KUCHING: The Malaysian Gas Association (MGA) annual Program on Energy Sustainability and Transition and Insights to Graduate Engineers (PRESTIGE) 2024, which runs from Nov 15 to 17, aims to bridge academic knowledge with the energy industry. The programme saw MGA host 50 university students from all over Borneo.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MGA secretary general Khairulanwar Zakaria stated that through the programme, students are given a golden opportunity to gain unique exposure and network directly with some of the most experienced professionals in the gas and energy industry. “We have worked to get the universities to send their best students to this programme so that we can provide exposure and share knowledge related to the gas industry with them,” said Zakaria during the PRESTIGE 2024 networking dinner.
Khairulanwar highlighted that over the three-day programme, MGA has put together a packed schedule with insights, hands-on experiences, and direct interactions with some of the biggest names in th
e gas and energy industry. Special activities included technical visits to Sarawak Metro to see the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) and a sharing session with professionals from the gas industry and speakers from the Ministry of Economy to discuss energy transition.
Speaking at the networking dinner, Sarawak Energy’s executive vice president for project delivery, Pramod Kumar Karunakaran, remarked on the dynamic and evolving energy landscape. He emphasized the need for students to bring fresh perspectives and readiness to address challenges such as managing the complexities of energy transition and addressing the impacts of climate change.
Participants like Cabrera Jerin Rantai from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak, expressed that PRESTIGE sparked her motivation to learn more about the gas industry, highlighting the importance of good networking skills. Cornellius Donny Presley from University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) said that the programme provided valuable experience and networking
opportunities, which are crucial for his future career in electrical engineering.