Dr Saaveethya Sivakumar awarded Curtin grant in recognition of outstanding research project

Miri – 6 March 2024 – Dr. Saaveethya Sivakumar, a senior lecturer and programme coordinator for software engineering at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), has been awarded Curtin University’s prestigious 2024 LITEC – Curtin Academy iSoLT Small Grant in recognition of her outstanding research project titled ‘Interactive Gamified Learning Platform for Curtin Global Campuses’.

The groundbreaking project was a collaborative effort with fellow researchers from Curtin Malaysia and Curtin’s other global campuses, namely Professor Garenth Lim King Hann from Curtin Malaysia, Dr. Qilin Li from Curtin Perth, Veerajay Gooljar from Curtin Mauritius, and Geethanjali Wimalaratne from Curtin Colombo.

Providing guidance and expert input towards the project were the dean and associate dean of learning and teaching at Curtin Malaysia, Professor Tang Fu Ee and Professor Raymond Chiong Choo Wee.

The project involves development of a cutting-edge gamified learning platform with the aim of enhancing the teaching and learning experience for both students and academics at Curtin’s global campuses by fostering greater engagement and social interaction.

According to Dr. Saaveethya, the current issue stems from the lack of meaningful engagement for students, as well as the challenges faced by educators in catering to diverse learning styles, which hinders collaboration between educators and students. This is true of institutions of higher learning all over the world.

She said that the project aims to expand the team’s existing ‘Questup’ web application to integrate innovative gamification tools to enhance content delivery and measure learning outcomes. The platform already includes a gamification portal with e-modules and assessments, and an upcoming significant upgrade will integrate unit assessments with gaming rewards, aligning them with Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO).

She added that the project aligns with Curtin’s Vision 2030 for high-quality global education and research, emphasising People, Planet, and Partnership. The priority areas include Teaching Quality, Sustainability (SDG4 – Quality Education), and Student Experience. It also emphasises Retention, and Success, aligning with Curtin’s Academic Capability Framework.

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin Malaysia, Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, in congratulating Dr. Saaveethya and her team for the achievement, commented that their proposal envisions a positive impact on the planet by creating an inclusive, engaging, and sustainable learning environment that transforms the traditional education landscape across Curtin’s global campuses. “What they have achieved so far is truly commendable,” he remarked.

The LITEC – Curtin Academy iSoLT Small Grant was created to provide opportunities for projects that build capacity in innovative Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (iSoLT) for all teaching staff across all of Curtin’s campuses and locations, improve the student experience, and realise the aims of the University’s Vision 2030 and 2030 Strategic Plan.

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LITEC – Curtin Academy iSoLT Small Grant awardee Dr. Saaveethya Sivakumar