KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus launched its Flagship STEM Outreach Program 2025 on 19 July 2025, bringing together over 220 students from 13 secondary schools across Sarawak for a dynamic series of workshops and competitions designed to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.
The program was officially launched by Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak, and featured two cornerstone events: Swinburne Big Day Out and the Future ICT Coders Workshop and Competition.
In his opening address, Dato Sri Roland Sagah commended Swinburne Sarawak and its partners for championing initiatives that align with the Sarawak government’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
He highlighted five key initiatives from the ministry, including the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), STEM Catalyst and STEM Trailblazers Programs, Robotics Competitions and Digital Innovation Challenges, No Kids Left Behind, and the laptop assistance and book voucher scheme.
“Programs like the Future ICT Coders Workshop not only equip students with future-ready skills such as Artificial Intelligence (Al), Internet of Things (loT), and cybersecurity, but also help strengthen collaboration between schools, teachers, universities, and industry,” he remarked.
“To our students here today, you are the future of Sarawak. Make full use of this opportunity to learn, experiment, and innovate. Don’t be shy or afraid to ask questions and explore new things. The skills you develop here – curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking – are the very qualities we need to solve tomorrow’s challenges. You are our future scientists, engineers, innovators, and leaders of Sarawak,” he said.
The Future ICT Coders Workshop immersed students in team-based coding challenges and digital solution design guided by Swinburne Sarawak lecturers. The initiative aimed to strengthen problem-solving abilities and foster innovation in computing and digital technology among Sarawak’s youth.
Meanwhile, this year’s Swinburne Big Day Out workshops, themed “Carbon Warriors: Tackling Climate Change Together”, focused on raising environmental awareness and equipping students with STEM skills to address global challenges. Students participated in four interactive activities exploring carbon capture technologies and their real-world applications.
“Our Flagship STEM Outreach Program reflects Swinburne Sarawak’s strong commitment to empowering the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and creativity needed for a digital future,” said Ir Professor Sim Kwan Yong, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Swinburne Sarawak.
“By promoting environmental awareness and digital innovation, we are nurturing students to become not just consumers of technology but creators and changemakers,” he added.
The Flagship STEM Outreach Program has already demonstrated a lasting impact over the years, with many participants going on to pursue STEM disciplines and careers, strengthening Sarawak’s digital talent pipeline.
The event also highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between academia, industry, and the government.
Swinburne Sarawak expressed its gratitude to its esteemed sponsors and partners, including Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), Tecforte, and professional bodies such as the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Sarawak Subsection, as well as Rakan Tutor, for their invaluable support in making both events a success.
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