Curtin Malaysia students triumph at Tech Masters Challenge

Miri, Sarawak – 5 November 2024 – Engineering students from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) celebrated remarkable success at the Tech Master Challenge (TMC), sweeping the top three spots in the competition held as part of the recent STEM Playground at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri.

The two-day event, jointly organised by Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) and the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch, with support from Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Chumbaka Miri, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri, Planetarium Sultan Iskandar (PSI), The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) Student Chapter, and IEEE Industrial Application Society (IAS) Student Chapter, offered a dynamic platform for students to push boundaries in STEM.

The competition saw Team U.OK emerge as champions, closely followed by Team We Love Elders in second place, and Team Power Paws in third.

Representing the champion team, Wong Kah Hong highlighted how the competition allowed him to hone critical technical skills, from hardware integration to software development. “The competition encouraged us to explore new technologies and refine our technical abilities. Beyond technical skills, it was a great opportunity to strengthen teamwork and problem-solving skills,” he said, adding that the experience boosted his confidence for future projects.

Lee Chao Cherng of Team We Love Elders shared how he deepened his electronics skills, learning to connect various components and enhance his team communication. “Despite some challenges, it was a very positive experience overall, and I learned so much along the way,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Nur Zaidatulamyrah Zaizulie of Team Power Paws described the competition as an unexpectedly rewarding journey that sparked a passion for real-life project development. “At first, we joined because it was compulsory, but as we progressed, we found it exciting to create something functional. Winning third place felt surreal given the technical issues we faced, but this experience has inspired me to persevere, sharpen my problem-solving skills, and work effectively under pressure,” she said.

The Tech Master Challenge aimed to immerse students in embedded systems and coding through hands-on learning, sparking creative and innovative thinking across all fields of study. Open to not only Curtin Malaysia students but all tertiary students in Malaysia, the competition encouraged the use of technology to develop community-enhancing solutions.

Notable winning projects included a system to safeguard disabled parking spaces, preventing the able-bodied from taking advantage of the parking spots for the disabled, and a timed medicine dispenser to help the elderly stay consistent with their medication.

Chester Sim Xiang Yii, Co-Head of Community Outreach, praised the students’ achievements, saying, “This competition brings together students from diverse fields, showcasing their potential to solve real-world problems. We hope that by participating in such events, students will be well-prepared to navigate the ever-changing landscape of technology.”

Professor Garenth Lim, academic advisor to the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch, underscored the importance of learning beyond the classroom. “The Tech Master Challenge fosters a competitive environment for students to demonstrate their skills and innovation. Through this experience, they also learn to tackle relevant community issues and develop pitching skills vital to their future careers,” he remarked.

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

Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science (second right), presents prizes to the champion team, U.OK

Team We Love Elders receiving their prizes from Professor Vu

Professor Vu presenting the third prize to Team Power Paws

Professor Vu (third from right) with the top three winning teams at TMC