Press Release

Minister of Multimedia and Communications YB Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah today launched Sunway Education Group’s 42KL at a virtual launch, marking the world-renowned and revolutionary coding school’s opening in Malaysia. 

42KL is the Malaysian campus of 42 to be situated within the FutureX building in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur and will operate with 42’s innovative model in a collaboration among Sunway Education Group, Sunway iLabs and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Anchor partners that have signed up thus far include Sunway Group, CIMB, Roland Berger, DHL, Huawei and Carsome. 

The first 42 campus was established in Paris, France and the second in Silicon Valley, the US. The 42 campus in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur is one of the first such campuses in Southeast Asia.

42 is a groundbreaking coding school with a disruptive educational model as it has zero tuition fees, zero teachers and zero traditional classrooms. 

It is the first in the world to offer peer-to-peer learning and is completely merit-based. The only requirement is that students must be above 18 years old.

Focusing on project-based learning imitating real-world work, the school encourages students to learn time management and build conceptual frameworks that can be applied to industry challenges and problem statements. 

This is via peer-to-peer learning where students are responsible for their own success and the whole programme is gamified, where progress is accounted for using experience points through the completion of each project.

Dato’ Saifuddin, in his speech, congratulated Sunway Group on another milestone towards the nation’s development. 

“This is indeed a brilliant idea of coming up with a new methodology, a new system and a new approach to education. We are now facing a very fast-changing geopolitical advancement in the world, but nothing can challenge the advancement of technology,” the minister said.

“Changes in technology are inevitable; we have to embrace them in a certain way to produce many benefits for all of us. 

“We have to face new types of jobs, environments and technologies. Education has to move together with such advancements – that is why I take it that 42KL is moving in the right direction,” he added. 

In his address, Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah said the Group looks forward to contributing to and helping the nation by producing quality talents relevant to various industries, to overcome challenges in an era of rapid changes. 

“42KL will help lay the foundation for Malaysia to become the leading digital economy in ASEAN. The venture also testifies to our commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations,” said Cheah. 

“We recognise that realising the SDGs is not the responsibility of governments alone. It requires the commitment of all segments of society – the private sector, academia, civil society … every single individual. 

“The partnership among Sunway’s educational institutions, MDEC, industry players and Ecole 42 serves as an excellent example of this philosophy,” he added. 

MDEC chief executive officer (CEO) Surina Shukri shared: “42KL is a welcome addition to our vibrant digital talent development eco-system as it will surely unearth more high potential Malaysian tech talents and groom them to become world-class developers and tech entrepreneurs.”

“Malaysian talents have a great opportunity to make that digital leap with 42KL’s internationally-recognised educational approach and help make Malaysia the digital workforce hub in the region,” she added. 

The Ambassador of France to Malaysia Frederic Laplanche and Ecole 42 managing director Sophie Viger, also delivered a special address at the virtual launch. Thereafter, Sunway Group chief innovation officer and Sunway iLabs director Matt van Leeuwen introduced 42KL.

This was followed by a panel session and a fireside chat. The panel session was helmed by Ecole 42 director of pedagogy Olivier Crouzet, MDEC CEO Surina Shukri, CIMB group chief people officer Dato’ Hamidah Naziadin and Sunway Education Group CEO Dr Elizabeth Lee.   

The fireside chat with 42 Paris alumnus discussed an alumni’s experience as a 42 student and his learning experience, among other topics. He also provided advice for incoming students. 

Interested candidates can visit https://42kl.edu.my/ for enrolment and more information. 42KL is also open to welcoming more industry partners interested in developing and recruiting Malaysia’s top technology talents. 

How 42KL Application and Admission Process Works

42KL is now open for applications and its first intake is tentatively slated for November 1, 2020. 

There are no minimum entry requirements except for students to be aged 18 and above. 

All applicants will sit for an online test before 450 of them are selected to enter what 42KL called “The Pool”. 

For “The Pool”, the 450 students will undergo an on-site assessment for four weeks. 

From here, the final 150 students will be chosen to embark on Levels 1 to 7 for the core curriculum stage, lasting approximately 12 months. 

After Level 7, the students will do an industry placement for 3 to 6 months with one of 42KL’s partner companies where the former can apply the skills they have developed during the core curriculum.

Thereafter, these students can choose to seek employment or return to the 42KL campus to continue their studies from Levels 8 to 21 – the specialisation stage lasting approximately another 24 months.

After Level 21, they will enter the workforce upon their graduation from 42KL.

These 42KL graduates will be equipped with technology and soft skills, suitable for any industry.