Curtin Malaysia hackathon sparks bold teaching innovations for future-ready learning

Miri, Sarawak – 3 June 2026 – Innovative ideas to transform university teaching took centre stage at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) as academics from across disciplines came together for the Curtin Academy Innovation and Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (iSoLT) Hackathon 2026.

Organised by the Curtin Academy at Curtin University in collaboration with Curtin Malaysia’s Office of Learning and Teaching, the two-day Hackathon empowered early-career academics to develop creative, student-centred solutions aimed at enhancing learning experiences and tackling real educational challenges in higher education.

Held at the Curtin Malaysia campus in Miri, the intensive workshop featured renowned Curtin Academy Fellows Professor Lisa Tee and Professor Janie Brown, who guided participants through a series of highly interactive mentoring and innovation sessions.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, this year’s Hackathon brought together 25 academic staff members from the Faculty of Business, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences, and the School of Pre-U and Continuing Education. Many participants were either early-career academics or newly joined staff seeking to strengthen their teaching and research capabilities in learning and teaching innovation.

Throughout the event, participants worked in cross-disciplinary teams to conceptualise impactful iSoLT projects using Design Thinking and Students as Partners frameworks. A strong emphasis was placed on developing inclusive, diverse, and student-focused teaching approaches that could create meaningful change in the classroom.

The participants received close mentorship from experienced Curtin Academy Fellows, including Professor Raymond Chiong Choo Wee, Dr Anita Jimmie, Lai Zhenyue, and Professor Tang Fu Ee, alongside Professors Lisa Tee and Janie Brown, who actively supported teams in refining and strengthening their project ideas.

Adding further value to the Hackathon were sharing sessions by previous Curtin Malaysia iSoLT seed fund recipients, Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo and Associate Professor Jibrail Kansedo, who provided practical insights into developing successful learning and teaching innovation projects.

At the conclusion of the workshop, the teams pitched their final proposals to a panel, with five innovative projects successfully securing Curtin Malaysia iSoLT seed funding for implementation.

The funded projects included a diverse range of innovative teaching and learning initiatives aimed at enhancing student engagement, inclusivity, and the integration of emerging technologies in higher education.

The first project, ‘Integrated Learning for STEM Units in SPACE & FOES: Bridging the Theory–Practice Gap through Simulation and AI-Enhanced Analysis,’ was led by Dr Fong Ai Ling, with mentorship from Associate Professor Perumal Kumar and Professor Janie Brown. This initiative focuses on strengthening experiential learning in STEM disciplines by leveraging simulation tools and AI-enhanced analysis to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

The second project, ‘Belong by Design: Co-Creating Inclusive and Balanced Project Group Formation for Diverse Classrooms,’ was led by Gigi Hii Shu Qi, and mentored by Hii Kiew Ling and Professor Raymond Chiong Choo Wee. It seeks to promote inclusivity in the classroom by developing more equitable and thoughtful approaches to student group formation in diverse learning environments.

The third project, ‘Enhancing Business Planning and Presentation Capabilities Through AI,’ was led by Dr Tayyab Amjad, with mentorship from Dr Joseph Sia Kee Ming. This project explores how artificial intelligence can be used to strengthen students’ capabilities in business planning, communication, and presentation skills.

The fourth project, ‘From Absenteeism to Attendance: Motivating Students to be in Class,’ was led by Dr Nurul Amira Mohd Ramli, mentored by Dr Ivy Hii Siaw Hung and Professor Lisa Tee. This initiative addresses student engagement challenges by identifying strategies to improve class attendance and encourage more active participation in learning.

The final project, ‘From Passive Learners to Co-Creators of Learning,’ was led by Dr Mohamad Sofi Abu Hassan, and mentored by Dr Tiong Ying Ying, Professor Lisa Tee, and Lai Zhenyue. It repositions students as active co-creators in the learning process, fostering deeper engagement and ownership of their educational experience.

Dean of Learning and Teaching Professor Tang Fu Ee expressed appreciation to Professors Lisa Tee and Janie Brown for their continued commitment to mentoring Curtin Malaysia academics and advancing teaching excellence.

“The iSoLT Hackathon reflects Curtin’s strong commitment to fostering innovation in learning and teaching while nurturing a collaborative academic culture. We are excited to continue working together to strengthen iSoLT practices, professional development, and impactful student learning experiences,” he said.

Professor Tang also congratulated the five successful teams, noting that they will present their project outcomes at future Illuminate events and Curtin Malaysia learning and teaching seminars.

Special acknowledgement was also extended to Associate Professor Jun Chih, who will collaborate with the Office of Learning and Teaching to support staff in quantitative data analysis and interpretation during a forthcoming workshop.

Feedback from participants highlighted the Hackathon’s highly collaborative and supportive environment, with many praising the opportunity to receive direct feedback from experienced mentors while refining ideas into viable teaching innovations.

One participant described the workshop as an invaluable platform for transforming initial concepts into practical projects, while another noted that the event successfully broke down faculty silos and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration among staff from different academic backgrounds.

Professor Raymond Chiong remarked that the initiative strongly aligned with Curtin’s vision of cultivating teaching excellence through mentorship, innovation, and evidence-based educational practices.

“It was inspiring to see participants and mentors actively tackling complex educational challenges while exploring solutions grounded in Design Thinking and student partnership,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Anita Jimmie described the Hackathon as a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas and exploring innovative teaching practices across disciplines.

“The interactions throughout the workshop created meaningful professional discussions, strengthened collegial connections, and reinforced our shared commitment to enhancing student learning experiences,” she added.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or follow Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Professor Janie Brown (standing front row, 2nd left), Professor Lisa Tee (standing front row, 3rd right), and the organising committee with participants.

Professor Brown (left), Professor Tee (fourth from right), and Professor Tang Fu Ee (back row) with participants of the iSoLT Hackathon 2026.

Professor Brown (2nd left) sharing insights with participants during one of the workshop sessions.

Participants listening attentively to Professor Tee (seated 2nd left) during an interactive discussion session.