Tag: Malaysia

The Faculty of Applied Sciences, UiTM Shah Alam, successfully hosted the program “Having Fun with Science,” which was organized by fifth- and sixth-semester students from the Bachelor of Applied Chemistry program at the School of Chemistry and Environment (PPKP) on July 8, 2023. The Malaysian Analytical Sciences Society (ANALIS) and Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Anggerik Shah Alam co-hosted the event.

This program was conducted to fulfill the requirements of the “Community Engagement” (CMT680) course under the SULAM program and aimed to support the government’s aspiration to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs among school students. The program was designed using an edutainment approach to encourage school student’s interest in science subjects. The Head of the School of Chemistry and Environment, UiTM Shah Alam, Associate Professor ChM Dr. Sabiha Hanim Saleh officiated the opening ceremony. Teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Anggerik and Dr. Sharil Fadli Mohamad Zamri, a representative from ANALIS also attended this program.

A total of 80 primary school students from around Shah Alam participated in various interactive activities that were carefully planned. Five engaging activities were conducted, including Scented Candle, Saponification – Soap Making, Rust/Corrosion, Acid and Alkali, and Elephant Toothpaste. The school students were divided into five groups and moved to different laboratories in the Faculty of Applied Sciences, where they were assisted by UiTM students acting as facilitators, providing explanations, demonstrations, and helping the students in the labs.

Furthermore, the involvement of UiTM lecturers and students in community service through knowledge sharing was realized through this program, which aims to enhance STEM literacy among primary school students. Additionally, this program is expected to increase the visibility of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the community and national levels. According to the Program Advisor “Having Fun with Science,” Dr. Sabrina M. Yahya, the program provided school students with an opportunity to experience university life and offered exposure to both theoretical and practical science learning effectively and engagingly through the lab activities. The program is hoped to inspire students to develop a closer connection to science subjects and to aspire to further their education up to the university level.

Feedback from students and parents has been very encouraging. With the success of this program, it is hoped that more initiatives like this will be organized in the future to continue fostering interest in STEM fields among school students. The “Having Fun with Science” program concluded with a photo session and closing ceremony at 5:00 p.m., leaving sweet memories and valuable knowledge for all participants.

The international community program (I-SULAM) themed “Sustainable Engineering In Society 5.0” was successfully held on May 29, 2024, and May 30, 2024, at Azizstan Foundation School, Pattani, Thailand. This program is based on SULAM (Service-Learning Malaysia University for Society), which is an innovative teaching and learning strategy or pedagogy that integrates course learning objectives with community service, involving students interacting with the community to solve local problems using the knowledge and skills they learn in class. This program is a collaboration between ICAN College of Engineering Studies UiTM Shah Alam, HEP College of Engineering Studies UiTM Shah Alam, lecturers, and students of the College of Engineering Studies UiTM Shah Alam.

There were 5 lecturers involved in this program: Professor Ir. Dr. Mohd Fadzil Bin Arshad and Dr. Norazlan Bin Khalid from the School of Civil Engineering, Ir. Dr. Wan Norsyafizan Binti W. Muhamad from the School of Electrical Engineering, Dr. Asdarina Binti Yahya from the School of Chemical Engineering, and Associate Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Bulan Binti Abdullah from the School of Mechanical Engineering Studies. There were also 5 students from each of the school involved as participants in this I-SULAM. The I-SULAM program aims to provide explanations and share knowledge in the field of engineering with students of Azizstan Pattani School Thailand. It can have a very good impact on students and attract students’ interest in the field of engineering. This international interaction can also strengthen relationships between different countries, Malaysia and Thailand.

This program has received a warm welcome from teachers and students of Azizstan school. The program was conducted according to groups of Azistan school students who had been divided into several groups. Each group chose one engineering specialization of interest, either civil engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering. Each school of engineering brought different project titles during the session with students at Azizstan school. Students from the School of Civil Engineering brought a project titled “Concrete Structure Integrity Assessment”. This project is a study and investigation of the integrity of concrete structures in school-owned buildings. A comprehensive explanation about the importance and methods of the study was implemented, such as visual inspection, concrete structure strength level testing (NDT Test), and data analysis. Next, students from the School of Chemical Engineering brought a project titled “Waste to Worth: Navigating Sustainability in Today’s World”.

This project is about how to turn waste disposal into something worthwhile, such as making soap from used oil and building bridges using used materials. Knowledge of chemical engineering is also used in relation to material mechanics, loading, pressure, and so on. Students from the School of Mechanical Engineering carried their project, “Renewable and Efficiency Energy”. This project explains the use of solar and air conditioning in using energy wisely. A more in-depth explanation about the advantages and disadvantages of solar was also given to Azizstan students. A practical session on how to handle and service air-conditioning was also implemented. Students from the School of Electrical Engineering presented the project “Empowering Students with IoT Driven Aquaponics System,” which is about an aquaponics project that can help communities in cultivating plants and fish even without agricultural land. This project is suitable for those who have limited agricultural land. The Azizstan school students who participated in this program were able to explore knowledge about each division of the engineering field. They also had the opportunity to conduct hands-on sessions with facilitators consisting of UiTM Shah Alam students and lecturers. There were also quiz activities provided to students to test their understanding of the engineering field. Each school of engineering studies had prepared prizes and project contributions to Azizstan school, Pattani Thailand for their willingness to receive the visit from UiTM and provide an opportunity to expand engineering knowledge to the students.

During the program, the delegation from UiTM also received a visit from the Thailand Education Department, to monitor the sharing session being conducted. This program ended successfully and had a positive impact on Azistan school students as well as students of the college of Engineering UiTM Shah Alam. There were several positive feedbacks from Azistan school students, namely that they admitted they were attracted to the field of engineering and wanted to continue their studies in engineering at the university level later and contribute to national development. They also felt excited because they could participate in an interesting program with international students. In conclusion, this program has had a very big impact on the College of Engineering UiTM Shah Alam and Azizstan Foundation School in collaborating to foster engineering knowledge and produce many graduates and students who are active in conducting international community activities.

In an effort to boost the economy and foster entrepreneurship among thernB40 group at Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Jawa (SKPJ), a smart solar-powered aquaponic system has been created to meet the government’s goal of doubling agricultural productivity through food production by 2030. With low incomes and rising costs of raw materials, including fish and vegetables, the B40 community at SKPJ is significantly burdened. Associate Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Suzi Seroja Sarnin, Ir. Dr. Wan Norsyafizan W. Mohamad, and final semester students from School or Electrical Engineering, UiTM, have worked together to develop this smart solar-powered aquaponic system, providing an effective solution to maintain the raw material supply chain. The headmaster of SKPJ, Mr. Salahuddin bin Nayan, along with the teachers, played a key role in the project’s success.

This innovative agricultural technique combines aquaculture with hydroponics and includes a monitoring system for water quality, fish and vegetable growth, automatic fish feeders, and water quantity control in fish tanks. Nutrient-rich water from the fish tanks is channeled to the plants and then returned to the fish tanks. The primary advantage of this system is its efficient water use, utilizing harvested rainwater and ensuring environmental sustainability. In addition to transferring agricultural technology to students, they are also trained to create platforms to market agricultural products digitally and analyze profits from the system. Aligned with the sustainability agenda and government direction, this project ensures local food security in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2, “Zero Hunger”. This smart agricultural innovation has a significant impact on income-generating opportunities and job self-sufficiency in food production, boosting the rural economy, particularly for the B40 groups.

The development of this system involves collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries in Selangor. The Fisheries Department provides fish fry as initial seeds and expertise in fish care and water quality management, while the Agriculture Department supplies vegetable seeds and hydroponic system care methods. This cooperation is essential to achieving collaborative knowledge transfer to the target group and leveraging agricultural technology expertise to drive the B40 group\’s economy.

Income generation through the aquaponic system includes three aspects: sales of aquaculture products, sales of hydroponic products, and sales of preserved fish products. Marketing of agricultural products can be done in various ways and through different channels, such as independently or through wholesalers or retailers. Hydroponic crops can be harvested once they reach the desired maturity level, typically in the fourth or fifth week, for vegetables like spinach, mustard greens, and lettuce. Aquaculture product marketing can be conducted using live sales, fresh sales, and frozen sales methods.

This project can significantly impact B40 students at SKPJ. Besides driving the economy of this group, the project provides early exposure to students to biology within the ecosystem, recognizing technology in agriculture, fish and plant cultivation methods in a closed-loop system, IoT technology, and more. The project offers students experience working on group science projects and early exposure to entrepreneurship and small-scale farming. The fish and vegetable yields can be supplied to hostels as a source of healthy and fresh food.

Moreover, the project promotes a green technology culture within the school community, as the aquaponic system produces healthy food and positively impacts the environment. Considering the government\’s goal to make Malaysia a carbon-neutral country by 2050, this project shows the university and school’s commitment to driving the nation toward food sustainability and eco-friendliness. It raises public awareness and encourages the use of green technology by incorporating solar panels as an energy source. It is hoped that such projects can be introduced to other schools, extending the objectives, benefits, and advantages to school cooperatives.

The smart aquaponic system designed at the school has great potential to contribute to the vision of zero hunger. Through this approach, the school promotes holistic education and practical basics and plays an active role in developing food sustainability within the community. The smart aquaponic system provides practical and comprehensive education about modern agriculture by learning how to plan, manage, and maintain the aquaponic system with the help of IoT technology. Thus, the smart aquaponic system at school is an investment in future education and a practical step towards achieving the goal of “zero hunger” globally. This is a tangible example of how education, technological innovation, and environmental awareness can collaborate to create positive change in our society.

On 16 July 2024, Ir Dr. Nani Fadzlina Naim, a distinguished lecturer and researcher from the School of Electrical Engineering at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, had the opportunity to share her insights on the topic “Optical Communication in Daily Life” through a special broadcast on Universiti Teknologi MARA’s UFM radio station, which transmits on the 93.6 MHz frequency.

During the engaging one-hour session, Dr. Nani Fadzlina delved into the various applications of optical communication technology that many might encounter in their daily routines. She highlighted how optical communication, which utilizes light to transmit information, plays a crucial role in modern telecommunications, including internet connectivity, medical imaging, and advanced security systems. The talk aimed to make listeners aware of the often-overlooked technological backbone that supports many conveniences of contemporary life.

Dr. Nani Fadzlina also emphasized the importance of optical communication in the development of smart cities, where high-speed and reliable data transmission is vital for efficient management and operation. She shared insights on how this technology enhances our ability to communicate quickly and effectively, thereby impacting sectors such as education, healthcare, and transportation.

The session was skillfully moderated by DJ Fiza, who facilitated a lively discussion and ensured that complex concepts were broken down into easily understandable segments for the audience. This talk was part of UFM’s ongoing effort to bring educational content to the community, highlighting the advancements and research being conducted at UiTM. It served as a platform to bridge the gap between academia and the public, showcasing how research in electrical engineering and optical communication directly benefits society.

A community program based on Service-Learning Malaysia University to Society (SULAM) which highlights the title “Empowering School Students with Smart IoT Aquaponic System”, was successfully held on June 14, 2024, at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Pantai, Kuala Lumpur. This program is conducted in school to meet the requirements of SULAM where students need to engage directly with the community to make a meaningful and relevant contribution. The target community is among the B40 group school students of SMK Seri Pantai. In this program, facilitators from the School of Electrical Engineering (PKE), College of Engineering at UiTM introduced and taught school students about a smart aquaponic system utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

The smart aquaponic system with IoT monitoring combines fish farming and soil-less plant cultivation with advanced technology. The Internet of Things (IoT) sensors monitor crucial parameters such as temperature, PH, ammonia level, and light intensity in real time, send data to the cloud, and automatically control equipment. Users receive notifications if conditions are abnormal, and data analysis aids effective maintenance. This system enhances productivity and sustainability by optimizing resource use and reducing waste, while also supporting environmental sustainability through lower water usage and reduced carbon footprint, making it suitable for urban agriculture.

This program aims not only to impart knowledge but also to inspire school students to develop a greater interest in science and technology, especially in practical applications that can positively impact the community and the environment. Through hands-on activities and interactive sessions, the school students could see the significant potential of IoT technology in improving their daily lives.

This system is highly relevant and aligns with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 2: Zero Hunger by increasing sustainable and high-quality food production. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation are achieved through efficient water recycling, reducing water usage. The system also meets SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by promoting efficient resource use and waste reduction. Lastly, it contributes to SDG 13: Climate Action by reducing the carbon footprint through the use of green technology and eco-friendly farming practices.

At the end of the program, an evaluation and reflection session are held where students share the experiences and knowledge they have gained throughout the program. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing an interest in delving into STEM fields and IoT technology. UiTM also handed over a prototype of an IoT-based smart aquaponic system to the school as a sign of cooperation.

sIn a significant step towards promoting road safety and gender equality, the School of Civil Engineering at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia hosted the “Stay Safe Stay Equal Workshop.” This event was held online on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 in collaboration with the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Cambodia Safety Solution Organization (CaMSafe), bringing together experts and participants to tackle pressing issues.

The workshop featured insightful presentations by four distinguished speakers namely Assoc. Prof. Dr.-Ing Masria binti Mustafa from UiTM School of Civil Engineering, who is also the programme advisor, Prof. Ma. Sheilah G. Napalang from UP National Center for Transportation Studies, Mr. Sovann Kong, founder and advisor of CaMSafe and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandy Mae A. Gaspay from UP Institute of Civil Engineering. The event, attended by 35 participants from the Philippines (18), Cambodia (12) and Malaysia (5), was facilitated by 22 final-year civil engineering students from UiTM. The students, led by Ahmad Imran bin Ismail, were co-advised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norhafezah Kasmuri, Ms. Nor Izzah Zainuddin, Ir. Muhd Salmizi Ja’afar, and Ms. Liyana Mohd. Ramly.

The workshop coincided with significant global observances: May’s focus on road safety under the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and June’s emphasis on gender equality, including International Women in Engineering Day (INWED). This event is part of the Ministry of Higher Education’s Service-Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) initiative, ongoing since 2020. Previously, a series of workshops and webinars were conducted in collaboration with the Women in Transport Leadership (WiTL) network.

This year’s collaboration between UiTM, UP, and CaMSafe strategically addressed the road safety and gender inclusivity challenges faced by Malaysia, the Philippines, and Cambodia. Urban areas in these countries experience significant road traffic accidents and gender-specific safety issues, making this workshop highly relevant. “Everyone in Malaysia and the ASEAN region must come together to address road accidents and promote gender equality, ensuring safer travel for women.” says Dr.-Ing Masria Mustafa.

Participants engaged in five dynamic breakout sessions designed to foster collaboration and practical solutions, including deepening understanding of road safety challenges and policy advocacy. The breakout sessions provided a platform for international community members to collaborate, share insights, and develop practical solutions aimed at improving road safety for all.

The workshop’s immediate benefits include improved road safety measures and increased awareness of gender equality in the target countries. In the long term, it aims to foster ongoing international collaboration and continuous improvements in global engineering practices. When women are involved in transportation planning and management, their needs are more likely to be considered, enhancing safety and comfort for all users, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Their involvement can ensure inclusive transportation, thereby contributing to social well-being by ensuring that all segments of society have equal access to essential facilities and services.

By focusing on these issues, the workshop contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).

Professional talk – Value Management (BQS668) was held in a hybrid format on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from 2 to 4 p.m. The Quantity Surveying Studies, School of Construction and Quantity Surveying, the College of Built Environment (CBE), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, and the UiTM Samarahan Sarawak Branch hosted this professional talk. On both campuses, 82 Bachelor of Quantity Surveying (Honours) students have enrolled in the Value Management (BQS668) course.

This collaborative learning definitely seeks to expose students to the current responsibilities and obligations of quantity surveyors in the construction industry. It is believed that this professional talk will allow the invited speakers to offer their knowledge, information, and experience, thereby enhancing existing courses and preparing students for future involvement in the industry.

Industry guest speakers have been invited to this knowledge integration and networking session. Mr. Faizal Azwandy Norzaman is the Head of Quantity Surveyor at Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Department of Construction and Maintenance. He, an UiTM alumni, gave a presentation titled “Value Management Implementation for MARA’s Physical Projects”. He not only presented MARA’s experience with value management in all of their projects of RM50 million and above, but he also provided his understanding of the construction industry as a quantity surveyor, which spans over 20 years.

In his presence, the guest speaker was focused and enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge with the students. He believes that this effort would benefit society, particularly those studying at the Quantity Surveying Studies, CBE, UiTM. This hybrid collaborative learning programme has concluded successfully. It offers students and lecturers a new and more flexible option for knowledge-sharing sessions with industry professionals.

On 11 May 2024, the Faculty of Law Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTMLaw) hosted a one-day program in collaboration with Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) aimed at fostering awareness of Islamic law application in Malaysia among secondary school students. The event welcomed 39 students from Sekolah Agama Menengah Tinggi Sultan Hisamuddin Klang, Selangor. The program, facilitated by UiTMLaw lecturers and Shariah lawyer, featured informative sessions on the application of Islamic law in Malaysia. Activities included interactive discussions, interview sessions, quizzes, and a mock trial simulating a Shariah court scenario skillfully presented by final-year UiTMLaw students.

Mohd Zikri Mohd Shairy, Senior Vice President of BIMB Group Social Finance, in officiating the program, highlighted that the initiative resonated with their social finance agenda, reflecting an investment in the intellectual development of Malaysia’s youth to foster a brighter future. The program underscores UiTMLaw’s commitment to community engagement beyond traditional classroom boundaries, showcasing its dedication to sharing knowledge and enriching local communities. The participants’ positive feedback was a testament to the program’s success, with many noting its significant contribution to their understanding of Islamic law in Malaysia and its relevance to their future academic pursuits at the tertiary level.