Internationaler Austausch zu Schülerolympiaden: Gastwissenschaftler aus Malaysia am IPN

Im September 2025 war Syamil Ahmad Shakir von der Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia für zwei Wochen zu Gast am IPN. Herr Shakir ist seit vielen Jahren im Bereich der MINT-Begabungsförderung tätig und koordiniert das Mathematik-Olympiadenprogramm in Malaysia. Zudem ist er in der Nationalen Physikolympiade aktiv.

Während seines Aufenthalts arbeitete er eng mit dem Team der ScienceOlympiaden zusammen und tauschte sich über verschiedene Ansätze der Talentförderung aus. Der Besuch unterstreicht die Bedeutung internationaler Kooperationen in der Begabungsförderung. Wir haben die Gelegenheit genutzt, um ihm einige Fragen zu seiner Arbeit und seinem Aufenthalt am IPN zu stellen (Interview in Englisch).

IPN: What motivated your long-standing engagement with gifted education and the Olympiad movement in Malaysia?

Syamil Ahmad Shakir: As I began working in the field of gifted education, I realized that the standard curriculum does not suit the needs of gifted students. In some cases, it may even hinder their hidden talents. Since then, I have been deeply involved in the olympiad movement in Malaysia, especially in physics olympiad, as I am mainly a physics teacher in a secondary school for gifted students. My involvement in the math olympiad started in 2020 after I received an appointment from the ministry, and ends in 2025.

IPN: How does your work in Malaysia’s Olympiad programs connect to what you experienced here in Germany?

Syamil Ahmad Shakir: IPN is an institute mandated by the German government to coordinate and train students for several olympiads, namely IPhO (Internationale PhysikOlympiade), IChO (Internationale ChemieOlympiade), IBO (Internationale BiologieOlympiade), and IJSO (Internationale JuniorScienceOlympiade). Having close contact with the people in charge of IMO and IOI in Bonn means that my visit here covers all the major olympiads of our interest. We would like to learn how the system in Germany works, as there are many success stories here. As a former Math Olympiad coordinator and an active member of the Physics Olympiad committee, I believe learning from the more experienced and successful people in Germany would greatly help us in restructuring and making the best use of limited resources.

IPN: What were the main activities and exchanges you were involved in during your stay at the IPN?

Syamil Ahmad Shakir: Besides delivering a talk about the gifted program in Malaysia and a few other countries I have visited, I also had the chance to speak with Prof. Knut Neumann. He gave me many insights and new perspectives. I also received valuable guidance and information from olympiad committee members in Germany, such as Dr. Stefan Petersen and Dr. Stephanie Schmidt-Gattung. Speaking with the staff at IPN has further broadened my understanding of how the system in Germany works. Experiencing IPN firsthand as one of the most important research institutes in Germany has been very meaningful to me.

IPN: From your perspective, what can countries like Germany and Malaysia learn from each other in the field of talent development?

Syamil Ahmad Shakir: Coming from two different parts of the world, there are many differences in how the education system is managed and in the culture of the two countries. As a developing country, Malaysia needs talent development to fully grow and progress. Germany, on the other hand, needs talent development to maintain its status as a developed country. Malaysia can learn from the way olympiads are structured here. At the same time, Germany can learn from the challenges faced by Malaysia, and by other developing countries, in running programs with limited resources. This may also inspire new ideas for further developing the program in Germany.        

IPN: What impressions or ideas will you take back with you from your time at the IPN?

Syamil Ahmad Shakir: IPN as an institute is doing an excellent job, not only in olympiads but also in the overall development of education in Germany. The structure of the olympiad programs, and the way they are housed and supported by a public institution, should be emulated in Malaysia. For gifted education in general, research could focus on the effectiveness of the selection process and the use of AI in determining suitable students.