Putrajaya – Centre staging teaching through student-centred learning experiences has enabled the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) research team to be named the champion of the Transformation Teaching Category at the Right Honourable Minister of Education Malaysia Special Award: Curriculum Design and Innovative Delivery (AKRI 2019) at The Everly Hotel recently.

UUM was represented by fellow lecturers from the School of Quantitative Science (SQS) led by Prof Dr Haslinda Ibrahim together with Dr Masnita Misiran and Dr. Norhayati Yusof with their project called 'Explore, Discover, Develop (ExDiD): Fostering Active Learning'.

The ExDiD method is a delivery mode that is based on two major components of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) namely engineering and mathematics.

The method emphasizes active learning through a student-centred experience (in the form of problem-based activities), which indirectly transforms the passive classroom environment into holistic learning in line with the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0).

The team from UUM was also selected among the eight finalists from 103 entries for the Transformative Teaching Category. Other finalists include Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Taylor' University, Asia Pacific University, Department of Polytechnic and Community College (JPPKK) and Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education.

The event attracted  a total of 234 entries from various institutions of higher learning to compete in four categories namely the Innovative Curriculum Studies Programme, Transformative Teaching, Immersive Learning Experience and Alternative Assessment.

AKRI aims to identify, recognize and share best practices of projects and initiatives that have been implemented at the institutional or individual level.

In addition, it aims to stimulate and share Malaysia's Higher Education thinking and redesign practices.

The award presentation was officiated by Deputy Minister of Education, Ms Teo Nie Ching who was accompanied by the Director General of the Higher Education Department, Datin Paduka Dr. Siti Hamisah Tapsir.

Also present were UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dato' Dr Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Prof Dr Yusnidah Ibrahim.

The Vice-Chancellor congratulated the team on their success and expressed hope that the victory would be a catalyst for the UUM denizens to achieve success in the future.