6 September 2024 – A three-day community outreach program, “STEM in School,” successfully concluded in Bandar Lampung, engaging students from three local schools – Sekolah Menengah Atas Yayasan Pembina Universitas Lampung (SMA YP Unila), SMK Negeri 2, and SMA S Al-Kautsar. The event, held from September 4 to 6, was organized by the Kolej Pengajian Pengkomputeran, Informatik dan Matematik (KPPIM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam in collaboration with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Lampung (Unila), Indonesia.
“STEM in School” is part of the programme under the student mobility outbound program at Unila, following the recent academic delegation from KPPIM to Unila to strengthen educational and research collaborations. The program’s main objective was to promote interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through interactive and fun math-related games. This initiative aims to address the declining interest in STEM fields among Malaysian and Indonesian secondary school students.
Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, the program focuses on improving math literacy through engaging and inclusive learning methods. It contributes to providing equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The event was led by two mathematics senior lecturers from KPPIM, Dr. Nur Syazana Anuar and Dr. Hazizah Mohd Ijam, along with 11 students from KPPIM and 5 students from FMIPA. They facilitated various hands-on activities and games designed to make math learning enjoyable, spark curiosity, and enhance problem-solving skills among the participants.
As part of the broader student mobility outbound initiative, this program also fostered cross-cultural exchange and collaboration between Malaysian and Indonesian students and faculty members. It reflects the spirit of international cooperation in education, providing participants with a unique opportunity to learn, share knowledge, and build networks across borders.
The “STEM in School” outreach program represents a key step in nurturing young talents in mathematics and sciences, encouraging students to pursue STEM careers and contribute to sustainable development in their communities. This initiative demonstrates how academic collaboration between UiTM and Unila can lead to meaningful educational impacts and inspire the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators.
Author: Nur Syazana Anuar