Date: 12 June 2021 - 31 July 2021

Venue: Google Meet

The Apprentice Challenge 2021 (APC 2021) was organized by the Faculty of Accountancy, Finance and Business in collaboration with the Accounting and Finance Society of Tunku Abdul Rahman University College after obtaining approval from the Penang Education Department (JPN PP). The theme for APC 2021 was “New Norm, New Opportunity”. It was an accounting-based competition that provided a platform for participants to share business ideas in the crisis and to obtain feedback on their ideas while learning from peers. The objective of APC 2021 was to unleash the participants’ potential in different aspects. In APC 2021, participants went through multiple rounds of competitions which required them to apply their knowledge, creativity, critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills and other skill sets to solve problems.

A total of 13 teams were sent out by seven secondary schools to participate in APC 2021. The participating schools were SMK Bakti, SMK Bukit Jambul, SMJK Chung Ling, SMK Heng Ee Bayan Baru, SMK Jalan Damai, SMK Jit Sin and SMK ST. Mark. The participants were required to prepare a five to seven-minute pre-recorded video to present their business ideas in the preliminary round. Finalists were required to conduct live business pitching for a maximum of 15 minutes. The participants were judged based on the creativity and feasibility of the business idea as well as their presentation skills.

For the undergraduate category, there were 25 teams from TAR UC Penang Branch Campus, TAR UC Main Campus, Sunway College, Heriot Watt University Malaysia, INTI International College Penang, UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College and Sentral College Penang. Participants were required to compete in station games where they had to solve quizzes and crossword puzzles within a time duration. Finalists were given a case study and were required to present their solutions to the judges.

All in all, APC 2021 is a success as participants have provided positive feedback on the event. The skill sets learnt from the event are beneficial in the working environment.