4.3.2 : Public events (lifelong learning)
Empowering Minds: Jom Belajar Arduino Inspires Next Gen in STEM
In December 2024, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) hosted the "Jom Belajar Arduino" STEM education program, a public event directly demonstrating the university's commitment to providing lifelong learning opportunities to the wider community. The initiative was orchestrated by the UTM Off-Campus Student Committee (JKM PLK) in collaboration with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) UTM Kuala Lumpur Student Branch, showcasing a strong internal and external partnership.
The half-day program was held at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Padang Tembak 2 and specifically targeted Standard 4 and 5 students, actively engaging a segment of the local general public. The core educational goal was to ignite curiosity and inspire a passion for STEM, directly addressing the critical need to revitalize interest in the field.
The curriculum focused on foundational knowledge and practical application, featuring expert-led talks on 'Introduction to Electronics,' 'Electronic Controlling Devices,' and 'Arduino Simulation Using Tinkercad'. The most impactful component was the hands-on sessions, where students transformed theoretical concepts into tangible results by assembling and programming Arduino kits.
This community engagement effort successfully worked to dismantle the stereotype that STEM is "too difficult", providing a welcoming and inclusive learning environment. By cultivating early interest in an essential field, the program strengthens the community by inspiring a new generation of future problem-solvers and innovators. Furthermore, a lasting contribution was ensured through the donation of five Arduino kits to the school, guaranteeing sustained access to these valuable educational resources.
Source :
https://news.utm.my/2024/12/empowering-minds-jom-belajar-arduino-inspires-next-gen-in-stem/
SDG Explorace@Fesko 2024 tingkat kefahaman ilmu SDG dalam kalangan peserta
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through its Centre for Campus Sustainability (UTMCS), successfully hosted the "SDG Explorace@FESKO 2024" on November 23, 2024, at Dataran UTM. This event serves as a concrete example of the university hosting an educational event open to the general public to promote lifelong learning on sustainability matters.
Organized in collaboration with the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) and Flex Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., the program was designed to deepen the participants' understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an effective and engaging manner, aligning with the university's mission to cultivate a sustainable lifestyle among its community and the surrounding public.
The explorace format involved 63 participants, including members of the local community, navigating seventeen 'check points' across the campus. At each station, teams were required to solve problems or complete activities related to various SDGs, directly turning abstract concepts into practical, problem-solving challenges. As a participant from the local community noted, the event taught them "how small actions like reducing waste and saving energy can have a big impact on the world."
The SDG Explorace successfully served as a platform to inspire deeper understanding of sustainability, empowering individuals to take meaningful action in their communities and supporting the national agenda for sustainable development. This initiative underscores UTM's dedication to innovative educational outreach and global SDG advocacy.
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UTM International Hosts RVC Delegation for Groundbreaking Collaboration
The event commenced with a warm reception and opening address by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nur Azaliah Abu Bakar, Associate Director of UTM International Kuala Lumpur, who articulated UTM's vision: "Bring UTM to the World and the World to UTM." This set the stage for interactive sessions designed to democratize advanced learning opportunities. A pivotal highlight was the presentation "Innovation Technology: UTM Experience" delivered by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Noor Azurati Ahmad @ Salleh, which illuminated UTM's successes in research commercialization and entrepreneurial ecosystems. As noted, "The presentation emphasized UTM’s commitment to transforming academic discoveries into impactful solutions, resonating with RVC’s mission to foster high-tech entrepreneurship."
Participants engaged in moderated discussions on three core pillars: Global Startup Ecosystem Integration, Technology Co-Development in areas like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and biotechnology, and Educational Partnerships to strengthen talent pipelines through exchange programs. These dialogues underscored lifelong learning by bridging institutional boundaries, equipping attendees with practical insights into co-investment models under the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and strategies for digital economy advancement.
Complementing the talks, delegates toured UTM's state-of-the-art facilities, including the Act Lab for multidisciplinary research, Innovation Centre 5G (IC5G) for next-generation connectivity, and i-Cube Incubator for startup acceleration from ideation to market. These immersive experiences provided hands-on exposure to cutting-edge tools, inspiring ongoing professional development and innovation adoption.
By hosting this event, UTM not only advanced bilateral Malaysia-Russia ties but also modeled inclusive education that empowers diverse stakeholders—academics, industry leaders, and emerging innovators—to pursue continuous upskilling. This initiative directly supports public access to global best practices, aligning with the UN SDGs' call for equitable, lifelong educational opportunities. Future outcomes include joint programs that will amplify these impacts, ensuring sustainable knowledge dissemination for societal progress.
Source : https://news.utm.my/2024/10/utm-international-hosts-rvc-delegation-for-groundbreaking-collaboration/
UTM's Edutourism Initiative: Comprehensive Public Learning and Engagement
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) actively supports the national Edutourism agenda by creating and hosting a robust portfolio of 21 specialized Edutourism programs that serve as educational events open to the general public, including local communities, schools, and strategic partner institutions. This initiative fulfills the mandate to provide lifelong learning experiences utilizing the university's assets.
UTM's Edutourism packages are designed to combine academic learning with cultural, heritage, and environmental exploration, enriching the participants' daily lives. These programs are categorized across seven diverse themes, demonstrating the university's commitment to inclusive, broad-based public education:
- Arts and Social Sciences (ANS)
- Business and Entrepreneurship (BAE)
- Environmental and Health Sciences (EAH)
- Culinary, Culture, and Heritage (FCH)
- Language and Communication (LAC)
- Science and Technology (SAT)
- Nature and Adventure (NAA)
Although the article highlights international promotion (such as the 'MyEduTour: Discover Malaysia' program in Jakarta and participation in the Osaka Expo 2025), the core UTM Edutourism initiative is expressly designed for a diverse audience, including local schools and the community, alongside international students. By structuring its expertise into accessible packages, UTM strengthens its role as a global leader in sustainable education, technology empowerment, and cultural appreciation, directly facilitating the transfer of knowledge to the wider public for their lifelong benefit.
Source :
https://news.utm.my/2025/08/utm-perkasa-agenda-edutourism-kpt-inklusif-merentas-benua/
UTM Student Mobillity Programs
UTM's commitment to hosting intensive, short-duration educational programs is evidenced by the formal inclusion of the "UTM Summer School" and the "UTM Online Global Classroom (OGC)" within its international programming structure. These programs represent distinct educational events hosted by the university, designed to deliver focused academic content and cross-cultural engagement.
The UTM Summer School provides concentrated, in-person courses, serving as an intensive educational event. The UTM Online Global Classroom (OGC) further demonstrates the university's initiative in providing modern, accessible digital content, thereby widening the reach of UTM's expertise beyond the traditional classroom.
While the primary context of the webpage is student mobility, the provision of a structured Summer School and the digital Online Global Classroom demonstrates UTM’s capacity and operational framework for hosting flexible educational events. These platforms are scalable and represent the type of short-term, focused educational offerings that contribute to the goal of lifelong learning and continuous professional development, extending the university's pedagogical impact globally.
Source :
https://international.utm.my/student-mobility-program/
Faith, Knowledge & Culture Intertwined at NCHU Summer Camp 2025
In alignment with SDG 4: Quality Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) actively participated in and contributed to the NCHU Summer Camp 2025, hosted by National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) in Taichung, Taiwan, from July 31 to August 13, 2025. This two-week immersive program, open to international students and fostering lifelong learning, intertwined themes of faith, knowledge, and culture to promote inclusive, equitable education accessible beyond traditional classrooms. As a key partner alongside institutions from Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Poland, and the United States, UTM exemplified global collaboration by sending representatives like Nur Asma’ Arselan from the Faculty of Built Environment & Surveying, enhancing cross-cultural competence for diverse publics.
The camp engaged 14 participants from eight countries across three continents, primarily in engineering fields, through hands-on activities designed for broad knowledge dissemination. Knowledge-building sessions featured laboratory work on artificial intelligence applications, such as pothole detection for urban sustainability, and industrial tours to E-Lead Electronics, where attendees explored innovations in electric vehicles partnering with global leaders like BMW, Ford, and Tesla. These experiences highlighted Taiwan's strides in science, technology, health, and responsible consumption, equipping participants with practical skills for real-world challenges.
Cultural immersion deepened public engagement via visits to Lukang Historical Town, the National Museum of Natural Science, and workshops on Taiwan’s textile history and traditional Chinese painting. The faith dimension shone through shared stories of spiritual resilience; as Nur Asma’ Arselan reflected, "prayer and worship remain central, no matter where one travels." Fellow participants accommodated her needs by facilitating prayer spaces and halal meals, turning the event into a model of intercultural solidarity.
Organized by NCHU’s College of Engineering under Dean Prof. Ming Der Yang, the camp aimed to cultivate global citizenship. Prof. Yang emphasized, "through this program, NCHU aims to foster a spirit of global citizenship… to collaborate in addressing shared challenges." For UTM, it strengthened academic ties, expanded networking, and amplified its international footprint.
Culminating in project presentations amid resilient adaptation to rain and typhoon threats, the camp inspired lifelong learning by bridging borders, building leadership, and committing to diversity. This public-oriented initiative advances SDG 4 by democratizing quality education, nurturing enduring values of faith, knowledge, and culture for societal progress.
Source :
https://news.utm.my/2025/08/faith-knowledge-culture-intertwined-at-nchu-summer-camp-2025/
Program Mobiliti UTM Sulung 2.0 perkasa jaringan akademik dan budaya
In alignment with SDG 4: Quality Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) organized the groundbreaking Program Mobiliti UTM Sulung 2.0, titled ‘Steps Beyond Home: Nurturing Growth Through Global Exposure Program’, from February 16 to 21, 2025, at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) in Aceh, Indonesia. This student mobility initiative, hosted in collaboration with UTM International and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor's Department (Student Affairs & Alumni), engaged 20 UTM Sulung 2.0 students and five staff members, fostering lifelong learning through open cultural and academic exchanges accessible to broader communities, including local residents and university stakeholders.
The program delved into Aceh's rich heritage, history, and traditions while reflecting on the community's spiritual resilience in rebuilding after the 2004 tsunami, which claimed nearly half the region's population. Participants joined interactive sessions on digital entrepreneurship, sharing insights with USK students on online marketing strategies, business expansion techniques, and audience targeting to empower student-led ventures. Hands-on workshops introduced Tari Ratoh Jaroe, Aceh's traditional dance infused with cultural symbolism and divine poetry, building communal bonds and artistic appreciation.
Delegates explored Dekranasda Aceh, learning rattan and bamboo crafting, weaving, embroidery, and batik techniques from local artisans, preserving Nusantara cultural legacies. Historical tours to the iconic PLTD Apung floating power plant monument— a 2,600-ton vessel swept five kilometers inland—and the Tsunami Museum provided poignant lessons in disaster recovery and human endurance. Culminating in environmental action, participants planted Rhizophora mangroves at Mangrove Park Lampulo, advancing SDG-aligned coastal protection, biodiversity enhancement, water quality improvement, community resilience, and ecotourism.
Open to public interaction, these activities bridged academia with Acehnese communities, enabling knowledge transfer on sustainability and heritage. At the closing ceremony, attended by UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, USK Rector, and Universitas Teuku Umar Rector, UTM students performed Tari Ratoh Jaroe as a gesture of gratitude. Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry emphasized, "Such experiences not only add academic value but also shape students' character, communication, and leadership skills. Exposure to new environments expands social networks and personal capabilities for global competition."
This initiative strengthened bilateral ties, paving the way for future student exchanges, joint research, and community projects. By democratizing global education through inclusive, experiential learning, UTM empowered participants—and by extension, public audiences—with enduring skills in cultural empathy, innovation, and environmental stewardship, embodying SDG 4's vision for equitable, lifelong opportunities that transcend borders and nurture societal harmony.
Source :
https://news.utm.my/2025/02/program-mobiliti-utm-sulung-2-0-perkasa-jaringan-akademik-dan-budaya/
UTM International dorong mobiliti global lahirkan graduan berdaya saing antarabangsa
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) championed global student mobility through its International office's inbound and outbound programs, as highlighted in initiatives launched and expanded in 2025, to cultivate internationally competitive graduates equipped for lifelong learning. These efforts, managed by UTM International since 2009, emphasize accessible educational exchanges that welcome diverse publics, including first-generation students from low-income B40 families via the SULUNG 2.0 Program, fostering an open, responsive higher education ecosystem under the enVision UTM 2025 vision for global eminence.
A flagship example is the ‘Steps Beyond Home: Nurturing Growth Through Global Exposure’ program, which in early 2025 engaged 40 SULUNG students—high-achieving individuals from underprivileged backgrounds—in immersive outbound exchanges to Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) in Aceh and institutions in Surabaya, Indonesia. Largely funded by host universities, these events provided semester-long credit transfers, research internships, summer schools, edutourism, and upskilling workshops on cultural adaptation and academic integration. Participants from Japan, China, Indonesia, Europe, and Asia joined inbound activities at UTM's Johor Bahru campus, benefiting from dedicated hostels, academic advisors, faculty support, welfare aid, and the Hardship Fund for emergencies.
Open to the general university community, these hosted events featured cultural integration via the International Student Society (ISS) and Internalization@Home agenda, including public-facing edutourism sessions and cross-cultural dialogues that extended beyond enrolled students to local stakeholders. Dr. Ahmad Fadhil Yusof, Inbound Mobility Manager, noted, “We welcome students from various countries like Japan, China, Indonesia, up to Europe. They are provided hostels, assisted by academic advisors, and receive faculty support.” Feedback underscores comfort and acceptance in UTM's multicultural environment, while Cik Zetty Raihan Haji Mohd Yassin, Outbound Mobility Manager, highlighted expansions into research internships and upskilling for direct cultural-academic exposure.
Post-2022 pandemic recovery saw surges in Asian inbound students, particularly from Indonesia and Japan, contributing 5% to QS Asia University Rankings via enhanced internationalization. Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, UTM International Director, affirmed these programs build global leadership by investing in tolerance, cross-border skills, and employability. By democratizing access—through financial support and inclusive events—UTM advances equitable, lifelong education, bridging socioeconomic divides and preparing diverse publics for sustainable global challenges.
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UTM’s CSR-Embedded Edutourism: Educational Events for Local Communities
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) embeds Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into its programs, turning international mobility events into direct, educational engagement opportunities for the local general public. This initiative, detailed in an August 2025 report, demonstrates UTM’s commitment to providing valuable, hands-on learning outside its formal degree structure, fulfilling the criteria for public lifelong learning events.
Key events hosted by UTM that engaged the local public include:
- "Rise Up Your Cleanliness Awareness Program": Held at Kampung Melayu Sungai Danga, students collaborated with the local fishing community in an educational river clean-up. This practical event fostered environmental awareness and provided a cultural exchange, enabling the local community to share traditions and cuisines.
- "From Waste to Wealth" Project: Conducted at the Jentayu Apartment community in Kangkar Pulai, this event educated residents and international participants on sustainable practices. The project showcased how the community successfully transformed organic waste into profitable urban farming practices, an example of technical knowledge transfer and applied economics for local benefit.
- Classroom Enhancement at SK Mutiara Rini: An engagement project at a local primary school in Skudai, where visiting international students collaborated with teachers to enhance classroom resources (e.g., installing Smart TVs and repainting), directly supporting the local public education infrastructure.
By integrating these CSR elements, UTM transforms inbound mobility programs into public educational events that deliver lasting social and academic impact for diverse local communities, providing essential knowledge and skills that promote sustainability and socio-economic well-being.
Source:
https://news.utm.my/2025/08/csr-engagements-strengthen-utms-edutourism-initiatives/
UTM’s CSR-Embedded Edutourism: Educational Events for Local Communities
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) embeds Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into its programs, turning international mobility events into direct, educational engagement opportunities for the local general public. This initiative, detailed in an August 2025 report, demonstrates UTM’s commitment to providing valuable, hands-on learning outside its formal degree structure, fulfilling the criteria for public lifelong learning events.
Key events hosted by UTM that engaged the local public include:
- "Rise Up Your Cleanliness Awareness Program": Held at Kampung Melayu Sungai Danga, students collaborated with the local fishing community in an educational river clean-up. This practical event fostered environmental awareness and provided a cultural exchange, enabling the local community to share traditions and cuisines.
- "From Waste to Wealth" Project: Conducted at the Jentayu Apartment community in Kangkar Pulai, this event educated residents and international participants on sustainable practices. The project showcased how the community successfully transformed organic waste into profitable urban farming practices, an example of technical knowledge transfer and applied economics for local benefit.
- Classroom Enhancement at SK Mutiara Rini: An engagement project at a local primary school in Skudai, where visiting international students collaborated with teachers to enhance classroom resources (e.g., installing Smart TVs and repainting), directly supporting the local public education infrastructure.
By integrating these CSR elements, UTM transforms inbound mobility programs into public educational events that deliver lasting social and academic impact for diverse local communities, providing essential knowledge and skills that promote sustainability and socio-economic well-being.
Source:
https://news.utm.my/2025/08/utm-hfu-global-partnership-flourishes-in-education-and-culture/
UTM Mobility Program to Surabaya: Expanding Horizons through Cultural Immersion
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) spearheaded the “Steps Beyond Home: Nurturing Growth Through Global Exposure Program” from February 16 to 22, 2025, in Surabaya, Indonesia, hosted by Universitas Ciputra (UC). This outbound mobility initiative, fully funded for 20 high-achieving SULUNG 2.0 students from underprivileged backgrounds, embodied lifelong learning by immersing participants in intercultural exchanges open to broader communities, fostering equitable access to global knowledge and heritage preservation.
Themed “Colors of Culture: Uniting Creativity and Heritage,” the program integrated educational and cultural activities to democratize learning beyond academia. A centerpiece was a three-day Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mural painting project in Surabaya’s historic Kota Lama district, a Dutch colonial-era hub blending European, Chinese, Arab, and Malay influences. Collaborating with UC’s Visual Communication Design Department, the Good Job Team (an alumni arts company), and endorsed by the Surabaya City Department of Culture and Tourism, participants created “Senja di Kota Lama” (Dusk in the Old Town)—a vibrant artwork evoking nostalgia and sunset charm. This public-facing endeavor revitalized the area as a heritage tourism destination, inviting local residents and visitors to engage with the evolving landmark, promoting community-driven sustainability in cultural preservation.
Complementing this, delegates explored Surabaya’s heritage through visits to the Javasche Museum, Museum Pendidikan, Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes Monument), and Monumen Kapal Selam (Submarine Monument), gaining insights into the city’s historical and national evolution. These open-access sites facilitated hands-on learning in history and civic pride, extending educational value to the general public.
UTM’s concurrent participation in UC’s PRISM international education fair amplified outreach, showcasing double-degree programs, exchanges, and summer schools to UC students and attendees, sparking interest in inbound mobility and global collaborations. Participants reflected on transformative impacts: the program broadened perspectives, boosted confidence, and ignited aspirations for future international endeavors, with one noting, “Thank you, UTM, for making this journey possible!”
By hosting inclusive events that bridge academia and public spaces, UTM advanced SDG 4’s mandate for lifelong, equitable education, nurturing intercultural competence and societal harmony through accessible, experiential opportunities that empower diverse stakeholders for sustainable global futures.
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