More than 180 participants attended the 10th Faculty of Engineering (FOE) industry forum, which was held virtually recently. With its theme, Harnessing Digitalisation & Technology in Facing COVID-19 Pandemic, the forum aimed to showcase the challenges, risks, and ways forward as different organizations harness digitalisation and technology in facing the challenges during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The forum panelists included Sanjay Vaghasia, Chief Technology & Information Officer Ooredoo, Myanmar Ltd; Mr. Hizam Ghazali, General Manager / Head of IT Solutions & Design, Group IT & Digital, Telekom Malaysia Berhad and Mr. Abdul Karim Fakir bin Ali, Chief Network Officer (CNO), Maxis Berhad. The event was successfully moderated by Ir. Dr. Goh Vik Tor, Senior Lecturer from FOE.
The forum was jointly organised by the Industrial Linkage Committee of FOE, the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), and the MMU-IEM Student Section. The forum was opened to all students as well as the public. It was recognised as a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activity by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) for individuals seeking to gather CPD hours for the annual renewal of their professional engineering membership.
During the forum, the panelists shared how their organisations have adopted digitalisation and shape the telecommunications industry and other industries. They discussed the pervasive effect of digitalization in our everyday life and activities. The dialogue also covered how universities can groom talent to prepare for digitalisation and its legal effects. In conclusion, the forum concluded that digitalisation does not intend to substitute the workforce but instead aims to reduce inefficiency. The panelists agreed that the most pressing task ahead is to build awareness and a sense of urgency to ensure digitalisation is embraced without further delay so that Malaysia does not get left behind in the digital arena.
