Student creates new software system

Lam (centre) sharing his success with (from left) Coventry University moderator Richard Gatward, Giannasi, Guok and Dr Phelan. 

INTI International University College (INTI) graduate Shawn Lam Tze Ming was offered a job on the spot at his first interview with multinational Agilent Technologies, partly due to his excellent command of English and IT skills. 

A high achiever, Lam has consistently scored straight As in his studies.  

He also created waves when he came up with a new software system called DirectUML. 

Lam (centre) sharing his success with (from left) Coventry University moderator RichardGatward, Giannasi, Guok and Dr Phelan.

The idea for DirectUML was hatched when Shawn took up a course on Object Orientation at INTI’s ICT Faculty.  

DirectUML is a simplified UML (Unified Modelling Language) drawing tool targeted at students.  

Lam recently gave a talk entitled Challenges in Object-Orientation Learning and Teaching, and a New UML Tool for Effective Learning and Problem Solving as part of INTI’s Guest Speaker Series.  

In his talk, Lam presented DirectUML’s features which allowed diagrams to be drawn quickly and simply, without burdening students with unnecessary procedures.  

According to Lam, the successful completion of his final-year project was largely due to meticulous guidance from his project supervisor Guok Tiong Hock, whose constructive criticism helped him to fine-tune the project. 

“Upon reading Lam’s report, it is obvious that the student has achieved an exceptional standard,” said Coventry University’s Faculty of Engineering and Computing director of undergraduate studies Frank Giannasi.  

“His approach to the project was both measured and mature. 

“He also demonstrated a good understanding of the subject matter as well as of research methods in general,” he added. 

Conventry University external examiner Dr Alan Phelan described Lam's project and presentation as one which combined a good depth of technical knowledge with good communication skills.