UMPSA organises Science Awareness Programme at SMATAF to enhance students’ interest and skills

PEKAN, 6 November 2024 – The Profesor Turun Padang Programme 2024, organised by the Centre for Industry and Community Network (ICoN) and the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), successfully increased the awareness and interest of Sekolah Menengah Agama Tengku Ampuan Fatimah (SMATAF) students in science subjects.

The programme, held at Dewan Ibnu Sina, SMATAF, Pekan, was attended by 60 students from Forms One to Three.

Also present were five Science and Mathematics teachers from SMATAF.

The programme aimed to encourage students to understand the importance of science in daily life.

The main activities included a lecture titled ‘Science in the Quran’ and group activity sessions (ADK).

The lecture titled ‘Science in the Quran’ was delivered by FTKKP Lecturer Associate Professor Dr Fatmawati Adam, who linked the principles of modern science and Islam by highlighting concepts that demonstrate how science and religion complement each other.

The lecture captivated the students.

This approach not only piqued the students’ interest but also encouraged them to view science as a key element in understanding God’s creations.

According to FTKKP Lecturer and Programme Leader, Associate Professor Ts. Dr Farhan Mohd Said, the students actively participated in the ADK session for a water filtration project.

“For this activity, the students were exposed to the basic principles of filtration and its importance in daily life.

“This activity not only strengthened the students’ theoretical understanding but also honed their practical skills and teamwork abilities.

“One of the unique aspects of this programme is the involvement of postgraduate students from FTKKP, comprising individuals from various countries, including Malaysia, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, who acted as facilitators for the ADK session.

“Their presence provided SMATAF students with the opportunity to communicate with individuals from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, thereby increasing their self-confidence and communication skills,” she stated.

The programme was also supported by FTKKP Lecturers, Associate Professor Ts. Dr Norhayati Abdullah and Associate Professor Dr Fatmawati Adam.

At the end of the programme, the teachers and students of SMATAF gave very positive feedback on the initiative.

They stated that the lecture and group activities had a profound impact on motivating the students.

The students are now more inclined to view science not just as an academic subject but as a tool for understanding the world on a broader scale.

The close collaboration between UMPSA and SMATAF is hoped to pave the way for more similar programmes in the future.

By: Associate Professor Ts. Dr Farhan Mohd Said, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP)

Translation by: Dr.  Rozaimi  Abu  Samah, Faculty   of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology