i-CATS empowers students with hands-on solar training

KUCHING (Feb 27): i-CATS University College is advancing sustainability education in Sarawak schools through its ‘Solar Futures – Empowering Schools’ initiative.

Funded by the IEEE Electron Devices Society (IEEE EDS), the programme provides students with hands-on exposure to solar system installation, testing and basic troubleshooting, enabling them to move beyond classroom theory into practical technical application.

“As a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Service Learning Malaysia-University for Society (Sulam) outreach initiative, Solar Futures exposes students to renewable energy while offering i-CATS students hands-on community-service learning experience,” said i-CATS in a statement.

The programme’s first phase last year focused on foundational training sessions conducted at SMK Lundu on Dec 4 and SMK Singai on Dec 11.

Prior to the school visits, the i-CATS student team underwent structured preparation led by lecturers with support from laboratory technicians.

Training covered solar fundamentals, electrical safety, component handling, safe wiring practices, kit familiarisation and methods for identifying and correcting common connection errors.

Facilitation skills were also emphasised to enhance workshop delivery.

The programme was delivered by a team of eight lecturers, two laboratory technicians, and 12 students from electrical and electronics engineering programmes.

At SMK Lundu, 28 Form 3 and Form 4 students participated, while 30 Form 4 students joined the session at SMK Singai.

Teachers from both schools were actively involved, reflecting strong institutional support for STEM and sustainability education.

Using custom-built solar training kits developed by the project team together with electrical and electronics engineering students, participants learned to read simple schematic diagrams, identify key components, assemble solar circuits, perform basic wiring and carry out testing and measurement.

According to i-CATS, the schools’ teachers responded positively, describing the programme as a meaningful STEM initiative that complements classroom teaching and provides learning experiences rarely available in typical school settings.

The programme has since entered its second phase, with a stronger focus on practical skills development.

Follow-up sessions at SMK Singai on Feb 11 and SMK Lundu on Feb 12 involved the installation and testing of a real solar light and street lighting system, including connection work and practical inspection.

Students were also exposed to safety procedures and basic technical checks such as polarity and continuity verification to ensure proper system operation.

“Project organisers said the initiative reflects the programme’s core principle that STEM learning should extend beyond exposure to training kits and develop into practical capability, confidence and real-world problem-solving skills,” read the statement.

“They also expressed appreciation to IEEE EDS for its support, as well as to the i-CATS team and the management, teachers and students of SMK Lundu and SMK Singai for their strong cooperation.”