Embed Entrepreneurial DNA Into Graduates Says APU Director Of Research

Prof Dr Angelina, APU Director of Research and Enterprise, calls for global educators to cultivate technopreneurs through higher education

With more than a decade’s knowledge and expertise in innovation, research and development, Professor Dr Angelina Yee, Director (Research & Enterprise), recently addressed leading educators from around the world on instilling entrepreneurial DNA into graduates at the Bett Asia Leadership Summit 2022.

Bett Asia's Leadership Summit in partnership with Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Thailand, is the global meeting place for educators — leaders from schools, universities, and education systems, including ministries — and the technology community, all working to create a better future by transforming education.

This year's Bett, which was held on the 11th and 12th of October 2022 at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, showcased best practice and celebrated innovation from across the education technology sector under the theme ‘Education As A Catalyst For Change’.

Professor Dr Angelina was invited to speak at the summit alongside other speakers such as Mr Alessandro Di Lullo (SuperCharger Ventures Co-Founder), Mr Aliudin Haji Abdul Rahman (Deputy Permanent Secretary Core Education Ministry of Education Brunei Darussalam), Prof Alison Clark-Wilson (Professorial research Fello, University College London), Mr Andrew Khaw (Regional Director Samsung Electronics), Mr Chandran Nair (Founder & CEO Global Institute For Tomorrow) and many more. 


 
Speaking to Bett’s audience about her experience at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), she describes the movement to embed technopreneurs through higher education as the latest ‘fever of the Malaysian mind’ and she wants the audience to consider whether or not it is valuable today.

“Scholars should extend education beyond its basic foundation by cultivating technopreneurs through higher education,” she said, adding that “APU also curates and organises enterprise programme to support students from ideation to building business ventures.”

She went on to say that, as is customary at APU, the university prioritises local and international talent in innovating the digital economy through a variety of special programmes designed to encourage students to participate in entrepreneurship.

This is due to the fact that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset is a necessary skillset for future professionals preparing for careers in the disruptive, globalised world of business and technology.
 


“APU does this through a series of weekly and monthly webinars and online events in which entrepreneurs and start-ups share real-world experience.

“Real-life experiences shared by industry experts are one of the key components that inspire students to pursue their own entrepreneurial ambitions while connecting them to the larger ecosystem,” she said.

The Bett summit brought together 700+ of the most senior key decision-makers and industry leaders, as well as 9 out of 10 ASEAN Education Ministries.