April 2026 \ Interviews \ EDUCATION INDUSTRY IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA
“Universities Must Produce Talent”

In this conversation with India Empire, Tan Sri Joseph Adaikalam speaks about the evolution of the ISP model, the concept of “the world as a campus”, the importance of industry–academia partnerships, entrepreneurship, employability, and the future of universities in an age shaped by artificial intelligence, global competition and technological disruption.

Happy parents attend a Binary Convocation

Many government entrepreneurship programmes remain underutilised. Why does this happen?

Many young people are afraid to take risks, and many do not know how to run a business. To access funding, entrepreneurs must have realistic and workable business plans.

Universities must therefore teach students not just theory but also how to identify business opportunities, manage risk and build sustainable enterprises. At Binary, we match students with real entrepreneurs and real business opportunities so that they learn to take calculated risks.

Binary has introduced highly specialised postgraduate programmes. What is the thinking behind this?

The education landscape has changed dramatically due to global competition, technology and artificial intelligence. Universities must offer highly targeted programmes aligned with industry needs.

We introduced premium postgraduate programmes in specialised areas such as semiconductor technology, telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, investment banking, logistics and automotive marketing, as well as IT programmes in cybersecurity, data science and artificial intelligence.

These programmes include paid internships and work opportunities so that graduates gain both academic knowledge and industry experience. The aim is to prepare graduates for high-income global careers.

You have spent nearly four decades in higher education. What major changes have you observed?

One major issue globally is that universities and industry often operate separately. Strong industry–academia partnerships require long-term commitment, but university leadership often changes every few years, which makes long-term partnerships difficult to sustain.

Another issue is that many universities still focus mainly on academic excellence without practical training. Industry is looking for graduates who can contribute immediately, not just academically qualified graduates.

Universities must therefore redesign their programmes around industry needs and build long-term partnerships with industry.




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