Micro-Credentials and Global Classroom: UMPSA’s Borderless EdTech Endeavour to Empower Digital Learning

PEKAN, 1 August 2024 - The Centre of Instructional Resources & e-Learning (CIREL), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), hosted an inspiring University Teaching and Learning Innovation Carnival (UTLIC) Colloquium 2024 in Pekan yesterday, with the theme ‘Education without Borders: Empowering e-Learning through Micro-Credentials and Global Classroom’.

The event drew 178 students, educators, researchers, and professionals to explore cutting-edge advancements for future teaching and learning. 

Focused on empowering digital technologies to foster international collaboration and innovative educational practices, the Colloquium’s objective is to share best practices in Global Classroom initiatives and Micro-Credentials, focusing on benefiting educational institutions on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The Director of CIREL, Associate Professor Ts. Dr Awanis Romli set the stage for the day, highlighting UTLIC Colloquium 2024 as a platform for ground-breaking ideas, engaging in thought-provoking discussions, and fostering connections that will inspire and innovate. 

The event continued with Dr. Hasan Kahtan, Programme Director of BSc Software Engineering and Head of Quality Research at the Creative Computing Research Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University, with the first keynote on the ‘Best Practices of Global Classroom through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)’, which underscored the practical importance of international collaboration in education and inspired all present.

On the Global Classroom (GC) topic, ‘Amalan Terbaik dalam Pelaksanaan Global Classroom,’ three panellists, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Razali Daud, Jamilah Bebe Mohamad, and Gs. Dr Mohd Razali Daud, moderated by Dr. Sureena Abdullah, Deputy Director of CIReL, enlightened the audiences on successful practices in optimising GC for T&L and networking. 

Representing the industry, Kelvin Loh from the eLearningMinds Group workshop on ‘Empowering Educators, Engaging Students: How ClassIn is Revolutionising Teaching and Learning’ shared with the audience the futuristic features of ClassIn as a one-stop solution for hybrid learning. 

The Colloquium continued with Associate Professor Dr Dina Fitria Murad from Bina Nusantara University, Indonesia, for the second keynote on the ‘Best Practices in Micro-Credentials.’ 

Dr. Dina shared her journey of developing and harnessing MC to bridge academic and industry gaps. 
Then, the second forum, moderated by Dr. Daing Mohamad Nafiz Daing Idris, Deputy Director of CIReL, focused on ‘Merapatkan Jurang Akademik dan Industri Melalui Micro-Credentials’.

Panellists included Dr. Nik Hadiyan Nik Azman from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Dr. Izhar Abd Aziz from 3D Gens, who enlightened the audience on how MC can address industry needs.

The Colloquium closing ceremony was completed with a meaningful speech by Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Academic Advancement, Professor Ts. Dr. Kamal Yusoh, representing the Vice-Chancellor of UMPSA, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin. 

The peak of the Colloquium was the awarding of the two categories of the Best GC 2023. 

Jamilah Bebe, from the Centre for Modern Languages (CML), won the Standard GC Category through her GC on ‘Golongan Kata Bahasa Melayu (Metafora Kognitif Kata Adjektif)’. 

The Advanced GC Award was conferred on Arabic Language Instructors, Rosjuliana Hidayu Rosli, Farah Hanan Aminallah, Mardhiyyah Zamani and Mohammad Baihaqi Hasni, also from CML, for their GC ‘Time in Arabic, Numbers in Arabic.’ 

The awards aim to recognise and honour the instructors’ exceptional efforts in implementing innovative GC, promoting international collaboration, and enhancing the quality of education.

UTLIC Colloquium 2024, led by Ts. Dr. Anis Farihan Mat Raffei, CIReL Head of Technical, consisted of committee members from most UMPSA faculties and centres, marked a significant UMPSA endeavour to empower digital learning through collaborative and innovative approaches. 

CIReL looks forward to potential initiatives that continue to foster educational excellence and global collaboration.

For feedback or further information, contact the organising committee at utlic@umpsa.edu.my.

By: Amy Zulaikha Mohd Ali and Dr. Nor Yazi Khamis, Centre for Modern Languages (CML)