Today marked the end of Citrex Program Inovasi @ UMPSA, a two-day event filled with ideas, creativity, and meaningful collaboration between students, teachers, and families. It wasn’t just a competition—it was a festival of ideas, a gathering of minds and hearts across three tracks:
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LEKIU – for young innovators aged 10–12
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HEBAT – for secondary school students aged 13–21
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TUAH – for teachers
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We were thrilled to host 47 primary schools under the LEKIU category, 36 teams from secondary schools under HEBAT, and 3 inspiring teacher-led teams under TUAH.
The Rubric – Measuring More Than Just Output
All participants were evaluated based on seven key items outlined in our rubric—designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and communication, rather than just “winning.”
Here’s what they were assessed on:
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Problem Understanding & Background Research
– How well did the team define the issue? Was there real-world relevance and depth in their understanding? -
Innovation & Creativity
– Was the solution original, bold, or out-of-the-box? Did the idea show a spark of ingenuity? -
Design Thinking / Solution Development
– How was the idea developed? Was there structure, planning, and thought behind it? -
Use of Technology (Bonus)
– For those who incorporated robotics, sensors, or digital tools—how effectively were they used? -
Poster Presentation (A1 Format)
– Was the information presented clearly and visually engaging? Was the poster an effective communication tool? -
Demonstration of Product / Prototype
– Did the prototype (or model) work? Was the team able to explain how it works? -
Impact and Relevance
– Would this idea benefit a real-world community, school, or situation? Was the idea scalable or sustainable?
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Winning teams were announced yesterday—congratulations to all of you!
But to those who didn’t walk away with medals—you are winners too.
Why? Because you showed up. You ideated. You built. You practiced. You stood in front of a crowd and shared your ideas with the world. That alone is victory.
You made it through the entire process of innovation—from ideation, to tinkering, to presentation. That journey is far more valuable than the outcome.
Hardware, Heartwork, and Hard Work
The Innovation Day wasn’t just about ideas—it was about hardware: the hands-on building, testing, soldering, debugging, sticking, and sometimes even starting over.
It was also about heartwork: families staying up late to glue and cut, teachers guiding teams with care, and students whispering to one another backstage before pitching.
Yes, we acknowledge that younger students often receive help from adults—and that’s okay. When those students step up, present in front of an audience, and explain their version of the innovation… they are learning. They are growing. That in itself is a massive win.
To our pro bono committee members – Pn Ijan, Dr Sue, Pn Yan, Pn Idde, Pn Nashua, Hj Zahir, mentors, volunteers, and judges—thank you.
It was fun, yes. It was exhausting, absolutely. But it was also incredibly worthwhile.
You helped make this festival of ideas a place where students, parents, and teachers met, built, and grew together. That’s the true spirit of STEM.
Final Words
At UMPSA STEM Lab, we believe that no idea is less brilliant than the next. Every project is an ilham—an inspiration gifted by Allah. What matters is not how polished it looks, but how much thought, care, and learning went into its creation.
To all participants,
Keep building. Keep dreaming. And keep solving problems—big or small.
You are the future. And the future looks bright.
Nurul – June 19th
Briefings
