Gamuda AI Academy graduates 39 from Sabah campus as AI workforce push gathers pace
Gamuda Bhd’s AI Academy in Kota Kinabalu marked its third cohort graduation on July 28, with 39 students presenting capstone projects that turn local challenges into AI-powered solutions.
Source: Gamuda Berhad · August 2, 2026 at 10:56 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 3 AUGUST 2026 —
Gamuda Bhd’s AI Academy in Kota Kinabalu marked its third cohort graduation on July 28, with 39 students presenting capstone projects that turn local challenges into AI-powered solutions.
Market Impact
The Sabah campus, opened on Feb 2 at Menara MAA, has trained more than 100 students across three cohorts free of charge under Yayasan Gamuda, the group’s foundation arm. “In Kuala Lumpur we help coders grow; in Sabah we are building coders from the ground up,” said John Lim Ji Xiong, Gamuda’s Group Chief Digital Officer.
The three-month, full-time programme runs Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm, followed by mentoring until 5 pm. Lead trainer John Stefan Serit said the curriculum covers full-stack web development with integrated AI tools, taking novices to applied level in 12 weeks. “It’s intensive, but the results have been encouraging,” he said.
Dr Prashanth Kumar, the academy’s manager, said the centre can host up to 45 students at a time with a team of three full-time trainers, plus junior trainers drawn from earlier cohorts. “We are not just teaching; we are building a sustainable tech ecosystem in Sabah,” he said.
Sabah-based trainer Danial Asyraf leads the teaching team alongside two junior trainers who are graduates of the first cohort. “They showed strong passion and initiative, even helping peers during and after training,” Dr Prashanth said. Limited laptops are available for loan, but participants must provide their own devices.
Projects reflect local priorities. Cohort 3 students developed agriculture platforms to connect farmers in tamu markets with buyers and built flood-detection systems for areas such as Likas. Earlier cohorts created an AI pothole-detection system that assesses road damage from images.
“The focus on solving local challenges is intentional,” Lim said. “When talent is developed within community needs, the solutions are more relevant and adoptable.” The academy works with Sabah Net Sdn Bhd, Sabah Credit Corporation, Sabah Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Sabah Creative Economy & Innovation Centre and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Soft skills training—pitching, presenting and resume writing—prepares graduates for hiring. Some have secured jobs, others started ventures or returned to education. “This is not just about coding; it’s about preparing them for the working world,” John Stefan said.
Sabah Net chief executive Chin Kah Yi told the graduates the programme proves what collaboration can achieve. “Today is proof of what happens when the right players come together with the right intent,” he said. “We don’t just run programmes; we change the trajectory of an entire ecosystem.”
Chin urged industry, educators and policymakers to deepen such partnerships so Sabah builds a high-value workforce capable of competing and innovating rather than merely catching up. “We are committed to pushing more high-impact collaborations, but we cannot do it alone,” he said.
Lim said the academy’s blueprint shows AI education can be accessible and practical, open even to those with no prior coding experience. “AI is for everyone,” he said. “The differentiator will not be access to technology, but the ability to apply it.”
Related: Gamuda · Kuala Lumpur