PlayLab History
Research funding from UK Research and Innovation – Economic and Social Research Council for ACES project was received in 2020. This project is called “A Community-Centered Educational Model for Developing Social Resilience (ACES): Playfulness Towards An Inclusive, Safe, and Resilient Society”, which focused more on STEM learning using gamification methods and playful learning through aspects of play to build social resilience. The success of receiving the grant is a follow-up to a collaboration with the GameChangers UK which is based at the Disruptive Media Learning Lab, Coventry University, United Kingdom. It is led by Professor Dr Sylvester Arnab, who is a Sarawak native from Kampung Semaba, Kuching. PlayLab is a creation of the project which highlights the innovative sustainable research efforts to integrate elements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into operations and activities at every level. The project is supported by the university management, who is led by Yg Berbahagia Professor Datuk Mohamad Kadim Suaidi as they planned to dispose of the old buses, which is then used as project material.
The creation of the PlayLab Lab will highlight innovative sustainable research efforts, and this initiative is in line with the university’s efforts to integrate elements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into operations and activities at every level. Hence, this PlayLab is known as the Playful Design Thinking Laboratory for Sustainable Development Goals.
For this project, we are very fortunate to have the support of the university management, led by Yang Berbahagia Professor Datuk Mohamad Kadim Suaidi. The university plans to dispose of some old buses that are no longer suitable for use. The university management has given us a bus to be our project material. This is the bus that is currently being worked on as a PlayLab.
The term ‘pop-up’ innovation refers to the concept of “frugal” (prudent/thrifty). Among the specifications in frugal innovation are reuse (reuse) and revamp (remodel) any material that is old or to be disposed of such as old vehicles, buildings, etc. and what needs to be done to make it fit for purpose and in accordance with purpose/objective of the project.
