The Centre for Community & Industry Engagement (CCIE), Albukhary International University (AIU), proudly welcomed Ts. Dr. Nor Azizi Yusoff, Head of CoS Muar Living Lab, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), for an enriching sharing session held on Friday, 22 August 2025. The program was designed to deepen AIU’s understanding of the Living Lab concept as an innovative model that bridges academia, industry, and community for sustainable development.
Morning Session: Learning from the Muar Living Lab Journey
The morning session brought together AIU staff members to learn about the remarkable journey of the Muar Living Lab. Dr. Azizi shared how the initiative evolved from an academic idea into a thriving ecosystem that actively responds to community needs, industry challenges, and societal transformation goals.
He emphasized the importance of creating platforms where knowledge, innovation, and community participation intersect. According to him, Living Labs are not merely university-driven projects but collaborative ecosystems that empower communities, businesses, and governments to co-create solutions for real-world issues.
Afternoon Engagement: Deep Dive into Models and Strategies
In the afternoon, the engagement continued with AIU’s community development team, where Dr. Azizi provided an in-depth exploration of the operational models of Living Labs.
The discussion highlighted key elements such as:
- Collaborative Design – Bringing together academia, community, and industry stakeholders.
- Applied Research – Encouraging students and faculty to work on practical challenges.
- Scalability – Ensuring solutions can be replicated and sustained beyond the pilot stage.
- Long-Term Sustainability – Strategies to maintain funding, resources, and stakeholder interest.
He also discussed the challenges faced in implementing Living Labs, including resource limitations, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring measurable impact. Through practical examples, Dr. Azizi illustrated how UTHM overcame these barriers to create a resilient and impactful Living Lab ecosystem.
Living Labs as a Platform for Transformation
The participants gained valuable insights into how Living Labs can act as catalysts for innovation and social change. Key takeaways included:
- Serving as a learning ground for students, offering experiential opportunities beyond classrooms.
- Providing a research-to-practice platform for faculty to apply academic knowledge in solving societal problems.
- Acting as community-driven spaces for innovation, where local voices influence the design of sustainable solutions.
- Offering opportunities for long-term partnerships between universities, businesses, and communities.
AIU’s Commitment to Community Transformation
AIU expressed deep appreciation to Dr. Azizi for sharing his expertise and inspiring the AIU community to envision similar initiatives. The knowledge exchange strengthened AIU’s commitment to establishing its own Living Lab ecosystem, aligning with the university’s mission of community engagement, social innovation, and sustainable development.
By drawing lessons from UTHM’s Muar Living Lab, AIU aims to build frameworks that empower students, faculty, and surrounding communities to collaborate on impactful projects that reflect the university’s values of inclusivity, sustainability, and transformation.
A Step Towards Future Collaboration
The session concluded with optimism for future collaborations between AIU and UTHM, particularly in the areas of community engagement, applied research, and sustainable living initiatives. Such partnerships reflect AIU’s vision to become a hub for innovation and social responsibility not only in Malaysia but also across the global education landscape.
