Curtin Malaysia introduces students to the fast-paced world of financial trading

Miri, Sarawak – 29 July 2025 – Over 50 secondary school students from across Miri got a hands-on taste of global finance at a high-impact Mini-Trading Workshop hosted by Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) as part of its STEM 2025 outreach initiatives.

Held at the Curtin Trading Room, the university’s state-of-the-art financial simulation lab equipped with real-time market data and trading software, the workshop brought together students from SMK Pujut, SMK Baru, SMK Merbau, SMK Chung Hua (CF) Miri, and Kolej Vokasional Miri, immersing them in the dynamic world of trading through interactive learning and a real-time virtual simulation.

Led by Dr. Alpha Anak Ngadan, Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Business, the workshop provided participants with a practical foundation in trading fundamentals – from buying and selling for profit, to risk management and capital preservation. The session was bolstered by the expertise of fellow faculty members Dr. Mohammad Belayet Hossain, Dr. Hosam Alden Riyadh, Dr. Mohammad Abdul Matin, and Dr. Tanusree Chakravarty.

A major highlight was the virtual trading challenge, where students were each given USD100,000 in simulated capital to navigate live market scenarios. Competing in real-time from 9:45 am to 11:30 am, the young traders demonstrated sharp instincts and strong analytical skills.

At the close of the session, Kolej Vokasional Miri emerged as the top performer, followed by SMK Merbau and SMK Baru, who took second and third place respectively.

“This workshop was about more than just trading; it was about building financial literacy and sparking future careers in finance and STEM,” said Dr. Alpha. “We wanted to give students not just knowledge, but confidence and curiosity – tools that will serve them well in any field.”

The organisers thanked all participating schools for their enthusiastic involvement and encouraged students to continue expanding their financial knowledge.

The Mini-Trading Workshop forms part of Curtin Malaysia’s broader commitment to empowering Sarawak’s youth through practical, future-focused STEM education.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

Curtin Malaysia lecturers and facilitators in a group photo with student participants.

Workshop lead facilitator Dr. Alpha Anak Ngadan introducing participants to the fundamentals of trading.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Matin guiding students through candlestick chart analysis as they identify potential breakout lines.