MGT300

First TEDx event in Penang offers inspiring talks

30 Apr 2011

The first TEDx event in Penang, TEDxGurneyDrive, organised by the TEDx team in partnership with Wawasan Open University (WOU) was a huge success with over 150 people attending the half-day talk at the WOU main campus today. The event was held in a format similar to the popular TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) talks which originated from the United States. The TEDxGurneyDrive event featured an impressive line-up of nine speakers – among them was Matthias Gelber, the world’s greenest man, and Prof Dato’ Anwar Fazal, recipient of the Right Livelihood Award otherwise popularly known as the Alternative Nobel Prize. The other prominent speakers who took the stage were Phee Boon Poh, Penang State Environment Committee Chairman; Prof Dato’ Dr Ho Sinn Chye, WOU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic); Dato’ Boonler Somchit, CEO of Penang Skills Development Centre; Dato’ Dr Goh Ban Lee, fellow of the Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (SERI) in Penang; Neil Walter, an entrepreneur in online games; Tan Lay Seong, founder of Great Ideals; and Jazz Tan Yee Mei, founder of Penang Youths. The speakers addressed various topics such as the green revolution, e-learning and entrepreneurship, the Penang industrial sector, stories touching on the spirit of Penang, motivational insights for youths, and how to embark on one’s dreams for the future. In his talk on “To e-Learners, ‘Engagement’ is the Name of the Game”, Prof Ho said the information and communications technology is altering the traditional method of learning, and so there is a need to transform our education system to meet the changing needs of students.“The graduate or job seeker of the 21st century is expected to have the ability to find, validate, synthesise information and leverage on it, as well as the ability to communicate and collaborate as a team player to solve problems at the work place.” He called on educators to “use the Internet and various social media platforms to innovatively engage students in their studies to enrich their learning experience”. He added, “Learning, if it is going to be successful, just cannot be pushed only. It has to be pulled as well.” Prof Ho reiterated WOU’s support in promoting initiatives like these and commended the organising team of student volunteers “for bringing together the greatest minds from diverse industries and disciplines in a single event”. Earlier in his opening remarks, TEDx project director Teh Teng Yew, 23, a University of Hertfordshire student, said that the idea to organise TEDxGurneyDrive was to provide a platform for Penangites and international personalities to share their ideas and insights to inspire collaboration, innovation and creativity in various fields. The TEDxGurneyDrive team comprises of 11 student leaders aged 16 to 23 years currently pursuing their education in and around Penang. The event is supported by Wawasan Open University.