USK Students Participated in International Summer School at UTM

Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), under the coordination of the Office of International Affairs (OIA), organized the International Summer School Program, from 27 July to 2 August 2024, at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

The program involved 20 USK students, both local and international, undergraduate, graduate, and alumni levels, from various study backgrounds. The goals of this initiative were to enhance students’ academic experiences by exploring practical and hands-on experience opportunities provided, allow students to take a certain course outside their background of study, and develop specific skills, such as language proficiency, leadership, and technical abilities. For alumni, the Summer School provided a platform to expand their global network and improve their professional skills.

Participants engaged in both practical and experiential activities through indoor and outdoor activities. The program started with a welcoming ceremony at UTM Maker Space, where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norahim bin Ibrahim, Associate Director of UTM International, and Dr. Ahmad Fadhil Yusof, Manager of UTM International, greeted all the participants and Office of International (OIA) staff as companions.

Participants attended short lectures on AI and 3D printing, followed by two projects to present at the end of the program, they are a Summer School project video and an AI-designed product printed using a 3D printer project.

For the outdoor activities, all members visited the Living Lab to learn how to make compost, the Danga River for the beach cleaning agenda, and the shellfish cultivation site, and they followed the library and campus tour.

On project presentation and closing day, each group showcased their final projects, which were judged by UTM officials to select the best project. The event was closed with an award ceremony and reflections on the Summer School experience.

Izzan Nur Aslam, S.T., M.Eng., the Coordinator for the Promotion and International Mobility of OIA, expressed gratitude for the program’s success and hoped for a future visit from UTM to USK. “USK students and alumni learned together and gained valuable experiences in this program. I hope this collaboration continues and expands,” he remarked.

Teuku Hanief Rayyan Abira, one member of the Summer School program and a student of the Faculty of Economics and Business, stated that the program gave them opportunities to learn more about the AI function that can help people to do many activities, including assisting students in learning. Moreover, the program gave them new perspectives on Malaysian culture, history, and lifestyles.