Front row,
from left: Mr Eddie Mok, Prof Dato’ Ewe, Mr Nelson Beh and Prof Choong
Organised
annually by the UTAR Student Development and Alumni Relations (SDAR) team,
which consists of the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), the Department of
Soft Skills Competency (DSSC), the Department of International Student
Services (DISS), the Department of Financial and Students Aid (DFSA), and
the Department of Alumni Relations and Placement (DARP), the event this year
was organised in collaboration with Persatuan Usahawan Maju Malaysia (PUMM),
UTAR’s external industry MoU partner.
It was also
held in collaboration with the Division of Community and International
Networking (DCInterNet), the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and
Computing Applications, the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and
Science, and the Department of Modern Languages.
Present at
the opening ceremony were UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat,
Persatuan Usahawan Maju Malaysia (PUMM) National Deputy President Mr Nelson
Beh, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof
Dr Choong Chee Keong, and Parcel 365 Sdn Bhd Founder and CEO Mr Eddie Mok.
Prof Dato’ Ewe said in his opening speech, “As part
of a holistic approach to preparing our students to become more digitally
competent, we have collaborated with industries and encouraged our students
to participate in competitions, research, and entrepreneurial projects that
would showcase their skills and talents. It is important that our students
have the opportunity to experience these impacts first-hand, so they can
better understand the way digital integration has benefitted businesses and
community.”
Prof Dato’ Ewe delivering his speech
Mr Nelson Beh said, “As a proud co-organiser
representing PUMM, it is an honour to collaborate with UTAR for this event
that holds immense significance in forest entrepreneurship and economic
growth. PUMM has been at the forefront of empowering entrepreneurs and
driving Malaysian economic development for the past 30 years. Our mission is
the commitment to developing an ecosystem that inspires and nurtures
Malaysian entrepreneurs and communities. Our focus extends to promoting
entrepreneurship at a grassroots level, particularly within schools and
universities. We firmly believe that students upon graduation should not
merely view themselves as an employee, but as potential employers and
entrepreneurs. We are here to facilitate knowledge sharing, mentorship and
community building, empowering student entrepreneurs to transcend their
academic journey and achieve their entrepreneurial goals.”
Mr Nelson Beh sharing his experience
Mr Eddie Mok delivered a
thought-provoking keynote on the concept of “Digital Village”, offering
insights into its implications for the industrial landscape. He founded
Parcel365 and Shopla365 to bridge rural digital gaps. Collaborating with
Measat, he provided satellite internet services to over 3,000 villages
through a profit-sharing model. Mr Eddie Mok addressed payment issues,
introduced digital payment habits, and ensured stable electricity using
solar panels. Focusing on customer experience, he established service
stations with computers and regular product deliveries. Inspired by China’s
model, Mr Eddie Mok created a sustainable digital ecosystem, engaging local
youth in production and sharing sales revenue with villagers. His
initiatives positively impacted rural income and education, and contributed
to Malaysia’s digital rural economy.
Mr Eddie Mok sharing his experience
of founding Parcel365
Following a luncheon session, Mr Robert Ng Hock
Leong, Consultant/Technical Advisor at YEN Premium Coach, delved into the
practical applications of Industry 4.0 in manufacturing and farming,
highlighting both its progress and challenges. A forum titled “Sustainable
Growth of New Villages SMEs in the Era of the 4th Industrial
Revolution” ensued, moderated by Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and
Science (LKC FES) academic Ts Dr Wong Whee Yen. The discussion, which
centred on the 4th Industrial Revolution, featured industry experts such as
Mr Eddie Mok, LKC FES academic Ir Dr Danny Ng Wee Kiat, Sempah T-Farm
Co-founder Mr Edwin Chin, and MG Formula's Special Advisor Mr A. F. Loke.
The insightful session explored strategies for fostering sustainable growth
among SMEs in emerging villages.
Mr Robert Ng
From left: Dr Winnie Wong, Mr Eddie
Mok, Dr Danny Ng, Mr Edwin Chin and Mr Loke
On the second day, LKC FES Centre for Artificial
Intelligence and Computing Applications Chairperson Prof Ts Dr Yau Kok Lim
explored the harmonious integration of humans and robots, shedding light on
future collaborations between man and machine. A Mandarin session delved
into the intersection of TikTok, entrepreneurship, and AI for creating
secondary income streams. The session was led by industry experts, namely
The Future Brands Sdn Bhd Director Mr Hoe Wai Khuen and Non-Executive
Director Mr Eric Lim Jing Jie.
Prof Yau talking about collaborations
between humans and robots
From left: Mr Hoe and Mr Eric Lim
In the afternoon, Prof Ts Dr Yau Kok Lim moderated an
English forum. He discussed the reshaping of business models in the 4th
Industrial Revolution, with a specific focus on Artificial Intelligence. The
invited experts were Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation
(APU / APIIT) Assoc Prof Dr Lai Nai Shyan, VSNR Partner Ms Sabrina Tan,
SanWei Consulting General Manager Mr Ricky Sio, and GoAutomate Sdn Bhd
Managing Director Mr Tan Wei Qiang.
From left: Prof Yau, Dr Lai, Ms
Sabrina Tan, Mr Ricky Sio and Mr Tan
Prof Choong said in his closing speech, “I would like
to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you for attending
and participating in this conference. We genuinely value your presence.
Organising this event has not been easy, especially after the pandemic. This
marks our first physical conference post-pandemic, while we consistently
held virtual conferences each year, uninterrupted even during the pandemic.
These virtual events provided valuable opportunities for students to learn
and engage with our industrial partners. We believe our industrial partners
have contributed significantly by providing advice, various perspectives,
and constructive feedback for our continuous improvement.”
Prof Choong delivering his speech
This conference was made possible through the
generous sponsorships of Parcel 365 Sdn Bhd, MG Formula Sdn Bhd, The Future
Brands, The Everly Group Sdn Bhd, ASK Education & Training Sdn Bhd, Public
Mutual Berhad, Prescott Ace KL-Cheras, Ascella Consulting Sdn Bhd, and Jom
Global. Additionally, the event received support from Mr Lim Yong Joo and Mr
Vincent Hoh.
The exhibition booth during the
conference
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