SAS Institute, renowned globally for its prowess in AI and analytics, has joined forces with The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). Together, they unveiled the triumphant innovators of the Malaysia Data Innovation Talent x DOSM Datathon 2023. This year, the theme was ‘Smart Data Empower Malaysia’s Future’.
Cultivating The Future of Data Analytics
Aimed at fostering data innovation competencies amongst the country’s universities, this momentous datathon witnessed the participation of a staggering 400 contenders, who formed 100 teams representing 19 distinguished universities. Their mission? To delve into and provide solutions for intricate issues pertinent to Malaysia, while also aligning their innovative solutions with select Sustainable Development Goals. Of these teams, ten stood out, showcasing their findings in a live pitching session. Notably, the top three projects revolved around pressing issues such as food security, income disparity, and the challenges posed by environmental pollutants.
Voices from the Leaders
Prof. Ts. Dr. Haryani Haron, Assistant Vice Chancellor, College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics (KPPIM), UiTM, highlighted the significance of such initiatives. She said, “The bi-annual datathon is in line with our UiTM 2025 Strategic Plan to proactively respond to changes, developments and current needs such as the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) and the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030. This event plays an integral part in cultivating analytics innovation and exposing our students to working on real-world data and solving current societal challenges.”
Mr. Zuraidy Zainal Abidin, Director Malaysia Statistical Training Institute, Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) shared his thoughts. He mentioned, “The need to support and develop our analytics talent pool is a core focus for us, as we look to drive Malaysia’s digital transformation and build its technological capabilities to support the Fourth Industrial Revolution mandate. We are proud of the enthusiasm and talents showcased at this datathon and we look forward to seeing more passionate skilled data scientists joining the industry.”
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Queenie Wong, Director, Customer Advisory, SAS Institute added, “According to IDC, the big data analytics market in Malaysia is expected to grow to US$1.9 billion in 2025. However, demand for data analytics continues to outstrip current supply. Being part of this datathon demonstrates our commitment to invest in analytics education, and to support Malaysia’s progress as a data-driven nation. We are impressed by the data analytical skills that the students demonstrated, going beyond technical skills to deeper critical thinking and collaboration. These skills are crucial for Malaysia’s workforce as we achieve our goals of becoming a technologically advanced economy.”
Honoring the Champions
ANNEX: The Brightest Stars of the Datathon
- 1st Prize: Team Rookie Patchers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Faculty of Science and Technology) with their project, “Food For Thought: Decoding Malaysia’s Future in Food Security.”
- 2nd Prize: Team the Guys from Asia Pacific University (School of Computing, Faculty of Computing) unveiled “A Comprehensive Analysis between Poverty and Economic Inequality, and The Factors Contributing to Economic Inequality for Informed Policy Development.”
- 3rd Prize: Team LionHearts from the University of Nottingham Malaysia (School of Mathematical Sciences) delved into “Breathing in Malaysia: An In-Depth Analysis of Pollutant Origins, Contributors & Impacts in Malaysia.”
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