Malaysia’s 20 public universities have adopted Google’s Gemini for Education, providing artificial intelligence tools to nearly 600,000 students and 75,000 faculty members. The move is part of ongoing efforts to incorporate AI in higher education.
Announced on March 8, 2026, the initiative adds Gemini to the universities’ Google Workspace for Education platforms. The Ministry of Higher Education distributed Google AI Pro for Education licenses to 40,000 faculty and NotebookLM Enterprise to 128,000 students. The initiative is part of Malaysia’s plan to expand the use of AI technology in education.
Gemini 3.1 Pro and LearnLM models are now available, providing Guided Learning for understanding concepts and Deep Research for academic investigations.
Several training programs accompany the launch, such as the Gemilang initiative, Google Skills platform, free Google AI courses, Gemini Certification for University Students, and Google Career Launchpad.
Universities report examples of usage:
– At Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), a lecturer developed a custom Gem to guide students in Integrated Circuits Design and MEMS Design and Fabrication through their coursework.
– At Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), students enrolled in Introduction to New Media Communications employ Deep Research and NotebookLM to analyze social media content and study digital etiquette. They upload lecture notes to create study guides, summaries, and quiz questions for exam preparation.
– At Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), research indicates that NotebookLM assists undergraduates in conducting literature reviews and generating podcasts from study materials, while also fostering more positive attitudes toward technology and reducing resistance to academic research.
– At Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), more than 500 lecturers are receiving training in Google Workspace for Education; 120 have achieved Gemini Certified Educator status, and nearly 500 students have already earned relevant certifications.
Azizul Rahman Ismail 