SELANGOR, May 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s first homegrown education service provider and social enterprise, LeapEd Services Sdn Bhd (‘LeapEd Services’), recently held the STEM Festival 2019 in partnership with Heriot-Watt University, Malaysia (‘Heriot-Watt University’), GREAT UK Challenge Fund and Youth Made Malaysia. The festival emphasised the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related subjects and experiences amongst Malaysian students.
 
Forty students from four schools within LeapEd’s Trust Schools Programme participated in the event. The festival saw a series of workshops and theory-focused sessions, culminating in an exciting drone flying challenge.
 
Managing Director of LeapEd Services, En Zulhaimi Othman said, “In line with our commitment to develop holistic students with 21^st century competencies, we see a gap that requires immediate attention in the education landscape today. Students today do not realise the full potential of STEM and how its application can prepare them for their future careers. As such, many believe that STEM-related subjects are merely technical and are uninteresting. This festival is one of our many efforts in helping to raise the awareness amongst young students on the importance of STEM-related skills and knowledge.”
 
According to a recent School-to-Work Transition Survey by Khazanah Research Institute, only one third of all upper secondary school students are taking Science subjects followed by 44% for Mathematics, whilst only 32% tertiary students are enrolled in STEM-related courses.¹
 
Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi, Provost and CEO of Heriot-Watt University, said, “Since 2016, Heriot-Watt University has organised annual STEM Festivals for school children to further emphasise the importance of innovation and STEM-related subjects. Now as we are faced with the fourth industrial revolution, we are keen in supporting the promotion of STEM among the youth to lead the way in a challenging work landscape in the future.”
 
Undergraduates from the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences from Heriot-Watt University participated as mentors to the young secondary school students throughout the day. In the final segment of the event, The Drone Challenge Course, students had the chance to test their drones by flying them through an obstacle course. 
 
To access the hi-res picture, please click here. 
 

¹ http://www.krinstitute.org/Publications-@-The_School-To-Work_Transition_of_Young_Malaysians.aspx

 
Source: Perspective Strategies