Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), in collaboration with Rengas Bekah Primary School and the Terengganu State Education Department, has successfully organized the National Junior Terengganu Robotic Challenge (JTRC) 2025, once again positioning itself as a vibrant hub for STEM education and youth innovation.

By organizing JTRC, UMT continues its mission to nurture creativity, problem-solving skills, and technical mastery among young Malaysians, said Programme Director, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Nazri Dagang.

“JTRC has grown into more than a competition, it is now a holistic, hands-on learning platform that builds resilience, teamwork, innovation, and confidence among young learners,” he said.

From being a state-level event in 2024, JTRC has successfully made its expansion to a fully recognized national platform. This year’s competition brought together 244 teams and 861 participants from schools nationwide.

Making the competition more special was the fact that there was also a dedicated category for the Special Education Integration Programme (PPKI).

“The inclusion of PPKI students reflects a strong commitment to accessible and inclusive STEM education,” Dr. Ahmad Nazri said.

Five categories were contested, each designed to test different aspects of robotics design, programming, and strategic thinking.

In the Zoom:bit Line Following (Arus Perdana) category, ZP:E5 Robosense from SK Seri Nilam emerged as champion, demonstrating precision and strong coding fundamentals.

The Sumo Robot 500g event, which recorded the highest number of entries, saw MECHADIFF SS:C4 from SK Pekan Jaya overpower the competition with excellent mechanical design and agile manoeuvring.

Meanwhile, battle intensity continued in the Sumo Robot 1kg category, where Teruntum Warrior from SK Teruntum secured the top title after a series of thrilling matches.

The Sumo:bit 1kg category showcased strategic robot pushing techniques, with JERANTZ 2 SL:C6 from SK Jerantut claiming the championship title.

In the highly inspiring PPKI Zoom:bit Line Following division, ROBOSENSe ZK:A1 from SK Seri Nilam triumphed, proving that robotics is a field where every student can excel, regardless of learning ability.

The competition also served as an experiential training ground for 120 UMT student volunteers, who played key roles as facilitators, marshals, technical judges, and event coordinators. Their involvement strengthened their leadership skills, communication abilities, and employability, echoing UMT’s vision of producing industry-ready graduates.

Support from industry partners, including Cytron Technologies, Din Mega Enterprise, Dato’ Rozano (CEO@Faculty), and VSG Lab, further elevated the impact and professionalism of JTRC 2025. These collaborators not only supplied high-quality robotics kits, components, and prizes, but also shared valuable technical insights that enriched the learning experience for participants.

The success of JTRC 2025 reflects UMT’s determination to cultivate Malaysia’s next generation of digital talents and robotics innovators. With plans to expand the competition into an international event in the coming years, UMT aims to position JTRC as a premier platform that drives STEM excellence.

By: Hidayatul Aini Zakaria