Poyod trainees shine after only three months of training

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Awang Tengah (fourth left) and the trainees give the thumb-up to the training programme.

KUCHING: The first batch of trainees from the Pool of Young Designers (Poyod) programme has shown great development after three months of training at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Indonesia.

The trainees, comprising graduates of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), are in the first quarter of their one-year training stint.

According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the trainees now had better understanding of design, and high level of creativity.

“I am impressed with how they have translated a subject into design, and hopefully their designs can be pushed into production,” Awang Tengah said after a meeting with ITB lecturers and the trainees in Jakarta recently.

Awang Tengah looks at a design of one of the trainees.

On technology, Awang Tengah called on the trainees to embrace IT when they serve the industry later.

“The economy is now driven by IT and applications available will enable easier approach for sales and design,” he added.

Meanwhile, one of the trainees, Robica Sapok Tingang from Miri, said the programme had exposed her to the real world in designing.

“Back during my years of tertiary education, most of our learning comprised designing through computers. In ITB, we are taught to design based on our own sketch which is a bit challenging but more rewarding,” she said.

For Nurul Hidayu Ahmad, the ITB training had shaped her capability towards practical designing and more hands-on approach.

“I can’t wait to return to Sarawak and serve the industry,” she said, adding that honing their skills and creativity through the Poyod programme would definately make her a better and capable industry designer.

Calvin Renang Tumbai, meanwhile, said the ITB programme required them to be involved from the initial concept down to the sample-making, which was definately an eye opener.

“Our stint at ITB is definately shaping our way of thinking and we believe that this programme can help to churn out more capable designers to serve the industry in Sarawak,” he added.

Assistant Minister of Entreprenuer and SME development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) general manager Hasjim Bojet were among those present at the function.