Celebrating Sunway University’s Outstanding Students in the Global Consumer Intelligence (GCI) Programme by Matsuo Lab, the University of Tokyo
We’re proud to celebrate the incredible achievements by our students in the Cross-Border Global Consumer Intelligence (GCI) Programme by Matsuo Lab, The University of Tokyo.
Running from September to December 2025, this fully online, fast-track programme offered a hands-on learning experience in data science fundamentals, attracting more than 7,000 participants from around the world. With the support of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Malaysia and Sunway iLabs, 110 Sunway University students were exposed to and encouraged to explore this global opportunity.
The Global Consumer Intelligence (GCI) programme is one of the largest data science courses in Japan that offers a variety of lectures with guided support to build strong foundations in data science. Students were assessed based on a series of competitive challenges and a final assignment.
Bringing together universities from ASEAN countries, Africa, India and beyond, only 21 outstanding students globally were selected to receive the Certificate of Excellence, and we’re thrilled that all three Malaysian awardees are from Sunway University, representing the Faculty of Engineering and Technology:
- Phuah Hong Xuan – Year 2, Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours) (Data Analytics)
- Tanisha Botharrygadoo – Year 2, Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours) (Data Analytics)
- Keshna Devi Goorah – Year 2, Bachelor of Software Engineering (Hons)
The three are scheduled to visit Japan in March, fully funded by Matsuo Lab, where they will have the opportunity to further deepen their understanding of Japan’s artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem. The next GCI Programme is set to begin in April 2026, opening the door for even more students to take part.
Matsuo Lab is part of the Graduate School of Engineering of the University of Tokyo. Led by Professor Yutaka Matsuo, a prominent researcher specialising in AI, deep learning and web mining, Matsuo Lab is known for its strong emphasis on education and research in data science, deep learning, web engineering and AI, with a focus on real-world applications and global talent development. It is one of Japan’s most prestigious universities and is ranked 26th globally and 1st in Japan in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
