Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) students attained national-level achievements at the Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) and Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Malaysia National Championship 2026, affirming the university’s commitment to nurturing confident, industry-ready students who are able to perform on competitive national platforms.

Held on 14 May 2026 at the Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel, the championship brought together talented students from institutions across Malaysia to compete in certification-based challenges that tested their digital productivity, creative design and technical application skills.

For APU students, the experience went beyond winning accolades. It provided a meaningful opportunity to benchmark their capabilities against peers nationwide, gain exposure to industry-recognised standards, and translate classroom learning into external competitive performance. 

National Recognition in Digital Productivity

Tow How Yen, a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Software Engineering student from APU’s School of Computing (SoC), emerged as the National Champion in Microsoft Word® (Microsoft 365 Apps) at the MOS Malaysia National Championship 2026. 

Besides winning a cash prize of RM500, Tow also earned the opportunity to represent Malaysia at Certiport’s MOS World Championship in Anaheim, California, USA. 

His achievement was especially significant as he stood out from thousands of students who participated in the initial qualifying rounds, with only the top 30 advancing to the live test and grand finale. At the national stage, Tow demonstrated strong digital productivity skills, technical accuracy, problem-solving ability and readiness to apply workplace-relevant competencies under pressure. 

Mentored by Dr Adeline Sneha John Chrisastum, Lecturer at SoC, Tow’s preparation reflected the value of focused academic guidance in helping students strengthen their confidence, refine their technical skills and perform with discipline in a competitive setting.

Reflecting on his journey, Tow shared, “Preparing for the competition was not a smooth process. Balancing university assignments, club activities and other current duties while reserving time for the competition proved to be much tougher than it seemed on the surface. The competition taught me the need to efficiently manage my own time and tasks to avoid falling short of my goals.” 

Sharing her mentoring experience, Dr Adeline said, “Tow’s dedication throughout his preparation was truly commendable. He approached every practice session with discipline and a willingness to learn from his mistakes, and it was this consistency that carried him to the national stage. I’m incredibly proud of him.” 

Assoc Prof Ts Dr Tan Chin Ike, Head of SoC, commended the achievement, saying, “Winning the National Championship is a proud moment for both the School of Computing and APU. This achievement reflects the high calibre of talent we nurture—students with strong technical expertise, resilience and adaptability. It reaffirms APU’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates capable of excelling on both national and international stages.”

Creative Confidence on a National Stage

APU’s strength in creative disciplines was also highlighted through the performance of students from the School of Media, Arts and Design (SoMAD), with Danielle Louise Torre Duque, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Media and Communication Studies student, securing 6th place in the ACP Malaysia National Championship 2026.

Organised by Creative Cloud Community and Acestar, the ACP Malaysia National Championship 2026 drew approximately 1,100 student participants nationwide. From this highly competitive field, only selected top talents advanced to the grand finale, which included the Top 30 Finalists. 

As a first-year student competing at the national level, Danielle’s achievement reflects her ability to apply creative communication, visual design and Adobe-based digital production skills in a competitive environment.

“Danielle’s achievement reflects her ability to apply creative communication, visual design and Adobe-based digital production skills under competitive conditions. As a first-year student competing at the national level, her performance highlights not only her individual potential but also the value of early exposure to industry-standard tools, creative problem-solving and professional benchmarking,” said Ms Debbie Liew Pooi Kuan, Head of SoMAD.

Also shortlisted among the Top 30 Finalists was Yann Luc Thierry Dinan, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Animation student from APU. His recognition further demonstrates the growing presence of APU students in creative disciplines where visual storytelling, design thinking and technical execution are increasingly important.

Both Danielle and Yann were mentored by Ts Stefanie Quah Li Jin and Mr Wan Dinie Izzat Wan Arifin, lecturers from SoMAD, who guided them in their competition preparation. Through mentorship, feedback and practical exposure, the students were supported in building confidence, sharpening their creative decision-making and presenting their work to national-level standards.

Strengthening Industry-Relevant Education

In addition to celebrating student achievement, APU was also presented with a Token of Appreciation as Venue Sponsor for the Top 30 LIVE Test during the Micro-Credentials Education Summit 2026. 

The token was received by Ms Aida Zamnah Zainal Abidin, Senior Lecturer at SoC, who has actively supported the competition for more than five years. 

The ACP and MOS Malaysia National Championship 2026 provided a valuable platform for APU students to test their capabilities against peers from across the country. These experiences strengthened their portfolios, widened their national exposure and deepened their understanding of the standards expected in today’s digital and creative industries. 

The achievements of Tow, Danielle and Yann reflect APU’s continued commitment to preparing students for a competitive digital economy through applied learning, industry exposure and strong academic mentorship. Their performances affirm the university’s role in cultivating students who are able to demonstrate creativity, technical competence and professional readiness with confidence.