The 12 UOW Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) students started the year 2023 with a study visit to Penang, Malaysia, as part of the UOW EMBA program's field trips. The purpose of the trip was to provide the students with a first-hand understanding of the various industries operating in Penang and an opportunity to engage with senior executives and managers.
The UOW EMBA group included Aidan Matthews, Kate Kernaghan, Michael Brady, Alex Nadeau, Neranje Dunuwille, Jane Li, Chadi Boustani, Michael Bernardi, Steven Lee, Simon Thomas, Paul Webster and Bharath Venkataraman.
Led by Professor Paul J. Gollan, the students had a comprehensive itinerary that included visits to several organizations in Penang, such as a Waste Transfer Station at Batu Maung, Easy Parcel at Bayan Baru, UWC Berhad at Batu Kawan, Dell Asia Pacific Customer Centre 2 at Bukit Tengah, and Clarivate Global Business Center at Penang Free Trade Zone.
Additionally, the students visited Georgetown World Heritage Incorporated, as Georgetown, Penang, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The visit began with a warm welcome from the Penang UC's Batu Kawan campus team, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yeap Gik Hong, Head of School - Engineering, Computing & Built Environment, and the local MBA students at the Batu Kawan campus. The students then proceeded to the Waste Transfer Station at Batu Maung, which acts as a hub for local waste collection routes. The key highlight of the visit was the CEO Roundtable, which was moderated by Dr. Khoh Soo Beng, Co-founder and Director of PMO Innovations and Adjunct Professor with UOW Malaysia KDU Penang UC.
The session was attended by four influential industry leaders, including Dr. Matin Ng Chin Liang, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of UWC Berhad, Dato’ SN Lee, Vice President of Flex Technologies, Mr. Leonard Tan, Director, Client BIOS RTS Development of Dell Technologies, and Mr. Clarence Leong, Founder and CEO of EasyParcel Sdn Bhd.
During the CEO Roundtable, the executives shared their leadership insights, experiences, and advice on how to thrive in the Malaysian multicultural society. The visit also provided the students with insights into the issues and challenges faced by Malaysian companies and their Australian counterparts, such as talent acquisition and compliance with environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) requirements.
From left: Dr. Khoh Soo Beng, Dr. Matin Ng Chin Liang, Dato’ SN Lee, Leonard Tan and Clarence Leong sharing their thoughts on leadership and business with the EMBA students during the CEO Roundtable session.
The students then had the chance to visit each of the companies represented at the CEO Roundtable, starting with the visit to EasyParcel Sdn Bhd's office in Bayan Baru that handles delivery from multiple established courier companies in Malaysia, followed by a session at UWC Berhad, one of the biggest sheet metal fabrication manufacturers in the northern region of Malaysia at Batu Kawan.
The visit to EasyParcel in Bayan Baru, Penang.
Their visit continued with a stop at the Dell Asia Pacific Customer Centre 2 at Bukit Tengah, which provided an insight into the application of software in the industry and an exposure to Agile Software Engineering practices and software testing.
A warm welcome by the Dell Asia Pacific Customer Centre 2 at Bukit Tengah, Penang.
A representative from Clarivate Global Business Centre explaining Clarivate’s business and operations.
The entourage then moved to an enlightening session at Clarivate Global Business Center, a multinational company at Penang Free Trade Zone, to learn more about helping customers discover, protect, and commercialize their inventions using trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise.
The trip concluded with an invaluable visit to the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) for an insight into sustainable initiatives by the Penang State Government in conserving and promoting the cultural heritage of George Town City.
The group also had the chance to walk through the stunning colonial streets of George Town to have a first-hand experience of its history and culture.
The visit to George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
