New Appointment

UMP welcomes its Fourth Vice-Chancellor

Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor for Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) for three years with effective from May 16, 2019 until May 15, 2022.

He is UMP’s fourth Vice-Chancellor.

He received his document for the new post from former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim whose term ended on May 15, 2019.

The handover of duties ceremony was witnessed by UMP Board of Directors’ Chairman, Dato’ Sri Ibrahim Ahmad. 

It was held at the Banquet Hall of Tun Abdul Razak Chancellery, UMP Pekan Campus on May 16, 2019.
 
Professor. Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff expressed his appreciation and acknowledgement to Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim on his excellent service as the third Vice-Chancellor for 11 years.

“I have had the opportunity to personally learn a lot about his leadership in UMP.

“I am very thankful for the trust given to me to hold a variety of portfolios in UMP, over the years. The room and opportunities provided all this while has been extensively put to good use to improve oneself with value added experience and knowledge,” he said.

Professor. Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar added that the experience and knowledge gained would hopefully, be a source of strength for him when carrying out duties as the university’s Vice-Chancellor.

Professor. Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar is from Pasir Putih, Kelantan. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Michigan Ann Arbor, USA (1990), Masters’ of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA (1992) and PhD in Advanced Technology Manufacturing from Universiti Sains Malaysia (2004).

Prior to this new appointment, he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International). He was appointed to this post on December 1, 2018.

He was a lecturer in UMP’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering since 2004.

Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar, 52, has held the post as Dean for Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering (FKP) for five years beginning 2012 and was UMP Centre of Innovation and Academic Competitiveness Director from 2011 until 2013.

Dato’ Sri Ibrahim also said with this appointment, he hoped that UMP would continue to maintain its successful strides as a leading five-star technology university, steering its way in the fields of engineering and technology, not only in Malaysia but also at the international level.

“The university would like to express its gratitude to UMP’s third Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim who is the university’s Father of Transformation, who has made vast contribution in elevating UMP as being among the best in Asia as well as globally.

“Being on the best track, UMP will continue to strengthen skills training in Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET) in the country, in line with the aspiration of the Education Ministry.

“The university will be supported by competent and professional staff and will make the academic infrastructure more efficient, one that is based on the needs of industry and society,” he said.

Research and Innovation

UMP’s book on tahfiz education and soft skill won award at the National Book Award 2019

A book titled, ‘Pendidikan Tahfiz dan Kemahiran Insaniah’ (Tahfiz Education and Soft Skills) published by Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Publisher won the best general book (education category) at the National Book Award 2019 that was held at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) on May 10, 2019.

The book was written by Centre for Modern Languages & Human Sciences (CMLHS), Senior Lecturer, Dr. Rashidi Abbas.

Dr. Rashidi said he wrote the book because he wanted to see the extent of tahfiz education and soft skill development among the huffaz particularly in generic skills and applying these skills in facing current challenges.

“There are seven elements of generic skills shared in the book to ensure a well-balanced huffaz is effectually produced - skills in communication, critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork, continuous learning and information management, entrepreneurship, professional ethics and morality and skills in leadership.

“The book also supports the government’s aspiration in producing 125,000 huffaz nationwide by the year 2050 and an ulul albab generation of sound faith and takwa.

“The huffaz will be groomed to be leaders and professional workforce and are not limited to only being an imam.

“The book is also a production of a research work on enhancing al-Quran skills among students,” he said.

In the Sharing@BookCafe programme organised by UMP Library recently, Dr. Rashidi shared his experience in producing the book with an audience comprising campus community and members of the public.

For those who are interested to get a copy of the 156-page book, they can contact UMP Publisher at 017-356 2566 (Noraini) or 012-966 1375 (Rohaizad).

Strategic Collaboration

UMP partners with KOCEL to leverage global online learning platform

By: DR. GAN LEONG MING, CENTRE OF INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES & e-LEARNING (CIReL)

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) recently cemented a five-year partnership with China’s Kocel Group Ltd (KOCEL) with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the latter’s National Intelligent Foundry Industry Innovation Centre (NIFI) in Ningxia, China, on April 24, 2019. 

UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim, who headed the delegation to Yinchuan City, signed the MoU on behalf of the university, whilst KOCEL was represented by its President, Peng Fan. 

The signatories were duly witnessed by UMP Deputy Director of the Centre of Instructional Resources & e-Learning (CIReL), Dr. Gan Leong Ming, and KOCEL General Manager, Chang Jun Yong. 

The new MoU spells out that both UMP and KOCEL will collaborate in the areas of online academic and postgraduate studies (for both students and staff), under the massive open online course (MOOC) and global classroom. The two parties will also cooperate in the fields of micro credential and online research for technological advancements.

“The MoU with KOCEL is a historic milestone for UMP, as we have also now established a tripartite collaboration with Ningxia University (NXU) here, in providing industry-oriented and niche online education to both local and international students,” said UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir. 

He elaborated that some of the initiatives will include UMP-KOCEL niche MOOC exchange; intelligent manufacturing knowledge-sharing through cross-cultural interaction between KOCEL technology specialists with UMP academics and students; as well as professional development for KOCEL staff via UMP niche areas.

“Ultimately, this MoU provides ample visibility of UMP as Malaysia’s No. 1 and preferred technological university, within the circle of intelligent manufacturing industry in China,” he aid. 

Meanwhile, KOCEL President Peng Fan said the MoU is not just simply a collaboration between UMP and KOCEL, but also aligned with China’s policy to integrate industry-university teaching and learning approach.

“It also matches well with the “One Belt One Road” strategy to enhance the collaboration between Malaysia and China in both online education and industry innovation,” he emphasized.

Accompanying Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir to the signing ceremony were UMP Dean of Faculty of Chemical & Natural Resources Engineering (FKKSA), Professor Dr. Zulkafli  Hassan; Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (FKMP), Associate Professor Ts Dr. Mohd Ruzaimi Mat Rejab; Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology (FIST), Associate Professor Dr. Chong Kok Feng;  and Director of Confucius Institute at UMP, Yong Ying Mei.

Prior to the signing event, UMP delegation was treated to a field trip to KOCEL’s 'steel casting, intelligent manufacturing, 3D sand-printing facilities and IR4.0 cutting edge' operating centre at NIFI, under the tour guide of NXU Dean of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Dr. Zhu Xuejun.

KOCEL is a well-known name in the casting and foundry industry; supplying and servicing the Top 500 companies in the world, such as General Electric Co (GE) and Siemens Pte Ltd. 

The company has more than 50 years of experience in development and continuous innovation through system, technology and management, leading in cast, intelligent machinery manufacturing, chemical and steel structure industries. 

Meanwhile, KOCEL’s subsidiary NIFI is an industry-university-institute oriented open sharing online platform for industrial ecology to establish generic technology research and development for commercialization, industrialization and knowledge transfer.

Strategic Collaboration

UMP renews MoU with Ningxia University

By: YONG YING MEI, CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE

Having worked together successfully, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and Ningxia University (NXU) of China recently renewed their five-year term of collaboration with the signing of another memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 23, 2019.

UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr Daing Nasir Ibrahim, who headed the delegation to the Yinchuan City, signed the MoU on behalf of the university, whilst NXU was represented by its President, Professor He Jianguo.

The two universities have collaborated well since 2014, and over the last five years, several achievements have been recorded in the areas of students and visiting professors exchanges as well as in external co-supervisory cooperation and researches. 

Meanwhile, under this new MoU, UMP and NXU are seeking to extent their collaborations in academic and research to include additional faculties, such as NXU’s School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, School of International Education and State Key Laboratory of High-efficient Utilization of Coal & Green Chemical Engineering.

During the recent trip to NXU, UMP also took the opportunity to hold a number of key meetings to deliberate further on future collaborations on Student Mobility Programme, International Students Recruitment, China Scholarship Programme, Co-supervisory of Postgraduate Programme, International Conference and Research. 

Accompanying Professor Dato’ Sri Dr Daing Nasir to the signing ceremony were UMP Dean of Faculty of Chemical & Natural Resources Engineering (FKKSA), Professor Dr Zulkafli  Hassan; Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (FKMP), Associate Professor Ts Dr Mohd Ruzaimi Mat Rejab; Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology (FIST), Associate Professor Dr Chong Kok Feng;  Deputy Director of the Centre of Instructional Resources & e-Learning, Dr Gan Leong Ming; Director of Confucius Institute at UMP, Yong Ying Mei; and NXU Visiting Lecturer to UMP, Associate Professor Dr Jiang Xiaoxia.

On hand at NXU to receive the UMP delegation were Vice-President, Professor Xie Yingzhong; Vice-Director of the Office of Domestic & Foreign Affairs, Associate Professor Ma Xiaoling; Dean and Vice-Deans of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Dr Zhu Xuejun,  Professor Dr Zhang Bo and Professor Dr Yang Shuming, respectively; Dean of the School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Professor Ni Gang; Director of the State Key Laboratory of High-efficient Coal Utilization & Green Chemical Engineering, Professor Dr Guo Jie; Deans of the School of Civil and Hydraulic, Professor Dr Mao Mingjie and Professor Dr Liu Haifeng, respectively; and Vice-Deans of the School of International Education, Associate Professor Ma Jun and Associate Professor Zhang Zhenxia, respectively.

Campus Info

ECER Empower Programme produced champion students of flying colours in the UPSR, PT3 and SPM exams

A total of 81 pupils and students from primary and secondary schools who took part in the ECER Empower Academic Programme scored excellent results in the three major public examinations - Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) which they sat last year.

They included three Orang Asli pupils who were outstanding in their UPSR, 15 students obtained 5As and above in PT3 and 26 were excellent students of SPM.

The programme, which started in 2011, was organised by Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), together with UMP Advanced Education and UMP Women Association (Matahari).

It involved selected participants from 22 schools in rural area of Pekan and Kuantan with the objective of helping them to achieve academic excellence.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Hajah Fuziah Salleh presented prizes and certificates to the pupils and students in a ceremony held at UMP Astaka Hall, Gambang Campus on May 2, 2019.

Also present were UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, ECERDC Pahang Regional General Manager, Dato’ Haji Mohd. Mazlan Sharudin, UMP Advanced Education Acting Chief Executive Officer, Associate Professor Dr. Rashid Ab. Hamid and Matahari President, Professor Datin Dr. Mimi Sakinah Abdul Munaim. 

Other guests included Pahang Education Department Director, Dato’ Dr. Haji Tajuddin Mohd. Yunus, Matahari Advisor, Datin Fazia Ali and UMP Department of Socioeconomy and Special Project General Manager, Zainal Bahari. 

The ECER Empower Programme also focused on economic development of youths, single mothers and individuals in Pekan, Kuantan and Bera aimed at making them to be financially sustainable.

Hajah Fuzian, in her speech said she was pleased to see the impact of the ECER Empower programme that had helped to enhance the skills of its adult participants and increase their incomes as well boost the academic achievements of the children.

“With their excellent achievement, the pupils and students are recognised as champion of the ECER Empower Programme, and hopefully, they can be the example and inspiration for other students and programmes,” she said.

She advised them to continue with their successful strides, adding, it would be more difficult to maintain the momentum as compared to the efforts taken in reaching the next level.

“Therefore, there is still room for us to work together and when implemented, it will generate positive benefits to all,” she added.

Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie, who read the speech of UMP Vice-Chancellor, said the students’ achievement could fulfill their aspirations to be better in the future.
 
“UMP is aware on the significance of its role in supporting the moves taken by the government to transform the well-being of the people through its expertise and ability, in the aspect of life-long learning, academic training and technology,” he said.

He believed that with close cooperation from all agencies and with the support from the state government, the initiative would eventually help transform the education and socio-economic landscape of participants in the programme.

To date, 50,000 participants in ECER have benefitted from the ECER Empower Programme.

In Pahang alone, there were 37,491 participants including 28,361 involved in the academic and entrepreneurial training programme.

Campus Info

PMLK celebrates Ramadan Iftar with local communities

To appreciate the blessings of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) recently organized a breaking of fast – or popularly referred to its Arabic term as Iftar – in a congregation between its students and the surrounding local communities at the Gambang Mosque. 

Dubbed the 'Program Iftar Perdana Mahasiswa & Masyarakat', the Iftar congregation on May 11, 2019, is one of the university’s continuous programmes of endearing the students to the locals. 

It was jointly coordinated by UMP’s Off-Campus Students Association (PMLK), Department of Student Affairs & Alumni (JHEPA), Students Council (MPP), Academic Staff Association (PAKAD), Department of Social Skills from the Centre of Modern Languages & Human Sciences (PBMSK), together with the representatives from Makmur Gambang Jaya Residents Association.
 
According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, the programme is essentially one of many efforts undertaken by UMP to build rapport and foster good relationship between its PMLK and the surrounding non-university residents.

“The Iftar Perdana programme is certainly a positive platform for the university’s off-campus students, especially in helping them build rapport and communicate with the local communities, under a warm and friendly ambience,” said Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie.

What was interesting to see at the Iftar Perdana, he highlighted, was the goodwill contribution of raw materials for the breaking of fast dishes, like fish and vegetables, from the local residents. 
 
Such noble and encouraging act is part of the university’s ongoing initiatives, under the UMP Campus Pantry and MyGift UMP umbrella programmes, to pool contributions for the needy students – of which, was apparently and mutually enjoyed by both on- and off-campus students and the local communities at the Iftar Perdana.

Meanwhile, Centre for Modern Languages & Human Sciences (CMLHS) Head of Department (Social Skills), Dr. Rohana Hamzah, who doubles as PMLK Advisor, said UMP holds in high regards the importance of holistic development of its undergraduates.

“On that note, developing leadership traits and social skills for off-campus students is seen as a necessity, taking into consideration the external and challenging ‘real world’ situations they have to face daily. Living off-campus is actually an opportunity for these students to develop themselves to better manage post-graduation real life,” Dr. Rohana emphasized.

“Indirectly, PMLK can be the right platform to encourage the off-campus students into being accustomed to taking leadership roles within their community, into being community leaders after they graduate,” she pointed out.
 
From another point of view, the Iftar Perdana Programme Director, Muhd Haziq Abdul Halim, said such Iftar congregation can definitely help the needy students at the university get easy access to preparing meals for their breaking of fast.

“As a matter of fact, the Iftar Perdana programme creates a stronger bond among the students, as well as with the local residents, when they helped each other cook and prepare the Iftar meals,” he said jubilantly.

Over 500 people attended the Iftar Perdana, where they were served with specially-cooked dishes for the evening – like Ayam Masak Kurma, Ayam Masak Merah, Ikan Kerisi Goreng, vegetables, fruits and desserts. A short talk on the blessings of Ramadan was also presented by UMP lecturer, Dr. Mohd Suharmi Mat Jusoh. 

Also representing UMP at the Iftar Perdana were Dean of CMLHS, Associate Professor Dr. Muhammad Nubli Abdul Wahab; Senior Executive of JHEPA’s Welfare Department, Azlina Abdul Mubin; and MPP President, Zakwan Zulkifle; while the local guests were the Chief of Police for Gambang District, SM Mohd Hanif Ahmad; and Head of Committee for the Makmur Gambang Jaya Residents Association, Wan Esa Wan Mohd.