APU and Armourzero have joined forces in a new partnership to strengthen cyber security education, integrating Armourzero’s automated vulnerability management tools into APU’s curriculum for practical student projects and real-time industry simulations, equipping students with essential, hands-on cybersecurity skills and bridging the gap between academic learning and industry demands.

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Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has officially joined forces with Armourzero Sdn. Bhd. in a ground-breaking collaboration set to revolutionise cyber security education and practical application. 

ArmourZero is a cyber security company focused on Automated Vulnerability Management, offering AI-powered, subscription-based solutions that help businesses secure their applications and cloud infrastructure with greater speed and simplicity.

This strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will embed industry-relevant cyber security practices into APU’s postgraduate research and undergraduate final-year projects (FYP), allowing students to gain direct experience with automated vulnerability management and secure development workflows.

APU students will gain invaluable hands-on experience with real-time simulations, directly embedding ScoutTwo into their curriculum and preparing them for the complexities of actual industry scenarios.

Beyond academic integration, the collaboration will foster a dynamic environment for learning and competition. 

This includes co-organising engaging events such as the highly anticipated Battle of Hackers (BOH) competition, providing students with a platform to hone their skills in a competitive, yet supportive, setting.

Under the MoU, APU will identify and nominate suitable students and staff to participate, while ArmourZero will assign qualified supervisors and cyber security professionals to guide them. 

In return, APU will provide academic oversight and access to its cutting-edge learning infrastructure to support the joint initiatives.

Cultivating Future Cyber Defenders

The agreement was formally signed by Professor Dr Ho Chin Kuan, APU’s Vice-Chancellor, and Mr Tho Kit Hoong, ArmourZero’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder. 

They were joined by Associate Professor Dr Thang Ka Fei, APU’s Senior Head School of Technology (SoT), and Dr Shalieza Razali, Liaison Manager at ArmourZero. 

Also present was Assistant Professor Ts Dr Vinesha Selvarajah, APU’s Industry Liaison Head of Technology, underscoring the significance of this industry-academic synergy.

Dr Thang Ka Fei expressed excitement, saying, “This MoU would surely boost APU’s cyber security programme. It is about ensuring that our students are not only academically competent, but also truly industry-ready.”

Mr Tho Kit Hoong, emphasised the practical benefits for students, “Cyber security and software development should not be siloed practices.” 

Through this collaboration with APU, ArmourZero is providing students hands-on exposure to real-world cyber security, empowering them with practical skills in vulnerability management. 

“This initiative bridges academic learning with industry practices, preparing students for the demands of the digital workforce.”

Adding to this, Dr Vinesha highlighted the broader impact and this strategic partnership between APU and ArmourZero will significantly enhance the experience of both staff and students, while also strengthening APU’s cyber security curriculum.

“It marks the beginning of several new specialisation tracks under the Cyber Security programme offered at APU,” she said.

To kick off this exciting collaboration, an insightful online workshop titled ‘Mastering Secure Development’ was held on 24th May 2025, led by Sean Woo, Associate Security Consultant at ArmourZero, exclusively for APU’s SoT academic staff.

This partnership represents a major step forward in producing job-ready cyber security professionals equipped to safeguard the future digital economy.