The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States is regarded as an institution most Malaysian students can only dream of entering.
For the record, MIT has been ranked the No. 1 university in the world by the QS World University Rankings for 13 consecutive years.
Leia Mayssa Masyerin, 18, from Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and an alumna of Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara (PPPN) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), has made the nation proud by becoming the only Malaysian undergraduate this year to secure a place at the prestigious university.
Set to pursue a four-year degree course in computer science starting this August, Leia Mayssa declared that the opportunity feels like a dream come true.
“It’s hard to believe that my dream of studying at such an amazing university has become a reality for me.
“In my mind, I thought I would never make it there. Yet, it remained my dream and now, I’ve finally achieved it,” she told Bernama when met at PPPN UKM here recently.
MIT, known for its iconic Great Dome landmark building, also topped the QS World University Rankings in 11 subject areas for 2025.
According to MIT’s website, the institution holds the No. 1 ranking in the following QS subject areas: Chemical Engineering; Civil and Structural Engineering; Computer Science and Information Systems; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Linguistics; Materials Science; Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; and Statistics and Operational Research.
PPPN UKM is a centre of excellence dedicated to identifying gifted and talented children nationwide and providing them with opportunities to nurture their abilities and reach their full potential.
PERMATA@PINTAR’S CRUCIAL ROLE
For Leia Mayssa, aside from the support of her parents, PPPN – also known as Kolej PERMATA@Pintar – also served as a key pillar in helping her realise her dream of pursuing higher education at a university.
“Thank you, PERMATA@Pintar... I want to express my gratitude for all the support and encouragement I received throughout my journey here. I will also never forget the contributions of all the teachers who never grew tired of helping and guiding me.
“(Pusat) PERMATA@Pintar was not just a place for me to study but a second home filled with sweet memories. Every moment spent here will always hold a special place in my heart. I am also thankful to my friends who constantly inspired me to keep striving and become a better version of myself,” she said.
Leia Mayssa also acknowledged the role of the PERMATA@Pintar High School Diploma (HSD) in laying the foundation for her to gain admission into MIT. She also believes her path was made easier by her involvement in the prestigious International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
“The HSD programme played a huge role in preparing me for university, and the teachers helped structure my schedule so I could represent Malaysia at the IMO.
“I am also grateful to the IMO committee and my coaches for always encouraging and motivating me to explore the world of mathematics, and MARA (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) for helping turn my dream of going to MIT into a reality. I truly appreciate all the support given,” she said.
Leia Mayssa enrolled at PPPN UKM in 2020 at the age of 13. To date, she has represented Malaysia in the IMO three times – the first time in 2022 when it was held in Oslo, Norway; the second time in Chiba, Japan (2023); and the third in Bath, United Kingdom (2024).
Most recently, during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, she was in Konjic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, participating in the third edition of ‘Maths Beyond Limits Balkans 2025’.
UKM ASSET
PPPN UKM director Prof Dr Ismanizan Ismail said the centre, established in 2009, serves not only as an educational platform but also as a hub to raise awareness and motivate the younger generation to engage in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“We aim to nurture their talents and interests from an early stage by exposing them to these unique learning opportunities. That is the purpose behind the establishment of this centre – to bring students closer to STEM,” he said.
He said the students at PPPN UKM have a unique intelligence and if nurtured properly, they can make significant contributions and become valuable assets to the nation.
He said the centre offers a curriculum which is tailored to the intellectual level of its students, aimed at shaping them into outstanding individuals.
“In line with our goal of supporting naturally gifted students, we also offer co-curricular programmes that match their individual strengths.
“The unique strength of PERMATA@Pintar lies in its strong ecosystem, which allows students to benefit from direct access to UKM lecturers and academic resources,” he added.
What makes it even more special is that PPPN uses five core components to calculate a student’s cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in order for them to qualify for the PERMATA@Pintar HSD.
“Apart from the academic, portfolio, character development and co-curricular components, 10 percent of the CGPA is based on research and the writing of a research report, which all students are required to complete in collaboration with lecturers from various UKM faculties,” he added.
Ismanizan said the college is committed to producing holistically developed gifted students based on the national education philosophy.
Elaborating on the HSD, he said the certificate is fully recognised and can be used to apply for admission to universities abroad.
“The HSD was created to provide gifted students with greater options to move forward in their academic journey.
“The value of the HSD is now being recognised, opening doors for our students to enter top universities not only in the United States but also in the United Kingdom,” he said.
SELECTION PROCESS
On how to enrol at PPPN UKM, its deputy director Mohd Hakimie Zainal Abidin said the centre conducts an annual selection process for students through the UKM1 and UKM2 tests, which assess the intelligence quotient (IQ) of children aged eight to 15.
He said a student must have an IQ score of at least 130 and a mental age exceeding three years beyond their biological age to participate in the PPPN programme.
“Those who pass the UKM2 test will be selected to join the School Holiday Enrichment Programme, during which the UKM3 test will be conducted. It involves interviews and STEM competency tests, along with various psychological tests.
“Students who pass UKM3 will secure a place in PPPN,” he said, adding that besides PPPN UKM, there are two other institutions that offer student-oriented teaching and learning sessions, namely Kolej Permata Insan, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in Negeri Sembilan; and Akademi Sains Pendang in Kedah.
He said parents with gifted children can consider enrolling them in the PPPN programme by registering their names on the website http://ukml.geniuspintar.ukm.my. The registration period is from March 10 to May 31.
Mohd Hakimie, who was among those who taught Leia Mayssa at PPPN UKM, said she scored 95 percent in all her subjects in 2021, a year after joining the centre.
“Leia was part of the generation that experienced the MCO when the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of her excellent results, we offered her, as well as two other classmates, the Accelerated Learning Programme, which involved curriculum acceleration. But Leia was the only one who accepted the programme,” he said.
SPONSORSHIP FOR PPPN STUDENTS
Mohd Hakimie said Leia Mayssa made history when she became the only Malaysian undergraduate to be offered a seat this year at MIT, adding she also received a special scholarship reserved for outstanding students from MARA. Stressing that sponsorship is crucial in ensuring gifted children get the opportunity to continue their studies at a world-class university, he urged corporate companies to collaborate with PPPN to provide scholarships to gifted students.
“PERMATA@Pintar has many talented students and I am confident Leia’s success has opened the eyes of many people.
“Helping them in their education at PERMATA@Pintar is our commitment as educators. But when they enter university, the responsibility lies with the sponsoring bodies. We would like to appeal to sponsorship bodies out there to help groom these students to become the country’s talents,” he said, adding some students had to forgo opportunities to continue their education due to a lack of sponsors.
PARENTAL SUPPORT
Leia Mayssa’s mother Norashidah Wahab, meanwhile, said her daughter’s extraordinary talent and potential have been evident since primary school as she always did well in competitions.
“When she entered secondary school, as parents, we thought about where to send Leia. We looked at a few schools but chose PERMATA@Pintar because it offers a programme for gifted children and we wanted to expose her to other gifted children,” she said.
Norashidah said despite facing several challenges after being accepted into PPPN UKM, Leia remained exceptionally dedicated to her studies.
“Then COVID-19 came, which was really bad timing but we have no regrets. I feel our decision to ‘park’ her there was the best one because it was only through PERMATA@Pintar that she could achieve all of this. Perhaps no other school would have allowed her to take the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exam at the age of 16,” she said.
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