THE EXHIBITION: President of UCSI-MINDS student chapter, Ee Kai Shen, explaining about some exhibitions to the founder of MINDS, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Augustine Ong and UCSI’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Senior Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff.

THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH: Tan Sri Datuk Dr Augustine Ong and Senior Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff accompanied on stage by the Advisor of UCSI-MINDS Student Chapter, Dr Tan Teng Hwang (most left) and President of UCSI-MINDS, Ee Kai Shen (most right) during the l

SHARING SESSION: During the ‘Innovation and Design in Malaysia’ sharing session, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Augustine Ong, and Senior Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff spoke about MINDS and their expectations for the UCSI-MINDS Student Chapter.

GROUP PHOTO: Executive committee members of UCSI-MINDS, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ong and Senior Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff joined by (from left) Advisor UCSI-MINDS Student Chapter, Eng Asst Prof Dr Liau Vui Kien, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Quality Assurance and E

KUALA LUMPUR: UCSI University (UCSI) has recently organised the UCSI-MINDS Installation & Induction Ceremony – to officially launch the UCSI University MINDS Student Chapter (UCSI-MINDS). 

The ceremony was officiated by the founder of MINDS (Malaysian Invention and Design Society), Academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Datuk Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock. It was also attended by UCSI’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Senior Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff. 

The event featured a sharing session titled ‘Innovation and Design in Malaysia’ by Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ong, and Senior Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid. During the session, they also spoke about MINDS and their expectations for the UCSI-MINDS Student Chapter. 

A man with scores of experience, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ong affirmed that in the area of knowledge discovery, both experience and new ideas are mutually beneficial. 

“In this conducive environment, which the university members have created, my expectation for UCSI-MINDS is that there will be productive interactions between the experienced and the young minds,” he said. 

He added that students can learn from professional members of MINDS because, “It is only through interactions with the experts that you will be bolder as you will be equipped with the guidance and skills that you need to execute your ideas.” 

Sharing his experience in founding MINDS, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ong also pointed out that Malaysians have created notable inventions such as the world’s first single chip USB flash drive by Phua Khein Seng. He added that although Malaysia is a developing country, the Malaysian mind is capable of providing innovative solutions to problems at all levels of society. 

The importance of hard work was something that was emphasised by Senior Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid. 

“To generate change and excellence and to provide solutions for society, one has to have a prepared mind, which requires a lot of hard work. There is no alternative to hard work.” 

He added that he has no doubt that the UCSI-MINDS student members would be inspired to bring change in the world, with motivation and guidance from MINDS. 

Established in 1987, MINDS is the largest body in Malaysia representing individuals, universities and companies that pursue excellence in invention, creativity, innovation, research and development, and industrial design. It is also designed to assist scientists and technologists to develop their ideas into inventions, and to commercialise the innovations. Among its patrons is Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad – former prime minister of Malaysia. 

The UCSI-MINDS chapter was formed to promote the spirit of invention and design thinking among university students through events focusing on design, intellectual property (IP), and patenting. As a start, executive committee members of UCSI-MINDS will also be involved as volunteers for the 26th International Invention & Innovation Exhibition (26th ITEX) scheduled from the 21st to the 23rd of May, 2015. 

ITEX is Asia’s leading invention exhibition annually organised by MINDS that provides valuable exposure to new inventions and paves the way for their commercialisation. 

The event also featured a mini exhibition on inventions by companies such as; Exabytes, Sirim, Dreamcatcher Keysight, and Rapid Model. 

Amongst other guests were Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Quality Assurance and Enhancement and Vice-President of Group Human Resource, Assoc Prof Dr Toh Kian Kok; Vice-President of Student Affairs & Alumni (SAA), Mr Koh Swee Hyong; Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment (FETBE), Ir. Assoc Prof Dr Jimmy Mok Vee Hoong; and the Advisor UCSI-MINDS Student Chapter, Dr Tan Teng Hwang.