SEGi’s Department of Information Technology took another bold step in bridging academic rigour with industry relevance through its Project Proposal Defense 2.0 on 26 May 2025. Held in the Business Simulation Room, this second round of the academic exercise for the May–August 2025 semester brought together students, lecturers, and industry leaders for an immersive, feedback-driven experience rooted in software engineering excellence, SDG awareness, and STEM innovation.
Expanding on the momentum built in January’s inaugural session, this round featured a diverse panel of professionals including CEO Manager of Zoewebs YY Lee, KODE Digital’s Koh Beh Xian, Oracle Developer Aaron Chia Teik Hua from iSolutions, Test Engineer Lee Chong Wei from Keysight Technologies, and Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Dr Chau Kien Tsong. Their presence was more than symbolic — it demonstrated the critical need for higher education to embed real-world expectations into early student development. Through practical critiques and strategic guidance, students received insights on usability, scalability, testing protocols, and market readiness.
Proposal Defense 2.0 was more than a technical checkpoint; it was a call to action for students to design systems that address global challenges. Many of the proposed projects touched on real-world issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including digital learning platforms, healthcare support tools, and environmental monitoring solutions. These initiatives echoed the global priority of advancing education, innovation, and responsible technology adoption. The United Nations estimates that 85% of future jobs will require STEM skills, making initiatives like this vital in equipping graduates with both hard and human-centred skills.
The increased emphasis on SDG alignment added new purpose to students’ work. From improving access to education via inclusive apps, to creating software that promotes health and well-being, participants demonstrated that young tech talent can be a powerful driver for sustainable transformation. Dr Chau encouraged sustainable system design, while industry leaders pushed for innovation, enterprise-level thinking, and rigorous quality assurance — reinforcing a mindset that goes beyond grades and into global impact.
This session successfully cultivated a new wave of future-ready technologists, who can think critically, design ethically, and code with purpose. As SEGi College Penang’s students build their portfolios and professional confidence, they are also contributing to larger conversations about what kind of digital world we want to create — and how higher education can lead that charge.
This event is organised in support of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
SDG 4 – Quality Education
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
