The SciTech4U: MOSTI STEM Camp – Underwater Robot (ROV) Workshop 2025 is a proactive initiative by Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) to strengthen early exposure to marine engineering among school students in Malaysia.
Small in scale but significant in impact, the camp was spearheaded by UniKL Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL MIMET) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (Malaysia Chapter).
It brought together 24 primary and secondary schools from Manjung and neighbouring districts, with 120 students and 30 teachers participating.
Held on 9 December 2025 at UniKL’s Lumut campus, the workshop offered participants hands-on experience in marine robotics, enabling students to design and fabricate a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) from scratch.
Activities included frame fabrication, motor and control system installation, and underwater navigation testing, guided by academic staff from UMPSA and UniKL MIMET, supported by student facilitators.
The programme was officiated by Puan Noor Azwani Mohd Ithnin, SISC+ Mathematics and Science Officer from Manjung District Education Office, who commended the strong collaboration and the importance of early exposure to marine technology and STEM-driven innovation.
In line with national aspirations, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) has reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to accelerating growth in the Aerospace and Shipbuilding & Ship Repair (SBSR) sectors, which form key pillars of the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030.
This national push is essential to developing Malaysia’s blue economy and strengthening future maritime talent pipelines.
Against this backdrop, the workshop represents a small yet consistent step toward nurturing the next generation of marine professionals, ensuring a sustainable talent ecosystem that supports Malaysia’s long-term ESG and SDG goals, particularly in quality education (SDG 4), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), and life below water (SDG 14).
