By Dr. Nor Omaima Harun, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment

A team of undergraduates from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has once again excelled on the international stage by securing a Gold Medal for its project at the prestigious Digital Innovation Creativepreneur (DICE) 3.0 competition, held from 1 – 4 September at the Persada Convention Centre, Johor Bahru.

DICE is organized by the Ministry of Higher Education to provide an important platform for cultivating digital creativity and innovation among students of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). With categories spanning short animation, short film, interactive media (VR/AR), and digital game applications, the event highlights the ingenuity, potential, and competitiveness of Malaysian students in the creative digital industry.

The winning project titled MICROBIAL MULTIVERSE: A Visual Journey was developed under the Interactive Media (VR/AR) category by Muhammad Nur Firdaus Mohd Khairul Anuar, Fong Siew Mei, Eee Hui Ning, and Nurin Qamarina Bajuri from the Faculty of Science and Marine Environment (FSSM). They worked under the guidance of Dr. Nor Omaima Harun, who provided mentorship to ensure the project struck a balance between academic depth and digital innovation.

These students from the Bachelor of Marine Biology and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry programmes created a virtual reality experience that offers an immersive journey into the world of marine microorganisms. Aligned with DICE 3.0 theme of Water, the project combined scientific knowledge with cutting-edge digital technology to deliver an engaging and educational platform.

What started as a simple effort to deepen understanding of marine biodiversity gradually transformed into an innovative storytelling medium. By incorporating imaginative character design alongside scientific accuracy, the team successfully created a digital space that was both visually compelling and informative. This originality, scientific rigor, and creative execution impressed the judges and ultimately secured UMT the coveted Gold Medal.

Beyond the victory, the project highlighted the development of essential soft skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and communication. These skills, integrated with digital literacy, play a vital role in boosting students’ confidence while equipping them to thrive in fast-evolving professional environments.

The success reflects UMT’s commitment to preparing students for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) and further strengthens its standing as a research-driven university with global influence. The Gold Medal achievement adds to the institution’s growing list of accolades while inspiring future innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. It also underscores UMT’s mission of producing graduates who are not only strong in theoretical knowledge but also capable of applying creativity and technology to address real-world challenges.

With this success, UMT continues to assert its leadership in marine sciences, education, and digital innovation, reflecting its vision to nurture graduates who are globally competitive, adaptable, and future-ready.