Learn, Innovate, Lead: Empowering Leaders of Tomorrow
July 8, 2025
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- With no tuition, teachers and barriers, 42KL is helping Malaysians like Wong Ding Hang and Jaclyn Tan break into the tech industry – proving that talent and determination define your future.
- Through 42KL and Sunway iLabs, Sunway is cultivating lifelong learning—empowering future-ready talent to lead, innovate and reshape tomorrow.
Just before last year, Wong Ding Hang was a real estate agent – his dreams of being a software developer constrained by a lack of resources to pursue a formal coding education. Today, he is coding away at his first tech job at leading global information services company, Experian. His journey embodies a new era of education – one where learning is a boundless adventure and potential is not limited by conventional boundaries.
Picture a world where the pursuit of knowledge is a continuous voyage. Sunway is pioneering a bold reimagining of lifelong learning where the culture goes beyond merely adapting to the future; the group is actively shaping it by championing innovative educational models that break away from traditional structures.
The 42KL Experience
One such initiative is 42 Kuala Lumpur (42KL), a free computer science school that encapsulates Sunway’s commitment to lifelong learning. It forms part of 42 Malaysia (42MY), a nation-building initiative between Sunway’s education arm and Khazanah Nasional Berhad to develop 10,000 skilled tech talents by 2033.
With more than 100 graduates and counting, the programme is set to grow across Malaysia – three campuses in place, namely 42KL, 42 Iskandar Puteri and 42 Penang, including an expansion to the Borneo States of Malaysia in the pipeline.
42MY offers an unparalleled educational experience that focuses on project-based learning while being tuition-free. It was founded by a French entrepreneur who dreamed of revolutionising education by providing high-quality tech education for all, regardless of academic background, gender, age or financial status.
At the heart of 42MY’s approach is Piscine, which means “swimming pool” in French: you either sink or swim – aptly so. This educational model places 42KL as a disruptor to traditional schooling methods by prioritising practical experience over theoretical knowledge. There are no teachers or structured classes; students – known as cadets – receive assignments that challenge them to learn by doing. To better prepare cadets for the demands of the tech industry, these projects are designed to simulate real-world coding challenges, emphasising peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
“Not having teachers and formal classes allowed me to explore various options freely, especially in programming and coding.
Wong shared.
“This approach enabled me to analyse problems from multiple perspectives and significantly improved my research and learning skills, as we were encouraged to find information independently rather than following a strict curriculum.”
This learning model grants cadets a personalised learning experience where they progress at their own pace. Jaclyn Tan, a 42KL alumni shared, “The responsibility of self-directing my education fostered a strong sense of discipline and motivation, which are crucial skills that have contributed to my personal and professional development.”
42MY’s director of learning, Thilageswaran Vijayan, shared, “One crucial takeaway from my time here is the transformative impact that collaborative learning can have. This approach exceeds conventional models of education as it empowers individuals to learn from one another, unlocking endless possibilities for growth and creativity.”
Pushing the boundaries in both the digital and educational space, 42MY’s strategic partnership with MyDIGITAL Corporation will see both parties leveraging each other’s strengths in developing Malaysia’s digital talent landscape, particularly in the fields of cloud computing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
MyDIGITAL, a regional pioneer in digital economy and an initiative that reflects the government’s aspiration to transform the country into a high-income nation and transform Malaysia into a regional leader in the digital economy by 2030, will bring a deep understanding of public policy to the partnership. On the other hand, 42MY will offer its strong ecosystem of industry partnerships and a robust education model to develop industry-ready talent.
42MY chief operating officer Jeff Sandhu said, “All of the cadets who graduated from 42KL have gone on to coding-related roles, at salaries that are above the national median. The 42 curriculum is a proven model. Together with MyDIGITAL, 42MY is looking forward to a fruitful partnership that develops Malaysia’s digital economy and tangible benefits for Malaysia.”
Learning Beyond Classrooms
At Sunway, lifelong learners are encouraged to chart their own course beyond classrooms. Driven by this mission, Sunway iLabs, the innovation arm of Sunway Group and Sunway University, has launched a suite of initiatives aimed at nurturing digital talent and entrepreneurs.
One key initiative is the Make-It Challenge, an annual hackathon where participants put their heads together to develop innovative solutions addressing the UN-SDGs. This not only empowers collaborative problem-solving targeted at real-life pain points, but also highlights how practical, real-world challenges can lead to impactful results.
Similarly, Sunway iLabs also introduced the Startup Foundry elective course at Sunway University, a game-changing entrepreneurship course that operates without lecturers or exams. Aspiring entrepreneurs bring their business ideas to life, using Sunway’s resources as a “living laboratory” for market validation. Successful pitches are then connected to the Sunway iLabs Accelerator Programme, which prepares the startups to scale.
Sunway Group chief innovation officer and Sunway iLabs chief executive officer Matt van Leeuwen reflects on this approach: “Innovation and sustainable development are part of our DNA. There is a culture of experimentation where we have a history of taking good bets on the future and doubling down on the ones that work really well – that’s how Sunway has grown. We have been successful in scaling up our many businesses to become market leaders in their own right.”
Lifelong Learning, The New Essential
In a world where the pace of change is relentless and the demands of the workforce are evolving, lifelong learning is no longer a luxury but a necessity in navigating this dynamic landscape. However, if cultivating lifelong learners is the end goal, much more is needed to be done.
Democratising access to education is just the beginning. It is not just about acquiring new skills; it is about fostering a mindset that embraces ongoing learning and adaptability.
Sunway’s innovative avenues for learning are making strides by prioritising merit and potential over prior achievement. These then empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to stay relevant and thrive in a world where the only constant is change. Continued innovation in education is not only crucial in ensuring individuals are well-equipped for the demands of today’s digital economy, but also adaptable to the advancements of tomorrow.
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