Here’s what happened during the Semester Break Programme – Huawei CSIC visit

Semester Break Programme students explored the company’s fascinating technologies in a recent visit.

I’m interested to know about Huawei’s technology and how (the operations side) connects with the technology

For Scott Loh, 24, who is studying Aerospace and Aviation at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), the SBP visit was a rare opportunity to see how the technology firm operates.

“I’m interested to know about Huawei’s technology and how (the operations side) connects with the technology,” said Loh, who drove three hours from Ipoh just to attend the tour. He was especially interested in Huawei’s “smart city” and even go to learn about aerospace technologies like “onboard WIFI”.

Maizal Zizhharani, 20, agreed, saying that he signed up with the SBP visit immediately as he realised it will be an eye-opening event. 

“It’s a No.1 smartphone maker and to be able to see how the customer service and innovation side of the company works is a rare opportunity,” he said.

You do not carry value by your certificates – you carry value by your capability

The value of fresh talent

After the tour, the participants had the chance to speak with Huawei Talent Acquisition Specialist Derrick Gan who shared insights into the ICT industry, Huawei’s work culture and values. 

“You do not carry value by your certificates – you carry value by your capability,” said Gan.

During this session, Teh Jia Qi, 22, spoke about what she learned from the tour, saying that she’s in awe of China’s quick progress and that Malaysia needs to catch up.

“We need to recognise that students need to change also. We need to find the various ways we can empower our society,” said the Logistics and Supply student from Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

SBP students also got to find out about internship opportunities at Huawei

Fresh graduates are creative and have more ideas. We need such ‘flexible’ talent in Huawei

When asked why Huawei valued fresh graduates, Huawei’s Public Relations Senior Director Simon Ng replied: “Fresh graduates are creative and have more ideas. We need such ‘flexible’ talent in Huawei. Also, the ICT industry needs more talent.” 

This desire to nurture talent and develop the ICT industry is why Huawei Malaysia has a flagship CSR project called Huawei Seeds for Malaysia, which sends Malaysian students on a two-week study tour by giving them first-hand working experience in Beijing and Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen.

The day ended with TalentCorp’s Acting Head for Graduate & Emerging Talent (GET) Nazrul Aziz exhorting SBP participants to absorb the knowledge they’ve learned, whether from their universities or from their workplaces locally or globally, and to contribute their skills to build Malaysia.

“We want our talent to have a global mind and a local soul,” said Nazrul.