FOM Equips Young Minds with Essential Financial Skills

A group of 35 students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sultanah Asma, Kedah, visited the Cyberjaya campus as part of the Jelajah Hala Tuju SPM programme on 26 February 2025. During their visit, they took part in a financial literacy workshop conducted by lecturers from the Faculty of Management (FOM), namely Ms. Fatin Zaida Zaidi, Ms. Nurul Atiah Mohd Zin, Ms. Sharifah Ummu Naqiah Syed Shukran, and Dr. Muhammad Afif Mohd Fathullah.

The workshop aimed to equip students with essential budgeting skills and practical strategies for making sound financial decisions. Designed to be interactive and gamified, it gave students the opportunity to apply real-world financial concepts in a fun and engaging way.

Working in teams of five, the students were each given a virtual RM2,000 — simulating the starting salary of a fresh graduate. They took part in a Kahoot quiz on financial decision-making, where they earned additional funds based on their performance. The students then allocated their monthly expenses using Excel, following the 50/30/20 budgeting rule.

The teams presented their budgets at the SIRI Lab, explaining their spending choices and justifying their financial decisions. The top three teams, selected based on the effectiveness and creativity of their budgeting strategies, were awarded prizes.

The students were highly engaged, enthusiastic, and thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on activities, making financial education both exciting and memorable. This workshop successfully sparked their interest in financial literacy, equipping them with valuable skills that will benefit them in the future.