MDEC’s Creativity @ Schools Awards highlights promising young talents

  • Both winners in animation, game categories won US$739 in prize money
  • Competition introduces two main programs; LEVEL UP @ Schools and Kre8tif! @ Schools

Adam Auza’i's winning entry for the Kre8tif! @ Schools Animation Awards, as part of the Creativity @ Schools competitionMalaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has recently concluded its Creativity @ Schools Awards, marking an end to the Creativity @ Schools program conducted in 2020.

The competition, which saw over 700 registered participants from 40 schools in Malaysia in 2020, is aimed at developing skills and talent in the digital creative content field amongst school students, particularly in animation and game development, MDEC said in a statement.

The Creativity @ Schools competition was split into two categories – animation and games. The animation category, also known as the Kre8tif! @ Schools Animation Awards, saw Adam Auza’i Bin Mohamad Zaper of SMK Syed Saffi, Perlis grabbing first place.

The winner for the video games category, known as the LEVEL UP @ Schools Game Awards, is Airil Hariz bin Zolkefli of SMK Seksyen 5 Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur. Both winners walked away with RM3,000 (US$739) in prize money as well as winners’ certificates, while their schools received 5 Wacom tablets each.

“I’m honoured to have won the champion’s spot for the LEVEL UP @ Schools Award, and as much as I’m delighted to win, I’m happier that I got to utilise the skills and knowledge I have learnt during the LEVEL UP @ Schools programs,” said Airil.

“The program taught me various skills such as user interface, user experience, and sound design while giving me a good idea of what game design development is like. It's something that I might want to pursue in the future.”

For Kre8tif! @ Schools Animation Awards winner Adam, the knowledge and skills that he learnt during the program has been “extremely helpful.”

“It has enabled me to learn what is exactly needed in the animation production field such as 3D animation, rendering and character building, and increasing my interest in animation design more. Having won first place in the competition is just a bonus to what I have learned from the program,” he said.

Building Malaysia’s digital content industry

The Creativity @ Schools competition is a yearly competition organised by MDEC, which is part of their overall Creativity @ Schools program. This program was introduced to inspire & nurture creativity among young Malaysians and foster interest in animation, visual effects and game design leading towards encouraging enrolment in creative content courses at tertiary levels while also planting seeds for new digital generation.

Creativity @ Schools introduces two main programmes; LEVEL UP @ Schools and Kre8tif! @ Schools. The former is a programme aimed at creating awareness and interest in the game development ecosystem, while the latter fosters interests in animation. Both courses encourage enrolment in creative content courses at the tertiary levels.

MDEC’s Creativity @ Schools Awards highlights promising young talents“MDEC’s Creativity @ Schools program is crucial in our effort to develop talent and interest in the digital creative field among students," said Gopi Ganesalingam (pic left), MDEC’s vice president for digitally-powered businesses. "It is important that we lay the foundations to ensure that Malaysia has the relevant talent to support the digital creative content industry." 

Gopi said by cultivating interest for the digital creative content field among students in the early phase, MDEC and the country will be able to build a sustainable talent pool to further enhance and grow the industry. This, ultimately, will contribute towards making Malaysia a digital creative content hub and further help position the country as the Heart of Digital ASEAN.

 

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