BACHOK, Oct 13— The Bijak Lestari programme, organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur, returns with a mission to empower rural education communities through technology and innovative learning. This initiative is carried out under the University Social Responsibility (USR) umbrella. It is part of the STEM@K.E.L.A.T.E programme, an effort to strengthen science and technology education at the grassroots level in Kelantan.
The one-day programme, held at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Puteri Saadong, focused on teachers and students as its primary target groups. This year’s emphasis was on leveraging AI in education, particularly as a tool to reduce teachers’ daily workload and enhance creativity in teaching and learning while nurturing students’ interest in Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) through hands-on and interactive activities.
AI & Canva: Technology that Supports Teachers
The main highlight of the programme was the CikguLearnAI workshop, which focused on developing teachers’ skills in using artificial intelligence (AI) on the Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (DELiMA) platform and Canva. The workshop empowered 30 teachers to plan lessons more efficiently, reduce routine workloads, and enhance the quality of teaching. Participants were guided in using ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot to plan classroom activities, generate 21st-century learning–aligned lesson plans (RPH), create in-class practice questions systematically, and use AI to support day-to-day teaching tasks.
The strength of CikguLearnAI lies in its structured, hands-on training approach that helps teachers master AI skills within a short period of time.
In addition, the Canva for Education session enabled teachers to explore Canva AI’s practical features, including Quiz Generation, Awesome Templates, Timer, Reaction Icons, and QR Code Generator. Teachers also learned to utilise collaborative teaching tools via Canva Whiteboard — incorporating Sticky Notes, Templates, Sticky Notes Sorter, and AI Summariser to foster more engaging classroom activities.
Teachers responded enthusiastically to the session, recognising the significant potential of AI in reducing their workload and enhancing their overall teaching experience.
STEM & Microscale Chemistry Kit: Students Excited to Experiment
Adding to the uniqueness of this year’s programme was the involvement of a team of chemistry experts from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mazidatulakmam Miskam. Her team introduced the Microscale Chemistry Kit, an eco-friendly and safe laboratory kit that allows students to conduct real chemical experiments using minimal resources.
The STEM activity involved 60 Form 3 and Form 4 students from SMK Puteri Saadong. Students carried out three chemistry experiments; Kit 1: Cation Test & Acid Base Titration, Kit 2: Electrolysis of Aqueous Copper (II) Sulphate and Sodium Hydroxide & Electrochemistry: Electroplating and Kit 3: Determination of the Empirical Formula of Copper (II) Oxide & Constructing Balanced Chemical Equations.
These hands-on experiments successfully sparked students’ interest in science and technology, offering them a fun, engaging, and meaningful learning experience.
The Strength Behind Bijak Lestari
Behind the success of this programme is a passionate and dedicated team. Bijak Lestari is led by Dr. Nurhasmiza Abu Hasan Sazalli, the Programme Director and supported by its team members, Dr. Nuraqilah Nadjwa Miskam, Izyanie Khazali, Muhammad Aiman Amrun, Nur Fatimah Mohd Radzi, Cik Zuraida binti Che Leh @ Hussin, Nurhazirah Ja’afar, and Alya Nadirah Kamaruddin.
This team stands out for its diverse expertise — from lecturers and language educators to support staff and UTM students with strong IT skills, all united by a shared commitment to contribute meaningfully to the community and drive a high-impact educational initiative.
The programme not only provides technical training but also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – Education for All, emphasising access to quality education through technology.
Positive Reception and Lasting Impact
This year, the programme focused on teachers and students from SMK Puteri Saadong, while also involving teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukit Marak, Bachok, Kelantan. These teachers previously participated in the same workshop in 2024. They returned this year upon the school’s request, which is a clear sign of the programme’s lasting impact and the community’s trust in UTM’s initiative.
Acknowledgements
The success of Bijak Lestari was further strengthened through the support of various parties. Accommodation and meals were fully sponsored by Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Ir. Ts. Dr. Zainai Mohamed, a Member of the UTM Board of Directors. In addition, a UTM professor generously sponsored vehicle rental to facilitate the team’s travel to the programme site. The programme also received contributions from Dato’ Lokman Adam, Chairman of Permodalan RISDA Berhad, and YB Tuan Haji Azli Yusof, Member of Parliament for Shah Alam. Their contributions played a key role in ensuring the smooth execution of the programme and amplifying its impact on the target community.
Looking Ahead
Through its technology-driven and interactive approach, Bijak Lestari continues to demonstrate UTM’s commitment to supporting national education aspirations and strengthening the university–community relationship. This programme not only brings direct benefits to participants but also opens the door to wider collaboration among higher education institutions in Malaysia.
Written by: Izyanie Khazali (English Language Teacher), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), UTM Kuala Lumpur.
Photography by: Nur Fatimah Mohd Radzi (Assistant Administrative Officer), Raja Zarith Sofiah Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (RZS-CASIS), Kuala Lumpur, and Alya Nadirah Kamaruddin, UTM Undergraduate Student
