Integrating Ilm Al-Falak and TVET: The Role of the Co-Curricular Course “Application of Falak in Worship” at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)

Ilm al-falak (Islamic astronomy) is a classical Islamic science that combines astronomical observation, mathematics and Shariah requirements to establish the validity of acts of worship, notably the direction of the qibla, the times of prayer and the Hijri calendar. As technical and vocational education and training (TVET) gains prominence in Malaysian higher education, there is a growing need to move falak from a purely theoretical framework towards practical technical competence. This article examines the importance of the co-curricular course Application of Falak in Worship at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and its relevance to the university’s TVET agenda. A qualitative design was used, combining document analysis, a structured review of the literature and practical observation of the course’s implementation. The discussion, supported by recent empirical studies on qibla accuracy, hilal visibility, TVET policy, service-learning and micro-credentials, indicates that the course strengthens the accuracy of worship among campus members while building transferable skills in instrumentation, geospatial data processing and software development. Critical considerations, including limited seat capacity, the need for outcome-based assessment and the debate over the place of TVET within universities, are also discussed. The article closes with four recommendations: a Smart Falak and Internet of Things (IoT) curriculum, competency certification with religious agencies, a digital falak laboratory, and an outcome-based evaluation framework.