Java Odyssey 2024-International Community Service Program: Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT), IIUM collaborates with Faculty of Engineering, Semarang State University (UNNES), held at School Located in Desa Banyukuning, Bandungan, Semarang Regency, Indonesia

The Faculty of Engineering at Semarang State University (UNNES), in collaboration with the Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and the Banyukuning Village Government, Bandungan, Semarang Regency, conducted an International Community Service program from July 31 to August 1, 2024. This International Community Service was part of the Java Odyssey 2024 – Mobility and Community Service Program, held from July 27 to August 4, 2024. The program involved 13 lecturers and 9 students, with 11 lecturers from KICT and 2 from the Kulliyyah of Engineering (KOE).

The International Community Service program featured four main activities: upcycling used cooking oil into soap, a STEM project, paper prototype games, and teach English for students at the school. A total of 113 students participated in this program. The upcycling of used cooking oil into soap was part of the Green School Module under the Advanced Materials and Surface Engineering Research Unit (AMSERU), KOE in collaboration with Green Waste Selangor (GWS). Upcycling involves transforming waste materials into useful products. AMSERU was represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farah Diana Mohd Daud, who worked alongside Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Khairayu Badron, Assist. Prof. Dr. Nur Leyni Nilam Putri Junurham, Muhammad Haziq Haikal Bin Bilezan, and Nur Fathnin Ilhami Binti Mohamad Helmi.

During the activities, the students were divided into groups of five. The session began with an introduction, followed by a demonstration, and then hands-on experience where the students fabricated soap from used cooking oil. After the experiments, a fun quiz and ice-breaking activities were held, with awards given to the three best-performing groups and the most active student. We hope that the students will continue to manage used cooking oil responsibly, contributing to the sustainability of our environment and planet.

Congratulations to all the winners and every student who actively participated in the program. A heartfelt thanks to the incredible and amazing teams from the Faculty of Engineering, UNNES, and Java Odyssey 2024 for giving AMSERU the opportunity to contribute through this community service program at a school in Banyukuning, Bandungan, Semarang Regency, Indonesia.We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Persatuan Saintis Muslim Malaysia (PERINTIS) for sponsoring this community service program. We look forward to seeing everyone again in the next community service program!