Utilizing the Full Potential of ROBOGAMEZ to Incorporate Project Based Learning in Engineering Programs at UNITEN

Today, most employers look for engineering graduates who possess the right depth and breadth in knowledge; they look for graduates who are competent in their specific disciplines, but also knowledgeable in other fields. For example, employers who are looking to hire mechanical engineers, they want them to be competent in mechanical engineering as well as knowledgeable in electromechanical system, controller programming, and system integration, etc. Project Based Learning (PBL) helps students to broaden their knowledge without affecting their focus on their specific field. At the same time, PBL does not require major changes at the university, there would not be any need to create new programs or merge existing ones, nor will the students need to spend extra years studying other fields. This work reviews ROBOGAMEZ, the annual robotics competition organized by UNITEN since 2006, and its impact on the participants learning. Nearly 50% of the participants indicated that it helped them improve their technical/practical skills. Also, this work outlines a proposal to expand the role of ROBOGAMEZ to incorporate PBL in engineering programs at UNITEN, with minimal cost and/or effort.