Digital technologies and innovation have disrupted many established industries and turned new players to dominate the market particularly technology, media, entertainment, and telecommunication. Following this trend, the pace for education via online mode or massive open online courses (MOOCs) has accelerated to offer to wider audience alternative platforms of getting knowledge.  This also has resulted new demands and approaches in teaching and learning to be richer in terms of content, the way that subject is taught, and the ability to stimulate ‘active’ learning. 

The learning spaces require new arrangement that associate blended learning (i.e. e-learning and face -to-face, and other collaborative learning) as a combination of real and virtual environment. With digital innovation constantly evolving, Multimedia University (MMU) teaching approaches are continuously updated through Multimedia Learning System (MMLS) as the platform predominantly contributes to the learning experience. Academic staff have begun to fully utilise technology to deliver the lessons, by combining classroom instructions with interactive media that promotes interactive learning, and today it is also considered to be the new required skillset. 

This paper showcases the selected learning spaces that have been identified and established in MMU to adapt the student-centred approaches facilitated by the latest technology, named as Intelligent Learning Labs (i-Labs) – Innov8 Lab, SiRi Learning Lab, SMART Lab, RoboSpace and eMoot Court. As part of MMU’s Hub for Innovation Ventures (HiVE) project, a co-working space – the INNOLab is also established that houses Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), pitching centre, hot desks and meeting points for the ‘dream teams’ to work on innovation ventures. Engagements are made with community partners such as Malaysian Global Innovation and Creative Centre (MaGIC), Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDeC), Content Malaysia Pitching Centre (CMPC) and to name a few. These labs have given encouraging results of MMU’s approach to accelerate innovations in the education service and will be increasingly critical for university in the 21st Century to survive with a more competitive advantage. 

Note: Part of this article was extracted from Rafi, A. (2018), Innovation in Education: MMU’s Experience, The Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) Vice-Chancellor’s Column. 

Biodata :

Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr. Ahmad Rafi, was appointed President / CEO of Multimedia University (MMU) in 2016. He is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland with a degree in architecture (Hons.) In 1994. He furthers his education by obtaining a degree. Master of Science in Computer - Aided Building Design and a Ph.D. in the field of animation and virtual reality architecture in 1988.

He began his career in education as a lecturer at the Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM), Multimedia University (MMU) from his establishment and was later appointed Dean of the faculty. He held several high profile positions at MMU and outside organizations before his last appointment. Among the appointments were Vice President (Academic), Dean of the Institute for Graduate Studies and Director of Research and Development (R&D) and Deputy Academic Rector at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Malaysia.
 
He is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Association, Creative Content Industry Association (CCIG), Malaysia and Multimedia Professionals Certified, and a Professional Technologist (awarded by the Malaysian Technology Board - MBOT). He is also a member of the Board of Telekom Research and Development Sdn. Bhd. She has attended USC-Rhizophora training at the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, United States and the CXO Technology Summit, a leadership program at IMD Lausanne, Switzerland.

His research interests include virtual reality, virtual heritage, 3D animation, architectural visualization, educational technology, and multimedia. An editor and guest reviewer for several local and international research committees, he also pioneered the development of Bachelor's, Multimedia Masters and Ph.D. degree programs in the country over the last 20 years.

Date of Input: 30/08/2019 | Updated: 30/08/2019 | nazlina