Thung Hui Ling

Name: Thung Hui Ling
Nationality: Malaysia
Current Role: Software Engineer at StashAway, Malaysia.

Tell us briefly about your work or role in your current organisation.

I am currently unemployed, but I was an application developer intern at Configura for 6  months in 2017. Following that, I was a research intern, working on Natural Language  Processing with Machine Learning at Mimos Berhad in 2018.

Why did you choose to study at Monash, and did it meet your expectations?

As one of the top ranked universities in the world, I knew that Monash is internationally  recognised and would provide me a conducive environment to enhance my knowledge  and connect to the world. I am glad I made the decision to study at Monash as I have met  many inspiring students from around the world and have been exposed to wide range of  research projects, which eventually helped to shape my interest in Artificial Intelligence.  With the wealth of opportunities provided in both Australia and Malaysia campus, Monash  is all that I have expected and more – as it has given me invaluable knowledge and  experiences and moulded me into a well-rounded individual.

What opportunities did you participate in while at Monash? E.g. conferences, study trips, volunteer programs, student exchange, etc.

I am no stranger to Monash’s offered opportunities. I joined to be an international student volunteer in Cambodia during summer break in my first year. During my stay in Cambodia, I also got the chance to collaborate with Code.org to host the Hour of Code campaign. In 2017, I was offered a place in the Industry-based learning (IBL) program and I was one of the successful recipients of the scholarship. Upon finishing the program, I was recommended by my lecturer to work as a research intern at a national R&D centre. This year, with the sponsorship from Monash, I have attended a Mental Health First Aid Training program and received certificate of accreditation as a first aider. I am also one of the recipients for Monash University’s CURIE program. As a recipient, I have been invited to turn my passion for research into an article for Reinvention Journal and present my research topic at ICUR, a global conference this September.

You underwent the Industry Based Learning (IBL) program at Monash. Which company did you work for and what did you do? Do you think it has made a difference for you in terms of career preparation?

I joined Configura for my IBL program in 2017 where I worked as a developer intern. During the internship, I contributed to the development process for their in-house software and I was largely responsible for projects related to 3D model reduction, model and material data import/export optimizations and some UI/UX enhancements.

For me, this internship has brought me tremendous benefits. It gave me a chance to experience working in a software industrial company and it allowed me to have a taste of how real working life is. Configura suited my interest in being a programmer and it led me to a very new and interesting area of using 3D technologies in software engineering. Through the assignments, I did not only gain a lot of knowledge but more importantly, I also had a great chance to sharpen my knowledge in a professional working environment and develop an arsenal of skills, both technical and social. It is commonly known that IT students are shy in presenting themselves. However, in this internship, I have become more confident as I was trained and given practice in giving presentations besides being given the opportunity to participate in discussions with staff from the U.S.A., Sweden and Malaysia. Through these experiences, I have possessed the skillsets needed for my future career.

What are your career goals, or what impact would you like to have in the future?

My goal in life is to be part of a team that is able to bring benefits to the society with the use of machines, either as a software developer, a researcher or an educator.