The Covid-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on the way we look at things, whether its business, socialising and communication, or the process of learning.
But after six months of the crisis, how are we coping? Where have the difficulties been and how have people dealt with them?
Well, the QIU Biotech Club and the Technological Association Malaysia (TAM) Perak attempted to find out during the second talk in their webinar series yesterday.
Titled ‘Challenges of the New Norm in Education and Industry During the Covid-19 Pandemic’, the webinar brought together distinguished minds from the academic and industrial world to break down the issue.
The webinar was officiated by TAM Perak immediate past chairman Ts. Steven Shum Wai Koon, while the speakers included Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) senior lecturer Dr Ho Yeek Chia, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) assistant professor Dr Shalini Sanmargaraja and Ar. Ong Chin Hoong, a registered architect under the Board of Architects Malaysia.
Dr Ho, who has more than 12 years of experience in academia and industry, got the ball rolling by dissecting the shift from traditional education to flipped virtual classrooms.
She also presented case studies of how educators had innovated since the pandemic, noting that crises can produce opportunities.
Next, UTAR’s Dr Shalini explored online education, delving into its challenges, advantages, and whether Malaysia is ready for this evolution.
While traditional thinking holds strong to the belief that the school-based approach is best, Dr Shalini noted that the government had to encourage the online approach to education, especially since Malaysia had built up good IT resources.
The day’s final speaker Ar. Ong then spoke on the challenges in the architecture industry, covering topics like the work from home culture, the ability of architect practices to sustain during the MCO and the legislation that allowed flexibility for them to do so.
Moderated by QIU Biotech Club treasurer Meishiny Pari, the talk was engaging and interactive, with several students placing questions to the speakers.
Thank you and kudos to the TAM, the Biotech Club and the fantastic speakers for putting on another successful talk!
