UMP’s World-Class Researchers

Wins attained by Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) researchers and academicians at various international platforms shows that the university indeed has world-class scholars.

As the pride of the university, they were feted and celebrated at a special event organised to mark their achievements.

A total of 160 researchers and academicians were presented with awards and prizes at the Anugerah Cendekia Bitara (ACB) that was held at Zenith Hotel, Kuantan on April 12, 2019.

They were recipients for various categories including 130 under the journal publication, 13 for product, 10 for patent, two for international grant and one each for the book, quality and creativity categories.

ACB also featured the University Academic Award (AAU) for UMP academicians who displayed credibility and distinction in the field of teaching and learning.

UMP Board of Members’ Chairman, Dato’ Sri Ibrahim Ahmad said he was really proud with their achievements.
However, he also reminded them to be more prepared to face the challenges in the university as it moved forward towards a sustainable eco-system for research and innovation.

“By changing the paradigm and thinking framework in research, development and commercialisation activities, the university can create value for money in the context of financial sustainability.

“Apart from this, UMP also put emphasis on not only return on investment (ROI) by way of research findings that bring profits but also that with value of utility which benefits the community in the long run,” he said.

He also viewed that over the years, the ‘lab to market’ paradigm had been curbing the ability of many universities in finding commercial markets for the research products they produced.

“However, if this paradigm is changed to ‘market to lab’, the university will not only gain commercial benefits from the market share already owned by private partner or the industry but will also allow universities to play a role in expanding the potentials of its partners especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“Also, in view of the need to establish a collaboration on ‘lab to market’ with a win-win situation, there is a need for a re-orientation of UMP’s innovative capability towards applied research projects as compared to fundamental research,” he added.

Dato’ Sri Ibrahim said this in his speech at the ACB dinner.

Also present were UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Ts. Dr. Kamal Zuhaili Zamli, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin and Registrar/Chief Operating Officer, Associate Professor Dr. Ridzuan Darun.

Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir also said the highest nomination recorded was in the journal category with 484 or 93% of the ACB’s total nominations. 

“What is more remarkable is that the Faculty of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (FKMP) is at its very best as 49 of its lecturers are recipients under the journal publication category.

“The expression ‘S.T.A.R.S - Glimpses of Glory’, which is the theme for this year, reflects the success of UMP, like a star shining brightly with glory, with each alphabet of S.T.A.R.S. representing the essence of the university’s five core values – strong relationship with the Creator, firm in defending principles that have been collectively agreed upon, creative in making wise decisions, perseverance in facing challenges and proactive in taking action.

“UMP also emerged as a five-star university, positioned at 188 among universities in Asia - as ranked by the QS rating for the year 2019. It is also committed in green innovative campaign which led to the university listed fifth in the UI Green Metric rating.

“The list of achievements continued with the university producing the highest patents in green technology among non-research universities,” he said.

He also said as of 2018, a total of 579 intellectual properties produced from the numerous scientific and technological research activities and creativity had been filed by UMP, in a move to protect its intellectual properties.

He added that there were 75 new intellectual properties that had obtained legal protections covering patents, utility innovation, copyrights and trademarks.

At the same event, Dr. Azwin Arif Abdul Rahim from Centre for Modern Languages & Human Sciences (CMLHS) was named recipient for the University Academic Award for Teaching (Social Science Category), while Dr. Lee Chia Kuang, a lecturer with the Faculty of Industrial Management was presented with the Most Promising Academician Award.

Other ACB recipients were Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Mohd Fairusham Ghazali and Associate Professor Dr. Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah who were presented with the best journal publication and research product and Associate Professor Dr. Muzamir Hasan and Associate Professor Dr. Saiful Nizam Tajuddin for the international grant category.