popular marketing tool that businesses use to engage their customers.
“With a compound annual growth rate of 7.9%, the design market is predicted to grow to a size of 214 million by 2025. Consequently, there is an increasing need for spatial designers who can create with interaction and space in mind025.
Consequently, there is an increasing need for spatial designers who can create with interaction and space in mind. The Sustainable Digital Construction Management program aims to equip graduates with the skills they need to tackle the sustainability and digitization challenges facing the construction sector.
The three main constraints in construction management are time, money, and quality. Dr. Sujatavani Gunasagaran, program director for the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Digital Construction Management, said that technology allows us to save time and money by achieving quality standards while preserving the environment.
Similar to interactive spatial design, the program offers two specializations: green construction and smart construction.
While green construction focuses on energy conservation, waste reduction, and recycling, smart construction makes use of the IoT, advanced building information modelling (BIM), and XR to enhance construction management.
Furthermore, because green businesses are expected to contribute about 1.5%, or RM60 billion, to GDP by 2030, these specialisations are in line with the Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan 2021–2025 by the Construction Industry Development Board.
Both programs offer two learning paths for the final year: a traditional internship or a year-long work-based learning experience with different industry partners. Ministry XR, a business that specialises in VR, AR, and MR experiences, is one of the industry partners for Interactive Spatial Design.
At the launch, Ministry XR demonstrated a Hololens device that simulates a mixed reality environment. Industry partners include FrameMotion Studio, Virtual X Malaysia, Honor Malaysia, and IMT Smart Home Sdn Bhd.
Sustainable Digital Construction Management provides students with practical experience relating to environment and construction. Technopreneurship allows students to start their own business with the help of Taylor’s start-up incubator, Bizpod.
Taylor University is using immersive technologies to teach content creation, ideation, and design. An example of this is a VR headset and a platform called Zero Density, which create a 360-degree environment that interacts with the space itself.
To illustrate the power of XR, a demonstration at the Vortex Lab showcased the capabilities of XR technology with a pair of hololens, an app, and a greenscreen area. This particular application is basically a game that utilizes the space and creates experiences that change around it depending on what space you use.
The students would gain new experiences as a result, but it also presents a challenge for environment design. We used to design on the screen, but now we need to design content with many considerations in mind, so we need a new batch of designers, according to Din.
The world of XR is undoubtedly both exciting and difficult for those creating the new environments to use the potent tools that have made it simpler than ever to transport our imaginations to fascinating new environments. The transition from the current 2D world to the XR world requires programs like those started by Taylor.
The Malaysian government has anticipated the transition to IOT, 3D printing, biological gene sequencing, and AI, which will shape the future of the young generation and make Malaysia more competitive. Taylor’s plans are to be at the forefront of helping shape this competitive and digitally savvy Malaysia.