University reinforces its commitment to youth innovation and entrepreneurship through state-level collaboration with PYDC.
Winners with distinguished guests and participants of the Final.
Wawasan Open University (WOU) recently hosted the state-level finals of the Penang Youth Development Corporation’s (PYDC) Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) 2025 at its main campus on 24 January 2026, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing future-ready youth talent for the digital economy.
The event brought together young innovators from across Penang, providing a platform for participants to present entrepreneurial ideas that demonstrated creativity, problem-solving capabilities, and real-world business thinking across both the Open and High School categories.
As the digital learning strategic partner for YEC 2025, WOU played a key role in supporting the programme’s objective of equipping young people with the mindset and competencies needed to navigate an increasingly technology-driven economy.
Prof Yap presenting a token of appreciation to YB Gooi Zi Sen, Penang State Exco for Youth, Sports and Health.
Commenting on WOU’s involvement, Prof Ts Yap Eng Hwa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), said:
“WOU is committed to empowering young talent by bridging digital learning with real-world business challenges. Initiatives such as the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge give participants the confidence and practical exposure to turn ideas into actionable solutions that create meaningful impact.”
He added that WOU’s engagement reflects its alignment with the state’s broader talent development priorities and digital economy agenda, particularly in cultivating youth who are data-informed, technologically adept, and socially responsible.
“Our goal is to nurture a ‘human-plus-machine’ mindset, where human creativity, judgment and ethical values are strengthened through the intelligent use of technology,” he said.
Dean of DiGiT, Assoc Prof Ts Andrew Tan and Senior Lecturer Dr Jayaeswari Sangaralingam with
Mohhit (left) and Desiree (right).
WOU was also represented in the Open Category by two students from its School of Digital Technology (DiGiT), Desiree Liew May Xun and Mohhit Ramesh, who advanced to the finals after being selected from 36 teams across Penang. Their project, ResQ Labs, focused on enhancing emergency response and road safety through two integrated solutions — MotoSOS, which detects motorcycle accidents and sends real-time alerts, and MediSOS, which enables rapid access to critical medical information.
The collaboration with PYDC reflects WOU’s broader approach to learning through authentic, competitive environments, where students and youth participants are encouraged to apply knowledge, make decisions, and respond to real-world challenges — capabilities essential for entrepreneurship and future careers.