JOHOR BAHRU, Apr 16 — In a remarkable display of community engagement and technological advocacy, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students from the International Student Society (ISS) Central successfully organized the TinkerBot STEM Outreach Program at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tasek Utara. Held in conjunction with the school’s Sambutan Minggu STEM Peringkat Sekolah (School-Level STEM Week Celebration), the initiative actively advanced Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education by immersing primary school students aged 9 to 12 in an interactive robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) experience.

Supported by UTM International and co-organized with ISS Libya, the event highlighted the profound impact of university-community collaborations, driving forward SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through a shared commitment to local educational development.

Spearheaded by Program Director Akkas Ahamed Abdul Kareem and supported by eight international students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), the outreach centered on hands-on innovation. The primary attraction was the TinkerBot, a mobile robot powered by an ESP32 microcontroller and mounted on a custom-designed printed circuit board (PCB). Exposing young minds to such cutting-edge technology and modern programming served as a crucial stepping stone to nurturing future engineers, directly aligning with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

To make the learning experience both practical and socially relevant, the UTM students designed an engaging “Clean Ocean” mission simulation. Primary school students were tasked with controlling a diver robot equipped with a front gripper to collect “oil barrels” scattered in a simulated sea. This competitive challenge not only sharpened problem-solving skills but also fostered vital environmental awareness regarding marine pollution, creatively integrating SDG 14: Life Below Water into the robotics curriculum.

The program further expanded the young learners’ horizons by introducing them to the practical applications of AI. Using camera vision tools like Teachable Machine alongside the Tinkercode system, students learned to integrate gesture recognition into robotic systems. Working in teams, one student navigated the robot via a mobile phone while their teammate operated the front gripper using AI-based gesture controls to complete their mission in the shortest time possible.

“Inspiring young students to explore robotics and artificial intelligence at an early age is important because it builds confidence, curiosity, and future readiness in STEM fields,” said Akkas Ahamed.

“As engineering students from UTM, we believe it is our responsibility to share knowledge, transfer practical skills, and motivate younger generations to pursue innovation and technology-driven careers.”

The outreach was guided by FKE lecturers Ir. Ts. Dr. Fauzan Khairi Che Harun and Dr. Nurul Ashikin Abdul Kadir, who served as program advisors. Showcasing a unified university effort, the event also featured diverse STEM exhibition booths from lecturers and researchers across various faculties. Prominent figures present to support the students included the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir, Associate Director of Global Education and Experience (GEE), UTM International, Assoc. Prof. ChM. Dr. Norahim Ibrahim, and Dr. Nurul Ashikin Abdul Kadir.

Ultimately, the TinkerBot program reflects UTM’s unwavering commitment to producing socially responsible engineering students who actively champion the United Nations’ Global Goals through meaningful, hands-on educational outreach.

Authored by: Akkas Ahamed Abdul Kareem and Hemnaarth Tanakaran