Service Learning Implementation: Empowering Engineering Students via Drone Tech for EDU-4IR Program

Abstract

With the advancement of technology, there is an urgency to produce students equipped with the 21st Century skills to keep up with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This is in line with the aspiration of the Malaysian government to develop holistic graduates and transform education as in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025. Service learning pedagogy was explored in this paper by integrating the course content of UKQA2232-01 Drone Technology with the real context application. Thirty-one engineering undergraduates enrolled in the Drone Technology course participated in the Drone Tech for Edu 4IR project. The project consists of seminars, workshops, and racing activities. Document analysis of the course information, project reports, and students' reflections were employed in this study to identify the learning process and skills gained by the students. Results show that the students went through 6 phases of service learning implementation. The service learning has enhanced the students' learning, sense of responsibility, accountability, adaptability, management and international exposure. These are essential to develop good engineers in the future.