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As the driving force behind MYLES, Syaza believes in the transformative power of thoughtful design and community-driven innovation in shaping learning environments. With a background in both interior architectural design and education, Syaza has led various grassroots projects to revitalise spaces that inspire and engage learners of all ages.
Beyond design, Syaza actively advocates for an equitable access to better learning environments through speaking engagements and written publications, sparking conversations about the role of space in education.
Syaza occasionally shares her reflections on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. View Syaza's personal portfolio, "Stories to Tell" here.
"I was called to serve as a full-time teacher for two years in a high-need school through the Teach For Malaysia fellowship. This experience was transformational in every sense – I walked into the classroom expecting to teach but left having learned far more from my students than I could have imagined.
Teaching in an under-resourced school pushed me to think creatively about engagement. I often redesigned the classroom layout to encourage participation and collaboration, realising that physical environments play a significant role in shaping behaviour and learning outcomes. Beyond the classroom, I immersed myself in understanding my students' diverse backgrounds and challenges, which instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and purpose.
A defining moment came when I led a project to transform an audio-visual room and the school library. During the early stages, I asked students how they envisioned improving the library. A student in a wheelchair raised their hand and said, "Cikgu (Teacher), bring the library downstairs so I could use it too." Although said as a "joke," their comment struck me deeply. Public school libraries are often located on upper floors, away from noise and distractions – but also out of reach for students like them.
Having a younger brother with Down syndrome, I’ve long been interested in inclusive environments. But that moment reaffirmed my belief that well-designed spaces should be a right for everyone, not a luxury for the privileged.
I aspire for all schools in Malaysia to have innovative, inclusive learning hubs on the ground floor – a central space accessible to all, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor environments. This experience has driven my passion for universal and inclusive architecture, one that thrives on community engagement and maximises existing resources rather than relying on lavish new builds."
Syaza's living motivation, Syafiq and his development of Kaabah illustrations.
"...Having a younger brother with Down syndrome, I’ve long been interested in inclusive environments. But that moment reaffirmed my belief that well-designed spaces should be a right for everyone, not a luxury for the privileged..."
2025:
Don Norman Design Award
Promising Humanity-Centered Design awarded to acknowledge Ruang2Gather.
Placemaker Week ASEAN 2025: Places that have Value for People
Conducted Learn2Reka workshop on placemaking in schools using prompt cards.
Transformasi Ruang Pembelajaran: Keperluan, Cabaran dan Potensi Masa Depan
Book editor
International Congress of Young Architects and Designers 2025, Russia.
International jury panel for competitions in Belgorod and Moscow
Invited as Speaker & Mentor in Kazan
2024:
Teach For Malaysia Alumni Interview for Anyamanthly, Online.
Designing Inclusive Learning Environments
International Congress of Young Architects and Designers 2024, Russia.
Speaker, “Creative Industries in National Projects and International Cooperation.”
Speaker, “International Opportunities for Young Architects and Designers.”
Speaker, “Designing Educational Campuses.”
All three were held in Russian in a semi-panel discussion format. I was assigned a dedicated live translator for each session.
Teach For All’s Gender and the School Environment: Unpacking the Hidden Curriculum, Online with participants from 11 Teach For All partner countries.
Speaker and facilitator, “Physical Environment and Gender Equity, Diversity, Inclusion in Schools.”
2023:
International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals, Malaysia.
Presenter, “Collaboration Between Stakeholders to Redesign Malaysian Public School: The Motivation and Challenges.”
Paper under editorial review.
Learning Environments Australasia Conference 2023, New Zealand.
Group facilitator, 2-way Conference Presentation of the “Authentic Engagement Toolkit”, for the Mayfield Project (a 5-month collaborative research on learning environment by Learning Environments Australasia held in Sydney and Christchurch).
2022:
10th Education Estates, United Kingdom.
Panellist, “International Approaches to Education Estates.”
Kursus Induksi Guru Baharu (Induction Course for New Teachers) by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia.
Moderator, “Membina Jaringan dan Jalinan,” online panel discussion on building connection and collaboration to welcome over 2000 new teachers into the teaching profession, resulting in an engaging conversation and lively audience interaction.
While MYLES currently operates as a collective passion project, the contributions of these talented individuals continue to push the boundaries of what learning spaces can be. This collaborative effort is hoped to not only lead in redesigning physical spaces – but in building stronger, more connected communities.
Core teammates
Laila Razip (Ruang2Gather)
Community Engagement
Laila initiates and oversees the planning and implementation of Ruang2Gather projects, particularly the one in Tamparuli. Laila is a dedicated mother of two who believes in the need for an exciting and engaging learning environment for her children.
Shawn Stanly (Ruang2Gather)
School & Student Experience
Cikgu Shawn is an award-winning educator. In 2024, he received the RISE Educator Award for his innovative teaching methods, including flight simulators and marine conservation classes. He won a RM20,000 grant to establish a community Learning Hub, designed collaboratively with students and parents, to enhance education accessibility for the Orang Asli community.
Aisyah Ajib (Back2Warisan)
People-centered and Learning from the Heritage
Formerly a registered architect and lecturer in the UK, and a qualified teacher in Malaysia, Aisyah is an invaluable thought partner who brings her combined architectural industry expertise and hands-on experience in social-emotional learning to the design of learning environments.
Soraya Sauli (Alam2Nurture)
Nature-based Environments
Soraya advocates for a learning environment that is rooted in play-based and nature connectedness. As a mother of two young daughters, Soraya believes in a more balanced green time and screen time in supporting early childhood development.
Special mentions
Adila Syaherah (Deco Hartanah / Sabah Institute of Art - SIA)
Accessible Design
Empowering design for impact, Adila blends architecture, education, and entrepreneurship to champion accessible, thoughtful spaces for all Malaysians.
Zi Ying Ong (UTAR)
Counselling & Trauma Management
During our TFM fellowship, Zi Ying led multiple groups of students to support a school-level redesign project. Zi Ying empathises with her students' uninspiring classrooms and truly believes in an equitable access to a good learning space. Zi Ying continues her empathetic journey through academia in counselling.
Natrah Aziz (GEMBUR)
Inclusive Environments
Natrah actively ploughs the groundwork for acceptance and understanding of neurodiversity through GEMBUR. I am honoured to share the mission leading towards intentional physical spaces to cater to diverse needs. Previously, Natrah completed her tertiary education in mechanical engineering before diving into education and social business ventures.
The more, the merrier!
