UTAR collaborates with iTrainKids for 3D printing course

• 3D course enable students to embark on innovation & creative thinking
• Academic-industry collaboration will immensely benefit potential leaders

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with iTrainKids to organise 3D printing course that focuses on creativity and innovation for children aged between 10 to 15 years old. UTAR’s Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science academics will work together with iTrainKids to provide the 3D printing course content and assist in a Train-The-Trainer (TTT) workshop to train participants to conduct 3D printing classes for three levels known as beginner, intermediate and advanced.

The 3D course will enable students to embark on innovation and creative thinking where they will build solutions to solve real-world problems using 3D printing for prototyping and creating MVP (Minimum Viable Product). Both parties will also jointly organise 3D printing competitions to inspire more people to showcase their design and improve their skills. Apart from that, Utar and iTrainKids will explore possible collaborations to conduct 3D printing programmes to ASEAN countries in future to inspire more people to learn new or refine existing skills.

The signing ceremony held at Utar Sungai Long Campus, Selangor on 10 Feb 2022 between Utar President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat and iTrainKids Sdn Bhd Executive Director Eric Ku Yee Fei. Witnessing the signing of MoA were Utar Vice President of Internationalisation and Academic Development Ir Prof Dr Goi Bok Min and iTrainKids General Manager Denebe Alradikin.

Ewe said, “3D printing has many advantages over traditional processes, including speed-to-market, lower costs, and less waste. 3D printing has resulted in a burst of innovation across a wide range of industries. This MoA will undoubtedly broaden children’s horizons, driving their innovation and sparking new technologies that could bring a positive impact to society.”

Eric said, “iTrain believes academic and industry collaboration will immensely benefit our potential leaders. Don’t enrol your kids in just any class, sign them up for a lifelong quest. A quest to build STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematical) powers, learn new tools, and develop cognitive thinking abilities.”

Eric believes that children who ace this progressive quest can ace life’s biggest tests, inventing new possibilities and have world-changing impact.

“Many 3D printing courses out there focus on 3D printer and 3D software usage rather than focusing on students' innovation and creativity. Our 3D printing course aims to close this gap by teaching innovative and creative problem-solving processes using 3D printing technology and by viewing the 3D printer as a tool to test and validate solutions or even small-scale production,” adds Eric.

The course has three levels with 12 sessions of 1.5-hour classes per level. Interested parties can join a trial class by registering their interest.