The Big Day In has, for the first-time, been held outside of Australia.

Australia’s successful student conference made its international debut at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus in Sarawak, Malaysia, on July 16.

The Big Day In program has now been running for 6 years, and last year helped more than 6500 Australian students explore careers in tech, with presentations from 177 speakers and 167 exhibitors.

However, while it has appeared in 11 locations around Australia, last month’s event was the first time the conference has been outside Australia.

More than 500 students from 15 local high schools attended the Sarawak event, where they were given the opportunity to learn about ICT careers and hear from industry renowned professionals.

Speakers include Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of SilverLake Group, lsaac Syaz; Head of Human Resource of Sarawak Information Systems, Samuel Lee; and the JavaScript Developer of Piktochart, Churchill Lee.

Also in attendance were ACS President, Anthony Wong, and Director of Membership, Sales and Marketing, Daniel Reihana.

The event coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ACS and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus.

“We have begun a certification process with Swinburne Sarawak, with the intention to explore further opportunities in the future,” said Reihana.

“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding signifies the start of an exciting relationship with Swinburne Sarawak.”

The event comes as Sarawak continue its digital transition, which last year saw Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, invest $300 million into ICT infrastructure.

Sarawak Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, used the event as an opportunity to encourage young people towards a career in ICT, to support growth of a digital economy.

“With the Sarawak government having set its sights on developing the state’s economy into a digital one, we need to get our young people interested in, and on-board, ICT or related careers,” he said.