Embracing innovation in academia and industry has always been at the heart of Quest International University’s (QIU) educational mission. Across our many majors and minors, we prioritise experiential learning and a modern competency-based approach to producing graduates that transcend the confines of traditional exam-centred instruction and rote memorisation.
Staying true to this progressive philosophy of teaching and learning, our Faculty of Integrated Life Sciences (FILS), partnering with the Faculties of Social Sciences and Computing & Engineering, recently organised an on-campus workshop on STEM and Design Thinking in collaboration with the Kinta Utara District Education Office (PPD) for the benefit of local secondary-school science teachers and PPD staff.
The well-attended day-long event was officiated by senior PPD Officer (Pegawai Pendidikan) Puan Hajjah Azarina binti Alias, who also delivered the closing speech. Likewise, the University leadership was represented by Vice-Chancellor Professor Zita Mohd Fahmi, COO Mr Nicholas Goh, and Registrar Mr Muhammad MG Omar.
This workshop explored the significance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines and how they blend with ‘design thinking’ – an inventive human-centred approach to product ideation and creation.
The importance of this synergy is impossible to overstate, both for its potential role in achieving complex global challenges like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and considering a recent World Economic Forum report that identified creative and analytical thinking as the top in-demand work skills of the future.
Naturally, teachers at all tiers have a vital role to play in drawing students to STEM and aligning education with new industrial and societal demands.
Workshop participants were treated to illuminating talks by faculty experts on reshaping STEM education, enhancing presentation skills, and the inner workings of the design thinking process, among others. They were also introduced to the technological innovations incubated at QIU by its many pioneering academics.
We take immense pride in seeing FILS continue to inspire everyone at the University by hosting programmes that shine a light on some of the most pressing concerns of our communities and the world at large. Indeed, well done!
