#TECH: MOE partners with MDEC to expand reach of Digital Maker Hubs

CYBERJAYA: Following the successful efforts to establish Digital Maker Hubs in 24 schools in 2020, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) have recently embarked on an initiative to scale this model to more schools around the country via public-private-partnerships.

Digital Maker Hubs are spaces to learn and practise digital creativity and innovation where students can create and invent projects and learn new things using a variety of digital making tools and materials.

Recognising the importance of such spaces, MoE is looking to expand the reach and value of these hubs by partnering with industry players and other like-minded organisations to achieve their target of 188 Digital Maker Hubs by end of this year. This includes an additional nine schools nationwide presently.

“MoE has seen promising results from the Digital Maker Hubs via MDEC’s early efforts, specifically in strengthening digital creativity and innovation amongst students. We are keen to replicate this model in other schools and look forward to more industry players and government agencies coming on board to equip more schools and community places with such tools,” said Director of Resource and Educational Technology Division (BSTP) at Ministry of Education Malaysia, Maznah Abu Bakar.

The World Economic Forum in its 2020 Future of Jobs Report, estimates that 85 million jobs will be displaced by automation by the year 2025, yet 97 million new jobs will be created within the same time frame, largely in roles that require data and digital tech skills.

MDEC, mandated to lead the digital economy into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as the nation progresses towards Malaysia 5.0, first championed and implemented the Digital Maker Hubs in 2018, under the #mydigitalmaker movement – a joint initiative by public-private-academia to introduce and nurture digital competencies among Malaysian students.

“Despite the pandemic posing challenges in education and talent development, MDEC remains committed to working with ecosystem partners to equip young learners to be future-ready. MDEC is creating possibilities and opportunities with limitless boundaries with technology, eventually bridging the digital divide,” said MDEC’s Head of Digital Skills and Jobs, Dr Sumitra Nair.

Aufa Aleesya Adam Zainuri, 12, is a fine example of the success of this initiative. Aufa learned how to write facial recognition code and make a virtual piano using Raspberry Pi 3 B+ model, besides learning coding via EV3 and rero:micro coding robot, with tools and resources available at the Digital Maker Hubs.

“I built a traffic light system using Python supervised by my teacher and programme trainer within three months. I love all the activities so much. Thank you, Mydigitalmaker and MDEC, for giving this opportunity to me and my school,” said Aufa who utilises the Digital Maker Hub facility at her school in SK Merbok Pusat, Kedah.

Besides equipping 24 schools with Digital Maker Hubs, MDEC has also worked with various NGOs, state governments, universities and enterprises to establish 67 Digital Maker Hubs outside schools, totalling 90.

Source: NST