Driven by her experience raising a child with autism, Asst Prof Ts Dr Siti Azreena Mubin took her first step into research. Today, she leads projects in immersive technology, education and healthcare, showing how a personal question can grow into innovation with wider societal value.

When the Research Management Office at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) recently announced its research grant recipients, Asst Prof Ts Dr Siti Azreena Mubin emerged as one of its most notable achievers.

The Assistant Professor at APU’s School of Computing and Head of the University’s XR Studio secured several industry grants totalling RM109,720. Together with her team, she also secured RM30,500 in international research funding, bringing their overall funding to RM140,220.

Despite the achievement, Dr Siti Azreena remains modest.

“The grants are not just about the amount awarded. They provide the opportunity to turn research concepts into real projects that can create meaningful outcomes,” she said.

Each successful proposal affirms the value of her team’s ideas. “For me, it is a reminder that persistence, collaboration and belief in the impact of our work can open new doors for innovation and discovery.”

A Journey That Began at Home

Behind the grants and technology projects is a deeply personal story.

Dr Siti Azreena’s research journey began while searching for better ways to support her autistic child through engaging learning and intervention approaches.

That experience prompted a question that reshaped her professional life: “How can we use technology and gamification to create more engaging and meaningful learning experiences for children with autism?”

It inspired her first internal research grant, exploring gamification to support learning and engagement among autistic children.

The project showed her that a personal challenge could grow into research benefiting a wider community.

She later worked on two autism-related initiatives: an immersive VR screening and assessment tool for observing children’s behavioural responses in a more engaging, consistent and child-friendly environment, and game-based experiences supporting engagement, learning and behavioural observation.

Industry feedback reinforced the work’s relevance. Rather than replacing therapists or educators, technology can complement their expertise by enriching assessment, learning and therapeutic interventions for children with special needs.

Her child became the inspiration behind her journey and remains a constant reminder of why meaningful, human-centred research matters.

Seeing Problems as Possibilities

Dr Siti Azreena is frequently inspired by everyday experiences.

During her mother’s hospital appointment, hours of waiting for a brief consultation prompted her to consider how the patient experience could be improved.

She soon began formulating research questions, objectives and technology-based solutions.

This instinct—to see an ordinary frustration and ask how it might be addressed—lies at the heart of her research philosophy.

“Discovering something new and collaborating with others are exciting parts of the process, but the most rewarding moment is when research moves beyond theory and contributes to solving a real problem,” she explained.

Turning Collaboration into Real-World Solutions

Her latest projects involve both industry and international collaborators.

An RM80,000 grant from a corporate partner supports the development of AR, VR and interactive experiences, including games, for the public aquariums and oceanariums it operates. 

The overseas project uses an AI-integrated VR avatar to support teaching and learning in nursing education.

“Working with industry partners helps ensure that our research addresses genuine needs and can be translated into practical solutions,” she said. International collaboration also enables knowledge exchange and solutions with relevance beyond Malaysia.

Research, she strongly emphasised, is rarely a solo effort.

Her close collaborators include Ms Khor Chin Yee, her former undergraduate student who now works at the XR Studio and contributes to the nursing education project; Dr Imran Mahalil, Senior Virtual Reality Engineer, who works with her on the public aquariums and oceanariums initiative; and Ts Muhammad Nur Affendy Nor’a, a long-standing team member and Lecturer at APU’s School of Computing.

She also credits Prof Ir EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Chief Innovation, Enterprise & Sustainability Officer at APU, whose trust and support have empowered her to lead industry-based projects, as well as the XR Studio team for its collective contribution. 

Building Talent Through Real-World Innovation

Dr Siti Azreena mentors students from ideation to deployment, encouraging them to address authentic challenges with industry partners. 

She involves students in socially impactful healthcare, education and accessibility projects, exposing them to emerging technologies while strengthening communication, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving. 

At APU, these opportunities help students apply knowledge responsibly, understand users’ needs and turn ideas into workable solutions. 

Dr Siti Azreena believes these experiences equip graduates with stronger portfolios, industry-ready competencies and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the digital economy and society. They also demonstrate how university-led innovation connects academic learning with industry expectations and community needs. 

Developing Curious and Empathetic Thinkers

Beyond XR Studio, Dr Siti Azreena also brings real-world research into the classroom. 

She discusses ongoing projects, research challenges and decisions for which textbooks offer no definite answer. 

Her goal is to cultivate curiosity, resilience, critical thinking and empathy. 

“Curiosity drives exploration, resilience helps students overcome setbacks, and critical thinking enables them to evaluate ideas objectively,” she explained. “Empathy is equally important because innovation should ultimately serve people.” 

Every Journey Starts Small

For academics uncertain about entering research, Dr Siti Azreena offers reassuring advice: begin with something small and meaningful. 

Research often begins not with a groundbreaking idea, but with a simple question or everyday difficulty. 

“Do not be afraid of rejection or failure because they are part of the process and experienced by every researcher,” she advised. “Seek mentors, collaborate with others and stay curious. Every small step contributes to your growth as a scholar and professional.” 

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue combining XR, artificial intelligence, games and interactive systems with societal needs in education and healthcare. 

“Ultimately, I hope my work contributes to creating technologies that are accessible, inclusive and beneficial to diverse communities,” she concluded. 

Her story reminds us that impactful research need not begin in a laboratory. Sometimes, it begins at home—with a mother, a child and one sincere question that deserves an answer.