FESTIVAL OF LEARNING – A CLOSURE TO ANOTHER CHAPTER OF INTERNATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP

GEORGETOWN, 11 August 2026 – The Third Cohort of Tilting Futures in Penang under the Take Action Lab Malaysia: Environment and Sustainability (TALMY) have successfully concluded its apprenticeship journey with a Festival of Learning held at Harmonico Penang. The event provided an opportunity for the international apprentices to showcase their experiences, reflections and knowledge gained throughout their time in Penang and Malaysia which highlights cross-cultural, religious, social and sustainability learning.

The Festival of Learning brought together representatives from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Tilting Futures, apprentice host organisations and supervisors who had supported the apprentices throughout the programme. Among those present were Deputy Director of the Centre for Global Sustainability Studies (CGSS), Associate Professor Dr. Ng Theam Foo and Deputy Director of the International Office (IO@USM), Sr Dr. Muneera Esa, alongside staff members from CGSS, IO@USM and Division of Industry & Community Network (BJIM).

The event commenced with a welcoming address by Aarati Rao, Interim Project Manager of Tilting Futures, who expressed her appreciation to the USM team for its continuous support and collaboration throughout the implementation of the apprenticeship programme. As the third cohort approaches the completion of its journey, Aarati reflected on the collective efforts that contributed to the programme’s success and acknowledged the contributions of the participating apprentice organisations. Aarati also announced that she would be stepping down from her role at the conclusion of the third cohort, with Emily Wong set to take over the leadership for the upcoming cohort. She expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in the programme and reflected on the journey shared with the apprentices, supervisors and partner organisations.

Emily Wong, who will lead the upcoming cohort, subsequently delivered her welcoming remark where she acknowledged Aarati’s contributions and leadership in developing and supporting the programme and expressed her enthusiasm and commitment in continuing the initiative. She also reaffirmed her dedication to strengthening collaboration between Tilting Futures, USM and the participating organisations in future cohorts.

In his speech, Associate Professor Dr. Ng Theam Foo highlighted USM’s continuous commitment in promoting environment and sustainability among communities, including international youths while strengthening cooperation and partnership in championing for the goal. He also shared that plans to extend the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the relevant partners for another three years are currently in progress which reflects the continued commitment of USM and CGSS in strengthening international collaboration and advancing environmental and sustainability initiatives through education, engagement and experiential learning.

Sr Dr. Muneera Esa also expressed her sincere appreciation to Aarati who have been an important figure in establishing TALMY. She also thanked the USM team, apprentice supervisors and the apprentices for their dedication and contributions towards making the programme a success. Recalling the early stages of the initiative, she acknowledged that the implementation process was initially accompanied by various challenges and obstacles. However, she noted that these challenges ultimately became valuable stepping stones that contributed to the programme’s development and achievements.

The Festival of Learning then continued with a series of student reflection sessions, during which several apprentices shared their experiences and personal learning throughout their apprenticeship where they mentioned about the warm welcome they received and highlighted the hospitality of Malaysians as one of the memorable aspects of their experience. Beyond their apprenticeship, the apprentices were also given the opportunity to explore topics that reflected their individual interests and experiences. Their learning covered a diverse range of themes, including Malaysian culture, religion, food, society, community practices and environmental sustainability. Through their presentations and reflections, the apprentices demonstrated how their experiences in Penang had broadened their perspectives and encouraged them to view sustainability through social and cultural lenses. The apprentices also presented their respective learning topics through videos and presentations. These sessions provided a platform for them to share their findings with fellow apprentices, supervisors and programme partners while demonstrating the knowledge and insights they had developed throughout their apprenticeship.

Adding a creative element to the event, the apprentices also organised a sustainable fashion show featuring outfits sourced from second-hand shops. The activity promoted the concept of giving pre-loved clothing a second life while encouraging greater awareness of consumption, reuse and waste reduction. Incorporating second-hand clothing into the fashion show, the apprentices demonstrated how everyday choices can contribute towards more sustainable lifestyles and help reduce the amount of textile waste sent to landfills.

The event also featured a token of appreciation presentation to the apprentice supervisors, recognising their continuous guidance, mentorship and support throughout the apprentices’ placement. Their contribution was instrumental in providing the apprentices with meaningful opportunities to learn, engage with local communities and gain practical insights beyond the classroom. The Festival of Learning served not only as a closing event for the third cohort, but also as a celebration of the relationships, knowledge and experiences developed throughout the apprenticeship journey. Through the collaboration between Tilting Futures, CGSS, IO@USM, BJIM and participating apprentice organisations, the TALMY programme continues to demonstrate the value of international youth engagement in advancing environmental and sustainability awareness. The exchange of knowledge and perspectives between international apprentices and local partners also contributes towards building a stronger understanding of sustainability as a shared global responsibility.

As the curtain closes on the third cohort in Penang, the Festival of Learning marked both an ending and a new beginning which celebrates the achievements of the apprentices while paving the way for continued collaboration and learning through the upcoming cohort. With the planned extension of the MoA, the partnership shows USM commitment in championing for environment and sustainability.

SDGs: 4 & 17

Text by: Hong Kheng Jhun
Photos by: Syafiq Saifullah Azmi