Educational Drone Programme Inspires SMAiM Students in IR4.0 Learning

The Centre for Advanced Analytics (CAA) under the Centre of Excellence (COE) for Artificial Intelligence concluded the Applied Educational Drone Technology for IR4.0 Skills Development in Secondary Schools programme for students from Sekolah Menengah Agama i-Musleh (SMAiM), Melaka. The four-session Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP), held in June 2026, involved 15 selected Form 1 to Form 3 students and their accompanying teachers.

Designed to introduce educational drone technology and strengthen students’ IR4.0 competencies, the programme combined hands-on learning with practical applications to enhance computational thinking, problem-solving, and digital skills.

Participants progressed through four modules: Drone Fundamentals, Flight and Drone Control, DroneBlock Programming, and Drone Challenge. They first learned about drone components, flight principles, safety procedures, and navigation before advancing to block-based programming and autonomous flight missions. The programme culminated in the Drone Challenge, where students worked in teams to complete practical tasks using the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme.

The programme was led by Ts. Dr. Nor Hidayati Abdul Aziz, together with a team of academics and postgraduate students from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET). Beyond gaining technical knowledge in drone technology, participants also developed essential competencies in programming, collaboration, computational thinking, and digital innovation. All in all, the programme provided a valuable platform for students to develop future-ready skills through hands-on learning, while encouraging greater interest in STEM and IR4.0 technologies.