GET REAL V2.0 Providing Industry Insights for SDS Students

It is not easy to get four young and driven individuals to come together to inspire students with their passions. Recently, Sunway Diploma Studies (SDS) has proved yet again that it is possible to bridge the divide between educational theory and industry practice, by hosting GET REAL V2.0. With the aim to provide avenues for students and staff regarding practical industry insights, the event witnessed a participation turnover exceeding 260 attendees.

The external panellists came from four different industries namely: Aviation, Advertising (Creative Content for Automotive), Gaming and Animation, as well as Banking and Finance. The insightful gathering at the Jeffrey Cheah Hall, JC3 was even more interactive and engaging as there were Question and Answer (Q&A) session by the newly elected SDS Student Council members, followed by a brief quiz.

It is noteworthy that one of the panellists is Victoria University, Sunway College’s alumni, Kimberley Mah. She is a Manager of Business Development, Financing and Sustainability at HSBC Amanah. She shared briefly on what she does in finance and how she has been advocating Diversity and Inclusion, professionally and personally. The event also featured S. Dhanendran, who has 21 years of experience in the Aviation Industry and the Founder of 8FOXTROT. He disclosed how he went through a retrenchment and persevered to seize the opportunity of entering an untapped market for repurposing aeroplane parts.

The third speaker was Chandra Kumar, a co-founder of a content creator and video production company called FIVE55 Production; specializing in automotive industry. He shared more on the managerial side, especially having to work alongside his business partner, who is his long-time college mate. While the last speaker was Adri Ahmad, who is a Digital Content Producer at Lemon Sky Studios and had led multiple projects under the Animation and Gaming Industry. He expressed the transition between having a technical Information Technology background to requiring a more functional role of working creatively with various departments.

Entering its second year, GET REAL V2.0 has proven to be beneficial for students across various programmes at SDS. The event not only prepares them for the real world but also exposes them to the experiences of others, particularly in the four industries discussed. This commendable effort is welcomed and encouraged for implementation across the department, ensuring more of our students are well-equipped and industry ready.