On 4th August 2018, IEEE AIUB Student Branch successfully organized IEEE Student Professional Awareness Workshop (SPAW), at American International University – Bangladesh. IEEE USA Student Professional Awareness Activities (SPAA) are oriented to enhance the leadership, career, and professional development skills of engineering students. Being a part of the grand initiative for the first time in the history of IEEE Bangladesh Section along with the entire Region 10, IEEE AIUB Student Branch presented IEEE Student Professional Awareness Workshop (SPAW) to educate students on how to sustain a lifelong career in engineering. The IEEE USA branded venture was supported by IEEE Bangladesh Section Student Activities Committee, IEEE Young Professionals Bangladesh Section and IEEE Computer Society Bangladesh Section Chapter. The flagship event consisted of series of professional and career-based workshops focused on professional development, conducting plenary talks on timely topics and allowing students to understand the ever-changing professional world and also developing skills that would not be taught in classrooms needed to pursue a career as an exemplary individual.
Students from different universities of different places in the country came to participate in the event. The day was inaugurated with a welcome speech by Dr. M Tanseer Ali, Professional Activity Coordinator, IEEE Bangladesh Section; Senior Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering, AIUB, who talked about IEEE and discussed how IEEE SPAW is a great initiative in developing a student professionally. He further discussed the importance of professionalism in a work environment and advised the students to accept the change as it is a part of nature.
The first session of the event titled “What does it take to be a researcher?” was conducted by Dr. M Tanseer Ali, Professional Activity Coordinator, IEEE Bangladesh Section; Senior Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering, AIUB, which focused on the core essential qualities for a student to be a researcher. The speaker initiated his presentation with an interactive session along with discussing the importance of engineers in this world. He discussed the ease of work due to the advent of the internet and talked about how problem-solving plays an important role in the field. He further stated the basic steps for conducting a research and also said motivation and reasoning to be the most essential factors in carrying out a research. He concluded the session by stating the key role of the engineers which is to serve the society and not to only make money. It was then followed by a quick question and answer session.
The second session titled “Building Foundation for a Startup” was conducted by Minhaz-Uz-Salakeen Fahme, Co-Founder and Chairperson, Battery Low Interactive Limited, which focused on the basic key concepts to build a strong foundation for a startup. The speaker initiated the interactive session by discussing the basic points that define a startup. He further discussed about the possible aspects to pay attention to while building a startup. He stated the importance of thinking and figuring out an operation before acting upon it. He concluded his session by further stating the factors that might make the journey an easier one and to always expect for a bump. Mr. Minhaz-Uz-Salakeen Fahme was provided with a token of appreciation by ARM Abdullah Rocky, Chairperson, IEEE Young Professionals, Bangladesh Section and Akib Jobaer Rahman, Vice-Chairperson (Activity), IEEE Young Professionals, Bangladesh Section.
Following that, the third session of the event titled “Professional Aspects of communication in an office environment” was conducted by Omar Shahjalal Shantonu, Satellite Operations Engineer, Spectra International Limited, which focused on the basic etiquettes that should be followed in professional life. The speaker initiated the session by sharing his experiences which is a motivation for the participants. He discussed the importance of sacrificing ones comfort zones to interact with people, which would eventually be helping one professionally. He provided tips on writing CV’s, Emails and Reports, further discussed the types of communication, eventually concluded his session with a quick question and answer session. Mr. Omar Shahjalal Shantonu was provided with a token of appreciation by Kazi Ahmed Asif Fuad, Vice-Chairperson (Technical), IEEE Young Professionals, Bangladesh Section; Motivator, IEEE AIUB Student Branch; Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, AIUB and Kawshik Shikder, Advisor, IEEE MTT-S AIUB Student Branch Chapter, Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, AIUB on behalf of IEEE AIUB Student Branch.
After the conclusion of the sessions Abu Tanvir Khan, Former Chairperson, IEEE AIUB Student Branch and Raihanul Haque Raihan, Event Coordinator, IEEE Young Professionals, Bangladesh Section; Former Event Coordinator, IEEE AIUB Student Branch initiated the interactive session for the participants, where each group of participants was given four minutes to present innovative ideas for smart home appliances. Seven groups competed, amongst which group Six’s idea stood out to be the most innovative. Later, the winners were presented with tokens of appreciation by the judges on behalf of IEEE Young Professionals, Bangladesh Section.
The day-long event was concluded with a closing speech from Chowdhury Akram Hossain, Counselor, IEEE AIUB Student Branch; Advisor, IEEE Computer Society AIUB SB Chapter; Senior Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering, AIUB; Special Assistant, Office of Student Affairs, AIUB, who thanked the speakers for managing time from their busy schedule and sharing their knowledge. He also thanked the volunteers and executive members of IEEE AIUB Student Branch for showing enthusiasm throughout the day. He stated the importance of such an event in bringing professionalism in the participants and helping them through their professional career ahead. He further stated the achievements of IEEE AIUB Student Branch to show the participants the results of hard work and perseverance that made Student Professional Awareness Workshop (SPAW) no different other than a grand success.
The day-long professional venture ended with a group photo. The event was consisted of very effective and informative sessions which the participants were delighted with, as it will help them in professional development. Participants from universities all across Bangladesh took part in one of the grandest ventures in IEEE Bangladesh Section and IEEE Region 10.
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