Serdang, July 31 – The Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia welcomed 19 participants of the ExplorEng: Summer Programme 2026 from China, India, Lebanon and Australia which was held from 25 July to 3 August 2026.

On Day 1, the participants participated in an “ice-breaking” session and a visit to the Suria 16 Floating Solar Farm and the Agrivoltaic Mushroom Tunnel at the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia. They gained knowledge on renewable energy systems by Prof. Ir. Dr. Noor Izzri Abdul Wahab from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Sustainable agricultural practices by Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohammad Effendy Ya'acob from the Department of Process and Food Engineering. Participants also participated in the Innovation Challenge led by Prof. Ir. Dr. Chin Nyuk Ling from the Department of Process and Food Engineering. The session inspired participants to develop innovative, affordable and healthy food concepts for university cafeterias, while also enhancing their creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Day 2 focused on application of automation and machine vision in the oil palm industry through the “Palm Meets Robotics” session. This hands-on exposure to intelligent robotic grabber system is demonstrated in a real plantation setting by Prof. Ts. Dr. Wan Zuha Wan Hasan.In the afternoon, “Learning Robotics Through Gamification” session was conducted through interactive challenges and hands-on LEGO robot building activities by Ts. Dr. Nor Mohd Haziq Norsahperi and the Robotics Club. Working in teams encouraged collaboration, communication, and problem-solving, while creating an enjoyable learning environment that strengthened participants’ confidence and interest in robotics and emerging technologies.

Day 3 highlighted innovation in manufacturing and renewable energy through two engaging and interactive technical sessions. The morning session, “Beyond Layers: 3D Printing Tech”, delivered by Dr. Muhammad Aqil Afham Rahmat and Dr. Muhammad Azim Azizi from the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, introduced participants to the fundamentals of additive manufacturing. Participants had the opportunity to design simple 3D models and observe a live printing demonstration, which enhanced their digital design skills and stimulated creativity.

In the afternoon, the “Mini Wind Turbine Challenge”, led by Dr. Mohd Na’im Abdullah from the Department of Aerospace Engineering, encouraged participants to work in teams to design and construct functional wind turbines using recycled materials. This hands-on activity strengthened collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, while also providing practical insight into small-scale renewable energy design and performance.

More to come on the rest of the programme, stay tuned!

Date of Input: 31/07/2026 | Updated: 31/07/2026 | nurulnadira