IoT Workshop Brings UTM–UII Students Together

Suhana Mohamed Sultan

UTM students attending the IBITEC conference on the first day.

YOGYAKARTA, Nov 14 – The spirit of innovation and cross-cultural collaboration came alive as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) joined hands for a dynamic Internet of Things (IoT) workshop held in conjunction with the International Conference on Informatics, Engineering, Science and Technology (IBITEC) 2025. Hosted at UII’s scenic Yogyakarta campus, the workshop brought together about 30 students from both institutions for a fully immersive learning and tinkering experience centred on the ESP32 microcontroller-based TinkerKit.

The workshop transformed the conference room into a buzzing maker space—filled with wires, sensors, laptops, laughter, and the unmistakable spark of discovery. With participants coming from diverse backgrounds, the event became a platform where ideas crossed borders, skills deepened, and friendships were formed.

UTM and UII students’ group photo after the workshop

Guided by the head facilitator from UTM, Dr. Mohd. Afzan Othman assisted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suhana Mohamed Sultan, the workshop introduced participants to the ESP32, a powerful microcontroller popular among hobbyists and industry practitioners for its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. Leveraging the ESP32-based TinkerKit, students were challenged to build simple yet meaningful IoT prototypes using a range of sensors, including a Humidity Sensor, Light-Dependent Resistor (LDR), Infrared (IR) Sensor, and Ultrasonic Sensor.

Dr. Afzan, the head instructor explaining about IoT to all the participants

The hands-on approach empowered students to troubleshoot code, adjust wiring, refine sensor calibration, and celebrate small victories through moments that truly define the engineering learning journey. UTM students were seen guiding their UII counterparts through coding challenges, while UII students contributed local insights and creative twists to the projects. The natural flow of peer-to-peer learning made the workshop a memorable teaching–learning experience for everyone involved.

Students from both universities help each other to complete their tasks

Beyond the technical outcomes, the workshop highlighted the shared mission of both universities: to nurture globally minded talent ready to contribute to the rapidly expanding digital and IoT ecosystem. The learning sessions were complemented by informal sharing, campus tours, and cultural interactions that deepened the UTM delegation’s appreciation for the strong academic culture at UII and Yogyakarta generally.

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaborations in the fields of electrical and electronics including IoT, embedded systems, and artificial intelligence in the education. Discussions during the visit also touched on student exchange opportunities that would enable more sustained engagement between UTM and UII.