📝 Summary
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is actively supporting the national STEM agenda through the STI 100³ Programme by hosting students and teachers from local schools. Recently, UTM’s Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Energy Engineering provided an immersive university experience for 56 students and 10 teachers from SMK Bandar Baru Uda, including hands-on experiments and tours of advanced facilities. This initiative aims to inspire young learners and build a strong pipeline of future STEM talent for Malaysia.
JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 13 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to Malaysia’s national STEM agenda by actively supporting the STI 100³ Programme, a flagship initiative led by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) and higher learning institutions across the country. As one of Malaysia’s leading research universities, UTM plays a vital role in translating national STEM aspirations into impactful grassroots engagement with schools and young learners.
As part of this commitment, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Energy Engineering (FKT), UTM recently hosted a group of 56 students and 10 teachers from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bandar Baru Uda, providing them with an immersive university experience designed to inspire curiosity, confidence, and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The visit reflects UTM’s continuous efforts to open its laboratories, research facilities, and academic expertise to pre-university students, ensuring that STEM exposure begins early and remains meaningful.
The visit provided students with valuable exposure to university-level science and engineering through interactive learning activities. A key highlight of the program was a hands-on chemistry experiment session at the Bioprocess Laboratory, conducted by Senior Lecturer Dr. Eraricar Salleh.
During this interactive session, students actively participated in experimental activities, allowing them to experience laboratory practices firsthand while gaining insights into fundamental concepts of chemical and bioprocess engineering. The session sparked enthusiasm and encouraged students to ask questions, explore ideas, and think critically, a key elements of effective STEM learning.
The students were also given the opportunity to visit the Institute of Bioproduct Development (IBD), where they toured advanced pilot-scale facilities equipped with industrial-grade systems such as bioreactors, spray dryers, separation units, and process control technologies. This exposure helped students understand how scientific knowledge is translated into practical applications that support industrial innovation, sustainability, and national development.
The programme reflects UTM’s broader commitment to working closely with MOSTI, MOE, and schools nationwide to nurture future scientists, engineers, and innovators. By leveraging its research strengths, academic expertise, and world-class facilities, UTM contributes directly to building a strong STEM talent pipeline for Malaysia.
The programme was coordinated by academic staffs from FKT UTM, Dr. Nur Farzana Ahmad Sanadi, Dr. Yanti Maslina Mohd Jusoh, Dr. Abdul Halim Mohd Yusof, Dr. Muhammad Zulhilmi Ahmad, Dr. Eraricar Salleh, and Dr. Nur Hidayah Zainan, with strong support from technician specialists at the Bioprocess Laboratory and the IBD. Their dedication and teamwork ensured the smooth execution and success of the programme.
UTM hopes that this memorable visit will ignite lasting interest in STEM fields, inspire students to pursue higher education in science and engineering, and contribute to Malaysia’s vision of becoming a knowledge-based, innovation-led nation.
