KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — Classrooms turned into living laboratories as students from the Malaysia–Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) showcased how software engineering can solve real problems beyond campus walls at the MJIIT Software Engineering Service Learning Showcase, held at the Sakura Room, MJIIT Building.

More than a student exhibition, the showcase demonstrated how service learning is shaping engineers who are not only technically competent, but socially grounded and industry-ready.

Opening the programme, Head of Department Dr. Mohd Hatta Mohd Ariff underscored service learning as a critical pillar in engineering education, stressing that exposure to real stakeholders and real constraints is essential in preparing graduates for the realities of professional practice. He highlighted experiential learning as a platform that sharpens problem-solving skills, professional ethics and stakeholder engagement — qualities increasingly demanded by industry.

Programme Director Ts. Dr. Liyana ‘Adilla Burhanuddin echoed this perspective, describing service learning as a strategic bridge between theory and practice. She noted that through the initiative, students were able to apply software engineering knowledge in authentic settings while developing teamwork, communication, project management and professional conduct — skills that cannot be learnt from textbooks alone.

Held under the theme “Stakeholders in Action,” the showcase brought together partner schools including Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sentul 2, SK Saujana Utama, SK Taman Putra Perdana, Sekolah Integrasi Rendah Agama JAWI Al Alusi, and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Desa Tun Hussein Onn, alongside contributors from the MJIIT Capstone Project and the Academic Unit. Their presence reinforced the collaborative nature of the programme, where communities are co-creators rather than passive beneficiaries.

The service learning projects were jointly coordinated by academic staff across multiple departments, reflecting MJIIT’s interdisciplinary approach. The Software Engineering Department was represented by Dr. Halinawati Hirol, Dr. Zatul Alwani Shaffiei, Dr. Liyana ‘Adilla Burhanuddin, Dr. Siti Nur Khadijah Aishah Ibrahim, Ts. Dr. Nur Farhana Hordri and Dr. Neo Chin Chea.
The Electronics Systems Engineering Department contributed through Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Azura Hamzah, Ir. Dr. Mohd Hatta Mohd Ariff, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Sumiaty Ambran, Dr. Siti Rahmah Aid and Dr. Kaiyisah Hanis Mohd Azmi, while the Mechanical Precision Engineering Department was represented by Dr. Ahmad Faiz Mohammad, and the Management of Technology Department by Dr. Amir Syafiq Syamin Syah Amir Hamzah and Dr. Syarifah Zyurina Nordin.

Student teams presented their projects under the guidance of their respective lecturers as project Persons-in-Charge (PICs). The solutions on display highlighted students’ ability to translate academic concepts into practical applications, while gaining first-hand experience in managing expectations, constraints and real stakeholder needs.

The event concluded with an appreciation session recognising the collective commitment of students, lecturers and partner schools. Beyond the applause, the showcase affirmed the impact of service learning in nurturing technically capable, socially aware and professionally mature graduates.

Through initiatives like this, MJIIT continues to strengthen the link between academia and society — ensuring that UTM graduates enter the workforce not just ready to work, but ready to contribute.

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