Reported by Ir. Lee Choo Yong.
21.04.2016 – Ir. Prof. Academician Dato’ Dr. Chuah Hean Teik conducted an InspireMe Talk for IEM eETD members at the Penang Science Cluster.
It was a sunny day on 21.04.2016 in Penang, electronic engineering technical division (eETD) organized InspireMe talk by Prof. Chuah Hean Teik, President of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Penang Science Cluster @ Heritage (PSC), Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, Georgetown, Penang. Before the talk, eETD committee members have fellowship lunch with Prof. Chuah at Hai Nan Town Restaurant, Weld Quay for knowing each other and interaction since eETD is the only technical division established outside IEM headquarter.
The talk entitled “My career as an Engineer and Educator – a Malaysian Experience” was attended by around 50 participants consisting of IEM members from Penang branch, members of PSC, college and high school students. The talk started at 2:10pm after networking session, eETD chairman Dr. Leow Cheah Wei gave welcoming speech to the floor, introduced eETD, objective of InspireMe talk and motivated students to consider taking up engineering course and then join IEM upon graduation. Subsequently, CEO of PSC Mr. Ooi Peng Ee introduced PSC and also invited engineers to become mentor for various activities organized by PSC to inspire interest in engineering among students.
InspireMe talk is a series of talk in which prominent technical leaders in electronic and electrical industry are invited to share their experience and inspire students to pursue engineering study and young engineers to develop their career in engineering. Previous InspireMe speakers are:-
- Dato’ Simon Wong, former vice president of Dell Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd.
- Dr. Hari Narayanan, managing director of Motorola Solutions Sdn. Bhd.
- Mr. Chu Jenn Weng, CEO of ViTrox Group
- Mr. Kit Yong, R&D director of National Instrument
Prof. Chuah shared his humble journey towards engineering educator started from Hu Yew Seah Primary School and Chung Ling High School (钟灵中学) in Penang and then continued his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Prof. Chuah also shared that his interest is teaching, meanwhile he also developed interest in physics inspired by high school physics teacher, finally, Prof. Chuah made up his mind to become an engineer and also educator at the same time. Therefore, becoming lecturer in engineering is the best combination in which Prof. Chuah started his engineering teaching and research career from Universiti Malaya. Prof. Chuah told the floor as 100% Malaysia trained engineer, he is on par with the overseas trained peers for example publish research findings in international journals and conferences. Prof. Chuah shared his career path from lecturer to associate professor in department of electrical engineering, Universiti Malaya, subsequently as professor to senior professor in Multimedia University in various leadership capacities such as dean of engineering, director of research and vice president responsible for academic and R&D, and then president and senior professor of UTAR since March 2008.
Prof. Chuah also touched about three “IC”s which are important for successful engineering career, they are integrity and competence, integration and communications, internationalization and cooperation. Prof. Chuah also highlighted challenges we are facing today such as inequality of wealth distribution, availability of clean water, inequality of food distribution, increasing energy consumption and global warming and climate change. Prof. Chuah emphasized on importance of education which plays key role as source of human capital, uplifting of poverty, catalyst of change and innovation, and driver of economic growth. Engineers, scientists and technologist play important role in supporting industry and contribute towards economic growth. Prof. Chuah pointed out that declining trend of science student population has reached the worrying situation and urged committee members to organize talks in primary and secondary schools to motivate students to choose for science stream, otherwise, our nation will short of science and technology human capital to sustain the development in future.
Prof. Chuah concluded his talk with story of cocoon and butterfly. The key message of the story is that struggle is part of growth experience. After that, there was Q&A session in which fellow engineers and students interacted with Prof. Chuah on topics related to the talk, it was indeed a fruitful discussion where students have learned more about engineering career. At the end of the talk, eETD chairman Dr. Leow presented souvenir and certificate of appreciation to Prof. Chuah accompanied by PSC CEO Mr. Ooi. After the talk, refreshment was served at PSC cafe and followed by visit to PSC workshop and exhibition hall guided by PSC staffs.