UTAR x AMD Day 2026: Building Future Talent

Group photo of students and staff from UTAR and AMD

UTAR Sungai Long Campus hosted AMD Day 2026, themed Building Future Talent, on 8 July 2026, drawing close to 200 students for a full afternoon of engagement with one of the world’s leading semiconductor companies.

The event opened with welcome speeches by Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science Dean Ir Prof Dr Chang Yoong Choon and AMD Director, Silicon Design Engineering, AMD Global Services Malaysia, Mr Lai Thiam Hee, followed by a souvenir exchange and group photo session.

In his speech, Dr Chang noted that events like AMD Day are important because they connect the classroom with industry across both engineering and finance. “The semiconductor industry is changing rapidly, and it requires talent across the electrical and electronics fields. Theories taught in the classroom are essential, but it is events like this that bridge the gap between industry and academia. I hope our students will make the most of this opportunity to gain exposure to real-world challenges, use it to challenge their own understanding, and explore further,” he said.

Mr Lai, in his address, spoke about AMD’s growing partnership with UTAR and offered words of encouragement to the students. “AMD is proud to support UTAR, a partnership further strengthened through the memorandum of understanding we recently signed with the university. To the students here today, my advice is simple: be curious, and never be afraid to ask questions. Nothing is impossible until someone decides to do it. Graduation is not the end of your learning journey; it is just the beginning, the point where you start applying what you have learnt to real-world challenges. Learning is a lifelong journey,” he said.

Mr Lai then gave students an overview of AMD, before Ms Murni Lata from AMD presented a business unit introduction focusing on finance, giving students insight into the diverse career pathways available within the company beyond engineering and technical roles.

The afternoon continued with a session on interview techniques and career opportunities at AMD, presented by Mr Daniel Wong, offering students practical tips on preparing for job interviews and navigating the recruitment process. After a short break, students took part in the AMD Technical Sharing & Activities session, a hands-on segment that gave them a closer look at the company’s technology and engineering work, before the event concluded with closing remarks.

AMD Day 2026 reflects UTAR’s ongoing efforts to connect students with industry leaders, providing them with valuable exposure to career opportunities and the technical expertise driving the semiconductor industry today.

AMD booth

Mr Daniel Wong (left) and Ms Murni Lata (right) sharing their knowledge

Prof Chang (left) and Mr Lai (right) exchanging tokens of appreciation

AMD technical sharing session