PRESTIGE: BRIDGING ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE AND ENERGY INDUSTRY

KUCHING, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Gas Association (MGA) annual Program on Energy Sustainability & Transition and Insights to Graduate Engineers (PRESTIGE) 2024, which runs from Nov 15 to 17, aims to bridge academic knowledge with the energy industry.

The programme saw MGA host 50 university students from all over Borneo.

MGA secretary general Khairulanwar Zakaria said that through the programme, students are given a golden opportunity to gain unique exposure and network directly with some of the most experienced professionals in the gas and energy industry.

“We have worked to get the universities to send their best students to this programme so that we can provide exposure and share knowledge related to the gas industry with them.

“Under PRESTIGE, we also offer exposure to current topics such as energy transition, and at the same time, we help students prepare for life after graduation and for entering the real world,” he said during the PRESTIGE 2024 networking dinner here yesterday.

Khairulanwar said that over the three-day programme, MGA has put together a packed schedule with insights, hands-on experiences, and direct interactions with some of the biggest names in the gas and energy industry.

“We also organised technical visits to Sarawak Metro to see the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), which includes their hydrogen-based transportation system. This is new, and we believe it will grow significantly in the future.

“We also arranged a sharing session with professionals from the gas industry and speakers from the Ministry of Economy to discuss energy transition. Additionally, we will have a panel session on what students need to prepare for their job interviews and curriculum vitae (resume),” he added.

Speaking at the networking dinner, Sarawak Energy's executive vice president for project delivery, Pramod Kumar Karunakaran said that the energy landscape students are stepping into is dynamic, rapidly evolving, and challenging.

He explained that employers in the energy sector, whether in natural gas or renewable energy, are looking for the next generation of talent who are innovative, adaptable, and resilient.

“You will need to bring fresh perspectives and a readiness to address challenges, whether it is managing the complexities of the energy transition, addressing the impacts of climate change, or developing and harnessing technologies that will make our energy systems more efficient and sustainable.

“As you prepare to enter this industry, think not only about the technical skills you need but also the mindset and soft skills required to sustain and thrive,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cabrera Jerin Rantai, 19, one of the participants in the programme from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak, said PRESTIGE has sparked her motivation to learn more about the gas industry.

“To become a better engineer in the future, we need to have good networking skills. From here (PRESTIGE), we can learn these skills to network effectively and showcase our potential,” she said.

Cornellius Donny Presley, 23, from University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), said PRESTIGE has allowed him to gain experience, especially for his future career growth.

“Apart from that, it also provided a good networking opportunity, meeting new students, and connecting with professional engineers.

“These types of activities give me a boost to kickstart my career in electrical engineering and also to be part of a big company,” he added.

-- BERNAMA