HULU LANGAT, June 28 – In a joint effort to nurture future-ready communities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) through the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) successfully executed a community-based educational initiative titled “STEM untuk Masa Depan: Eksplorasi Ilmu bersama Komuniti Orang Asli Kuala Pangsun, Hulu Langat, Selangor”. The one-day program, held on 28 June 2025 at the Balai Raya Orang Asli Kuala Pangsun, focused on empowering the Orang Asli community especially the younger generation through STEM education, entrepreneurship, and sahsiah development.
This initiative was funded by the UTM Centre for Community and Industry Network (CCIN) under the Knowledge Transfer Programme – Research & Innovation Grant (KTP-RIG), and led by Dr. Nabilah Zaini, Head of Sub-Project 1. It was executed with strong collaboration from Wanita Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia (PERKIM) Cawangan Kuala Lumpur Utara (WPCKLU), who served as a key community partner and co-organizer.
A total of 15 Orang Asli school-aged children participated in the program, guided by five MJIIT student facilitators from various engineering programmes. Each participant was rotated through five thematic knowledge booths (Science, Technology, Engineering, Digital and Mathematic themes), where 15 to 20-minute sessions provided immersive, hands-on learning based on university-level knowledge re-contextualized for community understanding.
The showcased booths and their specific themes were:
CHEMPRO – “Kesedaran Kualiti Air dan Kepentingan Sungai”
Demonstrated natural water filtration methods and the importance of protecting river ecosystems for community health and sustainability.
ELECSYS – “SMART Water Planting & SMART Home”
Engaged students in basic electrical and IoT concepts through solar-powered irrigation and home automation models.
PREMECH – “DIY Fixed-Wing Drone Building & Flight Program for Indigenous Youth”
Introduced basic mechanical design principles and allowed students to participate in drone-building and flight demonstrations.
SOFEA – “Learn Smart with ChatGPT – Empowering Students to Learn, Not Just Ask”
Taught digital literacy and AI-assisted learning techniques using ChatGPT, showing how technology can support independent and creative thinking.
MATH – “MathHunt”
Provided fun, interactive mathematical puzzles and logic games to stimulate problem-solving and numerical reasoning.
Each booth exemplified how academic concepts can be transformed into impactful, community-friendly knowledge, reinforcing the idea that education is both accessible and empowering.
The program was further enriched by a sahsiah and parenting education slot facilitated by PERKIM WPCKLU, entitled “Anak Cemerlang, Sahsiah Gemilang: Peranan Ibu Bapa Era Digital”. This session, attended by local parents and guardians, highlighted the vital role of family in nurturing character and values in a rapidly digitalising society.
A team of nine academic staff from MJIIT served as committee members, ensuring the message of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic) was accurately and effectively communicated across all levels of the program.
The event was officiated by the Dean of MJIIT, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Ts. Nurulakmar Abu Husain, who commended the initiative’s holistic design. Throughout the day, the Orang Asli children engaged enthusiastically in each booth, asked insightful questions, and gained new perspectives on how science and innovation can shape their lives. The program concluded with a strong motivational message, encouraging these young minds to strive for academic success and dream beyond boundaries.
This initiative aligns with UTM’s strategic mission to empower communities and contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) notably SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The success of STEM untuk Masa Depan demonstrates the university’s ongoing commitment to education that transforms lives and futures.