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Month: November 2021

UiTM-ITS 2021: International collaboration focusing on SDG 9 and 11 in Engineering

Posted on by masyitahnujid

The webinar series DTIS ITS 2021 was held on Saturday, 23rd October 2021 organized by the Civil Infrastructure Engineering Department of Vocational Faculty, ITS Surabaya focusing on the sustainable development goals (SDG) 9 and 11 in the field of engineering. The SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure meanwhile SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities were two themes selected for the webinar series talk.

Repeating the success of the Guest Lecture Series in 2020, the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya Indonesia under the Department of Civil Infrastructure Engineering once again organized the same program in 2021 under ITS Global Engagement. This program is a form of ITS commitment in the development of Science and Engineering in achieving the sustainability development goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and ITS, a global collaboration was established where Dr Masyitah Md Nujid from the College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang Kampus Permatang Pauh from Malaysia was appointed as the Guest Speaker for the Guest Lecture Series (GLS) entitled Sustainable Geotechnical Infrastructure Projects in Malaysia.

The webinar participation was open to graduate and post-graduate students, academicians, alumni of the Department of Civil Infrastructure Engineering, public as well as ITS global partners.

The speaker gave lectures on the Sustainable Geotechnical Infrastructure Projects in Malaysia. Sustainable infrastructure and green infrastructure are two important criteria in civil infrastructure projects to be considered in design, operation and practice in construction.

Among the issues and challenges of the sustainable geotechnical construction projects in the aspects of the cost of the project, duration in completing the project, construction material, labour cost and method of construction in achieving sustainable development goals and adapting to impacts on economic, social and environmental.

By integrating IR4.0 in innovation platforms can help decision-makers make the right choices to use technology in achieving SDG goals in infrastructure projects to develop sustainable communities and cities as well as to adapt to the resilience of the impacts.

Chilean enrollees find out how to enroll at TPU

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

An online presentation of Tomsk Polytechnic University has been held at the venue of the Russian House (an official representative office of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation) in Santiago, the capital of Chili. Chilean enrollees, who are intending to study in Russia, joined the meeting.

“Students of Chilean universities and schools joined the meeting. They are participating in the selection for quotas to study in Russia. None of them had known anything about Tomsk or our university.

They asked questions about fields of study at TPU, pre-university courses, the university campus. Of course, there were a lot of questions about our city, climate patterns. We realize that many enrollees from Latin America are afraid of our winters, but in these cases, I usually say that cold winters are unnoticed due to warmth and amiability of Tomsk citizens,” says Evgeniya Sherina, Head of the Division for the Russian Language of the TPU School of Core Engineering Education, who met with the Chilean enrollees online.

They asked questions about fields of study at TPU, pre-university courses, the university campus. Of course, there were a lot of questions about our city, climate patterns. We realize that many enrollees from Latin America are afraid of our winters, but in these cases, I usually say that cold winters are unnoticed due to warmth and amiability of Tomsk citizens,” says Evgeniya Sherina, Head of the Division for the Russian Language of the TPU School of Core Engineering Education, who met with the Chilean enrollees online.

The TPU master’s degree student Tomas De La Fuente Marques also joined the meeting. He told in Spanish, a mother tongue for the enrollees from Latin America about his life in Tomsk and gave the participants advice and recommendations for admission.

“We see a growing interest of Latin American students to TPU in this year. At the moment, students from Ecuador, Peru, Columbia and Venezuela are studying in the pre-university courses. They are preparing for both enrollment in bachelor’s degree programs and master’s degree, PhD programs of our university,” Evgeniya Sherina adds.

It must be noted that teachers of the TPU Division for Russian Language regularly give online classes in Russian for international students, interested in Russian culture and willing to study in Russia. The next series of Russian online classes will be held in December.

Thammasat University professor wins “Certificate of Excellence” Award

Posted on by Thammasat University

Assistant Professor Dr Worawan Diaz Carballo, Professor of Computer Science Program from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Lampang Campus received the “Certificate of Excellence” award as one of the top 10 scorers in EU ASEAN High-Performance Computing (HPC) Virtual School 2021: System Design and HPC Application, organized by the ASIAN HPC Task Force.

This workshop selected 53 persons out of more than 300 applicants from 10 ASEAN countries for participation.

This EU-ASEAN High-Performance Computing Virtual School 2021 workshop is organized by the ASIAN HPC Task Force according to the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument, which is development cooperation program that facilitates dialogue forums between the EU and ASEAN for mutual benefit based on the EU’s regional integration experience.

This workshop covers the design of software systems for supercomputers, analysis and performance improvement for HPC systems, application of advanced computing device in natural science research to simulate biomolecular mechanisms, advanced processing to support research and development of drugs and vaccines against the COVID-19, customized drug design research, modeling for weather prediction, climate simulation, earth science, atmospheric chemistry, simulation and disaster warning with advanced computing device in Asia and the European Union.

TPU scientists win Russian and German grants to search for Dibaryons and to create new alloys for implants

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

Two research teams of Tomsk Polytechnic University have won in the joint grant competition of the Russian Science Foundation and the German Research Foundation (DFG). With the support of two foundations, the university scientists will conduct experiments to confirm or confound the existence of hypothetical particles of dibaryons, as well as will develop new titanium-based alloys for bone implants. Both TPU projects were granted for three years, the amount of the grants was 6 million rubles per year.

Alexander Fix, Professor of the TPU Research School of High-Energy Physics leads the project to search for dibaryon particles.

“Alternatively to already known to us nucleons, consisting of trivalent quarks, dibaryons are six-quark objects. Despite the fact that contemporary particle physics does not prohibit their existence, however, there are no clear indications that such particles form. An exception is only the 2014 experiment whereas it is considered a 2380 MeV dibaryon was detected at the AVR reactor in Jülich Research Center (Germany).

Our project supposes conducting an experiment using a high-intensity polarized photon flux at the AVR reactor. We hope that the experiment either will confirm or confound the 2014 experiment results or will add a substantial degree of scepticism about the existence of dibaryons if nothing is found,” Alexander Fix explains.

It is planned that the experiment will be conducted at the accelerator of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany) in 2022-2023.

The research team under the supervision of Maria Surmeneva, Leading Research Fellow of the TPU Research Center for Physical Materials Science and Composite Materials, jointly with their colleagues from Germany will solve the problem of metal implant loosening. Partners of the TPU scientists in this project are researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany).

“Loosening of bone metal implants based on titanium and its alloys lead to ablation of healthy bone tissue. It occurs due to the substantial difference of the Young’s modulus and bone tissue stiffness and an implanted device. We aim at developing new titanium-based alloys with the adjustable Young’s modulus. The German research team headed by Matthias Epple, who is a globally famous expert in medical materials science and chemistry, will be in charge of the biological part of the project and researching alloy biocompatibility,” Maria Surmeneva says.

UiTM Pahang and United Tropical Fruit sign MoU

Posted on by Dr Azianty Saroni

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pahang Branch Campus and United Tropical Fruit (UTF) Sdn Bhd, via a virtual ceremony on 26th August 2021, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Organic Musang King research and development.

The signatories were between the Rector of UiTM Pahang, Professor Ts. Dr Mohd Ilham Adenan and Managing Director of UTF Sdn. Bhd, Dr Raymond Samy. The signing was witnessed by Deputy Rector Pusat Jaringan Industri (PJI), Professor Madya Dr Wan Mohd Nazri, executive members of UTF Sdn. Bhd, executive members of UiTM Pahang branch campus and its top management.

UiTM Pahang expressed its appreciation and gratitude towards UTF Sdn Bhd for their willingness to collaborate in this research and consultancy program. This project is led by UiTM Pahang’s Rector, Professor Ts. Dr Mohd Ilham Adenan, supported by a research team from the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology (FPA), two lecturers from the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FSG), and a lecturer from the Faculty of Business Management (FPP).

UTF Sdn. Bhd. is a Malaysian registered company formed through a joint venture between Dr Raymond Samy and Hong Kong Based Plantations International Agroforestry Limited. The company specializes in growing, marketing and selling Musang King durians and at the same time providing Musang King Durian plantation management and other related services in Malaysia.

One of UTF’s key ancillary activities is pioneering the development of Organic Musang King Durian, also known as Mao Shan Wang or D197. Even though the price of Musang King is high, it’s still the most sought-after durian variety due to its appealing thick and creamy texture, sweet and slightly bitter flavour, and the market demand.

Therefore, this collaboration and consultancy aim to establish an Organic Musang King Durian Research & Development Centre and set up an on-site nursery at UiTM Jengka Pahang, funded entirely by UTF. The nursery will grow the Organic Musang King breed saplings for UTF plantations to fulfil the requirement of improving the quality of Organic Musang King Durian for export purposes.

In addition, this MoU seeks to draw from UTF’s expertise and resources for UiTM’s researchers to learn and enhance their research and development capabilities, particularly in the production of Organic Musang King Durian. Moreover, this collaboration is hoped to extend internship opportunities for students from the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology.

This MoU reflects the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 8, covering decent work and economic growth by technological upgrading and innovation to achieve higher levels of economic productivity. The collaboration between UTP’s expertise in durian plantation and UiTM’s research and development experience also aligns with SDG No. 9, which emphasizes building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation that focuses on enhancing scientific research and upgrading industrial sectors’ technological capabilities.

Thammasat University and EECHDC come together to organize a seminar

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat University, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kammal Kumar Pawa, Vice-Rector for Administration of Pattaya Center and Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattadon Pannucharoenwong, Assistant to the Rector for Administration of Pattaya Center in collaboration with EEC Human Development Center (EECHDC) led by Apichart Thongyou, Chairman of Coordination Committee and EEC Industrial Forum (EIF) led by Dr. Somchai Thaisa-nguanworakun, and the special person, Mr. Pairoj Piampongsan, Investment Representative organized the “Service Development Cooperation on Sustainable Public Health and Medical Management” Seminar.

The Executives of local administrative organizations in the EEC area were invited to attend a seminar to listen and give advices in accordance with the vision of the area development to achieve the highest goals in the EECMD area.

At the seminar, the administration of Thammasat University, Pattaya Center presented the development direction and goals of the Integrated Medical Center in accordance with the policy of Associate Medical Hub and discussed to determine the direction of cooperation from all four parties and presented an overview of the participatory drive from all sectors in terms of development, service, integrated medical centre according to the EEC’s goal.

Thee “Service Development Cooperation on Sustainable Public Health and Medical Management” Seminar was carried out together with the progress of modified electric vehicle development project and operation plan and short-term training course preparation, research projects related to the electric vehicle industry. In this meeting, the Faculty of Engineering collaborates in this network as well.

UiTM Medicine engages and empowers communities through digital platforms

Posted on by drchenxw

In an effort to ensure that the community health and well-being are not neglected, The Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, conducted a ‘Virtual Health Fest 2021’ from 28th July to 6th August 2021.

The program is a health promotion program aimed to advocate overall good health and deliver educational messages to assist Malaysians to cope with the effects of COVID-19 and other health-related issues. Before developing and implementing the health program, a community health needs assessment was conducted with the population of Shah Alam to identify major health issues in the community.

This assessment allowed the organizers to strategically plan and establish objectives for the entire program, catering specifically to the community’s needs in Shah Alam and other communities in general.

The health fest was organised by the Department of Public Health Medicine headed by Associate Professor Dr Zaliha Ismail. This community activity is part of the Service-Learning Malaysia-University for Society (SULAM) initiative that aims to provide students with the opportunity to contribute their knowledge, skills, and competencies in their specialised area toward solving problems within the community.

Four different themes were selected to address the issues raised by the local community during the pandemic – physical activity and healthy eating, mental health awareness, COVID-19 immunisation, and domestic violence.

The first theme, “FIT4LIFE”, conducted by Madam Aimi Nadira Mat Ruzlin, was designed to increase awareness of the importance of being physically active and maintaining a healthy diet during lockdown/movement restrictions. The session provided information on the different types of physical activities (low, moderate, and vigorous physical activity) for all ages and tips on healthy eating.

The second theme, “Imunisasi Vaksin COVID-19: Imun Bersama”, led by Dr Chen Xin Wee, aimed to instil awareness of the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and encourage the uptake of registering for the national immunisation program through various activities (e.g., “Vaksin COVID-19: Tak Kenal, Maka Tak Kebal” Dialogue with the expert panels, educational videos and poster exhibitions on COVID-19 vaccine myths and facts).

The third theme, “Depression and anxiety: It’s okay not to be okay”, was handled by Dr Ely Zarina Samsudin. It was intended to increase students’ awareness of depression, anxiety, and coping mechanisms while living in a pandemic and undertaking Online Distance Learning (ODL). These aims were achieved via an online forum with expert panels, educational posters, and videos on relaxation techniques and self-care strategies for managing depression and anxiety.

The fourth and final theme is “Monsters behind walls”, conducted by Dr Raudah Mohd Yunus. This theme aimed to increase awareness of domestic violence during the lockdown period and promote practices that foster healthy family dynamics.

The event was conducted through various social networking sites (SNS) such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Curious Cat, and others. The main objective of this health promotion programme is to empower the community about health-related issues by sharing information through innovative educational materials consisting of infographic posters, videos, games, and online quizzes.

This program is also a platform for medical students to improve their teamwork, professionalism, and leadership skills.

The 10-day program received good engagement and positive feedback from the community, indicating the relevance of the program. This outcome has motivated educators and healthcare providers to continually advocate innovative ways in promoting health and empowering the community.

Students from Chili, Peru, Angola and Slovakia learn Russian in online classes at TPU

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

Professors of the TPU Division for Russian Language have given another series of online classes in Russian for international students, interested in Russian culture and willing to study in Russia.

The Global Russian Online School (GROSchool) project was launched at TPU some time ago. The project is aimed at teaching international students the Russian language on a regular basis. The School runs in several areas: from teaching Russian for everyday use to special courses such as Business Russian, Russian for Future Engineers and others.

The series of the online classes was held in September and October and won the support of representative offices of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Russian houses).

In total, there were submitted over 700 applications and participant geography was enriched by such countries as Chili, Angola, Peru and Slovakia.

In Slovakia, whole classes of the gymnasium attended the promo classes, while their teachers studied Russian Teaching Methodology.

“From 20 to 60 students attended every class. It is surprising and pleasing to see that the love for Russian and Russian culture of our international students erases time boundaries. For instance, students from Brazil, Iran, Croatia and Angola had a deep night either an early morning at the time of the classes. Nevertheless, they worked actively. Some of them answered whispering as their families were sleeping, the students explained,” Marina Bokhonnaya, Associate Professor of the TPU Division for Russian Language, a coordinator of the promo classes, shared her emotions.

During the classes, the students not only studied the grammar and tried to master particularities of intonation but also learned how to do shopping and check-in at a hotel, got prepared for the test, learned Russian for Future Engineers, introduced themselves and became familiar with traditions of Russian people, student Tomsk, as well as the Russian education system.

“I am trying not to miss a single class. It is really interesting and useful. Teachers are genuine professionals. I have never experienced such a good level of teaching. Thank you so much,” the regular student of the promo classes from Turkey says.

The next series of Russian online classes will be held in December.

Thammasat-Banpu Innovative Learning Program Season 2

Posted on by Thammasat University

“Thammasat – Banpu Innovative Learning Program Season 2”, a collaboration between Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education (LSED), Thammasat University and Banpu Public Company Limited, has equipped the 14 high school teams with skill sets required to become new-generation innovators through board game development that is fun, creative and reflects the social issues.

The project has now concluded and the award ceremony was held to present the trophy from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and other prizes in Thammasat-Banpu Innovative Learning Program Season 2 via virtual event on July 12, 2021.

The event was presided over by Assoc Prof Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University and Mr Chanin Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Banpu Public Company Limited.

The champion team who won the royal trophy was the “The Last Hope” team from Watcharawittaya School, Kamphaengphet for the ‘Survivors from Black Snow’ board game. This board game presents the issue of how to remove sugarcane soot with an aim to enhance knowledge, understanding and awareness among farmers and people in the community on environmental and health care of people in Kamphaengphet province.

Assoc. Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University said, “With the continuous support from Banpu for Thammasat, through Banpu Innovative Learning Program, we are able to equip the participating students with thinking and mindset crucial for modern innovators.  We hope that they will utilize the skills they’ve gained during this project to further develop themselves and grow as quality innovators for the Thai society in the future.”

Mr.Chanin Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Banpu Public Company Limited said, “Banpu Public Company Limited has continuously operated projects that focus on developing human capital, especially young people who are the country’s future. We want to equip them with skills that will prepare them for the 21st century.”

“The learning method aligns with Banpu’s belief that ‘Learning is the Power of Change and Development. The project was met with challenges from the COVID-19 situation, but all teams were able to adjust themselves and resolve the unexpecting problems to continue developing their board games and communicate with their target audiences as their objectives,” Mr Chanin adds.

Universitas Pembangunan Jaya receives Matching Fund from the Government of Indonesia

Posted on by Universitas Pembangunan Jaya

Universitas Pembangunan Jaya (UPJ) has won the Matching Fund organized by Kedaireka, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of Indonesia.

Funds of 230 million IDR were granted through proposals related to the pilot feasibility study of the urban studies master’s program. The small campus in the Bintaro Jaya, Tangerang Selatan, area has demonstrated its track record in excellence in urban studies related to infrastructure, civil engineering, architecture, area management, urban lifestyle, and wellbeing. UPJ turns a decade this September 2021.

The winning of the Matching Fund proposal fronted by Agustinus Agus Setiawan, UPJ Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; and Elisabeth Rukmini, head of UPJ’s Strategic Planning Unit; has provided new opportunities for UPJ to further contribute to the development of urban studies in Indonesia.

The Matching Fund from Kedaireka requires the collaboration of university personnel with the business and industrial world (DUDI) and with international higher education institutions. Specifically carrying out urban studies, with its track record, UPJ has a close collaboration with Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden), especially the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and the Senior Professorship of Professor Bernhard Mueller who has engaged since many decades in international urban and regional development studies and related master’s programmes.

TU Dresden is one of the world’s top colleges at 173 in the world. Meanwhile, the industry sector, which collaborated with UPJ in this proposal, is PT Pembangunan Jaya. As the name implies, the Matching Fund demands real collaboration from collaborators. Therefore, through Kedaireka, the government provides funds that are at least equal to the contributions of the collaborators.

In this case, PT Pembangunan Jaya allocates full support to UPJ. At the same time, collaborators from international universities dedicate the time and energy of their experts as companions in the feasibility study of establishing a Master of Urban Studies study program at UPJ.

Prof. Bernhard Mueller is a consultant and main collaborator in this pilot feasibility study of the urban studies master’s program at UPJ.

Prof. Mueller, who has also been an expert at the United Nations on the New Urban Agenda, expressed his appreciation for the Ministry of Education and Research and Technology for the Matching Fund initiative: “I am proud of the Indonesian government’s idea to encourage university collaboration with industry and world universities. I am sure that the opportunity given to Universitas Pembangunan Jaya to pioneer a master’s study program in urban studies in collaboration with us will be a real contribution to strengthening urban studies scholars in Indonesia. The programme will complement our joint cooperation activities in the field of urban sustainability which are supported by the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation since some years.”

Furthermore, he hopes that the initiative will bear fruit in the establishment of a multidisciplinary Masters in Urban Studies with a dynamic curriculum and mentors following efforts to solve urban problems in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trisna Muliadi, as CEO of PT. Pembangunan Jaya would like to thank Kedaireka for granting this Matching Fund. “This collaboration between PT Pembangunan Jaya and UPJ, which the Matching Fund fully supports, is an award for us. We are ready to support UPJ in contributing to the development of human resources for solutions to the needs of experts in the field of urban studies.”

The CEO of PT Pembangunan Jaya is confident that the contributions of the directors of its 17 subsidiaries and field managers will provide real input for the needs of urban studies masters graduates who are ready to fill in their business units positions and other industrial sectors.

The Rector of UPJ and the authors of the pilot feasibility study proposal for the Master of Urban Studies study program expressed their joy after this Matching Fund proposal. The Rector stated, “UPJ is ready to move forward in the field of Urban Studies through a feasibility study for the establishment of a new study program.”

As the author of the proposal, Elisabeth Rukmini, said, “This proposal aims to live up to the strategic plan that UPJ has written to excel in urban studies.”

The track record of collaboration in urban studies has proved UPJ’s focus on urban studies. Furthermore, the networks from Germany’s universities and the Consortium for Urban Studies in Southeast Asia have strengthened UPJ to mainstream urban studies.

Agustinus Agus Setiawan, UPJ’s Vice-Rector for academic affairs, agreed that UPJ had made history with the courage to study multidisciplinary Urban Studies. “Hopefully, our efforts will make a real contribution to the nation and state of Indonesia,” he said.