Victorious: Lai (far left), Khor and Tham (second and first from right, respectively) posing for a photo with Huawei Asia-Pacific Strategy and Marketing vice president Zhang Fupeng (second from left).
THEIR fervour to challenge themselves in information and communication technologies (ICT) has borne fruit for three students at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).
The trio from the varsity’s Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) at the Sungai Long campus were recently crowned national champions in the cloud track category at the “Huawei ICT Competition 2023-2024 APAC – Malaysia”.
Having aced a theoretical examination covering information technology areas such as cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence (AI), electrical and electronic engineering student Khor Yin Loon, mechatronics engineering student Eddy Lai Thin Jun and software engineering student Wong Tack Hwa will represent Malaysia at the online regional competition next month.
For their national win, the team, led by LKC FES academic Dr Tham Mau Luen, received four laptops, certificates and a trophy at the award ceremony last month.
The team said the award, presented on Dec 18, was a recognition of their diligence in acquiring and applying their knowledge.
“Winning this competition is an incredible honour that reflects the hard work and dedication of our team. It’s a blend of joy, pride and gratitude that propels us to continue in this field,” they said in a press release.
They added that the competition, held virtually on Nov 30, served as a platform that nurtured their growth in the fields of cloud computing, big data and AI.
Themed “Connection, Glory and Future”, the competition was aimed at promoting the healthy development of the ICT talent ecosystem and supporting the integration of industry and education.
Another team from UTAR claimed the second prize in the cloud track category.
Coached by the varsity’s Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) Department of Computer and Communication Technology lecturer Dr Aun Yichiet, the team from the Kampar campus comprised computer science students Ng Shi Qi, Teo Teck Wan and Lim Xuan.
They took home four mobile phones along with certificates.
The team said they joined the competition to challenge themselves against the best minds in the region.
“Winning this award truly reflects the practical hands-on experience that UTAR has offered us. It is not only the technical knowledge, but also the way the university encourages us to think creatively and work as a team, that really paved the way for our success,” they said.
