WOU’s annual Technology and Innovation Exhibition 2025 (WOUTech’25) once again underscored the university’s commitment to nurturing innovation and cultivating industry readiness among final-year students, who pitched their ideas and cutting-edge projects to academics, industry professionals, and peers.
The event, held on 21 June 2025 at WOU’s main campus, was organised by its School of Technology & Engineering Science (STE).
In her opening remarks, Chairperson of WOUTech’25 and STE lecturer, Ts Dhanaletchmi N. Narayanasamy, highlighted the event as an empowering platform for students to engage with industry professionals and demonstrate their capabilities beyond the classroom.
“WOUTech’25 is more than just an exhibition — it is a celebration of innovation, creativity, and collaboration. It showcases how our students are transforming classroom learning into real-world solutions by bringing bold ideas to life and stepping confidently into the role of future technologists,” she said.
Echoing this, STE Dean, Assoc Prof Ts Dr Sean Tan Koon Tatt, remarked:
“WOUTech’25 reflects our continuous effort to nurture critical thinking and problem-solving skills among our students. We want them to not only learn technology, but to apply it to drive innovation and create positive impact in society.”
Dr Teo Teow Wee, Senior Staff Engineer at TTVision Technologies, delivered an insightful keynote address on the cutting-edge developments at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and sustainability within the solar energy sector.
“By combining drones, electroluminescence imaging, and AI, we are entering a new era of solar diagnostics that not only boosts efficiency but also plays a crucial role in supporting global climate goals. This is where technology truly meets sustainability,” he explained.
The event culminated in an awards presentation recognising outstanding projects and interactive showcases that reflected strong creative problem-solving applied to real-world challenges.
WOU saw two of its students honoured for their innovative prototypes – Joey Chua Siew Yen from the Bachelor of Technology (Honours) in Mechatronics programme received the Best Idea Innovation award for her project, “Human Emotion Classification Based on EEG Data from Stroke Patient,” while Yuveneswaran Loganazan, currently pursuing his Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Electronics, was awarded Best Poster for his “Smart Irrigation System” project.
The Best Presenter award went to Ong Shu Han, from INTI International College’s Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme, for her project titled “EV Charging at Petrol Station with Added Keypad for Sending Notification After Car Has Fully Charged.”
Offering her advice to future participants, Joey encouraged students to prioritise industry relevance in their project development.
“Students should stay informed about current industry trends, so their final year projects can offer innovative solutions that truly address real-world needs,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience, she added, “Meeting industry professionals and presenting my work really boosted my confidence. It’s exciting to see how the skills we’ve learnt are unlocking real career opportunities for us.”
By seamlessly blending academic rigour with hands-on experience, WOUTech’25 not only spotlighted student talent, but also reaffirmed WOU’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates equipped for today’s dynamic, tech-driven landscape.