SCALe INFO DAY at UTM Showcases Micro-Courses and Builds Inclusive Smart City Partnerships
On August 29, 2024, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) hosted its SCALe INFO DAY at the ACT LAB, bringing together 34 participants from academia, government, and industry. The event offered a deep dive into smart city capacity building and featured the introduction of SCALe’s micro-courses, strategic discussions, and the establishment of new partnerships aimed at inclusive smart city growth.
A key highlight of the day was the introduction of SCALe’s micro-courses, presented by Dr. Haliyana, which are designed to upskill professionals across ASEAN in vital areas such as smart governance, sustainable infrastructure, and integrated urban living. Delivered via the SCALe web portal, these micro-courses aim to bridge skill gaps and equip stakeholders with the practical tools needed to shape future-ready cities.
The event also featured a forum with distinguished speakers from across sectors. Dr. Mazlan Abbas, CEO of Favoriot and a Committee Member of the Malaysia Smart City Association, Puan Ananthi Sandrakantham from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Malaysia, and Ts. Dr. Azizul Azri Mustaffa from UTM CDEx, shared their insights on the evolving smart city landscape. Their perspectives underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration to tackle urban challenges and promote innovation.
Further advancing this mission, UTM announced new partnerships with two MSMEs, Traintribute PTL and Adam Halwa Malabis Gallery, by presenting Letters of Intent (LOIs) to formalize their participation in the KIC Smart Governance and Economic Community. These partnerships, led by AHIBS (Azman Hashim International Business School), emphasize SCALe’s commitment to inclusive growth and the integration of small enterprises into the smart city ecosystem.
Another major milestone of the day was the establishment of the Knowledge Innovation Community (KIC)—a collaborative platform bringing together academia, industry, NGOs, and government to co-create solutions and drive sustainable innovation. The afternoon session featured a citizen engagement workshop with entrepreneurs from Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, exploring how SCALe initiatives can support their growth and impact.
The UTM INFO DAY demonstrated SCALe’s multifaceted approach to smart city development, highlighting not only technological and academic advancements but also meaningful community inclusion and regional cooperation.
