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Month: September 2022

Commemorating 20 years of JICA, UPI partnership

Posted on by UNIVERSITAS PENDIDIKAN INDONESIA

Back in twenty years ago while national educational improvement in Indonesia was assisted by JICA through series of project including a building inaugurated by President Megawati Soekarno Putri and Ambassador of Japan Mr. Hideaki Domichi; Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education (FPMIPA) Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia commemorates this reflecting on experience of JICA cooperation in education, to share best practice in Indonesia and beyond, and to explore of driven status of lesson study development and partnership.

The committee chairman, Sumar Hendayana, said the FPMIPA Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia have been set up three activities since February 2022: (1) Faculty members training for enhancing science and mathematics learning through lesson study for learning community at FPMIPA Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, (2) development of Memoar Essay book, there are 42 out of 52 articles lesson learnt of learning improvement with authors (nationwide, from Aceh to Papua), (3) JICA Reflective meeting (26 August 2022), along with launching of Asia-Africa Learning Improvement Network (AALIN), the 13th ICLS & 3rd ICLIm (27 August 2022), ALSI meeting (28 August 2022), dan open class at UPI-Labschool (29 August 2022).

About three hundred sixty-nine participants joined the event, which 93% of the participants participated online. Also, about Ninety-four presenter shared their papers include 5 keynote speakers, 12 plenary speakers, 3 symposium speakers, and 66 parallel speakers across from various background in education such as from teachers, principals, board of education, Ministry of education, students, and academicians both national dan internationally.

Prof Tatang Herman, Dean of FPMIPA Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, explained the success of the 20 years commemoration of JICA cooperation in education is made possible by the supports of strong commitment of organizing committee members for their hard work over the last one year to provide interesting and stimulating the commemoration program for all participants.

Furthermore, JICA Indonesia Representatives, Mr. Kenji OKAMURA feels proud and happy and express JICA thanks-full on the 20th years of commemoration of cooperation between JICA-UPI, through a collaborative study of classroom-based learning that develop as a good practice that we called it as “Lesson Study”. He explained that this Japanese “lesson study” has been adopted in many collaborative education projects. JICA started its first technical collaboration aimed at improving the quality of basic education in the mid-1990s, responding to the global commitment to quality basic education, and Indonesia was one of the first five countries in basic education partnership emphasis on “ownership”, “partnership”, “independence” as the basic philosophy.

UiTM consolidates international connection with KJ Somaiya College of Arts, Commerce & Science via MoU

Posted on by Syazliyati Ibrahim

UiTM, via its branch campus, UiTM Kedah Branch, seeks to consolidate its connection with the institutions in India, this time with K.J. Somaiya College of Arts, Commerce & Science, Maharashtra, India. This linkage is cemented with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between both institutions on 14 July 2022. The signing was conducted via Gmeet at 2.30 pm. The signees are Professor Dr. Mohamad Abdullah Hemdi, the Rector of UiTM Kedah Branch (now retired), witnessed by Dr. Kamarudin Othman on behalf of UiTM; and Principal Dr. Birendra Singh Yadav, witnessed by Dr. Ravindra Ashok Jadhav on behalf of K.J. Somaiya College of Arts, Commerce & Science.

This MoU signing ceremony was made possible by the MoU project manager and coordinator for both institutions who are Puan Syazliyati Ibrahim from UiTM Kedah Branch and Dr. Ravindra Ashok Jadhav on behalf of K.J. Somaiya College of Arts, Commerce & Science respectively. The collaboration between both institutions started in September 2021 which the initial discussions regarding the online intercultural project named Window to the Bordeless World involving more than 300 students and 30 lecturers which started in November 2021 and ended in February 2022.

Professor Dr. Mohamad Abdullah Hemdi said in his speech that this MoU will enable both institutions to work together more closely towards the common goal which are the pursuit of internationalisation of education in both countries. Such a connection will also allow both institutions to establish the reputation in the international arena. Proposed future activities include institutional exchanges between faculty and staff from each partner institution; acceptance of undergraduate and graduate students of each partner institution for periods of study or research; organising of workshops, conferences, short courses, innovative competitions and meetings on research issues; and exchange of information pertaining to developments in teaching, student development and research institutions as agreed by the parties from time to time. Principal Dr. Birendra Singh Yadav also expressed similar sentiments in his speech and he was truly grateful for the efforts taken to formalise the linkage between both institutions.

This MoU signing marks the beginning of a solid collaboration between UiTM generally and UiTM Kedah Branch specifically with K.J. Somaiya College of Arts, Commerce & Science in numerous areas as stipulated in the document.

CCU’s College of Kinesiology and Health cultivates sports talents

Posted on by Chinese Culture University

The College of Kinesiology and Health (hereinafter referred to as CKH) inherited the traditional culture and spirit of Chinese Culture University (PCCU) for about six decades. CKH, one of the leading sports institutions in Taiwan, is committed to cultivating sports talents and high-level competitive sports and owns the foresight to demonstrate the spirit of the sustainable development of the Asian and Olympic Games.

CKH develops the largest ranges of sports teams, such as basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, rugby, korfball, tennis, soft tennis, Pétanque, badminton, table tennis, golf, bowling, wooden ball, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, track and field, swimming, western rowing, dragon boat, archery, judo, wrestling, taekwondo, karate, boxing, Sanshou, pushing hands, Chinese martial arts (Wushu), Tai-Chi, dragon and lion dancing, fencing, jiu-jitsu, bodybuilder, qigong, mix martial art, etc. CKH awards scholarships and fee exemptions for elite athletes and representatives of Taiwan. Up till the present moment, CKH has trained the athletes not only to win hundreds of medals for Taiwan in international competitions but also to honor numerous trophies in national games.

The specialty of training plan brings together the different specific sports and academic programs arranged by all aspects of departments of Physical Education (from bachelor degrees to postgraduate Ph.D. level), Combat Sports and Chinese Martial Arts, and Exercise and Health Promotion. Our staffs and teachers are experts in their fields at the forefront of training trends. Meanwhile, the full-time teachers and invited coaches are responsible for coaching and managing.

For enhancing sports performance, CKH integrates all the resources of different scientific laboratories such as sports physiology, sports biomechanics, sports performance, sports psychology, athletic trainer, recovery, and rehabilitation to support the sports teams in various training fields: tactics and skill drills, strength training and physical conditioning, consultation, nutritional assessment, and athletic recovery, as well as rehabilitation, etc.

Under such aggressive challenge and pressure of recruiting athletes from sports-related departments in domestic universities, the College of Kinesiology and Health still insists a belief on the underlying goal of education: adopting the science-based and efficient training methods, monitoring the holistic status of athletes, reducing the risk of injury and improving performance, returning the health to athletes, and finally contributing and developing more superior coaches and athletes to Taiwan.

HKBU scientists develop versatile compound for treating Alzheimer’s disease

Posted on by HKBUCPRO

A study led by researchers from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has demonstrated that a multifunctional organic compound named F-SLOH has the potential to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at an early stage. The team found that it can inhibit the aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aβ), and reduce the hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins and neuroinflammation in the brain to improve the pathological features of AD. The findings have been published in the international academic journal Redox Biology.

AD is the most common cause of dementia. It accounts for nearly 65% of dementia cases in elderly Hong Kong Chinese. It is pathologically characterised by the abnormal aggregation of Aβ, the hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins and neuroinflammation in the nerve cells in the brain, which cause progressive neuronal loss and cognitive impairment. Currently there is no cure for AD, and the available medicines can only relieve its symptoms. Inhibiting the abnormal aggregation of Aβ and the hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins is considered the primary and a promising therapeutic approach to treat AD.

F-SLOH as theragnostic agent for AD

In the search for novel therapeutic and diagnostic methods for AD, a research team comprising Professor Li Min, Professor of the Teaching and Research Division and Associate Dean of the School of Chinese Medicine; Professor Ricky Wong Man-shing, Professor of the Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Science; and Dr Iyaswamy Ashok, Research Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU, demonstrated the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of a compound called F-SLOH in reducing the abnormal aggregation of Aβ, the hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins and neuroinflammation in the nerves cells in the brain, thereby improving the learning and memory functions of mice with AD.

F-SLOH is a multi-functional cyanine probe synthesised by a team led by Professor Ricky Wong Man-shing for the detection of biological materials such as proteins and peptides. Its features include real-time visualisation of Aβ aggregation in brains, excellent permeability across the blood-brain barrier and low bio-toxicity. Previous studies showed that F-SLOH could inhibit the abnormal aggregation of Aβ species and provide neuroprotection against neurotoxicity induced by the abnormal aggregation of Aβ in vitro at the cellular level.

F-SLOH improves pathological features in AD mice

To determine the therapeutic efficacy of F-SLOH for AD, the researchers injected or fed F-SLOH to a group of transgenic AD mice. Histopathology and biochemical analyses showed that in mice treated with F-SLOH, Aβ oligomers (one of the Aβ species) and Aβ plaque deposits (the clumps of Aβ) were dramatically reduced in their hippocampus and their brains when compared with the AD mice in the control group who had not been fed F-SLOH.

The researchers also found that F-SLOH can reduce the levels of an amyloid precursor protein that generates Aβ and tau protein hyperphosphorylation. In an immunoblot analysis of the transgenic AD mice brian, the F-SLOH treatment group showed a significant reduction in the levels of the amyloid precursor protein and its metabolites compared to the control group.

In other experiments on the transgenic AD mice after F-SLOH treatment, the researchers separated the soluble and insoluble tau proteins in their brain tissue samples. The results showed that F-SLOH treatment significantly reduced the levels of insoluble tau protein in the brains of AD mice, which forms neurofibrillary tangles, one of the pathological features of AD.

F-SLOH improves memory and cognitive functions in AD mice

Aggregation of Aβ is closely related to the dysfunction of the links between nerve cells and memory decline. The researchers conducted two experiments to test the memory functions of AD mice. In the first experiment, mice were trained to swim in a water maze, reach a platform and remember its position. After the platform was removed, researchers observed whether the mice were able to recall and approach the original position of the platform. Compared to the control group, transgenic AD mice treated with F-SLOH spent more time swimming around the platform’s original position, showing that they can better memorise the platform’s location.

In the second experiment, mice were placed in a chamber and exposed to an audio tone followed by an instant small electric shock to their feet from the floor of the chamber. On the following day, they were put back in the chamber but without any electric shock. When the mice were exposed to the same audio tone, they “froze” their body movements due to the fear of an electric shock. The transgenic AD mice treated with F-SLOH exhibited a longer freezing time than that of the control group.

The results of the two experiments showed that AD mice treated with F-SLOH have better memories compared to the control group, suggesting that F-SLOH improved AD mice’s memory and cognitive functions.

F-SLOH shows early potential for treating AD

The researchers also revealed that F-SLOH degraded the abnormal aggregation of Aβ and reduced the levels of tau protein hyperphosphorylation, the amyloid precursor protein and its metabolites through the activation of the transcription factor EB. Transcription factor EB is the main regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway, a major mechanism for degrading ageing intracellular macromolecular proteins, including the intracellular metabolites such as Aβ aggregates.

Professor Li Min said: “AD patients lose their self-management abilities and require long-term care as the disease progresses. As the population is ageing in Hong Kong, the prevalence of AD is likely to increase. There is an urgent need to develop new drugs that can treat or slow down the progression of AD. The current study suggests that the compound F-SLOH has promising theragnostic potential for treating AD at an early stage.”

Professor Ricky Wong Man-shing said: “The study provides the first in vivo evidence that F-SLOH is an effective agent that can target and treat multiple neurodegenerative changes in an AD mouse model. The research findings can drive advancements in AD diagnosis and treatment in humans.”

HKAPA’s School of Dance proudly launches Dance Well Classes at Artistic Spaces

Posted on by Communications Office

The Jockey Club Dance Well Project is a creative movement programme designed for people with Parkinson’s disease and people of different ages and abilities through regular dance classes and activities in artistic spaces like galleries, museums and performance venues. Organised by our School of Dance and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, this three-year Project will start the Dance Well Classes in September 2022.

Academy Director Professor Gillian Choa says, “One of the Academy’s main focuses has always been serving our community through engagement programmes of various performing art forms. We are delighted to lead this meaningful project, which aims to have a positive impact on the overall wellbeing of those with Parkinson’s disease, their families and close friends, and at the same time generate awareness of the disease in society. We are extremely grateful to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its kind support of the project.”

The Project is modelled after the Dance Well initiative introduced in Italy by the Municipality of Bassano del Grappa and the Centro per la Scena Contemporanea in 2013. The practice has since been extended to other Italian cities and adopted by Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa in Japan. HKAPA is introducing this approach to Hong Kong and invites local dance artists to collaborate to bring an inclusive dance experience to members of the public. A scientific research will also be led by our School of Dance to assess the practices and impacts of dance on the physical functioning, psychological and social wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s disease in Hong Kong throughout the project period.

Jockey Club Dance Well Project – Dance Well Classes Details (first 2 series):

Venue: JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun (10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong), Ben Brown Fine Arts (201, The Factory, 1 Yip Fat St, Wong Chuk Hang)

Date: Sep 30, 2022 to Nov 25, 2022 (Designated Wednesday & Friday)

Time: 9:45 am – 10:45 am

12 Sessions, Free Admission

Venue: Rehearsal Room, Xiqu Centre (88 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)

Date: Nov 9, 2022 to Dec 30, 2022 (Designated Monday, Wednesday & Friday)

Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am

12 Sessions, Free Admission

For details, please visit: https://jcdancewell.hkapa.edu/

New magnesium superionic conductor towards lithium-free solid-state batteries

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

As we move towards a more energy-efficient society, the need for high-capacity, cost-effective batteries is greater than ever. Magnesium is a promising material for such solid-state batteries owing to its abundance, but its practical application is limited by the poor conductivity of magnesium ions (Mg2+) in solids at room temperature. Recently, researchers from Japan have developed a novel Mg2+ conductor with a practically applicable superconductivity of 10-3 S cm-1, overcoming this decades-long roadblock.

The development of highly efficient energy storage devices that can store renewable energy is crucial to a sustainable future. In today’s world, solid-state rechargeable lithium ion (Li+) batteries are the state of the art. But lithium is a rare earth metal, and society’s dependence on the element is likely to lead to a rapid decline in resources and subsequent price hikes.

Magnesium ion (Mg2+)-based batteries have gained momentum as an alternative to Li+. The earth’s crust holds ample magnesium, and Mg2+-based energy devices are said to have high energy densities, high safety, and low cost. But the wide application of Mg2+ is limited by its poor conductivity in solids at room temperature. Mg2+ has poor solid-state conductivity because divalent positive ions (2+) experience strong interactions with their neighboring negative ions in a solid crystal, impeding their migration through the material.

This hurdle was recently overcome by a research team from the Tokyo University of Science (TUS). In their new study published online on 4 May 2022 and on 18 May 2022 in volume 144 issue 19 of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, they report for the first time, a solid-state Mg2+ conductor with superionic conductivity of 10−3 S cm−1 (the threshold for practical application in solid-state batteries). This magnitude of conductivity for Mg2+ conductors is the highest reported to date. According to Junior Associate Professor Masaaki Sadakiyo of TUS, who led the study, “In this work, we exploited a class of materials called metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs have highly porous crystal structures, which provide the space for efficient migration of the included ions.

Here, we additionally introduced a “guest molecule,” acetonitrile, into the pores of the MOF, which succeeded in strongly accelerating the conductivity of Mg2+.” The research group further included Mr. Yuto Yoshida, also from TUS, Professor Teppei Yamada from The University of Tokyo, and Assistant Professor Takashi Toyao and Professor Ken-ichi Shimizu from Hokkaido University. The paper was made available online on May 4, 2022 and was published in Volume 144 Issue 19 of the journal on May 18, 2022.

The team used a MOF known as MIL-101 as the main framework and then encapsulated Mg2+ ions in its nanopores. In the resultant MOF-based electrolyte, Mg2+ was loosely packed, thereby allowing the migration of divalent Mg2+ ions. To further enhance ion conductivity, the research team exposed the electrolyte to acetonitrile vapors, which were adsorbed by the MOF as guest molecules.

The team then subjected the prepared samples to an alternating current (AC) impedance test to measure ionic conductivity. They found that the Mg2+ electrolyte exhibited a superionic conductivity of 1.9 × 10−3 S cm−1. This is the highest ever reported conductivity for a crystalline solid containing Mg2+.

To understand the mechanism behind this high conductivity, the researchers carried out infrared spectroscopic and adsorption isotherm measurements on the electrolyte. The tests revealed that the acetonitrile molecules adsorbed in the framework allowed for the efficient migration of the Mg2+ ions through the body of the solid electrolyte.

These findings of this study not only reveal the novel MOF-based Mg2+ conductor as a suitable material for battery applications, but also provide critical insights into the development of future solid-state batteries. “For a long time, people have believed that divalent or higher valency ions cannot be efficiently transferred through a solid. In this study, we have demonstrated that if the crystal structure and surrounding environment are well-designed, then a solid-state high-conductivity conductor is well within research,” explains Dr. Sadakiyo.

When asked about the research group’s future plans, he reveals, “We hope to further contribute to society by developing a divalent conductor with even higher ionic conductivity.”

We look forward to seeing what they develop next!

Thammasat Hospital successfully conducts knee, hip replacement surgery, promoting leadership through launch of Thammasat Joint Replacement Center

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat Hospital achieved 200 knee and hip replacement surgery in 150 poor, elderly patients, while promoting its leadership in knee-hip joint replacement surgery with the plan to open “Thammasat Joint Replacement Center” which is considered an accumulation of surgical innovations and the introduction of robotic arm technology to assist in knee replacement surgery for the first time in a government hospital in Thailand. This will improve the accuracy of joint positioning and reduce injuries to surrounding tissues, as well as enhancing the quality of knee replacement surgery to be of international standard. It is expected that the center will be able to open in late June of the year 2022.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nattapon Thammachot, Assistant Director of Physical Development, Thammasat Hospital said that throughout the “Join replacement for poor patients volunteering” reminds us that there are a large number of elderly patients in our country that still lack access to knee and hip replacement. This reflects the demographic structure of the country that is entering an aging society. This project has been initiated since the 85th anniversary of the founding of Thammasat University in 2019. This arose from the ideas of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pharuehas Tor-Udom, Director of the Hospital and Assoc. Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University and working closely with the National Health Security Office (NHSO) with the aim of helping patients with knee and hip dysplasia in returning to have a better quality of life, and can assist themselves to live a happier life, and reduce the burden on the family. In addition, this also encourages medical personnel to have the opportunity to use their abilities to support society by joining as volunteers to help perform surgery outside office hours. This project has been ongoing for three years and within the first two years we made 100 replacements per year, but this year we have done 200 replacements in just four months from December 2021 to March 2022.

“Thammasat Joint Replacement Center” is one of the new special services of Thammasat Hospital as a one-stop service in order to provide convenience in receiving services and to focus on the best quality of treatment by a team of doctors who are specialized in patient care throughout the treatment pathway. This is to provide patients with a better treatment experience and receive a new, high-quality, long-lasting knee replacement according to the vision of Hospital 4.0 with modern service systems and innovative pain relief medical treatment, new surgical techniques with higher accuracy, such as the introduction of robotic arm technology to assist in such surgery,” concluded Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nattapon.

USU as the initiator of the first ocular prosthesis consultation and service center

Posted on by Editorial Team

In accordance with its vision and mission, the Specialist Program in Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, one of the study programs at Universitas Sumatera Utara, participates in developing a knowledge-based economic culture to foster new entrepreneurs by organizing “Program Pengembangan Usaha Produk Intelektual Kampus” (PPUPIK), which is a recent innovation with substantial economic values. The Prosthodontic Specialist Program has developed the Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center. Producing ocular prosthesis is one of the competencies of a dentist specializing in prosthodontics because a prosthodontist deals not only with dental problems but also with maxillofacial rehabilitation, including the manufacture of ocular prosthesis, ear prosthesis, nose prosthesis, feeding plates, and obturators. The process of creating an ocular prosthesis is conceptually similar to that of making dentures.

Evisceration and enucleation are two possible eye surgery treatments. The surgical procedure, known as evisceration, removes the eyeball but leaves the sclera and connective tissue within the orbital cavity. Installing a stock ocular prosthesis is a recommended course of treatment for evisceration, while there are some circumstances where a custom ocular prosthesis can be fitted. A surgical operation, known as enucleation, removes the entire eyeball by removing and severing the tissue that holds it in the orbital cavity. In 2019, this program conducted a community service project for ocular prosthetic treatments in association with the Sumatra Eye Center. The project has served 78 patients (2017-2019) for surgery but has not got their prosthetic eyes fitted.

Figure 1. Before and after the insertion of the ocular prosthesis at The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center

Sometimes, an ophthalmologist at an eye hospital or eye clinic suggests that the patients should find a dentist specializing in prosthodontics regarding their postoperative care with the creation of artificial eyes. This is not efficient in terms of time and money. The problem may arise if the eye surgery patients cannot find a service center facilitating synergy between ophthalmologists and prosthodontic specialists. It will undoubtedly be more straightforward for patients if they can find a place offering services ranging from consultation to producing artificial eyes. The Specialist Program in Prosthodontics considered “Program Pengembangan Usaha Produk Intelektual Kampus” (PPUPIK) as a medium to establish an ocular prosthesis consultation and service center, which has not been found in Indonesia. This consultation and service center was established in response to some of the abovementioned issues.

There are three product specifications available at the Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center, namely:

  1. The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation Center – Consultation Center – On their first appointment, patients who come to the artificial eye consultation and service facility will meet an ophthalmologist. The condition of the patient’s eye socket will determine whether they require different therapy before the artificial eye is manufactured, whether they can only receive a factory artificial eye, or whether they are prepared to move forward with the artificial eye service method.
  2. The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation Services – Production Center – Patients who have gone through the ophthalmologist’s screening process and have been given the all-clear to proceed with the ocular prosthesis service procedure will be transferred to a team of prosthodontists, who will then perform the ocular services. Anatomical impression, wax try-in, individual impression, scleral wax try-in, produced sclera, produced iris button, layered sclera acrylic with clear scleral, insertion of ocular prosthesis, and periodic control are the first steps in the imitation process.

Figure 2. Ocular Prosthesis Services and Production Room

3. Ocular Prosthesis Training Center – Training Center – A team from the Specialist Program in Prosthodontics or a unit from another university that has worked with the Faculty of Dentistry of USU gives ocular prosthesis training. Hands-on instruction in the “Simple Laboratory Procedure in Fabricating Esthetic Ocular Prosthesis” has been provided by Rosli bin Bidin from the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Malaya.

Program Pengembangan Usaha Produk lntelektual Kampus. The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center aims to apply and commercialize ocular prosthesis services that have been carried out so far. In 2019, the Specialist Program in Prosthodontics utilized the most up-to-date technology and methodology, adopted from numerous international journals, resource people from universities in other countries who give training, and the experience when making ocular prosthesis in the community service program to provide ocular prosthesis training and services regarding consultation centers and ocular prosthesis services. This initiative has been implemented annually for three years: in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center has obtained a copyright in the form of a video about making artificial eyes.

The students of the Specialist Program in Prosthodontics who have created ocular prosthesis at the consultation center and services successfully presented 20 case reports at the Maxillofacial Virtual Online Scientific Competition during The 12th Biennial Congress of the Asian Academy of Prosthodontics and took home the first and second place in IPROSI in the second year program.

The management team for this Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center includes the General Manager (Putri Welda Utami Ritonga, DDS., MDSc., Sp.Pros(K)), the Manager of Production (Prof. Haslinda Z. Tannin, DDS., M.Kes., Sp.Pros(K)), the Manager of Administration/Finance (Veronica Angelic, DDS., MDSc., Sp.Pros), and the Manager of Marketing (dr. Aryani Atiyatul Amra, M.Ked(Oph)., Sp.M(K)). Consultation activities, training, and artificial eye services are carried out at The Specialist Program in Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, located on Jalan Alumni, No. 02, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Sumatera Utara.

Can higher ed fill the graduate data skills gap?

Posted on by Paul Thurman

The divide between the skills employers require and the skills graduates have obtained is widening, or at least it appears to be. New and emerging needs centred predominantly around data science are asking questions of universities and their ability to prepare future workforces. Paul Thurman considers whether higher ed is up to the task.

A great deal of discussion in higher education recently has been focused on the gap between what data analytics skills are needed by employers compared with what data science skills graduates have upon completion of their programmes, both at the undergraduate and graduate. This perceived gap has been accentuated by both the emergence of quick-hit certifications in data science offered by predominantly online training academies and by some non-degree programmes from universities, as well as by employer perceptions that more focused training in analytics is a prerequisite for employment.

In fact, many employers complain that graduates arrive to work with only basic quantitative analysis skills and require on-the-job training, at the employer’s expense, to remediate such skills gaps. While this may not always be true, the fact that a ready supply of online data science academies have sprung up to meet this demand or fill these perceived gaps from employers only further puts the spotlight on this apparent deficiency in data science acumen, whether it be real or imagined.

As such, the gap between “supply” of and “demand” for data science skills is widening in higher education. More and more employers are demanding higher levels of data analysis skills and competence based both on their own emerging needs and on the relatively unskilled labour forces graduating from institutions of higher learning. This is one reason why so many universities and colleges are offering an array of non-degrees online, certificates, and credentials courses to alumni. A secondary benefit, of course, is to manage this negative perception of their own data science pedagogy. One of the first online “upskilling” courses Columbia Business School offered to its alumni, for example, was a course in data science and analytics.

Degree-programme directors are also responding to this demand for more data science skills by including boot-camps and other deep-dive courses and programmes to students before commencing studies, sometimes as a requirement for admission or as part of orientation. In the past these orientation programmes focused on Excel, basic accounting and finance principles, and perhaps some marketing and operations basics. As these topics are increasingly covered during secondary school, higher education institutions’ need to include them is diminishing. Instead, what universities are finding is that students still need a bit more depth in newer tools and applications before they can successfully complete an MBA program, for example. Some degree programmes now require first-year students to take courses in both data science and coding basics as a way to close this perceived skill gap with employers and to differentiate their programmes from the competition.

The gap between “supply” of and “demand” for data science skills is widening in higher education.

But employers are the ones really driving the demand for analytics. They are coming to universities and colleges looking to recruit graduates and now making completion or certification of such data science skills a prerequisite to obtaining a job interview. For their existing labour forces, they are asking schools to provide the aforementioned credentials and certification opportunities.

For example, some technology-focused US companies have come to local universities requesting things such as 200 workers certified in cybersecurity. Others are asking for hundreds of workers with credentials in data science and coding for employment in six months. These are very different demands being placed on traditional academies and formal degree programmes. In fact, this raises a huge question: should universities pivot, or at least extend, to become training academies for the next generation of labour forces? Should my university, Columbia, offer not only formal degrees in business administration and computer science but also be a place employers can come to get 100-200 people training in basic coding and business analytics skills in a matter of months without requiring them to obtain formal degrees? Should the academy that confers degrees to white collar workers also, simultaneously, offer training and certification or credential opportunities to blue collar workers as well?

This is a broader question that many universities are facing right now, and the choices are not easy to make. What does a faculty comportment look like that handles both degree and non-degree training? How do admissions work when employers drive some needs but deans and department chairs drive others? The data science skill gap is likely only the first of many that institutions of higher education and their corresponding non-degree training academies will struggle with as more and more employers eschew degreed graduates in favour of focused, skilled workers. Until such gaps are closed, perhaps via employer-school partnerships, filling these gaps will be a challenge for employers but also an opportunity for schools and training academies that can offer quick-hit, non-degree upskilling for a broader labour force over time.

This article was from the 2023 QS Higher Ed Report: A New Normal?. Download the full edition.

How explainable Artificial Intelligence can propel growth of Industry 4.0

Posted on by Incheon National University

Explainable artificial intelligence can help bridge the gap between human understanding and the way artificial intelligence models function

With the advent of industry 4.0, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have become vital to helping with industry efficiency and performance. Recently, a group of researchers surveyed the existing AI and explainable AI (XAI) based methods used in Industry 4.0 highlighting the need for XAI-based methods to help build efficient smart cities, factories, healthcare, and human-computer interactions.

The very first industrial revolution historically kicked off with the introduction of steam- and water-powered technology. We have come a long way since then, with the current fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, being focused on utilizing new technology to boost industrial efficiency. Some of these technologies include the internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, cyber-physical systems, and artificial intelligence (AI). AI is the key driver of Industry 4.0, automating intelligent machines to self-monitor, interpret, diagnose, and analyze all by themselves. AI methods, such as machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision (CV), help industries forecast their maintenance needs and cut down on downtime.

However, to ensure the smooth, stable deployment and integration of AI-based systems, the actions and results of these systems must be made comprehensible, or, in other words, “explainable” to experts. In this regard, explainable AI (XAI) focuses on developing algorithms that produce human-understandable results made by AI-based systems. Thus, XAI deployment is useful in Industry 4.0.

Recently, a group of researchers, including Assistant Professor Gwanggil Jeon from Incheon National University, South Korea, surveyed existing AI and XAI technologies and their applications in Industry 4.0. Their review, published in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, was made available online on January 27, 2022, and subsequently published in Volume 18, Issue 8 of the journal on August 8, 2022.

“Though AI technologies like DL can solve many social problems due to their excellent performance and resolution, it is difficult to explain how and why such good performance is obtained. Therefore, there is a necessity to develop XAI, so that DL, like the current black box, can be modeled more efficiently. It will also be easier to make applications,” said Prof. Jeon explaining his motivation behind the study.

XAI-based methods are classified according to specific AI tasks, like the feature explanations, decision-making, or visualization of the model. The authors note that the combination of cutting-edge AI and XAI-based methods with Industry 4.0 technologies results in various successful, accurate, and high-quality applications. One such application is an XAI model made using visualization and ML which explains a customer’s decision to purchase or not purchase non-life insurance. With the help of XAI, humans can recognize, comprehend, interpret, and communicate how an AI model draws conclusions and takes action.

There are clearly many notable advantages of using AI in Industry 4.0; however, it also has many obstacles. Most significant is the power-hungry nature of AI-based systems, the exponentially increasing requirement for a large number of cores and GPUs, as well as the need for fine-tuning and hyperparameter optimization. At the heart of this is data collected and generated from millions of sources, devices, and users, thereby introducing bias that affects AI performance. This can be managed using XAI methods to explain the bias introduced.

“AI is the principal component of industrial transformation that empowers smart machines to execute tasks autonomously, while XAI develops a set of mechanisms that can produce human-understandable explanations,” concludes Prof. Jeon.

Adapting XAI-based methods can get us one step closer to efficiently realizing smart cities, factories, healthcare, and cyber-security!

Reference

Authors:

Imran Ahmed1, Gwanggil Jeon2,*, and Francesco Piccialli3

Title of original paper:

From Artificial Intelligence to Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Industry 4.0: A Survey on What, How, and Where

Journal:

IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics

DOI:

10.1109/TII.2022.3146552

Affiliations:

1Institute of Management Sciences, Pakistan

2Incheon National University, South Korea

3University of Naples Federico II, Italy

About Incheon National University

Incheon National University (INU) is a comprehensive, student-focused university. It was founded in 1979 and given university status in 1988. One of the largest universities in South Korea, it houses nearly 14,000 students and 500 faculty members. In 2010, INU merged with Incheon City College to expand capacity and open more curricula. With its commitment to academic excellence and an unrelenting devotion to innovative research, INU offers its students real-world internship experiences. INU not only focuses on studying and learning but also strives to provide a supportive environment for students to follow their passion, grow, and, as their slogan says, be INspired.

Website: http://www.inu.ac.kr/mbshome/mbs/inuengl/index.html

About Assistant Professor Gwanggil Jeon, Incheon National University

Dr. Jeon received a Ph.D. from the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea, in 2008. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Embedded Systems Engineering, Incheon National University in Korea. His research interests lie in the fields of image processing and computational intelligence, particularly in image compression, motion estimation, image enhancements, and fuzzy and rough sets theories. He is an IEEE Senior Member and has received numerous awards, including the IEEE Chester Sall Award in 2007, the ETRI Journal Paper Award in 2008, and the Industry-Academic Merit Award by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of Korea in 2020.