Keep abreast with latest technologies or be left behind, urges exco man

YOUNG ones need to be equipped with the necessary knowledge in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields so that they are able to adapt themselves in the digital era.

State Domestic and International Trade, Consumer Affairs and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain said this during his opening speech at the MoU signing ceremony between Tech Dome Penang, Ubtech Robotics Ltd and Fame International Mobile Technology Sdn Bhd.

The objective of the partnership is to develop and deploy robotics education programmes for schools and public.

“We need talents, so we have to start them from young so they would be able to fit into this era of digital technology.

“In 2016 only 90,000 students sat for Science subjects in SPM (Malaysian Certificate Exam), this is ‘devastating’ as the number of students opting for Science stream is decreasing. We are in the era of digital technology but we do not have our youngsters ready for it.

“Not less than eight years ago, the state government had already taken the step to stir interest in the sciences through its STEM initiatives,” he said.

Halim highlighted the importance of schools and the state Education Department to work together with the state government regarding this.

“That is why we have representatives from schools and the Penang Education Department here, to work with state government on all these digital initiatives.

“All organisations, let it be government or private, must embrace the new technologies, if not they will lag behind and business will suffer losses,” Halim added.

(from left) Robots : Yanshee, Jimmu, and Alpha

To start off the partnership in a fruitful manner, the Robomania 2019 will be held on June 14 and 15 at the Tech Dome Penang.

“I think even now many are not still aware of Articial Intelligence or Big Data. So, we have to educate the public on this.

“This is the part of the road map in transforming Penang into a digital state,” said Halim, who also contributed RM50,000 for the Robomania programme.

What makes this Robomania programme so special is that the participants can take back home RM1,000 worth of Ubtech’s robot – Jimmu (only for early bird registration with a fee of RM350).

For further information check out the website http://www.techdomepenang.org/robomania2019

 

Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis