By Dr. Suhaizal Hashim

UTHM-LABTECH Digital Innovation Centre (DICE) was officially established on 28 February 2021 to conduct research, consultancy, training, community service and academic publications under the Faculty of Technical & Vocational Education (FPTV), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). It is supported by the Industry and Community Relations Centre (ICRC) which is governed under the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation. This Centre of Industry (CoI) is responsible to accelerate the development of innovative solutions for digital learning from the research and development stage to the commercially available stage. As a technology and innovation center, it provides a flexible and efficient services to empower digital teaching and learning.

DICE vision is to become a leader in the development of digital learning and our mission is to mainstream and empower Digital Learning through training, research, development, technology and innovation for nation. Our objective is to serve as a centre for knowledge and technology transfer, guiding UTHM to approach industry partners to solve problems, particularly in Digital learning through training and capacity building activities and open up opportunities for more systematic development, research and consultancy activities with industry partners, especially in the areas of TVET, digital content and Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0).

This centre is anchored by Ts. Dr Affero Ismail, supported by four Principal fellows. Meanwhile, it is also being affiliated by staffs from other faculties. The composition of various personnel from different field is to ensure that the initiative towards digitization of curriculum is aligned with the national agenda and benefits many stakeholders. Experts in technology and Subject Matter Expert (SME) are selected based on their experiences in the area.

DICE aims to become a preparatory step for further grant applications either for research or consultation from the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE), Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR), Asia Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB), UNESCO or EU as well as expand the experience sharing and technology transfer in Digital Content development and innovation in teaching and learning towards UTHM’s digital transformation.

Besides, it also serves as an incubator in planning and designing digital content that follows the requirements of the latest curriculum and technology and plan to becoming a production house that leverages student projects in collaboration with industry to produce quality products towards a global technopreneur university. In previous year, DICE had organized various an in-house training for university staff and implement knowledge transfer programs for external agencies. In the future, CoI plans to design and develop digital module, apply and implement national and international consultancy projects and also apply for research grants with industry as well as produce publications in reputable platform.

 

 

 

Ts. Dr. AFFERO BIN ISMAIL
Head of center

UTHM-LABTECH DIGITAL INNOVATION CENTER

Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education

affero@uthm.edu.my

Dr. NURHANIM SAADAH BINTI ABDULLAH

Senior lecturer, Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education
nurhanim@uthm.edu.my

Dr. AZITA BINTI ALI

Senior lecturer, Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education
azita@uthm.edu.my

Dr. SUHAIZAL BIN HASHIM

Senior lecturer, Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education
suhaizal@uthm.edu.my

Ts. IDA ARYANIE BINTI BAHRUDIN

Industrial Fellow, Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education
aryanie@uthm.edu.my