BANGKOK – From August 2 to August 8, 2024, the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) hosted an exciting international educational initiative: Global Collaborative Learning 2024. The program brought together 40 enthusiastic students from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan, all working towards a common goal: to innovate a local library in Thailand using cutting-edge design thinking.
The Global Collaborative Learning program is designed to promote national and international collaboration among students, allowing them to exchange ideas, cultures, and technological skills. This year’s focus was on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet-of-Thing (IoT) to modernize library services, making them more accessible, engaging, and efficient for the community.
During the six-day program, students participated in intensive workshops and hands-on sessions at KMUTT. They utilized Tinkercode.my block programming and Teachable Machine to create an innovative AI and IoT prototypes. The students were divided into ten groups, each tasked with developing a unique prototype aimed at enhancing library functionalities.
On the final day, the groups presented their prototypes to a panel of librarians from public libraries, showcasing a range of creative solutions from automated book sorting systems to interactive AI-driven information kiosks. The presentations highlighted the students’ ability to combine technical skills with creative problem-solving, offering practical solutions to real-world challenges.
Delegates from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Ritsumeikan University (RU), Japan and Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), Indonesia was lead by Professor Asai Shizuyo, Ir. Dr. Fauzan Khairi Che Harun and Professor Dr. Yuli Rahmawati respectively. The event was a remarkable success, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the students and respective lecturers including thanks to the dedicated efforts of the students and the invaluable support of their lecturers including Ts Dr. Nurul Ashikin Abdul Kadir from UTM, and Mr. Edith Alanas from UNJ. Their guidance and expertise were instrumental in helping the students navigate the complexities of AI and IoT technologies.
Associate Professor Dr. Tula Jutarosaga, the Dean of the Faculty of Science at KMUTT, played a pivotal role in making this event possible. His leadership and commitment to fostering international collaboration were greatly appreciated by all participants.
“Hosting the Global Collaborative Learning program at KMUTT has been an incredible experience. It is inspiring to see young minds from different countries come together to create innovative solutions that can have a positive impact on our libraries and communities,” said Dr. Jutarosaga.
The Global Collaborative Learning 2024 program not only provided students with valuable technical skills but also emphasized the importance of cross-cultural understanding and teamwork. As they return to their respective countries, these young innovators carry with them the knowledge and experience to continue making a difference in the world of technology and beyond.
This article was written by: Fauzan Khairi Che Harun, Nurul Ashikin Abdul-Kadir, Loo Ix Shen