[Kuching, 29th September 2024] – The Faculty of Computing and Software Engineering (FCSE) in collaboration with Politeknik Negeri Padang, Indonesia and UNIMAS, recently embarked on an international community service and SULAM (Service Learning Malaysia University for Society) involving about 32 primary school students of SK Muhibbah, which was situated near Kampung Pinggan Jaya and Kampung Muhibbah, Pending. The community service event saw the participation of Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) students as trainer and facilitators under the oversight of 5 FCSE lecturers in attendance. Entitled “Future Heroes: Journey Into The World of AI”, the students were exposed to concepts like machine learning through creating games using Scratch. Meanwhile lecturers from Politeknik Negeri Padang (PNP), who was the main sponsor, did the introduction to AI and AI games play using AI tools for kids. The team from PNP were lecturers, namely Alde Alanda, Hidra Amnur, Taufik Gusman, Aldo Erianda, Ardian Firosha and also a student, namely Firman Ardiansyah. The team from i-CATS University College (i-CATS UC), as a co-sponsor of this programme, was led by Norahima Annuar, the Industry and Community Engagement Coordinator (FCSE) and Ain Nazihah binti Pakasa (FCSE lecturer) as the main project leader. There were also UNIMAS students assisting in this event.
The two-day workshop also saw the SK Muhibbah students competing with one another for prizes. A simple closing and award ceremony was held on the last day. Abg Mohd Heikal (Deputy Director of Industry and Communicy Engagement, i-CATS UC) started the closing ceremony by giving a speech highlighting the international nature of the programme that saw collaboration between Politeknik Negeri Padang Indonesia, i-CATS University College, UNIMAS and SK Muhibbah. This was followed by a speech from Taufik Gusman, representing lecturers of Politeknik Negeri Padang, where he recounted his experiences in the past 2 days and even recited a pantun in closing:
Ulam pegaga tumbuh melata
Hidup subur di atas bumi
Untuk sahabat Sarawak semua
Kami ucapkan terima kasih
When it was the turn for Assistant Prof Dr Ting Kung Chuang, the Dean of FCSE, to deliver his speech, he conveyed the urban-rural divide as the metaphorical barrier akin to the river that need to be crossed by boat, just like what the volunteers experienced on the way from the urban i-CATS UC campus to SK Muhibbah. He opined such a barrier must not hinder any education outreach and progress. Such was the essence in the current programme. As such, he thanked the Principal of SK Muhibbah for the school’s hospitality, the delegates of Politeknik Negeri Padang’s for their willingness to partner with i-CATS UC for its first maiden international community service journey in Sarawak, UNIMAS for its assistance in mediating this international collaboration, as well as, all the lecturers and students involved. Finally Cikgu Sharif Suhaidee bin Sharif Miasin, the Principal of SK Muhibbah, gave his speech and expressed his appreciation for having selected SK Muhibbah for this international community service programme.
During the award ceremony, hampers were given to the students and tokens of appreciation exchanged between Politeknik Negeri Padang, SK Muhibbah and i-CATS University College. The Principal of SK Muhibbah, Cikgu Sharif Suhaidee bin Sharif Miasin, also gifted every visiting lecturer, student and staff with a souvenir.
