Curtin Sarawak students benefit from career talk by Intel Penang

Miri – 30 October 2015 – Six engineering students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) were immediately offered employment by Intel Penang after a recent career talk by the company hosted by the university’s Department of University Life.

Postgraduate student Chua Shin Cheng, alumni Chong Ping Ting and fourth-year students Koh Huey Ying, Jason Ha Heck Teck, Chai Kah Hieng and Kiew Suk Qin from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Faculty of Engineering and Science will be joining the Intel Graduate Training Programme (GTP).

Present at the career talk was a recruitment team from Intel Penang comprising Intel HR Talent Acquisition Hoe Kah Wai and Mazlina Abu Bakar; Intel MIG Hiring Representative Tan Eng Guan; Intel Penang Functional South Complex IP Manager Kathy Sim Sing Yee; PV Manager Intel Design Automation Chai Chong Thiam; and Senior Staff Mixed-Signal IP Design Lead Phang Kian Leong. Also part of the team were representatives from Invest Penang, Eunice Ch’ng and Tho Nai Ken.

During the talk, Ch’ng briefed the participants on the development of industries in Penang. She stated that the industry players there are always on the lookout for talented individuals who can help the industries advance. Meanwhile, Mazlina spoke on the future of Intel and the career opportunities it offers.

The recruitment team also held a sharing session where they shared their working experiences at Intel Penang. This sharing session resulted in the six students being shortlisted for interviews and subsequently, being offered employment with the company.

According to senior lecturer in the ECE Department and the Faculty of Engineering and Science’s Chair of Industrial and External Relations Dr Garenth Lim King Hann, Intel Penang has expressed a keen interest in hiring more engineering graduates from Curtin Sarawak in the future, particularly those with electrical power engineering, electronics engineering, computer science, microelectronics, accounting and finance backgrounds.

Commenting on the employment opportunity offered to her, Chong, who received the Best Final-Year Project Award from the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology (IEEE CPMT) Malaysia Chapter in September this year, said she was thankful the award led her to securing the job.

Meanwhile, Ha said that as Vice President of the IEEE Student Branch at Curtin Sarawak, his involvement in the student branch helped him build his confidence and knowledge of the industry.

Head of the ECE Department Associate Professor Zhuquan Zang remarked that Curtin Sarawak ECE graduates are in great demand by industry, adding that the Electrical and Computer Engineering course at Curtin Sarawak is reviewed together with industry partners twice a year to ensure it meets their needs.

“I am very pleased that the university produces graduates that are up to the expectations of the industries. This also motivates our academic staff to continuously improve their teaching and learning profile,” he said.

Representatives from Curtin Sarawak and Intel Penang posing for group photo.

(Standing, L–R) Koh, Chong, Kiew, Chai, Chua and Ha showing their Letters of Intent from Intel Penang with academic staff from ECE Department.