The Undergraduate Ideas Festival (UM UG iFEST 2025), organised by Universiti Malaya to spotlight student innovation projects and connect them directly with industry, concluded after showcasing 2,600 final year projects over three days.
Held from 24 to 26 June 2025, the programme recorded 8,400 minutes of simultaneous presentations, with participation from 300 industry judges and support from over 180 organisations. According to the Vice-Chancellor, YBhg. Prof. Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, the festival serves as a platform for students to publicly exhibit their Final Year Projects (FYPs).
“This festival is more than just a showcase of outcomes. It is a bridge between academia and industry — an effort to close the gap between theory and practice. This is the face of the future university: educating with knowledge, guiding with values, and moving forward together with society.”
UM UG iFEST 2025 also aimed to foster academia-industry collaboration towards a sustainable innovation ecosystem, enhance graduate employability through presentations and pitching sessions, and build professional and strategic networks between students, researchers, and industry.
In his officiating speech, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud, said this digital festival is not merely an exhibition of ideas, but a platform to shape the future, cultivate talent, and provide solid proof that undergraduates have immense potential to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
“The students’ research does not end here — all ideas and findings from the presentation sessions will be taken up by industry to help solve pressing national and global issues.”
“With the theme Unleashing Ideas, Igniting Change, the festival reflects Universiti Malaya’s commitment to nurturing a culture of innovation among students — not merely as learners, but as solution designers, strategic thinkers, and national change agents,” he added.
The highlight of the festival was the announcement of the Best FYP Competition Winners (Three Main Categories):
Social Sciences: Ezrie Ezmier Bin Amiruddin from the Faculty of Law with the project The Final Cut: Exploring Censorship Disparity, Artistic Freedom, and the Rule of Law in the Malaysian Creative Industries.
Science and Technology: Janting Anak Tingom from the Faculty of Engineering with Performance Evaluation Of Palm Oil Clinker (POC) Powder As An Additive In Warm Mix Asphalt Design.
Health Sciences: Tang Jiun Yoong from the Faculty of Pharmacy with Synthesis Of Sulphonamide Chalcones As New Potential Anti-Dengue Inhibitors.
Among the programme’s key initiatives was Industry Pay It Forward (iPIF), implemented in collaboration with the Graduate Employability and Career Centre (GECC), Student Affairs Department, and Talentbank. This initiative supported holistic career development through mentoring, interview simulations, and career talks involving 170 industry players. The effort supports the Ministry’s aspirations to enhance graduate employability and job placement rates in line with current market demands.
Additionally, a forum on Commercialising Academic Research and an Industry–Research Nexus exhibition were also held, serving as crucial platforms to transform research outcomes into commercially viable products. The forum, involving undergraduate students, nurtures young talent in alignment with the Ministry’s agenda to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem through active university-industry engagement.
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UM UG iFEST 2025 JAMBATAN ANTARA DUNIA AKADEMIK DAN REALITI INDUSTRI, HARGAI IDEA DAN INOVASI ANAK MUDA
Undergraduate Ideas Festival (UM UG iFEST 2025), anjuran Universiti Malaya bagi mengetengahkan projek inovasi para pelajar ijazah sarjana muda terus ke industri melabuhkan tirai setelah menyaksikan sebanyak 2,600 projek tahun akhir dibentangkan sepanjang tiga hari.
Program yang dijalankan dari 24 – 26 Jun 2025 ini merekodkan 8,400 minit pembentangan serentak, dengan penyertaan 300 juri industri, dan sokongan lebih 180 organisasi. Menurut Naib Canselor, YBhg. Prof. Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, festival ini bertujuan untuk memberi platform kepada pelajar mempamerkan Projek Tahun Akhir (FYP) secara terbuka.
“Festival ini bukan hanya menampilkan hasil projek. Ia menjadi jambatan antara dunia akademik dan realiti industri — satu usaha merapatkan jurang antara teori dan amalan. Inilah wajah universiti masa depan: mendidik dengan ilmu, membimbing dengan nilai, dan melangkah bersama masyarakat.”
Selain itu, UM UG iFEST 2025 juga bertujuan untuk menarik kolaborasi industri-akademia ke arah ekosistem inovasi yang lestari, meningkatkan kebolehpasaran graduan melalui sesi pembentangan dan pitching serta membina jaringan profesional dan strategik antara pelajar, penyelidik dan industri.
Menurut YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud, Timbalan Menteri Pendidikan Tinggi dalam ucapan perasmian beliau, festival digital ini bukan sekadar satu pameran idea – bahkan ia adalah wadah pencorak masa depan, medan percambahan bakat, dan bukti nyata bahawa mahasiswa memiliki potensi luar biasa untuk menjadi penggerak perubahan yang mampan.
“Hasil penyelidikan pelajar tidak berakhir di sini, semua idea dan penemuan dalam sesi pembentangan ini akan diangkat oleh pihak industri bagi menyelesaikan masalah yang melingkar di peringkat nasional dan global.”
“Dengan tema Unleashing Ideas, Igniting Change atau Mengilham Idea, Mencetus perubahan, festival ini memperlihatkan komitmen Universiti Malaya dalam menyemai budaya inovasi dalam kalangan mahasiswa – bukan sekadar sebagai penuntut ilmu, tetapi sebagai pereka cipta solusi, pemikir strategik, dan agen perubahan nasional,” tambah beliau lagi.
Kemuncak festival menyaksikan tiga pelajar memenangi Pertandingan FYP Terbaik (Tiga Kategori Utama) dengan Ezrie Ezmier Bin Amiruddin dari Fakulti Undang-Undang menjuarai kategori Sains Sosial menerusi projek The Final Cut: Exploring Censorship Disparity, Artistic Freedom, And The Rule Of Law In The Malaysian Creative Industries.
Manakala bagi kategori Sains dan Teknologi, Performance Evaluation Of Palm Oil Clinker (Poc) Powder As An Additive In Warm Mix Asphalt Design, projek tahun akhir Janting Anak Tingom dari Fakulti Kejuruteraan diumumkan sebagai johan. Tang Jiun Yoong dari Fakulti Farmasi mengungguli kategori Sains Kesihatan dengan Synthesis Of Sulphonamide Chalcones As New Potential Anti-Dengue Inhibitors.
Antara pengisian sepanjang program berlangsung adalah inisiatif program Industry Pay It.
Forward (iPIF) yang dilaksanakan dengan kerjasama Graduate Employbility and Career Centre (GECC), HEP dan Talentbank. Inisiatif ini membuka ruang pembangunan kerjaya yang lebih holistik melalui mentoring, simulasi temu duga dan ceramah kerjaya dengan penglibatan 170 industri. Usaha ini menyokong hasrat Kementerian untuk meningkatkan kebolehpasaran dan kadar bekerja graduan, sejajar dengan keperluan pasaran semasa.
Selain itu, turut dianjurkan forum Commercialising Academic Research serta pameran Industry–Research Nexus yang menjadi medium penting untuk menjadikan hasil penyelidikan sebagai produk bernilai komersial. Forum yang melibatkan pelajar pra siswazah ini akan mengasah bakat-bakat muda yang selari dengan agenda Kementeriann dalam memperkukuh ekosistem inovasi negara menerusi keterlibatan aktif universiti dan industri.
