Curtin Malaysia academics win TECH-Reach Global Award for transformative digital skills project

Miri, Sarawak — 9 December 2025 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has claimed one of Curtin University’s highest honours, with four of its academics awarded the Global Award for an Innovative Faculty or School Project for their groundbreaking initiative, ‘TECH-Reach: Empowering Students with Digital Skills’.

The win places Curtin Malaysia on the global stage for educational innovation, recognising the project’s powerful role in strengthening digital literacy, building student confidence, and transforming community–university partnerships.

The award-winning team comprises senior lecturers Dr. Noraisikin Sabani and Valerie Velina Anaelechi from the Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences, and senior teaching fellow Dr. Anita Jimmie and associate teaching fellow Puteri Nurul Fatihah Mohamad Azli from the School of Pre-U and Continuing Education.

Curtin Malaysia Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Vincent Lee Chieng Chen praised the achievement, calling TECH-Reach “a shining example of how university expertise can extend meaningfully into communities while elevating Curtin’s global reputation.”

“TECH-Reach has been recognised internationally, beginning with its early concept presented at an IEEE conference in Japan,” he said. “The strong media interest, endorsements from participating schools, and clear evidence of student learning gains highlight its sustainable model of university–school collaboration and real community impact.”

Launched only a year and a half ago, TECH-Reach has grown far beyond its initial scope. Supported by a Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP) grant, the initiative now involves early-career mentors, 57 undergraduate volunteers, and partnerships with six secondary schools across Miri, reaching more than 200 students – double the project’s original target.

For project lead Dr. Noraisikin Sabani, the initiative grew from urgent gaps she identified during earlier research on digital inequalities.

“It became a personal mission when I realised how deeply digital gaps can shape a student’s confidence and future,” she said. “If even one student from a challenging background now feels more capable and hopeful, that is the heart of our success. This award tells us that small, steady steps toward digital equity truly matter.”

Co-lead, Senior Teaching Fellow, Dr. Anita Jimmie lauded the project as a model for impactful educational outreach. “TECH-Reach is research-informed, inclusive, and genuinely transformative for everyone involved,” she said. “Its international recognition motivates us further. It is rare to see a university–school partnership deliver such tangible community benefits.”

Meanwhile, Senior Lecturer, Valerie Velina Anaelechi emphasised that the programme’s university–school mentoring model is what makes TECH-Reach transformative.
“It prepares secondary school students for university by giving them early exposure to essential digital skills,” she said. “Our undergraduates grow as leaders and mentors, while younger students gain confidence and creativity. To have this recognised globally affirms TECH-Reach’s real impact.”

For early-career academic Puteri Nurul Fatihah Mohamad Azli, the project marks a milestone in her journey into community engagement. “Mentoring our own students was incredibly rewarding. I learned as much from them as they did from me,” she said. “The teamwork across the entire project was truly inspiring, and every person played a meaningful role in making TECH-Reach a success.”

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The Global Award recipients for Innovative Faculty or School Project, from left, are Puteri Nurul Fatihah, Dr. Noraisikin, Dr. Anita, and Valerie.