KUCHING: A total of 100 are estimated to participate in the first International Conference on Computer and Drone Applications 2017 from 9 to 11 November this year.
Organised by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak, the conference is a response to the state government’s request to go digital.
“This is one of the avenues where we can explore drone applications in many possibilities from agriculture to safety and even marketing through delivery.
“There are some of the interesting things that we can explore and see what other countries are doing so we can catch up and benefit from technology,” said UiTM Sarawak Rector Professor Dato Dr Jamil Haji Hamali.
He said this during a press conference after paying a courtesy call to Minister of Education, Science, and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong at his office at Baitulmakmur here yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Minister added that this will definitely help the state transition into a digital economy as the current one relies heavily on agriculture using traditional and conventional methods.
“With this application, technology can be used for various purposes such as detecting fertile soil, and areas whereby landslides are likely to happen.
“Apart from agriculture, it can also be used to survey accident sites and also help fishermen to improve their chances of catching fish,” said Manyin.
With regards to the venue of the conference, it was revealed that the organising committee are waiting for approval to hold it in Damai as they prefer a big and open space to fly drones but if the approval is rejected, then it will be held at Riverside Majestic Hotel here.
Registration closes on 30 September 2017 for early birds and 15 October 2017 for regulars.
For more information and to download registration forms, those interested can visit http://www.sarawak.uitm.edu.my/iconda17/.
Earlier during the conference, when asked by reporters on encouraging students to communicate more using English, Manyin said it is important to not expect them to speak proper Engish straight away.
He said this with regards to a circular issued by his ministry which asked for the cooperation of all 82 elected state representatives (ADUNs) to each adopt a school in their respective constituencies to be involved in a pilot programme to improve the level of English proficiency among its students.
The circular also mentioned two schools, SK Ba’Kelalan (Lawas) and SK Ulu Lubai (Limbang), that implemented the initiative successfully.
“The teachers and parents agreed to this practice whereby the moment they enter the school compound, all teachers and students must speak English while following the medium of instruction in the classroom.
“We saw no harm in following it, so that’s why my ministry decided to ask all the ADUNs to work with the parents and teachers in their own constituencies to adopt this practice,” he said.
Manyin added that he doesn’t expect the students to be able to master the language straight away and that they should just speak it at whatever level they’re comfortable with first.
“Let the students practice it and in time, this will also increase their confidence.
“We will then try to emulate this for other schools and if half can follow it, then within five years our proficiency communication in English will definitely improve.
“I hope each ADUN will have their own initiatives and I appeal to all of them to support this,” he said.
