Third place at Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 APAC Final

Three Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) students, Ng Shi Qi, Har Sze Hao, and Liew Zheng Xian, stood proudly on stage as they were awarded third place at the Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 APAC Final award ceremony, held on 27 February 2025 at Pullman Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Guided by their instructor, Dr Aun Yichiet, from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, the team impressed the judges in the Computing Track by showcasing their skills in completing technical challenges designed by Huawei to assess problem-solving, coding, and system-level thinking. The challenges simulated real-world scenarios in computing infrastructure and software development. As part of their achievement, each team member also received a Huawei Band 9. Advancing to the Global Final, the team will compete in Shenzhen, China, in May 2025.

The team enthused, “Winning third prize in this competition is an incredible achievement for us. After securing the Grand Prize at the National Level, we worked hard for this challenge, refining our skills and strategies. We were excited to represent Malaysia and UTAR in the competition. The award is not just for the team; it’s also for everyone who has supported and believed in us. We hope to continue striving for even greater heights in the future.”

They added, “We are especially thankful to Dr Aun and UTAR for playing a crucial role in helping us secure this achievement. UTAR has provided us with a strong foundation in ICT knowledge, a comprehensive curriculum, and hands-on learning experiences. Furthermore, the university has equipped us with essential technical skills, enabling us to grasp new concepts more efficiently—skills that proved invaluable during the competition.”

Dr Aun also expressed his pride for the team, “The students are incredibly talented, but their attitude and willingness to grow made the difference. I’m just grateful to be part of their journey. With the right mindset, we really can go the distance.”

In the Computing Track, the team competed in a series of intensive, hands-on challenges focused on computing technologies. They were tested on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in operating systems, databases, and application development. These skills are important for problem-solving in computing systems, database configuration, and processor optimisation, which are directly applicable in real-world IT and software development environments, and crucial competencies in today’s digital economy and tech-driven industries.

“Through this competition, we also understood the importance for skilled talents to contribute to Malaysia’s and the region’s digital transformation goals. Competitions like this play a key role in developing industry-ready talents, and driving technological growth. The experience has prepared us to contribute to the workforce and support sustainable tech development and smart infrastructure initiatives in the future,” they explained.