Workshops That Bridge The Gap

An introduction to the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Skill Transfer Workshops for SMEs was launched by the School of Computer Technology of Sunway University College recently.

The objective of these workshops is to foster better and closer ties between institutions of higher learning such as Sunway University College and commercial companies. The workshops, an initiative of the School, will enable companies to familiarize themselves with the School’s new development of ICT technologies and new ICT products available for application. Invited speakers from the industry could also share their approaches of successful implementation of ICT projects, their needs and strengths to the students. By doing so, the workshops become a platform for Sunway students to understand the requirements of the real world.

At this introductory session recently, Mr Loke Sim Fatt, Chief Operating Officer of the England Optical Group Sdn Bhd spoke about “Benefits of Interns to SME and IT Collaboration with Universities” and Ms Lee Yin Jye of Solution Architect, SAP Malaysia gave a talk about “Emerging Technologies & Solutions for SME from SAP”.

The School took the opportunity to unveil its Consulting, Collaboration and Commercialization (CCC) Lab and also introduced the SCTNET portal which showed companies the benefits of using this portal. The CCC Lab supports the strong research focus of the School and showcased its research initiatives in the areas of Network and Ubiquitous Computing, Multimedia and Information Systems, Intelligent System and Robotics Engineering as well as Database Technologies and Software Engineering. The School has begun offering the MSc in Computer Science (by research) and the MSc in Mobile Systems for about a year now.

These workshops in general serve as a platform for companies to collaborate with the School. Collaboration opportunities include bridging the skills gap between the School’s curriculum and market needs and access of companies to a pool of student interns which is helpful for them to identify good potential employees.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Tong Ming, Head of the School of Computer Technology said “These workshops are a win-win situation for both companies and students. The interaction serves to enhance product and knowledge dissemination for students and in return we can fine tune the practical skills of our students to match the requirements of the industry. Furthermore any newly developed technologies and products will be introduced to the participating companies who will have the first opportunity to further develop them”.

Ms Lee Yin Jye, of Solution Architect, SAP Malaysia speaking during the workshop

Some of the facililties in the CCC Lab

Building Resilience and Entrepreneurship Among Youth

Left to right, Professor Robert Bignall, Vice-Chancellor, Sunway University College with Puan Yahurin and Elizabeth Lee at the launch

Sunway University College was proud to join hands with the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia to initiate the 1Malaysia Entrepreneurship Month. This event was a series of workshops, sharing sessions, talks, business games and social events for students held in the weeks leading up to Merdeka.

It was organised with the objective of providing a platform for enterprising youth to exchange ideas and find relevant support and guidance in starting their own business in our great country. Sunway University College realizes that the key to sustainable growth in Malaysia is to develop the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst our youth who will become tomorrow’s leaders.

Among the notable and successful entrepreneurs who inspired the Sunway students were Ng KhaiLee, Co-founder of YouthAsia and two Sunway alumnus i.e George Ang, Group Managing Director and Co-Founder of Revenue Valley Sdn Bhd (that owns Manhattan FISH MARKET, Tony Roma’s and TOKYO-g) and Kid Chan, Celebrity Photographer.

George Ang, shared insights and tips on entrepreneurship

Xandria Ooi, also a Sunway alumna who is a TV host, journalist and emcee spoke earlier to students about her own experiences from her days fresh out of university into the entertainment industry during her book launch. Her new book is entitled “Love, Work and Everything in between”.

TV host, journalist and emcee (and Sunway alumna) Xandria Ooi (2nd from right) met with Sunway students after giving her talk

The finale of the event was an Entrepreneur Exchange Night with guest Vishen Lakhiani, founder of MindValley who is major influence in the field of personal development. He shared his entrepreneurship tips with the students in a speed networking activity.

Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director of Sunway University College said during the launch “In today’s uncertain economic situation, it is even more vital that we imbue in our students, a more resilient and adaptable mindset so they may rise to the challenges of our times”. The guest of honour Puan Yahurin Mohd Yassin, Senior Assistant Director, Development & Student Affairs Division, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia added “Equipped with current knowledge and new ideas, one can be on the look out for more opportunities even when times are bad”.

Battle of Wits

Oxford University Malaysia Club, the Cambridge University Malaysia Society and the Oxford & Cambridge Society Malaysia together with Sunway University College (Sunway) organised the third Cambridge vs. Oxford Student Debate recently.

This clash of the two university titans involved mainly debaters who are Malaysian students studying in Oxford and Cambridge back here for their summer holidays. The Cambridge team was the Government (proposer) and the Oxford team was the opposition. The motion was “This House believes that Youth should stay in Malaysia”. As would be expected these students with a promising future ahead of them, battled it out with a mastery of the English language and hammered out their well-conceived points. Each team was made up of 3 debaters, one of whom was a guest debater from Sunway who was a member of the Sunway University College International Debating Society.

After a debate which showcased the oratorical skills and nerves of steel of the students, the judges declared the Cambridge team as the winners. The best speaker was William Chan Guang Yu, who is a first year law student at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. William has a Cambridge Union Diploma in Debating under his belt.

Ainaa Azhar (guest debater from Sunway) battling out during the debate

Ainaa Azhar, guest speaker for the Oxford team is an A-Level student at Sunway University College. Ainaa was commended by the judges for her clarity of speaking. The other guest speaker was Yuventhiran S/O J.Nadarajan, an ACCA student from Sunway who was with the Cambridge team. Yuventhiran is the President of the Sunway University College International Debating Society and has taken part in a number of debates before.

William Chan, who is doing his internship with a law firm in Kuala Lumpur said “It was a good debate and it was great that we had a chance to collaborate with Sunway”.

The Speaker of the House was Dr. Stephen Hall, Director of the Language and Compulsory Studies Centre, Sunway University College. The Chief Adjudicator was Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Lin See-Yan and the other two adjudicators were Dr Lee Su Kim and Ms Margaret Kaloo.

Dr Goh Cheng Teik (left) Board Member Sunway University College and Past President of the Oxford and Cambridge Society Malaysia with the champs, the Cambridge team (from left to right) Yong Jing Ting, Yuventhiran s/o J.Nadarajan and William Chan Guang Yu

After the debate, four other Malaysian students, two each from Cambridge and Oxford University respectively, spoke candidly about life at Cambridge and Oxford. It was an interesting, personal account that gave prospective students a good glimpse into student life at the two elite universities. The Oxford and Cambridge Society Malaysia is proudly celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Among the objectives of the Society is to promote social, recreational and cultural activities between past and present members of the two universities, in Malaysia and to further the interest of the two universities.