Samsung supports F1 in Schools Technology Challenge

12 NOVEMBER 2008 Producing a world-class driver like the newly crowned F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton may be a distant dream for Malaysia but the nation is certainly not short of young talents in innovation and engineering feats.

The just-concluded Formula One in Schools Technology Challenge, the brainchild of Education Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, is a case in point. The response and appeal of the annual Challenge has grown each year since its debut in 2005. Over 500 teams from secondary schools throughout the country participated in the Challenge this year compared with 14 in 2005, 40 and 439 in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Education Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Zulkurnain Haji Awang (seated right) attends a briefing session at the Samsung booth. Standing second from left is Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lee Tae Jik

The F1 in Schools Technology Challenge, co-sponsored by Samsung Malaysia for the third running, is an extension of its CSR initiatives to enrich human lives and bridge the digital gap among Malaysians from all age groups. As part of the sponsorship, Samsung Malaysia also presented the Fastest Car and Best Sportsmanship awards.

Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd Vice President – Sales and Product Marketing, Chan Lock, said Samsung’s support for the Challenge was a testimony of its commitment in working with the government and other organizations towards building a brighter tomorrow for future generations.

“This includes this campaign to inculcate the interest in designs among students and our support to complement the Education Ministry’s role in developing a bigger pool of innovative and creative young Malaysians apart from the bridging the gap between urban and rural schools.”

The F1 in Schools Technology Challenge, one of the programmes under the National Education Master Plan, requires secondary school students to use CAD/CAM software to design, analyse, manufacture, test and race miniature F1 cars.

The Challenge inspires students to learn about science, engineering, maths, aerodynamics, design, manufacture apart from leadership and teamwork, and apply them in a practical, imaginative and competitive way.