JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 12 – A final competition on ‘Recycle E-Waste: Innovate Solutions’ was held at the Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano), Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Johor Bahru. The program involved the participation of five schools around Johor Bahru, namely Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bandar Baru Uda, SMK Tasek Utara 2, SMK Tasek Utara, SMK Dato Abdul Rahman Yassin, and Sekolah Menengah Teknik. Sponsored by the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU) Contribution Grant and Knowledge Transfer Program (KTP)@Faculty, the event was inaugurated by Dr. Roslinda Zainal, Director of the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, UTM. Representatives from the UTM Centre for Community and Industry Network (UTM CCIN), UTM Campus Sustainability (UTMCS), and juries comprising UTM researchers and a lecturer from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Jasin also attended.
Earlier, the SERIES 1, 2, and 3 programs were conducted at SMK Bandar Baru Uda and online under the supervision of nine UTM researchers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying (FABU) assisted by students from Physics Student Council (PSC).
The core of this program is built around three key objectives: raising awareness about the importance of proper E-Waste disposal, ensuring that the younger generation becomes E-Waste literate and understands the concept of E-Waste recycling for environmental preservation, and innovating solutions to recycle E-Waste into AI-assisted art and sculpture products.
Additionally, the program emphasizes the five key principles of ISES (Integrity, Synergy, Excellence, and Sustainability). It is seen as a collaborative initiative by researchers and students to promote the core value of sustainability. The program also aligns with UTM’s motto, “Innovating Solutions,” by facilitating the transfer of knowledge from UTM researchers and students to the community. This initiative aims to create new products, thereby empowering the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through project-based learning beyond the traditional classroom environment.
The incorporation of AI in the Recycle E-Waste: Innovate Solutions program aligns with the growing role of artificial intelligence and supports UTM’s mission as a leader in AI development at the higher education level. UTM aims to foster future-oriented, industry-focused, and humanity-centered AI talent to provide innovative solutions that benefit society. AI is expected to play a critical role in developing talent through cutting-edge education, producing innovative solutions via transdisciplinary research, and supporting industry growth, ultimately contributing to societal well-being by balancing economic progress with social impact.
The introduction of Design Thinking elements also nurtures a culture of critical and creative thinking, encouraging innovative solutions to community challenges. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG4: Quality Education, by improving the quality of learning both inside and outside the classroom. Moreover, SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals is highlighted through the holistic collaboration between government, universities, communities, and industry (GUCI). This program integrates the Government—represented by the District Education Office (PPD), the University—UTM, the Community—teachers and students from five schools, and Industry—ERTH and Chumbaka as strategic partners, ensuring the program’s success.
The program conducted under the Department of Physics with the collaboration of the PSC as the program secretariat proves that student involvement in community programs is one of the initiatives in improving soft skills and graduate attributes through communication skills and organizing programs with the community.
Overall, the Recycle E-Waste: Innovate Solutions program has highlighted the motto “E-Waste: Small Devices, Big Impact” in fostering awareness that although the small electronic devices that we often use may seem small and harmless, their impact on the environment is very big if not managed with the right procedures. All participants from 8 groups successfully created various product innovations in line with the 17 Sustainable Develop themes. Congratulation to all participants and winners!
Prepared by: Siti Salwa Alias, Maisarah Duralim