The formula for fresh graduate employability in the 2026 economy is changing rapidly, and one local university student has just set a massive benchmark for what it means to be "industry-ready."
Liew Qi Jian, a Bachelor in Data Science (Hons) student at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), was recently crowned the national winner of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Premier Digital Technology Institution (PDTI) Outstanding Student Award.
For those unfamiliar with the tech education circuit, this national award is a big deal. MDEC dishes it out strictly to celebrate top-tier digital talent across Malaysia's elite tech-recognized institutions, prioritizing students who exhibit exceptional innovation, digital excellence, and massive employment potential before they even step off the graduation stage.
The 30-Hackathon Win Portfolio
While many university students struggle to balance basic assignment deadlines, the former student of Chong Hwa Independent High School (KL) treated the classroom as just a baseline.
"While maintaining a good CGPA, I have also participated in many hackathon competitions and secured about 30 victories, including 19 international wins," Qi Jian shared, looking back on a highly eventful track record.
He credits the win to a mix of academic grounding, technical proactiveness, and strong backing from his inner circle. "I feel a deep sense of gratitude towards my supervisors, mentors, and teammates, as their guidance and support were the primary catalysts that enabled me to reach this milestone."
Building a Blockchain Community from Scratch
Qi Jian's impact didn't stop at personal hackathon trophies. Back in 2023, he noticed a gap on campus and co-founded the TAR UMT Blockchain Club to bring together fellow "TARCians" passionate about emerging web3 and decentralized technologies.
What started as a tiny team of 15 members quickly ballooned into a powerhouse of over 70 tech enthusiasts. Under his leadership, the club established strategic global partnerships with major international blockchain protocols and industry leaders. The club became so prominent on campus that it secured the coveted "Club and Society of the Year" title at the TAR Awards back-to-back.
The Secret Weapon: Advanced Time Management
How exactly does a student juggle high-level data science exams, run an award-winning student society, and travel for international hackathons simultaneously?
According to Qi Jian, it comes down to a harsh but rewarding lesson in time management.
"Balancing my academics, club activities, and preparing for hackathons was quite a challenge. Navigating tight deadlines was a rigorous test of my endurance and organisational skills," he admitted. "But I was able to make it work and discover a level of efficiency and confidence I did not realise I had in myself."
For the thousands of Malaysian pre-U and university students currently planning their academic journeys, Qi Jian’s story is real-world proof of a vital career lesson: a stellar degree from a great institution gets your foot in the door, but it is your proactiveness outside the classroom walls that truly builds a future-proof career.
