SKUDAI, Dec 5 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) continued its commitment to community engagement and sustainable education through an Academic Service-Learning (ASL) programme titled “Smart Energy, Safe Living”, conducted at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Desa Skudai. The programme was organised as part of the SKEF2023 Electrical Energy Literacy course and aimed to cultivate early awareness of smart energy usage and electrical safety among primary school pupils.
The programme was led by Nik Muhd Daniel Hakim Kamalruzaman as Programme Director and supervised by Dr. Nurul Nadia Ibrahim, Course Advisor for the Electrical Energy Literacy course. A total of 114 Year 6 pupils actively participated in the programme, which was conducted through a series of interactive, hands-on and experiential learning activities.
The initiative aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. Through early exposure to energy literacy, the programme supports the development of responsible energy behaviour and promotes long-term sustainability awareness among young learners.
Throughout the programme, pupils were introduced to fundamental concepts of electricity, energy efficiency, renewable energy as well as safe practices in using electrical appliances. Learning was delivered in an engaging manner through a variety of activities including ice-breaking sessions, poster-making, group chants, quizzes, and an “Electricity Hunt”. The Electricity Hunt activity encouraged pupils to explore their surroundings to identify real-life applications of electricity, helping them connect theoretical knowledge with daily experiences.
A dedicated educational talk on electrical literacy and safety further reinforced key messages such as understanding unnecessary energy consumption and recognising potential electrical hazards at home and school. These activities not only enhanced students’ understanding but also promoted teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills.
For UTM students, the programme served as a practical platform to apply classroom knowledge in a real community setting, while strengthening soft skills such as leadership, collaboration, and public engagement. At the same time, the programme strengthened ties between UTM and the local school community, reflecting the university’s role in contributing knowledge and expertise beyond campus.
Overall, Smart Energy, Safe Living successfully achieved its objectives by empowering young learners with essential electrical knowledge, promoting safer energy practices, and fostering sustainability awareness from an early age. The programme exemplifies UTM’s ongoing efforts to integrate academic learning with meaningful societal impact through ASL initiatives.
