Fostering Creativity through Innovation Engagement in Science and Technology Education: Case Study of Universiti Teknologi MARA Students

AbstractStudents tend to learn faster through hands on participations. Guided problems solving outside the classroom environment has been regarded as better and a motivating learning method for these young generation. Innovation engagement among students from higher institution are very much encourage as their participation in the activities belief to result in a group of creative and innovative intellectual who will be future leaders and entrepreneurs. A survey was done on students from this institution to obtain their perception on the subject matter through a set of questionnaires adopted from similar study done elsewhere. A comparison of the responses from those that have directly engagement with innovation, invention and design project (IID group) and those without any direction engagement with innovation, invention and design project (non-IID group) was carried out. Students who participated in the innovation convention related themselves to be more confident and motivated in their study as compared to students who have not participated in any innovation, invention and design project. Their engagement in the project helps them in the teamwork and their communication skills. Their thinking is more influenced by their lecturers than by their friends. This finding is opposite to that of the students who did not participate in the project. Hence, the effort, time and money spent on engaging students with activities related to IID are worthwhile endeavour that steered towards producing competent graduates

Second Chance Science Education for School Leavers

AbstractA special programme, Pre-Science programme was developed by Universiti Teknologi MARA to provide a second chance for school leavers who failed to fulfil the minimum university requirement entries upon completion of upper secondary schools. Students who were from the sciences medium of schooling but just lacked credit in sciences or mathematics or English subjects but have satisfied the overall minimum requirement can be enrolled for this programme. Students who are from poor family and rural secondary schools are given priority as they may have not excelled due to the poor learning and teaching facilities they may have had. The students were given one semester to improve their basic knowledge in sciences, mathematics and English subjects before they can enrol for diploma courses. The programme also stress on enhancing the students’ soft skills through structured activities carried out in and outside the classrooms. Students are also closely guided and monitored in their study so as they can do well within this short period of intensive programme. Students who do well in one semester will be offered science based diploma courses while those who failed to achieve the necessary grades will be given another semester to work hard and improve themselves before they enrol into the diploma courses. This programme has trained and increased the academic ability of school leavers to the level required to attend science based diploma courses successfully. Hence, the programme should be continued as it will directly support Nation Vision 2020