UTAR IMLD holds its first Master-Class on Competitiveness

Participants listening attentively to Prof Kashiwagi's presentation

UTAR Institute of Management and Leadership Development (IMLD) held the Master-Class on Competitiveness "Management of Technology and Development of Industrial Leadership" on 19 to 20 October 2013 at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik who was present, described the event as a clear articulation of the determined initiative by UTAR to educate and nurture quality leaders on current issues such as technology management through training, networking and research.

The Master-Class, which was the inaugural event for IMLD, aimed to examine the key areas directly related to competitiveness so as to better equip participants to confidently move forward in their respective challenging fields.

In her opening remarks, Institute of Management and leadership Development Director Prof Dr Cheng Ming Yu welcomed 22 participants from various companies and organisations such as SMI Electric Automation Sdn Bhd, Brunsfield International Group, Public Bank Berhad, and The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM).

She also highlighted the importance to reposition ourselves to face the approaching Third Wave of Industrial Revolution. "The applications such as 3D printing and robotics is changing how we communicate, consume, produce and essentially every aspects of our life".

The two-day event was filled with presentations and discussions on managing technology with renowned speakers, Professor Dean Kashiwagi and Professor Benjamin Yuan. Prof Kashiwagi is the Director of Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG) at Arizona State University (ASU), USA and an adjunct professor at UTAR. The second speaker, Prof Yuan, is the professor of Institute of Management and Technology at National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan.

Prof Dean Kashiwagi

Prof Benjamin Yuan

The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) Senior Vice President Datuk Ir Kamarulzaman Zainal, 1001 Technologies Sdn Bhd Founder and Executive Chairman Mr Looi Kien Leong, SMI Association Deputy President Mr Michael Kang were a few Malaysian speakers who also participated in a special forum session.

SME Corp Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Dato' Hafsah Hashim, delivered the keynote speech during the closing ceremony on Sunday night. She shared the vital roles of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in economic development and the initiatives under SME Master Plan (2012-2020) to create globally competitive SMEs across all sectors.

Prof Chuah presenting the certificate to one of the participants while Prof Cheng (left) looks on