KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah English language teacher has won the local innovation category of the British Council ELTons Innovation Awards for his project entitled Virtual, Remote, Live (VRL).
Dr Sirhajwan Idek of Keningau Vocational College (KVC) was announced as the winner during the recent ELTons Innovation Festival.
His VRL project, which connected students and teachers from different countries through online platforms, was created with the aim to internationalise education.
The project allowed participants to engage in a wide range of activities, including masterclasses, conference presentations, cultural exchange classes and virtual chats.
With over 200 entries from 60 countries, four projects were shortlisted in the category, and Sirhajwan emerged as the first Malaysian to receive the honour.
The ELTons Innovation Awards, organised annually by the British Council, are widely regarded as the world's most prestigious recognition for English-language teaching innovations.
His VRL project had positively impacted more than 2,000 students and teachers across Malaysia and beyond, providing them with a valuable platform to enhance their English language skills and broaden their knowledge.
Award participants had also applied their learning to expand the scope of their own projects, furthering the programme's influence.
"I am truly honoured that my project has been recognised on such a prestigious platform.
"This achievement is not just mine; it's a reflection of the hard work and dedication of all those who have been involved in VRL.
"I am especially grateful to my mother Bintek Abdul Rahman, a former teacher, for always guiding me towards the right path in every decision I make," said Sirhajwan.