According to Deputy Director General, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Professor Dr. Mohd Cairul Iqbal Mohd Amin, universities smart partnership particularly with MTUN should be intensified to encourage the industry to conduct research studies using the university's expertise and equipment as practiced in developed countries. 

“This is what Taiwan, Korea or Germany has been doing all this time with their smartphone technology industries,” he added hoping that this university-industry smart partnership could be implemented so that every research could benefit all parties. 

In addition, the new focus of the country’s education was on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and universities were also facing greater challenges facing as a result of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) explosion.

He is proud of UMP's first attempt to address this challenge with the implementation of the IR4.0-based teaching factory.

Professor Dr. Mohd Cairul Iqbal officiated the opening ceremony of the 11th Malaysian Technical Universities Conference on Engineering Technology (MUCET). MUCET, hosted by Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) was held at Bukit Gambang Resort Kuantan on November 20, 2019. 

With the theme 'Communitising Technology in the Context of Industrial Revolution 4.0' this MUCET conference involved the participation of over 300 students, industry players and academics from UMP, Universiti Tun Hussien Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM).

The ceremony were also attended by UMP Board of Directors, Professor Dato’ Dr. Rosli Mohd. Yunus, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr. Kamal Zuhairi Zamli and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin.

Director of UTHM Reseacrh Management Centre, Professor Dr. Mohd. Amri Lajis, Director of UTeM Center for Research and Innovation Management (CRIM), Professor Ir. Dr. Marizan Sulaiman and Deputy Dean of Research Management and Innovation Centre UniMAP, Dr. Shuhaida Yahud, were also in attendance at the event. 

Keynote speaker for the conference were Professor Seeram Ramakrishna from National University of Singapore (NUS), Adjunct Professor Zulkifli Abd. Rani from Techno Diverge Link Sdn. Bhd. and Mohd Parid Sulaiman, Director of Product Technology Development, Intel Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also exchanged between UMP and BI Technologies Sdn. Bhd, Sime Darby Berhad and Supercat International Sdn. Bhd. UMP was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr. Kamal Zuhairi Zamli, while BI Technologies Sdn. Bhd represented by Director, Mr. Mohd Podzi bin Haji Mahmud, Sime Darby Berhad represented by Chief Chemical, Mr Mohammad Saiful Nidzam Ismail and Supercat International Sdn. Bhd. represented by Director, Mohd Dzulqarbain Ahmad Suh.

*credit to Pekan Review

UMP, SIASUN Seal Strategic Collaboration in Robotic and Smart Services Development

The strategic collaboration between Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and SIASUN Robot & Automation Co. Ltd. (SIASUN) in Shenyang, China, which is a high-tech company, will form a value chain that encompasses core technologies and components, leading products and industrial solutions, particularly in the robotic-related service industries.

Today, the global market value of SIASUN is the third in the robotics industry with the fastest growth rate. 

This collaboration will focus on the development of expertise in teaching factory model to support the initiative of the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), namely University Teaching Revolution Factory (URTC) related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0).

The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of UMP, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff and the Chief Executive Officer of SIASUN, Mr. Zhao Chen, on 5 November 2019. 

Also present were the President of SIASUN Education Shenyang, Cun Yan Fan, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli Hainin and the Vice-President of Teutloff German TVET Institution, Andy Pan.

According to Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar, this collaboration is a continuation of SIASUN's visit to UMP recently. 

“This collaboration will train skilled workers to strengthen skills and training in the high level of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), along with the lifelong learning programmes through strategic collaboration with global companies.

“In developing a sustainable ecosystem of high impact technology innovations, UMP also partners with SIASUN and Sapura Industrial Bhd. (SAPURA) for the project of Asia Center of Excellence for Smart Technologies (ACES) based in Singapore,” he said during the visit to Shenyang, China. 

He hopes that the collaboration will open up strategic collaboration opportunities to adapt more relevant, realistic, and effective teaching and learning methods that everyone can benefit from.

The delegates of UMP and SAPURA also had the opportunity to visit several high-tech industrial robotic laboratories. 

A discussion was also held on the collaboration in academics and research with the Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, SIASUN Research and Development Centre and the Liaoning University of Technology.

Joining the delegation were the Senior General Manager (Technical & Operations) of Sapura Industrial Berhad, Adnan Jamal, the Director of the Centre of Industry and Community Network (ICoN), Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Nurul Hazlina Noordin and the General Manager of Sapura, Abdul Halim Baharom.

*credit to UMP Review

UMP Awarded with SEDA Accreditation for Energy Efficiency

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) bagged the One Diamond Award for Low Carbon Buildings Assessment from Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) on December 13, 2019.

UMP became the first university in the country to receive such an award for efforts taken that had successfully proved its ability to efficiently manage energy consumption, the use of renewable energy and reduce carbon dioxide gas emission.
Green practice initiatives among Malaysians are highly encouraged especially when implementing ‘energy efficiency’ to reduce energy consumption.

‘Energy efficiency’ is the ultimate goal in effective and optimal energy consumption management, thus reducing wastage.

Among the ‘energy efficiency’ practices that can be implemented are by replacing less efficient electrical appliances to energy efficiency ones, decreasing burden on mechanical equipment as it requires more energy to function, upgrading the roofing system and thermal insulation of buildings, having a good ventilation system and using energy-saving control systems for all electrical appliances.

UMP Energy Focus Group Leader, Professor Ir. Dr. Hassan Ibrahim said energy efficiency was often associated with minimum energy consumption in order to complete certain work and to increase the chances of saving and avoiding wastage.

“By applying energy conservation concept, it involves three categories – energy saving exercises with no cost, low cost and high cost.

“To date, UMP is only applying energy saving practices through the concept of no cost and low cost.

“The university has managed to reduce carbon dioxide emission by 7.89 percent, which is equivalent to 883.87 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide and save power up to 1,273,585 kWh at its UMP Pekan Campus.

“It is a result from the awareness among campus community to conserve power in campus and through the process, helped to nurture the right attitude and discipline about the importance of sustainable energy,” he said.

In a move to ensure energy sustainability, the Unit of Sustainable and Green Campus was established under the Centre for Property Management and Development (PPPH) so energy management could be carried out in line with that of the university’s aspirations.

Other initiatives implemented in UMP included the installation of various devices such as the Building Automation System (BAS), motion sensor lighting system in all toilets, timers at all walkways, a ‘master switch’ at bigger buildings and solar panels at the UMP administrative building as well as replacing of light bulbs to the energy-saving ones.

UMP has also taken the initiative in energy management by setting air-conditioning temperature at 24 degrees Celsius and this will allow for more saving in energy consumption without compromising the comfort of the users.

The university has embarked on energy management and conservation initiatives since 2012 and to date, 25 energy renewable and energy efficiency measures have been implemented, in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emission in UMP Pekan Campus.

These efforts have also contributed to the university's achievement in the UI-GreenMetric World Ranking 2019 which was recently published and UMP was positioned at the 76th place in the world listing.

The rating was based on the measures taken in managing campus sustainability and environment that were centred on six main criteria - Infrastructure Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation and Education.

*credit to Pekan Review

Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd. Rosli Hainin Appointed as UMP Deputy VC (Academic and International)

The Ministry of Education has appointed Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd. Rosli Hainin as Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) for three years effective from November 1, 2019 until October 31, 2022.

Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd. Rosli Hainin, 52, who is from Temerloh, Pahang, has a Doctorate Degree in Civil Engineering in 2004 from National Centre for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), Auburn University, Alabama, USA - a prominent research centre in highway engineering.

He also has a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from University of Kansas, USA (1996), a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson University, South Carolina, USA (1990) and Diploma in Science from Indiana University, USA (1987).

He has vast experience in academics and research and has worked with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for 29 years.

Prior to this appointment, Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd. Rosli was the Vice-Chairman of UTM School of Civil Engineering and was responsible in the academic and student development.

He was also the Associate Research Fellow at UTM Tropical Geoengineering Centre (GEOTROPIK), Chief Laboratory for eight years, Pavement and Transportation Research Group Chief for five years and UTM Book Publication Panel Chairman for four years.

He was the Head of Department of Geotechnical and Transportation for five years and Deputy Academic Dean for two years.

He has published 400 articles including 260 journals with H-Index 26.

UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff said the university was pleased and thankful to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maszlee Malik for the appointment.

“It is hoped that with the appointment, UMP will continue to be excellent and be a leading technology university in engineering and technology, especially in providing a solid and high level of Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET) in the country.

“UMP will always make certain that its academic curriculum is designed more innovatively and its academic infrastructure be more efficient, one that is based on industrial needs and one that contributes to the efforts taken to communitise technology in the country,” he said.

*credit to Pekan Review