KUCHING: The Faculty of Computing and Software Engineering (FCSE) at i-CATS University College (i-CATS UC), in collaboration with the School of Applied Science, Telkom University Indonesia, successfully concluded a two-week inbound mobility and international corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme held from Sept 29 to Oct 10, 2025.
The initiative brought together academics and students from both institutions to foster cross-border learning, research collaboration, and community engagement.
The Telkom University delegation comprised four academics: Dr Siti Zakiah, Head of the Hospitality Programme; Fathah Noor Prawita, Application Software Engineering lecturer; Asep Deffy Ciftadi, assistant manager for Academic IT Products; and Alit Yurniargan E., Accounting Information System lecturer and five students.
The first week of the programme featured a series of virtual academic sessions that explored key topics such as software engineering, digital payments, web artificial intelligence (AI), and cultural exchange.
Among the sessions were “Panoramic View of Software Engineering: A Survey of Past Final Year Projects, Trends and Challenges” by Tay Chung Ang of FCSE, “Seamless Payments: The Future of Digital Transactions in Asia” by Dr Tora Fahrudin from Telkom University, “Web AI” by Emily Siew Sing Kiang of FCSE, and “From Sundanese Traditions to Global Connections: West Java’s Cultural Exchange” by Dr Siti Zakiah.
These sessions provided participants with valuable insights into current technological trends while promoting mutual understanding between the Malaysian and Indonesian academic communities.
The second week focused on community-based CSR activities in Kampung Telaga Air, where participants collaborated to develop a tourist-friendly website, visitkampungtelagaair.com, featuring a 360° virtual tour, multimedia galleries, and local business directories.
The project aimed to promote sustainable tourism by showcasing the village’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
The initiative received strong support from the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, i-CATS UC, and local authorities, who assisted with data collection and coordination.
At the Service Learning University Malaysia (SULAM) workshops held at the NADI (Pusat Sebaran Nasional) centre in the village, participants conducted two sessions, “Sell Smarter: AI-Driven Poster Design” and “Easy Financial Records with Spreadsheet”.
The workshops, led by Norahima Annuar of i-CATS UC and Alit Yurniargan E. of Telkom University, aimed to enhance the digital and financial literacy of local traders and entrepreneurs.
A Mini Poster Design Competition was also held, encouraging creativity through digital technology.
The programme concluded with a website handover ceremony at the i-CATS University College campus, attended by Penghulu Kampung Telaga Air, Mushidi Johari, Ketua Kampung Zaini Tanggek, and the village committee.
In his remarks, Dr Ting Kung Chuang, Dean of FCSE, expressed appreciation to community leaders for their support and emphasised the value of collaboration in empowering rural communities through technology and education.
The ceremony also featured a signing session and souvenir exchange, marking the success of this international academic and community partnership.
As part of their cultural immersion, the Telkom University delegation also visited the Sarawak Cultural Village and local museums, thereby strengthening intercultural understanding and academic ties between the two institutions.
