PENANG: Wawasan Open University’s (WOU) inaugural WOU STEM Innovation Competition 2024 (WOU STEM Innovation Competition) to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education received an overwhelming response from participants from Malaysia and across the region. This groundbreaking competition aimed at recognising and rewarding exceptional achievements in STEM among students and professionals alike, successfully garnered an impressive 866 team submissions, totalling over 7,100 participants locally and from countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, and Botswana.
22 teams were shortlisted from the multitude of entries received as finalists and invited to a WOU STEM Innovation Competition showcase held at the university’s main campus in Penang on 26 June. Here teams competed for top honours across four main categories: Young Innovator, Junior Innovator, Tertiary Innovator, and Professional Innovator. Winning teams were evaluated on their talent and expertise in experimental design, scientific accuracy, technical quality, clarity and creativity, originality and innovation, as well as the impact and relevance of their projects by a panel of distinguished judges comprising industry leaders, senior academics, alongside Technological Association Malaysia (TAM) and Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) representatives.
In her address at this landmark event for finalists, WOU Chief Executive and Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Lily Chan, underscored the university’s commitment to STEM education and for nurturing talent in this arena.
“In today’s world, technology competitions are fundamentally talent competitions which is why we launch the WOU STEM Innovation Competition. At WOU, we firmly believe in the transformative power of STEM education and want to whole heartedly champion it. This competition is a crucial part of our commitment to ignite passion in the study of science, technology, engineering and math while preparing local and international students for rewarding careers in STEM.
Penang, is the Silicon Valley of the East, and WOU is acutely aware of the connection between a strong tech industry and a high-quality STEM workforce. This awareness drives us, as an institute of higher learning headquartered in here, to craft unique, interdisciplinary engineering and IT programmes tailored to the needs of an increasingly digital industry environment. By doing so, we aim to unlock our students’ potential in STEM and constructively contribute to the advancement of the state, and Malaysia, as an economy robustly driven by technology and innovation”, she said.
Professor Dr. Chan further elaborated. “Integrating theoretical knowledge with real-world industry applications is another vital component for producing market-ready STEM professionals. In line with this vision, WOU is set to launch four new STEM programmes: Bachelor of Technology (Honours) in Mechatronic Systems (TVET), Master of Science in Smart Manufacturing, Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science, and Master in Data Science. These programmes, designed in partnership with industry experts, with an emphasis on work-integrated learning (WIL), will ensure students are fully geared for the workforce as soon as they graduate”.
Alongside this, Professor Dr. Chan also highlighted WOU’s STEM Apprenticeship Programme, which provided hands-on training to primary school students from five different schools in Penang, immersing young minds in various STEM fields such as 3D design and printing, robotics, coding, Android app development, bridge building, and Scratch 3.0 programming. Through these efforts, she said, WOU hopes to cultivate the next generation of STEM leaders from an early age.
Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang, Yang Berhormat (YB) Jagdeep Singh Deo, who leads the state’s Human Capital Development, Science and Technology Committee, attended the WOU STEM Innovation Competition 2024 finalist event. He lauded WOU’s efforts in organising the competition, reiterating that nurturing STEM talent is key to building a robust pipeline of future tech professionals for Penang’s vibrant tech and high-value manufacturing sectors. All of which play a vital role in the state’s strategic vision for sustained economic growth.
The WOU STEM Innovation Competition 2024 kicked off in March this year, inviting participation from primary, secondary, tertiary students, and working professionals across the region. Participants submitted essays supported by compelling video presentations showcasing their innovative STEM projects to a panel of judges. Shortlisted candidates were then invited to present their projects in person at the finals event held at WOU’s flagship campus in Penang this June. For shortlisted candidates unable to attend, the judging was conducted remotely.
Category winners from the finalists’ teams were presented with trophies and certificates of merit at an awards ceremony presided over by YB Jagdeep Singh Deo, Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister II, marking the culmination of the day’s proceedings.
For more information about WOU as one of Malaysia’s pioneering flexible open distance learning universities and its diverse portfolio of degree, diploma and micro-credential programmes go to www.wou.edu.my
Established in 2006, WOU (Wawasan Open University) is a private, non-profit institution dedicated to providing flexible, accessible, and online education for adult learners. This pioneering institution in open and distance learning (ODL) boasts a main campus by the sea in Penang and established Regional Centres and Offices nationwide, encompassing George Town, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Ipoh, and Kuala Lumpur. WOU caters to the evolving needs of the digital economy by offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, alongside micro-credential courses, equipping learners with the necessary skills to thrive in the ever-changing technological landscape. With nearly 30,000 students and over 8,000 graduates, WOU has demonstrably expanded access to tertiary education in Malaysia.
Contact:
Rasidah Mion,
Corporate Communications Manager
[email protected]
019 314 2003