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The Imagine Cup 2018 South East Asia Regional Finals held in Kuala Lumpur this year, marked the first time that Microsoft has hosted the prestigious games in Malaysia.

Commonly dubbed the Olympics of Technology, the Imagine Cup provides an opportunity for student technologists, developers and aspiring entrepreneurs from all academic backgrounds to collaborate, develop their technological application, create a business plan and begin to understand what is needed to grow a concept and bring it to market.

Microsoft Imagine connects students across the world with the tools, resources, and experiences they need to hone their skills for today’s working world. From building a game, designing an app or launching a project, Microsoft Imagine helps students develop their ideas and to bring them to fruition.

Imagine Cup is a global competition that empowers computer science students to come together, use their creativity, passion, and knowledge of technology, to create applications that disrupt and shape how we live, work and play. Every year tens of thousands of students from across the globe compete for prizes in the form of cash, travel and the honor of taking home the Imagine Cup.

Sumitra Nair, Vice President – Talent & Digital Entrepreneurship from the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) says that in order to grow the talent in Malaysia, they work at the school level and up to change the ‘Jaguh Kampung’ mindset to become more outward focused and look to address not only this region.

“We think computational thinking (and) creative and innovative thinking is critical in the digital future and this is something we are working with the ministry of education to make sure we integrate computational thinking, computer science, digital technology, and creativity into the school system,” she said adding that that initiative has been going on for the last few years since the launch of My Digital Maker in 2016.

The government implemented coding into the school system and into every subject to initiate students to the world that will be awaiting them, starting from standard 1, form 1 and form 4 as the breakthrough age group.

Sharing on what the students will benefit from the competition, Jasmine Begum, Director, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Malaysia and New Markets said students from all around the world have the tools to participate and even vocational schools who have not participated before are able to be part of the program.

“Probably they were not able to (participate) before, now we know so we need to take it to them too. This gives us the fresh set of eyes and the fresh set of talent. It is very interesting to see these children (and) these youths participating and progressing right up to the semi-finals.

The Regional Finals held in Seattle, will see 15 teams from across Asia Pacific competing to represent their country at the Imagine Cup finals in Seattle, Washington and the chance to win up to 100,000 USD as well as a mentoring session with CEO Satya Nadella.

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