Huge turnout for Curtin Malaysia IEEE Digital Maker Expo

Miri – 31 May 2017 – The recent 2-day IEEE Digital Maker Expo 2017 held at the campus of Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) attracted over 800 visitors, the majority of them students of secondary schools in and around Miri.

The organisers, the Institute of Electric and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Curtin Malaysia Student Branch, said it was a substantial turnout for the national event aimed at promoting engineering, science and technology among students and the public in East Malaysia.

Supporting the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch were the IEEE Industrial Application Society (IAS); IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) and IEEE Malaysia Section, as well as Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science and University Life Department and industry partners Keysight Technologies, Tekmark, Shell Malaysia, SIRIM Measurements Technology, Tektronix, EPC Synergy, KVC Industrial Supplies and Rockwell Automation.

Themed ‘Inspiring Innovators for Digital Nation’, it offered visitors the opportunity to learn more about technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, embedded systems, programming and other cutting-edge technologies that are revolutionising the world.

Among the highlights of the event were the launching of the ‘First Digital Maker Movement’ and ‘#mydigitalmaker Hub’ at Curtin Malaysia by Sumitra Nair, Director of the Youth Division at Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDeC), and representatives of the Faculty of Engineering and Science and University Life Department.

Digital Maker Movement is an initiative by MDeC to transform Malaysian youth from being digital users to digital producers. This includes equipping them with skills in coding, app development, 3D printing, robotics, embedded programming and data analytics.

Meanwhile, #mydigitalmaker hubs are multipurpose resource spaces in institutions of higher learning that facilitate digital making and serve as centres for educators, students and industry experts to converge and network. With the creation of the hub at Curtin Malaysia, there are now 11 #mydigitalmaker hubs across Malaysia.

In his speech during the launch of the IEEE Digital Maker Expo, Curtin Malaysia Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski applauded MDeC for this bold public-private-academia initiative to create an active movement and dedicated maker spaces at universities to involve youths in tech-driven projects and encourage them to become digital producers of the future.

The event also saw the exchange of memorandums of understanding (MoU) for collaboration between the university and two of its industry partners, Keysight Technologies and SIRIM Measurements Technology. Present to witness the exchange were General Manager Lee Choon Seng of Keysight Technologies, Chief Executive Officer Chew Teck Ming and Director of Corporate Services Hanita Ibrahim of SIRIM Measurement Technology.

Professor Mienczakowski said the MoUs with Keysight Technologies and SIRIM Measurements marked yet another milestone in Curtin Malaysia’s building of critical alliances with its industry partners, as well as its commitment to providing industry-connected innovative teaching and research to develop internationally focused graduates committed to excellence.

The expo’s closing ceremony was officiated by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is also the chairman of Curtin Malaysia’s management board.

In his closing remarks, Datuk Lee congratulated the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch for hosting a very successful expo and promoting engineering, science and technology among young people. He said that it in this digital era, industries are in great need of technologically-savvy talents that can help enhance the quality of life in the future.

“Through events like the IEEE Digital Maker Expo, we hope to inspire more students to become digital makers, and with the #digitalmaker Hub, establish an active digital maker community here in Sarawak” said expo organising chairman and president of the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch, Jeff Kong Sheng How.

IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch president Jeff Kong giving welcoming speech.

Students taking MBOT Challenge at Shell booth during the expo.

Students pitching their projects as part of Young Innovate Challenge Miri held in conjunction with the expo.

Datuk Lee Kim Shin (centre, giving thumbs up) posing for group photo with Outstanding Digital Maker Award winners.

Datuk Lee Kim Shin with organisers and participants at the close of the expo.