Sunway University College and Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad proudly present the first ever Sunway Apprentice Challenge (SAC), an especially competitive four-month programme designed by the educational leader in partnership with the established bank. SAC aims to identify Sunway students of outstanding caliber and prepare them for the competitive business world by challenging them with real life business tasks.
The two competing teams, comprising of five students from undergraduate programmes (Team Fuxion) and five from pre university programmes (Team Edge), were selected from a preliminary round earlier.
Team Fuxion during the Challenge presentation
In the first challenge, Team Fuxion and Team Edge had to research and create a feisty proposal for Sunway University College’s Student Services Department (SSD) making the department relevant and practical to the University College’s students.
“We were thoroughly impressed by their commitment to the task as they sought out various departmental heads in the University to get feedback and advice” shared Elisa Dass, SAC judge and Assistant Manager, PRePARE Career Services & Alumni Office of Sunway University College.
Team Fuxion were able to woo the judges with their level persistence and extensive research to develop a realistic business proposal ready to be executed, securing their first win in the SAC. Their reward – a cozy, private dinner with Joel Neoh, winner of ‘The Firm’ NTV 7 apprenticeship TV programme, at the exclusive Avanti Italian-American Ristorante at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa.
Team Fuxion relished the opportunity to meet Joel, as the budding new entrepreneur shares his own experiences and thoughts on establishing himself as a serious entrepreneur. Team members were eager to learn from Joel his struggles, challenges and ways to overcome the very real obstacles in the business world today and the winning team were deeply appreciative of his invaluable insights and advice.
“The Sunway Apprenticeship Challenge provides a creative platform for students to showcase their best talents that may not have been displayed before in the standard academic setting. The programme will be sure to give these students an invaluable slice of what is awaiting them in the business world,” shared Joel.
The evening was further filled with pleasant chatter between Joel and the winning team members as they thoroughly enjoyed their fine-dining and discussing topics from the progress of education, evolving business world to the appreciation of time in the youth today.
“We really appreciate this SAC programme that Sunway University College and Alliance Bank has initiated for our benefit. It’s a creative programme that’s more that just textbook-learning and our experiences gained will certainly be an asset when we meet the real world upon graduation,” shared Khor Jia Na (22), a member of Team Fuxion and currently pursuing the “3+0” Victoria University Bachelor of Business at Sunway.
For winning the first challenge, Team Fuxion was awarded with a cozy dinner with Joel Neoh, winner of The Firm, and the SAC organisers. (L-R) Paul Ngu, Khor Jia Na, Lee Siok Ping, Joel Neoh, Tang Wai Hoe, Rebecca Ng, Elisa Dass and Muhammad Faisal.
Making up the rest of the team are Paul Ngu (21) from the American Degree Transfer Programme, Rebecca Ng (19), Muhamad Faisal (21), an international student from Pakistan, and Tang Wai Hoe (25) from the ACCA programme.
“SAC is part of Sunway’s effort to meet the needs of the student community as well as the business world by grooming future leaders in solving problems and creating strategies for future growth and sustainability,” Elisa added “The challenges that the participants are undertaking encourages an entrepreneurial mind-set and approach.”
“It was very important that we be a part of this programme as we are in constant need of capable young minds which can be developed into tomorrow’s business leaders, sales professionals, master technicians and a whole host of career opportunities. The Sunway Apprenticeship programme gives us the chance to celebrate such apprentices as they are our future,” said Datuk Bridget Lai, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank.
The teams will compete against each other in two more challenges before SAC wraps up in September. The winning team members will be awarded cash prizes, accredited certificates, letter of recommendations as well as other coveted rewards.
Leave a Response