The Penang Math Platform (PMP) came alive with creativity, innovation, and youthful energy during the Great English and Math Stars (GEMS) 2025: Pitch for the Planet Workshop, an inspiring event dedicated to empowering Malaysia’s next generation of thinkers, innovators, and environmental advocates.
The workshop, held as part of the GEMS 2025 programme, aimed to equip young learners with essential communication and problem-solving skills while encouraging them to think critically about sustainability and global challenges. Designed for lower secondary students aged 13 to 15, the initiative aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
🌱 Empowering Youth Through Purpose-Driven Learning
The highlight of the day was the Pitch for the Planet competition preparation — a creative pitching challenge that inspires students to ideate, design, and present practical solutions for environmental and social sustainability.
The interactive workshop provided participants with the tools to express their ideas confidently and persuasively while strengthening their Values-Based Education (VBE) foundation. Students were guided to explore the values of responsibility, respect, empathy, and integrity, emphasizing how moral character and innovative thinking can coexist in addressing global issues.
Through hands-on activities, brainstorming sessions, and collaborative exercises, participants developed the skills to articulate impactful pitches that connect knowledge with empathy — a hallmark of AIU’s educational philosophy.
👩🏫 Expert Guidance from Passionate Educators
The event was led by a distinguished team of facilitators:
- Mdm Alia Hanim Zainal Abidin and Mr Mohd Fadli Zakaria from Albukhary International University (AIU)
- Dr Amrah Abdul Majid from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Together, they brought a wealth of experience in education, sustainability, and youth engagement, transforming the workshop into an enriching learning experience.
Supporting the facilitators were four dedicated AIU Foundation Studies students — Phyu Sin Thant, Youne Wadi Oo, Nurul Aina Azhar, and Hamdha Banu Ainudeen Hasiyar — who played a key role as mentors and activity assistants. Their involvement reflected AIU’s commitment to experiential learning and student leadership, bridging academia with real-world teaching practice.
💡 Igniting Creativity and Confidence
The Pitch for the Planet workshop went beyond traditional classroom learning. It encouraged participants to think critically about sustainability challenges such as waste management, renewable energy, biodiversity, and climate resilience — and to communicate their solutions with creativity and confidence.
Students learned the art of persuasive communication — from identifying a problem and crafting a clear message to structuring a compelling pitch that resonates with an audience. The facilitators guided them through techniques in storytelling, teamwork, and presentation skills, helping them gain the confidence to voice their ideas in front of peers and judges.
As part of the GEMS 2025 initiative, the workshop represents a transformational approach to education — one that values innovation, collaboration, and real-world relevance over rote learning.
🏫 AIU’s Role in Nurturing Future Changemakers
Albukhary International University’s involvement in this initiative demonstrates its deep commitment to empowering youth and advancing sustainability education in Malaysia. Through community collaborations and educational outreach, AIU continues to serve as a bridge between knowledge and impact, inspiring young people to become solution-driven leaders.
Mdm Alia Hanim Zainal Abidin, who serves as Director of the Centre for Foundation and General Studies (CFGS) at AIU, highlighted the importance of initiatives like GEMS 2025 in cultivating both academic excellence and civic consciousness:
“We believe that education must go beyond textbooks. When students learn to connect what they study with real-world issues such as environmental sustainability, they begin to see themselves as part of the solution — and that’s the essence of transformative learning.”
Her statement reflects AIU’s educational philosophy of nurturing holistic individuals who embody intellectual curiosity, ethical responsibility, and a sense of purpose.
🌎 Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
By participating in Pitch for the Planet, young learners were not only trained in communication and analytical thinking but were also inspired to become global citizens who care deeply about people and the planet.
The workshop provided a safe and supportive environment for students to express their creativity, engage in constructive dialogue, and collaborate with peers from different backgrounds — fostering inclusivity and teamwork.
As Malaysia continues to champion the Sustainable Development Goals, programmes like GEMS 2025 ensure that the country’s youth are prepared to lead the change toward a sustainable and equitable future.
🌟 Conclusion: Building Voices for a Sustainable Tomorrow
The Great English and Math Stars (GEMS) 2025: Pitch for the Planet Workshop stands as a shining example of how education can ignite change. Through strategic collaboration between AIU, USM, and the Penang Math Platform, this initiative nurtures young talents with the skills, confidence, and values to create meaningful solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
By bridging creativity with purpose, and learning with leadership, Pitch for the Planet empowers students not only to dream of a better world but to stand up and pitch for it.
