PENANG, 19 March 2018 – The Makers@USM programme was officially launched in March 2017 when it showcased makers’ products at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). And now, it is celebrating its first anniversary by organising a USM Maker Day 2018, held from 17-18 March at USM. 

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail said that the Makers@USM movement is fluid and is not attached or connected to any specific department, but to which many departments are contributing. 

“Thank you so much to all Makers@USM for putting a lot of effort and within a short time, Makers@USM has taken the lead, as the Minister of Higher Education Malaysia has set a rule for all public universities to now have their very own Makers,” said the Vice-Chancellor. 

“A lot of people are interested with Makers and now you are not alone.” 

“If we have started to lead, we must continue to be the leader, and we need to have something new, creative and innovative to head the game,” said the Vice-Chancellor during her opening speech at the ceremony. 

Director of National Advanced IPv6 Centre and Director of Makers@USM Community, Professor Dr. Rosni Abdullah said that they are preparing a Blueprint for building a Maker Community - the USM way and also developing a platform which is a website for all makers to communicate and share information. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (MDEC), USAINS Holding Sdn Bhd. and MyDuino for their endless support in making the programme a success,” she added. 

 

 

USM has become a role model in spearheading the Maker Movement since 2017 and has received seeding fund from MCMC to kick start a Maker Zone (Maker Space) build-up. To date, USM has built 1 Maker Zone and 2 Industrial Zone linkages to provide facilities for student makers to “Think, Model & Make”.

USM Maker Day 2018 received overwhelming response from the USM community and the public who came to have an idea of what being makers are all about and to find out how hobbies can be turned into businesses. 

Also present at the opening ceremony were the USM Bursar, Dr. Rohayati Md Isa; Acting Managing and Director of USAINS Holding Sdn. Bhd., Farid Wajidi Mat Yusuff; and the Dean of USM School of Physics, Professor Dr. Azlan Abdul Aziz.

Text: Nor Rafizah Md. Zain