The Transformative Power of Data Science: Connecting Classroom Learning with the School Community
The Centre for Mathematical Sciences (PSM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), successfully organised the SULAM Programme “The Transformative Power of Data Science” on 20 May 2026 at the UMPSA Gambang Campus Library.
The programme was conducted as part of FSD1012 – Basics of Data Science, a course offered to students of the Foundation in Science and Technology Programme. It was implemented in collaboration with the Kuantan District Education Office (PPD Kuantan) as part of PSM’s commitment to connecting academic learning with meaningful community engagement. The programme was originally developed under the Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) initiative and subsequently approved by the UMPSA SULAM Committee.
A total of 47 UMPSA students participated in the programme as student facilitators. They engaged with 87 secondary school students, comprising 30 Form 4 students, 36 Form 5 students, and 21 Pure Science students. The programme provided an opportunity for the school students to experience data science concepts through interactive and accessible activities while allowing UMPSA students to apply their academic knowledge in a community-based setting.
The programme was led by Dr. Amirul Aizad Ahmad Fuad, with the involvement of Dr. Tay Chai Jian and Puan Nurul Ashikin Binti Abdul Rahman from the Centre for Mathematical Sciences. Together with the participating UMPSA students, the academic team facilitated the programme and supported the delivery of the data science activities.
A key component of the programme was the interactive “Capture and Recapture” activity. Through this activity, school students were introduced to fundamental data science concepts, including data collection, sampling, population estimation, data analysis, and interpretation. Participants collected samples, recorded their observations, estimated population sizes using the Lincoln–Petersen method, and discussed factors that could affect the accuracy of their estimates.
The activity demonstrated how data obtained from a sample can be used to make meaningful inferences about a larger population. More importantly, it provided a practical context for discussing issues such as sampling bias, data quality, estimation error, and the importance of appropriate data collection methods. These concepts are closely related to the data science process introduced in the FSD1012 course.
For the UMPSA students, the SULAM programme extended learning beyond the classroom. Acting as facilitators required them not only to understand the relevant data science concepts but also to communicate those concepts effectively to a younger audience. The experience provided opportunities to strengthen their communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and facilitation skills while applying their knowledge in a practical setting.
For the participating school students, the programme offered an engaging introduction to how data can be collected, analysed, and interpreted to address real-world questions. The use of game-based activities helped make abstract concepts more tangible and encouraged active participation throughout the learning process.
Overall, “The Transformative Power of Data Science” demonstrated how service-learning can create a mutually beneficial learning experience for university students and the wider community. The programme supports UMPSA’s aspiration to integrate academic knowledge with community engagement while promoting data literacy and interest in STEM among secondary school students.
Through initiatives such as this, the Centre for Mathematical Sciences continues to support meaningful learning experiences that enable students to apply their academic knowledge while contributing to society.
Author: Dr. Amirul Aizad Ahmad Fuad