National Science Week Carnival 2023 at Pahang State Level supports efforts to cultivate Science, Technology, and Innovation

PEKAN, 11 November 2023 - The National Science Week Carnival 2023 at the Pahang State Level, co-organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), the Office of the State Secretary of Pahang, and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), drew over 4,000 visitors from the local community, comprising school students, higher education students, and the public.

The Pahang State Exco for Investment, Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Yang Berhormat Dato' Mohamad Nizar Dato' Sri Mohamad Najib, represented Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Sri Haji Wan Rosdy, Chief Minister of Pahang to inaugurate the carnival.

He stated that the transformation of the country's educational landscape, which places emphasis on learning in the fields of Education, Training, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and Science, Technology, Innovation, and Mathematics Education (STEM), is based on a global trend shift that is beginning to centre around science, technology, and digitalisation. 

"The significant shift within the framework of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (I.R 4.0) sweeping across the globe is a clear signal that the approach in the education sector needs to evolve. 

This evolution is crucial for preparing a workforce to be highly skilled, ensuring progress and efficient production of human capital resources that can meet the demands of the future."

“Malaysia needs to produce more highly skilled workers in the fields of TVET and STEM, which should be integrated within the national education system at both higher education and tertiary education initiation levels."

“Therefore, this initiative is crucial to mainstream these fields among schoolchildren, youth, and the local community," he said.

According to the Secretary-General of MOSTI, Dato' Ts. Dr. Haji Aminuddin Hassim, a study by the Malaysian Science and Technology Information Centre (MASTIC) in 2019 indicated that among the reasons people refrain from visiting science centres and similar establishments is attributed to factors such as 'distance' and 'interest'."

Various engaging activities centred on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) were featured throughout the MSN Carnival 2023, held from 10 to 11 November 2023. 

These activities provided visitors with insights, including Electric Vehicle Demonstrations, Drone Flight Demonstrations, E-sport Challenges, Hands-On Science activities, Planet VR, and STI lectures.

Also present to represent UMPSA's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, was Professor Datin Ts. Dr. Mimi Sakinah Abdul Munaim, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Centre for Industry and Community Linkages.

The choice of UMPSA as the host for organizing this carnival has established a benchmark for UMPSA as a location that promotes Science and Technology activities in the state of Pahang.

Throughout the two-day carnival, visitors were treated to a variety of engaging activities centred around science and technology, including drone demonstrations, Virtual Reality (VR), and UMPSA's electric vehicles.

Visitors also had the opportunity to meet, interact, and hear firsthand experiences from Malaysia’s First Astronaut, Dato’ Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie Sheikh Mustapha, about his time in outer space.

Moreover, students were given the opportunity to visit laboratories and engage in concurrent STEAM activities at both UMPSA Pekan and the Gambang Campus.

By: Nor Ainaa Adhreena Mohd Shukri, Centre For Corporate Communications

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMPSA Career Centre (UMPSACC)