PUTRAJAYA, July 18 - Continuous guidance from CEM to Hoh Jia Dia, a final-year student pursuing a Bachelor's in Software Engineering, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FSKTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), in student entrepreneurship activities since his first year of study, has driven him to be recognized as the recipient of the Putra Icon Award (API) 2023.

He successfully brought home a cash prize of RM1,000 along with a trophy.

"I express my gratitude to CEM for opening my eyes to the field of digital entrepreneurship since my first year," he said when met at the API 2023 ceremony, held at Shaftsbury Putrajaya last night.

"The continuous guidance from CEM during my four years at UPM has provided me with many opportunities to enhance the soft skills required to face the realities of the job market after graduation.

Meanwhile, Ludinata bin Misnun, Deputy Director of CEM, who was met after the award ceremony, said that CEM, through its strategic action plan, has been actively searching for talent among UPM students as early as their first year of study.

"They are given training in various entrepreneurial fields through mentor-mentee methods. After that, their talents are honed through various competitions at state and national levels to test the effectiveness of the modules provided by CEM.

"Their success in winning various awards at different levels forms the basis for their nomination in the Putra Icon Award UPM," he said.

Hoh Jia Dia, who also received the Entrepreneurial Leadership Award under the API Social Development Cluster, has previously won various competitions at different levels, including the National Youth Premier Award 2022, Johor Student Icon Award (Entrepreneurship) 2022, First Place in the Innovation Entrepreneur Competition - Ministry of Higher Education Trophy, Youth Premier Award - Gold Medal, and Second Place in the AI Challenge Malaysia Techlympics.

The Putra Icon Award (API) serves as a platform to recognize and encourage students who have demonstrated holistic and competent excellence in line with the Higher Education Development Plan (Higher Education) 2015-2025 and UPM's Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
A total of 19 awards were contested, including the Special Individual Cluster (2 Awards), Special Team Cluster (4 Awards), Volunteerism Cluster (3 Awards), Academic and Intellectual Development Cluster (3 Awards), Social Development Cluster (3 Awards), Student Leadership Cluster (3 Awards), and the main award, the Putra Icon Award 2023. - CEM

Date of Input: 24/07/2023 | Updated: 24/07/2023 | zul_mohd