Ms. Meera Eeswaran provided an early introduction to Fintech.
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), through its DIGITGAL initiative, recently hosted an inspiring series of workshops for 200 Girl Guide students from 34 Selangor schools, including 21 from the Hulu Langat district. The workshops, held at APU’s state-of-the-art campus in Kuala Lumpur, aimed to foster technology and financial literacy among the young participants as part of DIGITGAL’s mission to empower and support female students in pursuing careers in technology, games, animation, and leadership.The programme, divided into three sessions on 4th and 18th November, and 9th December 2023, covered a wide range of modern skills and knowledge areas. APU lecturers from the School of Computing (SoC), School of Technology (SoT), School of Engineering (SoE), and School of Accounting & Finance (SoAF) led the workshops, providing students with hands-on experiences and valuable insights.
The Programming Workshop, led by Head of SoC Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Tan Chin Ike and Dr. Masrina Akmal Salleh,took students through the evolution of programming, focusing on creating flowcharts, writing pseudocode, and developing animated projects in Scratch. The Computer Workshop, conducted by Dr. Nurul Farhaini Razali, Mr. Joshua Samuel, and Ts. Umapathy Eaganathan, taught students how to utilize social media, email, and other digital platforms safely, as well as how to use MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint effectively.
Robotic Workshop allows students to build prototype robots meant to solve real-world problems.
In the Robotic Workshop, Ts. Suresh Gobee, Academic Head of Asia Pacific Centre of Robotics Engineering (APCORE), guided studentsin constructing prototype robots designed to address real-world challenges. The Fintech Workshop, led by Head of SoAF Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chong Lee Lee and her team, introduced students to the world of cryptocurrency, digital currencies, and blockchain technology.
Early exposure to AI resulted in the emergence of a digitally literate generation.
A special session on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Workshop, conducted by Mr. Fahd Raza, opened doors to platforms like DALL-E, Chat-GPT, and Picstory, teaching students how to craft stories using AI-generated images and discover how AI can simplify their lives and boost creativity.
The workshops also featured a valuable sharing session by Ms. Kirtana Kaur Gill, a former Girl Guide and current APU Foundation student, who delivered insights and experiences as the previous president of the SMK Seri Hartamas Girl Guide unit.
As the workshop series concluded, Prof. Dr. Angelina Yee, Director (Research & Enterprise), left the girls with inspiring words, encouraging them to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and to dedicate themselves to lifelong learning.
APU’s DIGITGAL initiative, through this workshop series, not only focused on tech and finance but also aimed to break down barriers, empower young minds, and address the gender gap in STEM fields. By equipping these future leaders with essential skills for a digital world, DIGITGAL is paving the way for a brighter, more innovative tomorrow, aligning with its mission to increase the representation of women in technology, games, animation, and leadership.
