KUALA LUMPUR: Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) will host its inaugural STEAM @ TAR UMT festival from Nov 13 to 15, in a major initiative aimed at promoting interdisciplinary education in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
The announcement was made by TAR UMT Board of Governors Chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy at a press conference on June 10.
He said the festival reflects the growing need for future talent that can combine technical expertise with creativity, human values and practical application, particularly in addressing emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, smart cities, sustainability, food security and digital transformation.
“The future will require talents who can connect technical knowledge with creativity, human values and practical application.
“This initiative is aligned with the Government’s strategic shift from STEM to STEAM as outlined in the Malaysia Education and Higher Education Blueprints (2026–2035),” he said.
The three-day event will take place across the TAR UMT Arena at its Kuala Lumpur campus and will feature exhibitions, technology showcases, forums, talks, hands-on workshops and competitions.
Ahead of the festival, TAR UMT will launch the STEAMVerse Contest 2026 on 11 June 2026. The competition invites primary, secondary, Form Six and international school students to submit posters and prototypes presenting innovative solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
TAR UMT President Prof Dato’ Indera Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei said the initiative aims to reshape perceptions of STEM-related fields and highlight the role of the arts in strengthening innovation.
“It is often perceived that science, technology and engineering pathways are difficult, while the importance of the arts in enhancing STEM is overlooked.
“This event aims to help students explore how creativity, empathy and design thinking can strengthen technical innovation and open up future career pathways in STEAM.”
He added that exposure to emerging technologies and real-world applications would help inspire students to pursue tertiary education and careers in STEAM-related fields.
The festival is jointly organised by TAR UMT in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Education Department under the Ministry of Education.
It is expected to attract at least 10,000 visitors, particularly students from primary, secondary, international schools and Form Six institutions.
More information on STEAM @ TAR UMT is available at https://steamtarumt.com/.
