Media Links

• Media releases
• News from Monash Australia

Publications

• Monash publications
• Books by Monash Authors

Monash students make their university proud

A chance look at an email announcing a programming contest has landed a Monash University student the top prize in one of Malaysia's top programming events - the e-Genting Programming Competition 2006.
Mr Ezwan Aizat Abdullah Faiz, a first year Bachelor of Computer Science student walked away with the main prize of RM6,000 and a job offer from the Genting Group.
Another Monash University student, Alberto Jaya Gosal also emerged as the distinction winner in the competition.
Mr Ezwan Aizat, who was one of several students honoured by the Monash University School of Information Technology last month for their success, said it was a good opportunity to test his ability to programme under pressure and solve the problems put forward by the organisers.
More than 100 students took part in the annual competition, which was held in November at Genting Highlands.
The competition began in 2002 and has attracted participation from all major institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.
Mr Ezwan, who has been programming since school, said this was the first time he'd taken part in such a competition. "I saw the email sent out to students and thought I'd give it a try," he added.
He said Mr Ezwan said the tasks given out to students were database questions and he opted to tackle the most challenging problem first, as it also offered the highest points.
While the prize money came in useful for the purchase of a new LCD screen for his computer, Mr Ezwan said the job offer from the eGENTING Research & Development (Systems) subsidiary of the Genting Group will have to wait until he completes his studies in another two years.
In addition to Mr Ezwan Aizat and Mr Alberto Jaya Gosal, the School of IT also presented certification of participation to two other students, Agustina Sanusi and Yoong Wai Chuan.
The winner of another contest – the National Mathematics Competition 2006 –student Mr Jonathan Tan was also recognised during the ceremony.
The School of IT also presented a certificate of appreciation to student Ms Wong Sook Jinn for designing the school's Virtual Open Day page earlier this year.
The Virtual Open Day page, which was active during the university's February intake, allowed visitors to chat with Monash University lecturers online to gain information on the university and its courses.
The names of two winners of an online competition held in conjunction with the Virtual Open Day page were also announced - Mr Nizam Firdaus and Ms Chong Shin Yun.
The certificates of participation were presented by School of IT Lecturer Dr Saadat Alhasmi.
Also present were several other lecturers, including Dr Simon Egerton, the coordinator for the university’s participation in the e-Genting competition, and students.

The winning students posing with their certificates. They are, from left, Ms Agustina Sanusi, Ms Ms Wong Sook Jinn, Mr Ezwan Aizat and Mr Alberto Jaya Gosal.