KUCHING – Hoping for a chance to improve his presentation skills and opportunity to engage with young professionals from all around the world, Christopher Tan Aik Wei is pleased to represent the country at the IET Present Around the World Global Finals 2017/18 in London this coming November.
Present Around the World is a global competition for young professionals and students aged 18 to 30 within the field of engineering to develop and showcase their presentation skills. Organised by The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the competition requires the participants to deliver a 10-minute presentation on any engineering or technology related area with the objectives to enhance their knowledge, develop their presentation skills and increase their profile.
Tan, a final-year mechanical engineering student of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, successfully booked a ticket to the global finals after winning the Present Around the World Asia Pacific Finals 2017/18 held in Singapore recently. In this round, Tan competed with presenters from Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Myanmar.
Tan’s presentation titled ‘Inspiring research in Organic Solar Cells’ aimed to inspire research in organic solar cells by reviewing the state-of-the-art and future prospects of this technology. Tan spoked on the ease of manufacturing, transportation, installation, potential low cost and printability of organic solar cells in solar energy conversion as opposed to crystalline silicon type solar cells which is the most common and abundant type of solar cells available.
Tan commented that being an engineer in the future would require him to not only be equipped with relevant engineering skills but also communication and networking skills.
“By joining this competition, I’m able to enhance these skills as it provides me the chance to engage and exchange ideas with professionals from various countries. I look forward to visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the world and will give my best in the global finals,” said Tan, who added that he’s grateful for the guidance and assistance rendered by the staff of Swinburne, IET and IET YPS (Young Professionals Section) throughout the competition.
Meanwhile, Swinburne Sarawak’s Deputy Head of School of Engineering and advisor of Swinburne Sarawak IET On Campus Dr Chua Hong Siang commented that the university focuses on producing graduates who not only excel academically but are also equipped with valuable communication, presentation and interpersonal skills. These skills he said, are some of the deciding factors that employers look for in hiring candidates for their organisations.
Swinburne offers top-notch Australian education in foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. At the Sarawak campus, its business, design, engineering, computing and science courses are identical to those offered at the Melbourne campus and as a result, graduates are awarded the same testamur by the Australian university.
The September/October intake is now open for application for undergraduate and foundation courses respectively. For details or to apply, visit swinburne.edu.my, contact +60 82 415353 or email to study@swinburne.edu.my.