Tambun: The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) today handed over a Digital Maker Hub to Pondok Darul Furqan in Tambun to expand access to digital skills and future technologies among students and teachers in Islamic education institutions.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MDEC chief executive officer Anuar Fariz Fadzil said the Digital Maker Hub is an interactive learning space equipped with laptops, internet connectivity, smartboards, robotics kits, microcontroller kits, and other supporting equipment to facilitate the practical learning and application of technology.
In a statement today, he said the initiative is implemented through the Islamic Education Institution Digital Transformation Programme (Digital IPI), a national initiative undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).
"Malaysia requires comprehensive digital talent development to realise its aspiration of becoming an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Nation by 2030. Therefore, access to technology must be expanded to all segments of society, including Islamic education institutions. Through Digital IPI and the provision of the Digital Maker Hub, MDEC aims to ensure that teachers and students in Islamic education institutions are given the opportunity to become more tech-savvy and capable of contributing as creators and innovators to the digital economy, in line with the Malaysia Digital Action Plan 2030," he said.
Meanwhile, 30 students and five teachers from Pondok Darul Furqan participated in the two-day MetaSkool Metaverse Programme, which introduced metaverse technology through experiential learning and interactive activities designed to encourage creativity and the exploration of new ideas.
Under the pilot phase of the programme, five other selected Islamic education institutions in Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, and Penang will also receive a Digital Maker Hub.
Launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in March, the Digital IPI programme is expected to benefit more than 3,000 students and 50 teachers through training modules covering digital literacy and AI, digital creativity, immersive learning, metaverse technology, and digital content development.
The initiative also seeks to integrate religious education and technology holistically through the application of values such as trustworthiness (amanah), integrity, and good manners (adab), with the aim of producing a generation equipped to meet the challenges of the digital economy.