17.2.5 : Collaboration with NGOs for SDGs
Paper Plane Competition at Selangor Aviation Show 2024 Promotes STEAM Learning and SDGs
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)'s co-organization of the Paper Plane Competition at the Selangor Aviation Show 2024 establishes a strong model for international collaboration and research to review comparative approaches and develop international best practice on tackling the SDGs, specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
Held in partnership with the Human Life Advancement Foundation (Human Life) and co-organized by Invest Selangor, this event provided a unique, hands-on, and accessible platform to promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education to participants across all ages (7 years old and above). The structured competition required participants to apply principles of aerodynamics and flight physics to innovate their paper plane designs for optimal airtime and distance.
This initiative is a demonstrable best practice in SDG 4 outreach, showing a highly engaging, low-cost methodology for making complex scientific concepts accessible to the wider community. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application within the high-tech context of an Aviation Show, UTM generates an evidence base on the effectiveness of non-traditional, gamified learning for technical skills, directly supporting SDG 9’s innovation goals.
The data and model from this successful, multi-category competition can be reviewed through international collaboration to inform how other institutions and governments can implement effective, engaging, and scalable STEAM programs, thus contributing to a global consensus on best practices for fostering essential innovation skills across diverse age groups.
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UTM and Theta Edge Enhance Indigenous Education with STEM Programs
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)'s strategic collaboration with industry partner Theta Edge Berhad at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Lemoi, Cameron Highlands, represents a crucial model for international collaboration and research to review comparative approaches and develop international best practice on tackling the SDGs, specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality).
This initiative, the Programme to Elevate Indigenous Schools Through STEM Education, focuses on implementing four high-impact programs: the Mini STEM Fun Learning Toy Library (FLTL), Digital Literacy, Information Literacy, and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). By implementing and meticulously measuring the impact of these diverse, integrated programs—particularly in a geographically remote area like Pos Lemoi—UTM generates valuable, empirical data. For example, the Digital Literacy program specifically measured student learning before and after intervention.
This documented, holistic approach to serving a marginalized Indigenous community provides a powerful comparative case study. Through subsequent international collaboration and research, this evidence can be reviewed against similar global interventions in remote or underserved populations. The success in bridging the educational and digital divide, while also addressing well-being (SDG 3) and technological access (SDG 9), allows UTM to contribute to the development of international best practices for achieving equitable and inclusive quality education in challenging environments, effectively localizing the SDGs and providing a framework for global replication.
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Connect Neighbours, Cashless Network Programme collaboration between UTM and FELDA
The "Connect Neighbors, Cashless Network Programme," a significant collaboration between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)'s Azman Hashim International Business School (AHIBS) and the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), establishes an evidence-based model for international collaboration and research to review comparative approaches and develop international best practice on tackling the SDGs, specifically SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The initiative, a direct translation of an AHIBS MBA action research project into meaningful community engagement, focuses on strengthening rural community bonds and promoting financial inclusion through a cashless framework in FELDA Mempaga 1, Pahang. This exemplifies the GUCI (Government, University, Community, and Industry) engagement model in action, involving partners like Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) and CelcomDigi.
By integrating financial guidance sessions, entrepreneurial workshops, and technology transfer, UTM is pioneering a holistic approach to address the digital and economic disparities faced by agricultural communities. This tested model provides a robust comparative approach that can be analyzed against global efforts to digitize rural economies and empower underserved populations. The inclusion of an environmental component, such as the Perah tree planting, further grounds the initiative in SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The programmatic structure, which successfully translates academic research into a real-world, multi-sectoral solution, constitutes a significant contribution to developing international best practice for sustainable community empowerment and financial technology adoption in developing rural settings.
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