JOHOR BAHRU, July 1 – The Train the Trainers IoT Innovation workshop served as a vital platform for knowledge sharing among staff and students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and other invited participants. Held with the aim of strengthening the capacity of trainers in key areas such as electronics, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and programming, the workshop gathered a total of 74 participants from diverse backgrounds. This included lecturers, assistant engineers, UTM students, and external guests from Petrosains, making it a dynamic and collaborative learning environment.
The workshop was led by the distinguished Ir. Ts. Dr. Fauzan Khairi Che Harun, who delivered a series of insightful and interactive sessions. His expertise in electronics and embedded systems laid the foundation for participants to better understand the integration of IoT and AI in real-world applications. Dr. Fauzan’s sessions were designed not only to deliver theoretical concepts but also to demonstrate practical implementation, ensuring participants gained hands-on experience with modern technologies.
A key feature of the workshop was its focus on rapid innovation within a limited time frame. All participants were divided into small teams and were provided with TinkerKit learning modules and a variety of sensors. Using these tools, each group was challenged to conceptualize and develop a prototype that applied both IoT and AI elements. This collaborative task encouraged critical thinking, group coordination, and creative problem-solving under time constraints, simulating real innovation scenarios in the industry.
The use of TinkerKit enabled participants to explore basic electronics and sensor integration with microcontrollers in a guided, hands-on environment. Various sensors such as temperature, motion, and light sensors were utilized in their projects, depending on the innovation idea proposed by each group. This approach emphasized the importance of sensor data acquisition, data processing, and intelligent decision-making through AI algorithms.
Throughout the workshop, the atmosphere was vibrant with discussions, brainstorming sessions, and technical troubleshooting, reflecting the enthusiasm and dedication of all participants. Facilitators were also present to support the teams and provide technical guidance where needed. The presence of representatives from Petrosains added further value by bringing in perspectives from the educational outreach and public engagement sectors, enhancing the relevance of the projects to real-world STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) promotion.
Pitching session and project demonstration by some of the participants
In summary, by equipping participants with interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills, the Train the Trainers workshop effectively met its goals. Additionally, it promoted a cooperative culture of innovation in which participants acquired soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership in addition to new technical competencies. Since the trained participants can now impart their knowledge and skills to their respective institutions and communities, this initiative is anticipated to have a long-lasting effect, supporting the larger objective of promoting technology-based education and innovation in Malaysia.
This article was written by: Nurul Ashikin Abdul-Kadir and Nasrul Humaimi Mahmood.