Collaboration

UMP signed MoU with Rajarshi Shahu College of Engineering

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and JSPM’s Rajarshi Shahu College of Engineering from Pune, India (JSPM’s RSCOE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would enhance bilateral ties between the two institutes of higher learning.

The MoU would pave the way for collaborations in mobility, exchange of student and teaching programmes, research works, appointment of visiting professors and other forms of cooperation.

The MoU was signed at the Banquet Hall, UMP Gambang Campus on June 27, 2019.

UMP was represented by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusof and JSPM’s RSCOE by its Planning and Development Director, Professor Dr. Ravi Joshi.

Also present were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Dr. Kamal Zuhairi Zamli, Professor Dr. Rizalman Mamat from Faculty of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (FKMP), JSPM’s RSCOE Dean of Student Development and Industrial Relation, Professor Santosh Borde and JSPM’s RSCOE Dean of International Relation, Professor Dr. Sachin Shendokar.

According to Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar, 15 undergraduates would be involved in the mobility programme at the university’s Faculty of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (FKMP).

He said human capital development was important throughout the five-year collaboration with JSPM’s RSCOE.

“We will also focus on working together in publication, organising of seminars, development and professional leadership programmes and in other forms of joint cooperation of mutual benefits,” he added.

Professor Dr. Ravi Joshi also presented appointment letters as visiting professors to three UMP lecturers – FKMP Deputy Dean of Academics, Associate Professor Ir. Haji Nik Mohd Zuki Nik Mohamed, Associate Professor Dr. Kumaran Kadirgama and Dr. Mahendran Samykano.

They are appointed as visiting professors for JSPM’s RSCOE and will be sharing their expertise in the engineering field.

Academic & International

FKASA holds 3rd National Conference on Wind & Earthquake Engineering

By: EMMA MELATI BURHANUDDIN, FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & EARTH RESOURCES.

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources (FKASA), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) continues its legacy of being the pioneer in the East Coast of Malaysia by organizing the third annual National Conference on Wind & Earthquake Engineering (NCWE) at Impiana KLCC Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on July 12, 2019. 

Following the success of its earlier two annual conferences in 2017 and 2018, this year’s NCWE saw FKASA collaborating with an international counterpart from Beijing Jiaotong University of China to hold an additional mini seminar entitled 'International Seminar of Sustainable Construction Engineering (ISSCE)'.

According to the Organizing Chairman, Dr. Mohamad Idris Ali, the previous two NCWEs were coordinated with the School of Civil Engineering from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), while this year’s, FKASA was proud to team up with a university from Indonesia, Universitas Syiah Kuala (UNSYIAH). 

“Co-organizing the third NCWE with three universities certainly add more value and reflective of the symbiosis cooperation among the three tertiary education providers from the three countries,” said Dr. Mohamad Idris.

“More than 75 working papers were sent to the annual conference from researchers all over the world. This number has given the right momentum for NCWE to attract even more participants in the coming years,” he proudly added. 

Dean of FKASA, Noram Irwan Ramli said, the 2019 NCWE also welcomed presenters from South Korea, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, to name a few.

“It’s a great start for us since we have upgraded the gathering from simply a colloquium into an international conference status. 

“And we hope other renowned presenters will attend future conferences,” he said, emphasizing that the main highlight of the two-day conference has always been the keynote speakers sharing their knowledge and expertise. 

Themed “Built to Last”, the third annual NCWE saw keynote speakers Professor Dr. Yukio Tamura and Professor Dr. Shuyang Cao sharing their expertise on wind engineering; Dr. Ade Faisal on earthquake disaster; and Associate Professor Dr. Guoqing Jing on his innovation relating to railway engineering.

“All four speakers are well known for their tremendous contributions, in terms of knowledge and research outputs,” said the organizing chairman.

Academic and International

171 UPSR candidates became ‘undergraduates’ for a day in UMP and learned about the cyber world

A total of 171 Year 6 pupils from seven schools in Pekan and Kuantan got to experience life as university students at Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) that served as a motivational boost for them to do well in the coming examination, Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR).

They also learned about matters related to the cyber world such as scams, bullying and online shopping as well as the adverse effects when one got addicted to IT gadgets.

The pupils were participants of a programme called UPSR Empower Edu-Tour and Socio Outreach organised by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) and UMP. 

It was held at UMP Pekan Campus on July 17, 2019.

The pupils were from Sekolah Kebangsaan Wira, Sekolah Kebangsaan Jaya Gading, Sekolah Kebangsaan Indera Mahkota, Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Garuda, Sekolah Kebangsaan Indera Shahbandar, Sekolah Kebangsaan Lepar and Sekolah Kebangsaan Paloh Hinai.

They attended a motivational talk and took part in games such as jigsaw puzzle and on digital literacy organised by a group of UMP lecturers fondly known as ‘The Reading Makcixx’.

Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering (FKEE) lecturer and ‘The Reading Makcixx’ Programme Director, Nor Farizan Zakaria said the pupils got to learn many things about the cyber world, social media, online shopping, digital footprint, cyber bullying, online scam and imposters as well as about gadget and Internet addiction.

“In this programme, the pupils are taught about the benefits of the cyber world and the safety precautions that should be observed while at it. In the process, the activities that they took part would have a positive bearing on their characters when using the Internet,” she said.

One of the participants, Wan Norizati Suriya, 12, from Sekolah Kebangsaan Wira in Kuantan, said she obtained a lot of knowledge from the programme especially in matters on digital literacy and the Internet.

She added that on the positive side, social media was a useful platform when it came to studying.

Wan Norizati Suriya also said she had a smartphone but its use was still monitored by her parents. 
 

ECERDC Chief Executive Officer, Baidzawi Che Mat said the one-day programme was aimed at instilling positive self-concept among the pupils when they were outside of the classroom.

“It was also held in UMP which provided the pupils with an environment and atmosphere of a university.

“ECERDC is committed in providing opportunities to the people in the ECER zone and to do so in an inclusive manner so the people can recognise their potentials and work towards achieving them.

“Programmes implemented are prepared in a holistic way. As such, for this programme, it is really important in providing the motivation and encouragement for the pupils and to make them realise that they are capable of success if knowledge and skill gained are properly used,” he said.