Since its inception, Taylor’s has consistently provided excellent services for its students in terms of diverse study options, relevant curriculum and teaching methods, ongoing partnerships with leading universities worldwide, strong industry linkages, up-to-date facilities and well-equipped campuses.

Recently Taylor’s University introduced its unique ecosystem known as Taylor'sphere during a virtual launch event. This ecosystem enables students to develop the Taylor’s Graduate Capabilities of social emotional intelligence, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, cultural adaptiveness, and entrepreneurship through various initiatives such as interdisciplinary projects, mentorship, and even launching their own businesses or CSR efforts.

Speaking at the virtual launch, Professor Dr Pradeep Nair, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer of Taylor’s University said that Taylor’sphere is built on three pillars. The Intellect pillar focuses on sharpening students' thinking skills through mix-and-match modules and a work-based learning curriculum, known as the Taylor’s Curriculum Framework. The Practical Wisdom pillar fosters emotional intelligence through life skills modules, a Taylor’s Graduate Capabilities transcript and co-curricular activities. While the third pillar which is Craft, hones a wide range of essential skill sets with hands-on experience.

“It is evident that academic knowledge alone is inadequate for a graduate to thrive in today's society. Our ecosystem allows students to develop the right life skills, collaborate across disciplines to solve problems and create an impact in their community, mimicking the way the industry operates. It is essential to provide students with the proper atmosphere, networks, and resources at the university level to enable them to flourish in their future careers," said Professor Dr Pradeep Nair.

Through Taylor’sphere components such as Taylor’s Me.reka Makerspace, Bizpod, Research & Enterprise, Taylor’s Curriculum Framework and Life Skills, students are able to graduate with a well-rounded set of skills and be able to bring positive transformation to society.

Bridging digital literacy gap through a little yellow box

In December 2020, Taylor's Me.reka Makerspace (TMM) partnered together with Taylor’s students from Taylor’s Makers Club, Robotics Club and Agents of Tech and embarked on a journey to create an affordable e-learning device known as the DuckiePi. The DuckiePi is a part of the Taylor’sphere ecosystem projects that aims to bridge the digital literacy gap within the surrounding community.

Taylor’s Me.reka Makerspace is a collaborative learning hub for academics, students, industry players and entrepreneurial communities to consolidate and cultivate collective impact through value-based innovation

This small yellow box is a computer console that makes education more accessible to children from low-income households, who are unable to attend virtual classrooms or have limited access to learning resources. The main component of the DuckiePi is a Raspberry Pi computer encased in a small yellow box. It is capable of connecting to the internet, and it runs on the Chromium Operating System which is optimised for Google.

The student behind DuckiePi’s creation, Bernard Yap said that a lot of research and negotiations were made to make the most cost-effective device. It took him and his team around four months to find suppliers that would help him build a fully functional DuckiePi which includes a computer, monitor, keyboard, webcam, mic, mouse and cables too for as low as RM400!

DuckiePi (left) and a fully functional DuckiePi set (right)

Want to contribute to the DuckiePi project?

“Every contribution puts a smile on the faces of those in need.” To raise funds and drive public participation, the team launched a donation campaign earlier this year and currently, 30 DuckiePi’s have been distributed to B40 families. TMM hopes to distribute a total of 100 devices by the end of the year. Those who are able to contribute to the less fortunate can donate here.

DuckiePi devices were given to the PPR Lembah Subang community to allow B40 children to access online classes.

On top of that, DuckiePi is also currently partnering InstaCash on a trade-in campaign, where RM10 would be donated towards the DuckiePi fund upon app users trading in used devices with the promo code DUCKIE30.

TMM's co-director, Mike Choong Wai Keng, said the makerspace is the domain that enables and equips all the students and faculty members to become creators. TMM has mentors with professional experiences to guide students on their ideas, as well as provide workshops, space and tools for them to spark their creativity. Those with feasible business ideas are encouraged to approach the university start-up incubator BizPod for advice on funding opportunities and product commercialisation.“This ecosystem also fosters multidisciplinary learning which enables students in developing creative confidence, cross-collaboration with other students as well as allowing them to explore further on their ideas, embrace their failures and restart again. In fact, the university has allowed its students to use any studio or lab on campus for their projects irrespective of their degree programme, effectively making the whole campus a giant Makerspace,” said Choong.

Mike Choong is a co-director of Taylor's Me.reka Makerspace who directs academic integration with industry and community impact.

The Taylor’sphere ecosystem equips students with the intelligence to become individuals of influence and impact, be it in corporations or in their own businesses. This way they are prepared to thrive in a post-pandemic world with a volatile economic landscape as well as empowered in making changes in their communities.

For more information about Taylor’sphere and on DuckiePi, head over to their websites respectively, Taylor’sphere official website and DuckiePi.