📝 Summary
MJIIT, a part of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, hosted an Arduino and IoT workshop for secondary school students from Kampung Padang Balang, aiming to bridge the technological gap. The hands-on sessions introduced students to basic electronics and Internet of Things concepts, fostering interest in STEM fields and preparing them for Industry 4.0. This initiative also strengthened UTM’s community ties and contributed to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and innovation.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through its Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), successfully hosted the “Arduino & IoT Workshop with Kampung Padang Balang Students 2026.” Held at Lab Monozukuri, Level 5, MJIIT UTM Kuala Lumpur, this initiative served as a crucial part of UTM’s university social responsibility, aiming to bridge the technological gap by providing early exposure to cutting-edge technologies for secondary school students from Kampung Padang Balang, Sentul.
The program, organized by the Electronic System Engineering (ELECSYS) Student Society of MJIIT, saw robust collaboration from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) UTM Kuala Lumpur Student Branch and Pewaris Kampung Padang Balang. It successfully engaged 18 enthusiastic secondary school students from Forms 1 to 5 from the local community.
Dr Mohd Fitri Mohd Yakub, Program Advisor, highlighted the significance of such outreach initiatives. “This workshop is a testament to MJIIT’s commitment to nurturing young talent and making advanced technology accessible. By introducing Arduino and Internet of Things (IoT) through interactive sessions, we aim to ignite interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields among these students, preparing them for the demands of Industry 4.0 and fostering a technologically literate community.”
The one-day workshop offered a structured and interactive learning platform, guiding participants through basic electronics, including fundamental components such as DHT11 sensors, microcontrollers, light-emitting diodes, and the use of the Arduino Integrated Development Environment. It also introduced core concepts of the IoT, covering the Blynk platform, custom dashboard development, and artificial intelligence (AI) prompt integration for design. The programme concluded with hands-on mini projects in which students connected electronic components and applied IoT principles to build functional systems, enabling them to control devices via the transformation of theoretical knowledge into practical skills.
The program Director, Siti Aisyah Maizu, expressed her satisfaction with the program’s success. “The students showed remarkable enthusiasm and quickly grasped complex concepts. Their active engagement during the hands-on sessions was truly inspiring. We believe this program has not only enhanced their technical knowledge and self-confidence but also significantly strengthened the bond between UTM and the local community, building a foundation for future collaborations.”
The program effectively contributed to several United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education through the provision of practical and accessible science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning; SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure by exposing students to emerging and future technologies; and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through strengthened collaboration between the university, community and related organisations. This initiative further demonstrates UTM’s commitment to community engagement and its strategic role in cultivating future innovators who are prepared to address evolving technological challenges.
UTM remains steadfast in its commitment to drive innovation and extend technological literacy to the community, fostering a generation capable of contributing to Malaysia’s technological advancement.
