PRESS CONFERENCE - CHEQUE HANDOVER CEREMONY FOR DIGITECH PROGRAMME
SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW
THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
PRESS CONFERENCE - CHEQUE HANDOVER CEREMONY FOR DIGITECH PROGRAMME
27TH APRIL 2023
YB Prof. Dr. Ramasamy a/l Palanisamy
Deputy Chief Minister (II) of Penang & Chairman of Penang STEM
Mr. Naraindrran Loganathan
Regional Senior Program Manager of Bentley Systems
Mr. Richard Chung
General Manager of Penang STEM
Mr. Johnny Ong
General Manager of Penang Math Platform (PMP)
Mr. Howie Chang
Founder & CEO of Forward School
Mr. William Khoo
CEO of Tech Dome Penang
Principals of selected schools,
Distinguished guests,
Members of the press,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning and thank you all for joining us today.
Penang, as many of us are aware, has been promoting STEM education for many years now. It is a key component of our state’s Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
Our various STEM centres, including the Penang Skill Development Centre (PSDC), Tech Dome Penang, Penang Science Cluster, Penang Math Platform, and the Penang Digital Library, have been highly instrumental and successful in their own ways in promoting STEM learning for both primary and secondary students in our state. In fact, Penang is the pioneer state in Malaysia that has a comprehensive STEM ecosystem, which leads the way in STEM education for our youth.
Today, I am delighted and wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Bentley Education for their generous sponsorship of the pilot DIGITECH Programme, which aims to enhance STEM education among 10 schools with approximately 250-300 students in Penang. This collaboration is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to provide quality STEM education and foster innovation among our youth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we look towards the future of Penang based on our Penang2030 vision, we are poised to embark on several major infrastructure projects, including the expansion of our airport, the proposed Penang South Islands project, the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) rail system, and many more. These projects are set to transform our state and propel us towards becoming a leading hub of economic and technological progress in the country and region.
However, we recognize that the success of these ambitious endeavours depends on our ability to nurture a STEM-skilled workforce that is well-equipped to tackle the challenges of the future, including the United Nation’s 12 Sustainable Development Goals.
This is where Bentley's support has proven invaluable. Bentley has helped us in bridging the gap between academia and industry by sponsoring the infrastructure learning course as part of our STEM initiative, giving our students the practical skills and real-world experiences that will prepare them for the demands of the modern workforce.
The initial Design-Engineer-Construct programme, which Bentley Education sponsored for our lower secondary students last year, was a resounding success. About 50 students gained valuable insights into 3D design and construction of buildings. This year, Bentley Education has once again agreed to sponsor this programme, which will cover 7 schools and about 150 students.
Furthermore, Bentley Education is taking their support and collaboration with Penang Math Platform (PMP) to a higher level by sponsoring a customized programme, DIGITECH, for upper secondary students before they embark on their future careers.
The programme will allow students to work with state-of-the-art software and tools, learn from industry experts, and engage in hands-on projects that simulate real-world scenarios. This will enhance their technical abilities, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills – which are qualities that are crucial for success in any professional setting.
I understand that if this pilot programme is successful, Bentley intends to take it nationwide and even regionally based on the model in Penang. I am glad that, once again, Penang will lead the way in inspiring the nation!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Penang State Government, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Bentley Education for their unwavering commitment to education and their invaluable support in our efforts to prepare our students for the future. Your sponsorship has not only provided financial assistance but has also served as a source of motivation for our students to strive for excellence and pursue their dreams.
I would also like to register my appreciation to Forward School as the training partner working with PMP and Bentley Education, as well as our state education department (JPNPP) and the schools involved, for endorsing and supporting this critical programme for our talent of tomorrow.
As we continue to work towards realizing our vision of a prosperous and sustainable future for Penang, I am confident that our partnership with Bentley Education will continue to thrive. Together, we will nurture a generation of young minds who are well-prepared to lead our state and contribute to its growth and development.
Having said that, I eagerly await the fruitful outcome of the DIGITECH Programme, and I wish Bentley Education every success.
Thank you.