By : Dr. Anis Diyana, Dr. Aisyah, Ainul Munirah, dan Fatin Nabilah
Malang, Indonesia, 20 August 2026 – STEM nurturing centre, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in collaboration with Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), successfully organised the International STEM Camp Exhibition at Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia, bringing together approximately 450 students from across East Java Province, Indonesia for an engaging and educational STEM experience.
The increased participation reflects the growing enthusiasm for the programme, with the 2026 edition marking a significant expansion compared to the previous year. According to the Dean of FMIPA UM, Prof. Dr. Hadi Suwono, M.Si., the 2025 edition welcomed approximately 180 participants across 10 exhibition booths, while this year’s participation grew to more than 450 students, exceeding the capacity originally projected for the programme.
The programme involved 10 UPSI students who served as facilitators and activity coordinators, under the supervision of two UPSI lecturers, Dr. Anis Diyana binti Halim and Dr. Aisyah Mohamad Sharif from the Faculty of Science and Mathematics, UPSI. Their participation provided an opportunity for the students to share their knowledge, creativity and experiences while strengthening international engagement and cultural exchange between Malaysia and Indonesia.
The programme began with the preparation of the venue and STEM activity stations. The UPSI student facilitators worked collaboratively to set up each booth, arranging the materials, equipment and learning resources at each booth station to ensure that all activities were well-prepared for the participants. The stations were carefully organised according to the activities for the STEM Camp Exhibition, creating an engaging and conducive environment for hands-on STEM learning.
A total of 18 exhibition booths were set up throughout the STEM Camp, comprising 13 booths from Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) and 5 booths by FSM, UPSI students. The exhibitions booths featured a variety of STEM-based topics, including Blood Track, Spin to Unlock, Magic Trick, AR/VR Sistem Pencernaan, AR/VR Pernafasan, Aqua Nova, Light Scoup, NH, Liquid Expansion, Electric Froz, Quantum Obby, Transpisense, Accelift, Pressure Learning, Platform Edukit, and Elektrorace.
The official opening ceremony was then held to mark the commencement of the programme. The opening ceremony was officiated by Prof. Dr. Markus Diantoro, M Si, Vice Rector III of Universitas Negeri Malang who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of STEM education in developing creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and innovation among young learners.
“Science develops together with the progress of a nation. The advancement of science and technology plays an important role in supporting national development. Therefore, it is important to nurture students’ interest in STEM from an early age so that they can become innovative and knowledgeable individuals who contribute to the future development of the country,” said Prof. Dr. Markus Diantoro, M Si.
Highlighting the importance of nurturing students’ interest in STEM, the Head of the Department of Science Education, UM, Prof. Habiddin, S.Pd., M.Pd., Ph.D., highlighted that the STEM Camp serves as an important platform to introduce science to young learners in a more engaging and practical way. He emphasised that increasing students’ interest in STEM is essential, as the development of science is closely connected to the advancement of civilisation.
“Through this activity, we hope to show students that science is not only important but also interesting and enjoyable. By creating engaging and hands-on learning experiences, we hope to spark their curiosity and encourage more students to pursue fields related to STEM,” said Prof. Habiddin, S.Pd., M.Pd., Ph.D.
Following the opening ceremony, the students were divided into groups and participated in various activities conducted at the different STEM booth stations. Each station provided hands-on and interactive learning experiences designed to encourage students to explore STEM concepts in an enjoyable and meaningful way.
The UPSI student facilitators played an important role throughout the activities by guiding the participants, explaining the instructions and assisting them during the hands-on sessions. The interactive approach allowed the students to actively participate rather than simply listen to explanations, creating an engaging learning environment throughout the programme.
With approximately 450 students from across East Java participating, the STEM Camp Exhibition created a lively atmosphere as students moved from one station to another and worked together to complete the activities. The programme also provided an opportunity for the UPSI students to develop their communication, leadership, teamwork and facilitation skills in an international setting.
The programme continued with the closing ceremony, which marked the successful completion of the STEM activities. The ceremony also included a prize-giving session to the participating students and UPSI student facilitators in recognition of their enthusiasm, participation and contribution throughout the programme. One of the STEM activity booths managed by UPSI students facilitator showcasing the project Transpisense, achieved a remarkable accomplishment by winning third place for Best Booth. The winners were determined based on the number of “love” stickers given by the participating school students to their favourite booths.
The prize-giving session served as a meaningful appreciation for everyone involved in making the STEM Camp a success. It also encouraged the students to continue exploring STEM-related activities and developing their interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The International STEM Camp Exhibition provided a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, student engagement and international collaboration. Beyond exposing students to interactive STEM learning, the programme enabled UPSI students to contribute their skills and experiences while building meaningful connections with students in Malang.The initiative reflects the commitment of UPSI and UM to promoting STEM education, student development and stronger educational collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia.