Tag: Malaysia

Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA and Rhazes Consultancy Services Sdn. Bhd signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in pharmaceutical healthcare focusing on collaboration to develop and enhance quality education and expertise in tele-pharmacy and digital health. The signing ceremony was held on the 24 December 2021 at UiTM Puncak Alam Campus, Selangor, Malaysia.

The MoU was signed by the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM, Associate Professor Dr Shariza Sahudin, and Chief Executive Officer, Rhazes Consultancy Services Sdn. Bhd., Mr Munaver Ahmad b Nazir Ahmad. The signing ceremony was also attended by the Chief Operating Officer of Rhazes Consultancy Services, Pn. Noorasmah bt Mohamed Noordin and UiTM’s Faculty of Pharmacy’s Deputy Dean (Industry, Community, Alumni & Network), Dr Muhamad Faiz Othman, and the Head of Department (Pharmacy Practice), Dr Mahmathi Karuppannan.

According to Associate Professor Dr Shariza Sahudin, the collaborative partnership with Rhazes Consultancy Services, a leading organization providing tele-pharmacy services, aligns with the Faculty of Pharmacy’s objective to pioneer tele-pharmacy development in Malaysia. “I believe through this collaboration, the tele-pharmacy expertise led by Rhazes Consultancy Services can be further developed”, she said. Associate Professor Dr Shariza Sahudin added that future collaborative work between Rhazes Consultancy Services and the Faculty of Pharmacy UiTM is expected to address the pressing demand to develop and enhance the skills and knowledge in digital pharmaceutical healthcare among pharmacy graduates given the shift to online platforms mainly due to IR4.0 and the Covid19 pandemic.

Rhazes Consultancy Services is a digital pharmacy technology service provider that connects the public with consultants, specialists, and subject matter experts in pharmaceutical healthcare. Coming from various fields of pharmaceutical practice, experts from Rhazers can provide unbiased, accurate, reliable, and quality advice and guidance on health, diseases, medication, and current health issues to future practitioners. Currently, the organisation provides digital pharmaceutical healthcare services such as medication management, quit-smoking programme, asthma disease management, and diabetic medication therapy adherence clinic.

The collaborative effort between both parties following the MoU signing is anticipated to produce substantial engagement initiatives towards providing high-quality and up-to-date pharmacy educational programmes and ensuring excellence in the profession of pharmacy.

Dr Nadzriah Ahmad, the child justice and diversion expert from the Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA, (UiTMLaw), has been entrusted to lead the national team of Malaysia to embark on the evaluation study entitled Country Led Evaluation of Child Justice Reform: The Diversion Pilot. Other team members comprise Assoc Prof Dr Sheela Jayabalan and Assoc Prof Dr Normawati Hashim. The study is funded by an international grant which is part of the consultancy work undertaken by international researchers led by Child Frontiers Limited. It is pertinent to highlight that this study is carried out to support the Government of Malaysia, led by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, in reforming the child justice reforms, by introducing the diversion pilot in Malaysia.

The purpose of introducing the diversion pilot is to prevent children in conflict with the law from coming into contact with the formal child justice system in Malaysia, thus preventing the adversarial system’s adverse effects on children. This evaluation study is in line with the Strategic Planning 2021-2025, developed by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia, to afford better protection for children in conflict with the law in Malaysia. One of the essential objectives of this evaluation study is to shed light on how the diversion pilot is currently functioning in the three pilot sites, located in Sepang, Seremban, and Port Dickson. Therefore, this study will considerably impact the diversion pilot, particularly in providing evidence-based findings of the desirability and feasibility of continuing or scaling up the diversion pilot in 2022 in Malaysia. Furthermore, this research is also in tandem with the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (CRC) provision that promotes the use of alternative measures, such as diversion to protect children in conflict with the law from the adverse effects of the formal justice system in Malaysia. UiTMLaw is optimistic that this international collaboration will achieve the prescribed objectives, which will ultimately protect the children’s interest as the future generation.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pahang Branch Campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kumpulan Ladang-Ladang Perbadanan Kedah Sdn. Bhd (KLPK).

The signatories were the Acting Rector of UiTM Pahang, Professor Ts. Dr Mohd Ilham Adenan, and the Managing Director of KLPK, Mr Azizi bin Haji Ahmad. The ceremony was held in UiTM Pahang and witnessed by UiTM Pahang Branch’s Deputy Directors, lecturers from the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology and the Faculty of Applied Science, along with KLPK’s staff members.

KLPK is a private plantation farm that is committed to delivering high-quality plantation management which involves rubber and oil palm plantation management, cultivation, rubber processing and downstream activities, agricultural and livestock businesses, as well as organic fertilizer production. Apart from being environmentally conscious, its concern on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is also reflected through its active involvement in social activities by establishing positive relationships with the local communities. Thus, UiTM’s approach to reinforce its cooperation with KLPK clearly shows its commitment to achieving university goals and strengthening relationships among academicians and KLPK’s administrative members. In addition, UiTM also benefits from the collaboration by being able to produce various high impact projects and contribute to the industry and the community.

Throughout this MoU, UiTM Pahang Branch Campus and KLPK have agreed to enhance the collaboration in terms of consultancy and research, sharing of expertise and resources and organizing symposia, conferences, short courses or meetings that will profit both parties. Additionally, the MoU also seeks to enhance students’ employability by extending internship opportunities for UiTM students and giving them the experience required by the industry. This collaboration also aims to establish and reinforce knowledge transfer between both parties through University Social Responsibility (USR) programmes.

The objectives of signing the MoU is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 4, which ensures inclusive and equitable quality education whilst promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. It is hoped that the cooperation between UiTM Pahang Branch Campus with KLPK could bring great impact in both academic and research areas. This effort can also strengthen the network between UiTM and KLPK, particularly in efforts toward developing and enhancing knowledge within the industry as well as increasing the visibility of UiTM Pahang Branch Campus.

Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Branch strengthens its internationalisation agenda by organising an academic event in collaboration with the Language Centre, University Brunei Darussalam. The event was International Innovation in Teaching and Learning & Language Education Conference or i-InTeLEC 2021, which provided an academic platform comprising an innovation competition, a conference, a research workshop on publishing in high-impact journals, and a digital content competition for students.

i-InTeLEC 2021 commenced its work as early as February 2020 when both institutions met for their first meeting for the event on 11 February 2020 in University Brunei Darussalam. The Covid-19 pandemic did not deter the preparations for the event and it was finally held on 9 & 10 November 2021 via Google Meet and APB Kedah FB live. The event as a whole managed to garner more than 127 submissions for all its programmes. On 9 November & 10 November 2021, i-InTeLEC was joined by more than 150 participants both on Google Meet and also APB Kedah FB Live.

i-InTeLEC 2021 also featured Associate Professor Dr. Andrew Littlejohn from UBD as the keynote speaker. Other speakers who are experts in their fields included Dr. Noor Azam Haji Othman, Dr. Juliana Shak, Dr. Ishamina Atirah Muntassir-Gardiner from UBD, and also Professor Dr. Ahmad Mazli bin Muhammad, the former Dean of Academy of Language Studies, UiTM, were also invited to share their perspectives on the future of teaching in the digital age forum.

This event has succeeded in proving that international collaboration is still possible despite the travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. Both universities are also looking forward to fostering more academic activities for the benefit of the students and lecturers in the near future.

One of the Universiti Teknologi MARA MoU international partnerships, the Institute of Industry and Academic Research Incorporated, (IIARI) Philippines had organized the IIARI Luminary Awards (ILA) on December 4, 2021. The IIARI Luminary Award (ILA) is the organization’s recognition and celebration of inspirational success stories in teaching, research, leadership, and civic works. It embodies IIARI’s commitment to the formulation of the community of scholars driven by a passion for life-long learning and community service. The ILA aims to honor the contribution of individuals in various fields that would serve as inspiration and influence for other people. ILA is an annual recognition given to individuals from various parts of the world who have exemplary and inspiring contributions in the organization or the community through their profession, academic works, innovation and inventions, community service, and inspired behavior and action. It brings forth a venue for inspirational success stories to emulate and spread.

The objective of ILA is to acknowledge the inspirational success stories of individuals in teaching, research, leadership, and civic works. It is also to recognize the exemplary contribution of individuals in the organization and the community. Moreover, it is to provide a platform for the emulation of exemplary and inspiring works of individuals around the world. Furthermore, it fosters leadership and service among professionals, researchers, and civic individuals around the globe; and forms a community of scholars driven by a passion for life-long learning and community service. The four categories are being contested that is ILA in Teaching, ILA in Research, ILA in Civic Works, ILA in Leadership. Congratulations to IIARI that providing the opportunity and the platform of recognition for the educational and research endeavors. The awarding ceremony was held virtually with the participation from various backgrounds of IIARI members around the world. The event was hosted by Prof. Mary Jane S. Carandang, who is the Committee Members of IIARI.

Two senior lecturers from UiTM had been nominated as a finalist in the respective categories. Ts. Dr. Duratul Ain Tholibon, senior lecturer from School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Mara Cawangan Pahang had been awarded of ILA in Research category. Another awardee Ts. Dr. Masyitah Md Nujid had been awarded ILA in the Teaching category. She is a senior lecturer in the School of Civil Engineering, UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Kampus Permatang Pauh, Malaysia.

All of the awardees were received a certificate and a plaque of recognition for their achievement. May this international award will encourage and motivate more lecturers to do more research and innovation in their careers. Besides may this event continuously develops strong research culture among industry and academic professionals, enhance free and accessible knowledge through sharing of best practices. This initiative may also foster collaboration among industry and academic professionals around the globe, develop camaraderie among fellows in the industry and the academic community as in line with Sustainable Development Goals No. 17 Partnership for the Goals.

The Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM, once again proudly organized and hosted an auspicious event that took place between 28th and 29th September 2021. The Virtual Joint Symposium of the International Research Network Initiative (IRNI) and the 8th International Postgraduate Conference on Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPoPS2021) was co-organized with the School of Pharmacy, International Medical University (IMU) Malaysia and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science (TUS) Japan. This event was successfully conducted with the participation from the IMU and TUS, as well as the partnering universities, namely Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) Indonesia, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) United Kingdom, Mahidol University (MU) Thailand, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) India, and University of Santo Tomas (UST) Philippines.

The IRNI-IPoPS 2021 is the continuation of the previous editions of IRNI (established in 2020) and IPoPS (established in 2012). The symposium was intended to nurture future collaborations in grant acquisitions, joint publications, joint supervisions, staff/student exchanges and more. The 2-days event commenced with the opening speech by the deans from IMU, TUS and was finally officiated by the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM, Assoc. Prof. Dr Shariza Sahudin. The session continued with a plenary talk by Prof. Dr Takehisa Hanawa from TUS, followed by a series of other plenary and invited speakers’ sharing sessions from partnering universities. The other plenary speakers were Dr Lee Choy Sin (IMU), Prof. Dr Teh Lay Kek (UiTM) and Prof. Dr Mitsue Saito (Juntendo University, Japan). The invited speakers that presented were Dr Muhammad Insanu (ITB), Prof Dr Rahgu Raj Singh Thakur (QUB), Dr Sinoy Sugunan (GITAM), Mr Roy Martin B. Pajimna (UST) and Dr Pakatip Ruenraroengsak (MU).

Apart from driving future collaborations, the objective of IRNI-IPoPS 2021 was to provide a platform for academics, researchers, healthcare practitioners, industry professionals, and students to exchange and share their knowledge and expertise in fields related to life sciences, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, chemistry, and pharmacy practice. The event successfully achieved this objective through impactful oral and poster presentations given by more than 110 participants. In addition to that, accepted abstracts will be published in the Scopus-indexed Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TJPS).

Following the discussions, several potential collaborations could be initiated in the near future, such as in the area of community pharmacy, health technologies, medication safety, pharmacotherapy, and pharmacogenomics. Other shared interests are in the research of natural product-based and complementary & alternative medicines, especially in anticancer, neurodegenerative, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases.