Year: 2021

Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, decided to host the “Thammasat Sustainability Festival,” featuring special talks from prominent figures and various agencies in the community who have implemented innovative and creative environmental initiatives for sustainable development.

The sustainability festival was held during November 26-28, 2020. The morning session was the university’s “Open House” yearly event, following by the panel discussion with leading figures and experts in sustainable development. The main focus of the afternoon session was to promote sustainable development and inspire everyone to become a changemaker.

The main topic for each day focused on different aspects of sustainability. On the first day, it was about the “waste problem”, followed by “climate change”, and “taking action”. There was a mix of both public and private sectors among the audience and speakers throughout the three days.

There were also several interesting workshops like “Upcycling Fashion”, reviving waste materials as jewelry, gardening, organic green smoothie, natural oil soap workshop, and zero-waste cooking.  There was also a “sustainable flea market” where people can buy the home-grown vegetables from the rooftop vegetable garden for a reasonable price.

These sessions aimed to provide inspiration for those who are ready to “give to the world” and take on difficult challenges.  The festival also included hands-on workshops and fun activities at the 100 years Puey Park, where the largest Green Roof Urban Farm is located.

100 Years Puey Hall is four stories tall with the largest Green Roof Urban Farm in Asia. The main hall is without air conditioning and the wall is made using special bricks which significantly decreased energy consumption. The furniture used in the building is made of upcycled waste. The majority of the chairs in the lab are made from scrap metals, milk cartons, and plywood.

Not only does the building symbolize the “committed action” and is the place for ideas generation, but the roof of the building is also designed to reflect positive changes and sustainable development. The plants on the roof are not there merely for cosmetic landscape purposes or just preventing heat or absorbing carbon dioxide.  The roof is designed to be an ‘edible landscape’ with vegetables and plants which are occasionally changed throughout the year.

Thammasat has always been proactive when it comes to environmental issues. The great examples are such as the “TU solar bus”, a solar-electric shuttle bus service, and “Term Tem”, a zero-waste store where students and staff can refill their soaps, shampoos, and many more consumable household products to reduce the use of plastic packaging. Many of the buildings on campus have solar panels installed which provide a huge volume of electricity for daily usage.

GIK Institute prides itself on a talented student body that outshines its peers across various top-tiered institutes of Pakistan. The office of research innovation and commercialization (ORIC) is proud to announce that Daniyal Akram, a fourth-year student at the faculty of Mechanical Engineering, has won the “Best Intern Award” for the Fresh Start Internship Program 2020 at Dawlance A.S Arcelik.

The award is reserved for the 5 top-performing interns, who are entitled to an employment opportunity at Dawlance upon graduation and an opportunity to intern at the Global Headquarters, Arcelik Turkey.

Although facing unconventional challenges during this academic year, through the relentless efforts and liaison of the placement office – ORIC, the award was secured in the GIK`s Basket. This year, Dawlance saw a total of 4426 applications sent in, for a series of 3 elimination rounds, which culminated down to the recruitment of 21 talented individuals, exclusively from NUST, LUMS, GIK, and IBA.

In a series of unique events, Daniyal was the only supply chain intern inducted for this year and successfully modified the ordering process for Dawlance using a comprehensive SAP-based framework. Daniyal went through a competitive recruitment process surmounting 3 different stages.

“As an engineer, with limited insights to supply chain management, getting accustomed to the in-house practices and industrial standards was a tough bargain. Perhaps even more nerve-wracking was realizing that I had to learn SAP and its codes, in a matter of 6 weeks, to secure my spot for the best intern”. Remarked Daniyal as he spoke to the marketing team at GIK.

Currently, Daniyal is serving as the President and founder of the GIK Institute Consulting Group and as a supply chain intern at Nestle, Pakistan. He attributes his success not only to the opportunities GIK has to offer but to the holistic environment that on-campus student societies offer.

Speaking of his experience, he expressed that, “Effective time management and teamwork are just some of the skills that have been instilled in most students as they graduate from GIKI. Being involved with the consulting group, in specific, has allowed me to approach problems logically – a handy tool that I made the most out of at Dawlance.”

Dawlance currently orders its raw materials factory wise. They have 3 production facilities and each factory runs the ordering formula MRP (what we need x quantity – what we already have) to reorder items that are short in their inventory. The MRP is executed on a single operating system and with 6000 parts per factory takes 1.5 days to run.

As an intern, Daniyal created a sorting framework to segment these 6000 parts into 53 distinct categories with no overlaps. Due to the parallel nature of the ordering process, the effective time has now been reduced to 0.5 a day as compared to the previous practice of 1.5 days, which stands out as a stupendous achievement.

His accomplishment is a living example of the unconventional learning experiences earned at GIK, forming connections with peers and supervisors while working remotely. This reflects the countless projects they conceived, worked diligently on, and followed through to completion, in entirety at GIK as their journey began.

GIK felicitated Daniyal on his endeavors and aspires to see many more to follow the example.

The Faculty of Medicine(FK), Universitas Airlangga has created a DokterSafe application for protecting medical personnel who are struggling during Covid-19 patients.

“We were entrusted by Dean of FK UNAIR to design a special application for the protection and safety of Indonesian doctors and health workers during the current Covid-19 Pandemic,” said Dr. Muhammad Shoifi, the Project Manager of DokterSafe, during the launch of DokterSafe on January 17, 2021.

DokterSafe is developed with the aim of being a medium of information, communication, and education to enable better protection and safety, especially for doctors and health workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The application, which was recently inaugurated by the Minister of Health, Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, contains interesting features useful for ensuring protection and safety. For example, the application has a self-assessment feature to determine conditions and risks to COVID-19.

Dr Shoifi explains, “The DokterSafe application also provides access to information on the latest situation of Covid-19, which is updated daily. Furthermore, users can also monitor the development of the number of new cases and the latest news regarding Covid-19.

Shoifi said, DokterSafe also has several additional features, including access to important links, such as the WHO website, the Covid-19 Handling Task Force, and the Ministry of Health.

It is also equipped with videos and books as media of education and learning. Some important hotline information is also provided. “This hotline can be contacted if any doctor or health worker gets affected by COVID-19,” he said.

DokterSafe also provides a GPS feature for detecting the position of the user and the nearest Covid-19 referral hospital.

Dr Shoifi added, “The process of creating content, searching for names, creating logos, and rearranging all application components took a lot of time.” He mentions that the work on this project started in early March 2020.

UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, SE, MT, Ak, CMA also gave his appreciation for the platform during its launch. He  said, “DokterSafe is an effort to make health workers as the frontline remains safe, comfortable, and protected.”

Dean of FK UNAIR Prof. Dr. Budi Santoso hopes that DokterSafe can continue to grow and develop to address the challenges in the future. “Hopefully this application platform can be useful for all of us in an effort to ensure the protection and safety of our doctors and medical personnel during this pandemic,” he added.

The application, which is now available on Play Store, has been downloaded by more than 1,000 users.

Management and Science University (MSU) has formed yet another global collaboration with its recent signing of an MoU with Politeknik Brunei (PB).

Establishing a basis of direct cooperation encompassing research, education, training, and mobility, the Memorandum of Understanding is set to benefit both students and staff at the two institutions of higher education.

The MoU signed virtually at MSU’s main Shah Alam campus and PB’s in Bandar Seri Begawan proposes exchanges of students, faculty, and staff, internships, as well as joint conferences and academic programs.

Present for the signing at the MSUTV Studio on Level 15 of the MSU Management Tower were MSU President Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Wira, Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid as standing witness, and MSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Puan Sri Datuk Dr Junainah Abdul Hamid.

Politeknik Brunei was represented by its Acting Director Lim Kian Boon and PB’s School of Science and Engineering Head Dayang Armah Tengah.

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia hosted a virtual e-Colloquium titled ‘Advancement of Smart Materials & Sensors 2020’ on 18 November 2020. The e-colloquium was part of the MOU activity between UiTM and AlFaisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) supported by National University Ireland Galway (NUIG), Ireland, and AEH Innovative Hydrogel, Ltd, United Kingdom (UK).

The e-colloquium provided a virtual platform for academicians, researchers, industrial brains, and students from across the globe to get together and share knowledge on recent advancements in the field of sensors and advanced materials.

The session began with a welcome speech by the dean of FKM, Prof. Ir. Dr. Muhammad Azmi Ayub. He congratulated the speakers and participants and highlighted that “UiTM has always been committed to promoting teaching and research activities which includes collaboration and postgraduate studies”.

The first speaker for the session, Prof. Ts. Dr. Norhayati Saad from UiTM deliberated on ‘Microsensors for health screening and the latest invention of breathing sensors to detect chronic disease.’

Next was a presentation by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Zourob from Alfaisal University on low-cost-based biosensors for the detection of infectious viruses. Exclusively, he introduced a new concept of the cotton-swap-based sensor to detect the Covid-19 virus. This sensor,  which has been currently filled for patent seems to be cheap, simple, and rapid detection.

This was followed by Dr. Patrica Scully from NUIG, Ireland who delivered her talk on smart functional materials and human motion in generating flexible sensors for healthcare monitoring systems on the detection of Alzheimer’s disease, premature baby, etc.

The final speaker, Dr. Beenish Siddique from AEH Innovative Hydrogel Ltd., UK shared her incredible journey in establishing a start-up business commercializing hydrogel-based material for agricultural and biomedical application. She also shared her secret in winning 1 million pounds from the UK government to commercialize her innovation on indoor-farming products from her research work.

A very engaging question and answer (Q&A) session took place before the colloquium was closed by the moderator, Dr. Siti Rabizah Makhsin from UiTM.

Collaborations like these reinforce the fact that universities as leaders in knowledge-creation and research play an important role in the evolution of the latest technology by collaborating with the industries, adapting to the advancement of the technology, and finally commercializing the product to benefit mankind.

The establishment of collaborations across the world has opened-up great potentials that inspire many young researchers to take part and smart partnerships with the experts.

The Faculty of Engineering and Chulalongkorn University Alumni Association has dispatched 200 “Pinto” robots and over 1,000 “Mirror” long-distance communication systems to the areas affected by the new COVID-19 outbreak.

Prof. Supot Teachavorasinskun, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Asst. Prof. Witaya Wannasuphoprasit, Director of the International School of Engineering and Head of the Robotics and Medical Support Equipment Team for COVID-19 pandemic (CURoboCOVID), joined the presentation ceremony on Monday, December 28, 2020, at the Engineering Centennial Memorial Building, Chulalongkorn University.

Prof. Supot recounted how during the first COVID-19 outbreak, the Engineering faculty dispatched “Pinto” robots and “Mirror” long-distance communication systems to the hospitals with COVID-19 patients and found that the robots were helpful in drastically reducing risks to health workers.

CURoboCOVID can now deliver Pinto robots and Mirror communication systems across the nation to hospitals that sent in requests.  Also, the Engineering faculty has dispatched more units to the field hospitals in Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, and Nakorn Pathom in order to be better prepared for the second outbreak, reduce the infection risk on health workers and increase medical care efficiency.

“To date, we have delivered 200 “Pinto” robots and over 1,000 “Mirror” long-distance communication systems to over 140 hospitals across Thailand,”  Professor Supot added.

Pinto Quarantine Delivery Robots and Mirror long-distance communications robots created by the CURoboCOVID team, a collaboration between Chula Engineering, Mi Workspace, HG Robotics, and Obodroid, were developed to help medical personnel during the COVID-19 outbreak. Field testing and real data collection were conducted at more than 10 hospitals to study the applications and requirements needed.

The main mission of Pintos is to deliver food, medicine, and medical supplies to patients. However, several added benefits have turned up. The robots on carts are remotely controlled, thus reducing risks for the health workers. Moreover, the medical team can monitor the patients, communicate with them remotely at all times via the monitors installed on the units, and help reduce the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Mirror, the quarantine telepresence system, is a medical assistant system to help health workers in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. The mirrored communications help doctors and nurses to communicate and observe the patient’s symptoms, without the need to approach. This helps reduce the risk of infection for health workers, decreases the need for PPEs when health workers change working zones, and considerably lessens the anxiety for both health workers and patients. Moreover, Pinto and Mirror robots can be sanitized, are easy to install and use, do not require any other systems, and are movable.

Nikolay Oleynik graduated from Saint Petersburg Mining University. Soon after that, he joined Lentisiz ZAO, one of St. Petersburg’s most reputable companies in the field of engineering-geological surveying.  

Nikolay first started as an engineer. Already working at the company, he pursued further studies and enrolled at Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Therein he earned a Bachelor’s and then a Master’s degree. As the former student had a daytime job, he would study in the evenings, attending classes after work. According to Nikolay, he so decided to improve his qualifications, increase competency, and finally, learn the terminology the construction clients use.

Over 12 years of career progression, the fresh graduate advanced to the Head of the Field Team, Deputy Head of the Department of Engineering Geology, and the Deputy Chief Engineer. At last, in 2015 he was appointed the Director-General, and now he is leading the team of 140 employees. Among the projects carried out by the organization he is heading are Pulkovo Airport, the Saint Petersburg Ring Road, and numerous others. 

As Nikolay believes, one of the most pressing challenges nowadays is the shortage of highly qualified surveying engineers.

“At Lentisiz, we hire only qualified professionals. Engineering surveying encompasses geological, geodesic, ecological, and hydrometeorological works. Mining University is one of the leading higher educational institutions that graduate specialists in this field. For instance, we employ geodesists from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, hydrogeologists and geotechnical engineers from the Faculty of Geological Prospecting, and environmentalists from the Faculty of Mining Engineering.”

Lentisiz was founded in 1962. As Nikolay admits, geodetic surveying has undergone considerable changes since then, especially in the last years. Theodolites and levels were replaced by GNSS receivers. Aerial surveying is performed by drones. At the reconstruction of industrial objects, surface laser scanning is used. Based on the data received, three-dimensional digital object models are created.

“Lab equipment used when conducting geotechnical surveying has been affected by changes, too. As tools we use are becoming automated, there is less need in human participation at soil testing. All one has to do is load a sample into the device and at the output, receive a structured lab test report. Quality of work we are doing is very high, but it requires our stuff to undergo continuous retraining. Indeed, young graduates don’t need to be retrained yet, as their skills are just up to date,” he explains.

“Mining University’s knowledge standards have traditionally been high. Students come to us and, as part of their practical classes, scan facades, process the point cloud they received and create 3D models of buildings and facilities. When they graduate, they already know how to work. That’s why Mining University’s graduates make up about 40% of our engineering staff.”

Since construction projects can be worth hundreds of millions, it is in our interest to ensure that our surveying staff is the most qualified, Nikolay Oleynik sums up.

The Department of Oral Hygiene at Kaohsiung Medical University has co-operated with EPED Inc., which is headquartered in Kaohsiung at the Southern Taiwan Science Park, to establish the very first “virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) Oral Health Care lab”.

The VR/ AR training courses can provide the simulation of different physical conditions of patients, train future caregivers in better home caring and oral health caring skills of elderly people, and provide for self-assessment of their oral care skills.

During the course, learners understand and correct their brushing skills through the results of the system evaluation. The individualized learning courses provide a good chance for students to learn and practice by themselves in VR or AR-equipped classrooms. That in turn allows them to grasp a better understanding of how to provide complete oral care methods for the elderly in different situations. Ultimately, VR/ AR training courses allow students to learn correct oral health care methods, strengthen their brushing skills, and promote appropriate oral health care habits among young people.

To minimize infectious diseases spreading by being far away from traditional classrooms crowded with learners, the virtual classroom simulation is loaded with effective oral care methods designed for the health workers and caregivers. VR/ AR teaching adopts individual learning in an independent space at selective times allowing students to operate the courses by themselves. The VR/ AR system also includes other valuable content for students to learn oral health care skills.

Nowadays, virtual education is vital for every school curriculum since it reduces the risk of epidemic transmissions like the current global COVID‐19 pandemic. Moreover, in conjunction with Taiwan’s “New Southbound Policy”, VR/ AR oral care resources developed in Taiwan can be promoted to other Asian countries to achieve technology sharing and medical resources’ sharing, to ultimately improve the quality of global oral health care.

More than 50% of Indians use devices embedded with AI-based speech recognition technology, but these are dominated by English-speaking assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and the Google Assistant. Owing to its expertise in Language and Speech Processing, the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH) has now joined forces with the Indian government to assist with the automatic speech recognition (ASR) module for the translation of Indian languages.

This project supports the Technology Development for Indian Languages (TDIL) initiative by The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology which aims to enable the widespread proliferation of ICT in all Indian languages. This involves automatic speech recognition (ASR), speech-to-speech translation, and speech-to-text translation.

The project is being headed by Prakash Yalla, Head, Technology Transfer Office and Dr. Anil Kumar Vuppala, Associate Prof, Speech Processing Centre.

To build ‘Indian language Alexas’ requires over 1000s of hours of speech data, along with the transcribed text of the same. Dr. Vuppala says,” In our lab, we have been working on speech recognition technology for the last 10 years and have collected 50-60 hours of data. But we now need 1000s of such hours which is very laborious.”

To reach out to the common man, conversational AI in as natural a setting as possible assumes importance. For that, as a cost-effective measure, the project is looking towards crowdsourcing of speech data. Leveraging its physical location of Hyderabad, in the pilot, volunteers are being invited to contribute to Telugu language speech data.

“The idea is to collect around 2000 hours of spoken Telugu over the course of a year. This can be through liaisoning with academic institutions across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as well as via the existing Telugu Wikipedia community,” says Prakash.

The team is also working with industry partners such as OzoneTel and Pactera Edge and utilizing their network to get access to data. The initial collection of Telugu speech data is expected to lead to the establishment of protocols and systems in place for crowdsourcing of data for all Indian languages – the largest such exercise undertaken in the country.