Participants competing in the Amazing STEM Race at Tech Dome Penang’s seventh anniversary celebration.
Malaysia is pushing towards artificial intelligence (AI) mastery with a meeting of minds under Tech Dome Penang.
The AI Education Consortium, the first of its kind in the country, aims to foster collaboration among educational institutions, researchers, AI experts and industry partners to promote AI education to students.
It comprises 14 institutions of higher education, professional bodies, industries and government-linked bodies that will provide a platform for sharing of knowledge, resources and best practices, and to facilitate joint research and development initiatives.
“AI skills are becoming increasingly essential in our daily lives and Tech Dome Penang is the first centre to have conducted lots of AI events in Malaysia,” said its chief executive officer Khoo Boo Wooi.
“A strong consortium can bring together the brightest minds in various key disciplines.”
He said that with the fast growth of the electronic and manufacturing sector, the country needed more technologists and engineers.
“This is why our current focus is on the rural areas and Penang mainland. We need to spend more resources on the mainland and the south-west district here.
Youngsters constructing the skeleton of a building under the Junior Architect Challenge.
“Although we are facing some challenges, we believe this will not only provide a fair chance to students in these areas, but also help nurture future talents to help our industries,” Khoo said during the seventh anniversary celebration of Tech Dome Penang at Komtar.
Tech Dome Penang is a not-for-profit science and technology centre run by Penang Tech Centre. It is an initiative by the Penang government as a public-private partnership.
Khoo also thanked board members, sponsors and partners for their support over the years, which resulted in Tech Dome Penang hitting more than 1.1 million visitors since its opening in 2016.
“We have thus far organised more than 2,550 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workshops and activities which benefitted more than 435,000 students in the country,” he said.
Present at the event were Tech Dome Penang board chairman and caretaker Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, incumbent Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng as well as Penang Tech Centre pioneers and board of directors Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, Datuk Seri Lim Kok Khong, Datuk Cheok Lay Leng and Ang Lye Hin.
Also there were board of directors Chris Lee Chun Kit, Satees Muniandy and Datin Bharati Suppiah, centre pioneer Datuk Toh Chin Leong, Penang STEM general manager Richard Chung, Penang Women’s Development Corporation chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng, Penang Youth Development Corporation general manager Dr Gwee Sai Ling, representatives from industry partners, professional bodies and institutions of higher education.
Competitors enjoying activities in conjunction with Tech Dome Penang’s anniversary.
In his speech, Ramasamy said that through countless exhibitions, workshops and interactive displays, Tech Dome Penang had truly evolved into a beacon of scientific exploration and learning.
He thanked the state Education Department for endorsing all programmes by Tech Dome Penang, which reflected the common mission to groom STEM talents for the needs of the nation in meeting the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital transformation.
The AI Education Consortium aims to develop comprehensive and standardised AI curricula for K-12 education by focusing on content that aligns with the latest advancements in AI technology.
The consortium also supports the professional development of teachers by providing training programmes, workshops and resources related to AI education.
Other objectives include promoting research and innovation in AI education and to raise awareness about the importance of AI education in K-12 settings by engaging with parents, students, educators and communities through campaigns, events and outreach activities.
In conjunction with the anniversary, Tech Dome Penang also held two competitions, which drew some 200 participants from primary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher education.
The Amazing STEM Race for the older group saw many teams perform a wide array of activities and tasks to complete the challenge.
The Junior Architect Challenge had primary school pupils constructing the skeleton of a building, which were tested using weights to determine their structural strength.
At the same event, four youngsters from Penang received certificates of appreciation for their participation in Codeavour 2022, the biggest international AI and coding competition for children.
Tan Yeng Yang and Tio Tze Khai, both 12, from SJK (C) Sin Ya in Alma, Bukit Mertajam, won for the Best AI and ML (Meta Language) Project.
Ong Yiu Shan and Eng Zhong Ci, both 12, from SJK (C) Shih Chung in Sungai Nibong won a consolation prize.
