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Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) launched the annual student conference, Watt Malaysia Exhibition and Conference 2024 (WattMEC 2024), on 17 April 2024. The theme, “Igniting Digital Innovation & Collaborative Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” gathered students and industry partners to learn, network, and share knowledge throughout the two-day conference.
WattMEC started in 2019 as an annual conference for engineering students. Its idea is to provide a global platform for them to engage with people from various industries and backgrounds under one roof. Its purpose is to cultivate the spirit of knowledge sharing at a global scale, which is unachievable for traditional in-class oral presentations. The two-day conference will allow students to build relationships, network, and explore opportunities for collaboration with industry players.
WattMEC is organised by our School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS), focusing on our engineering programmes. This conference featured a series of presentations that focused on three areas of engineering: mechanical, chemical, electrical, and civil engineering. This year’s conference also featured a keynote session by an industry expert, Ir. Dr. Tiagrajah V. Janahiraman, the Chief Technology Officer of Aerodyne Group. Aerodyne Group specialises in drone technology, data platforms and digital transformation and has been ranked as number one in the Global Drone Service Provider Ranking by Drone Industry Insights, Germany, for three consecutive years: 2023, 2022 and 2021.
When asked about his thoughts about this year’s WattMEC theme, Dr Tiagrajah said, “Digital innovation sparks new business opportunities, enhances operational workflow and reformulates customer experience. With the growth of AI and machine learning, business organisations can learn from previous data, identify critical patterns, eliminate repetitive tasks and solve complex problems. Consequently, products and services delivered to customers can be improved, which may reflect the increment in productivity and yield. For a sustainable future, driving innovation is crucial for attaining great achievements.”
As a purpose-driven, values-led global university, this event reflects our commitment to fostering a learning environment that not only equips students with technical skills but also nurtures their holistic development through social and environmental responsibility alongside skills that are highly sought after by employers.