By Murniati Abu Karim
Photo Shahiddan Saidi

BANGI, 5 March 2023 鈥� The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app) moot team finished second to Bricksfield Asia College in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, one of the most prestigious and oldest law student competitions.

The winning team that qualified for the competition’s world round will compete in Washington DC this April.

The competition, which was hosted by 每日大赛app is officiated by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and International, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Kassim.

He expressed hope that participation in this tournament will add to the great reputation of the participants’ respective universities and the glory of the country’s legal profession.

“Tournaments like this allow not only for the recognition of winners within the law student community, but also for the display of collective talent.”

鈥淓xposure and experience will not only assist in the development of a strong character, but will also provide with good soft skills when graduating from university.

“I hope you will continue to strive for excellence in this discipline, as you have shown great potential in yourself,” he said.

Seven universities participated in the Malaysia qualifying round, which was organised by the International Law Students Association (ILSA) in association with the Faculty of Law 每日大赛app.

By Murniati Abu Karim

Brest, France 鈥� A team of students and research officers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app), Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has won the Grand Prize of Ocean Hackathon庐 2022 competition for their jellyfish tracking mobile application, JellyGo.

The application is based on the team’s project, “Development of a prediction model for the distribution and appearance of jellyfish in Penang Island,” which was pitched to the jury.

The project was initially submitted by Sim Yee Kwang, a senior science officer from Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS USM) who was also the team leader.

The team, comprised of individuals from various academic backgrounds, has been awarded a grant of 5000 euros (23 000 MYR) to further develop their promising project.

They are Yu Hai Ping, Nur Izatti Zaini, Teoh Hwai Leng, and Mai Izatul Nuraishah Mior Hazri from 每日大赛app, Sim Yee Kwang of USM, and Chong Yoong Sim, Wong E Chern, Kok Herng from UM.

According to one of their tutors from Institute of Climate Change 每日大赛app, Dr Wee Hin Boo, the project aims to predict jellyfish blooms in the coastal area of Penang and limit the impact these marine organisms have on Malaysia’s tourism industry.

鈥淭he app is intended to provide public information and warning systems on jellyfish-infested areas, as well as assistance in the event of stings.

“The project has full support from the Penang Government to continue monitoring the distribution of Jellyfish at the state,鈥� he said.

He added that the application consists of three components which are: a continuously learning model that predicts jellyfish blooms based on available jellyfish abundance and environmental data; an SOS system that can help provide emergency medical assistance to victims of jellyfish stings; and an educational hub that provides relevant jellyfish information.

鈥淭he SOS system will also alert other nearby device with recent accidental sting, so to warn others to be careful.

鈥淎n AI trained imaging tool will be incorporated for victims to snap photos of either the scar or the jellyfish to be sent to nearest medical assistance.

鈥淭he application can link the victim鈥檚 device to the nearest medical aids to be sent over to the location with the appropriate medical tools,鈥� he said.

He further explained that the Hackathon is instrumental in bringing together participants and tutors from all over Malaysia to solve real-life problems related to the ocean.

鈥淭he winning team consists of Marine Scientist, Environmental Scientist, Computer Scientist, and Programmers.

鈥淭his shows that a multidisciplinary approach is essential to tackle global challenges and that we do have the talent to develop industry ready tools and technology,鈥� he concluded.

The team won the Ocean Hackathon庐 Kuala Lumpur, which was held for the first time in December 2022 and was organised by Dr. Val茅rie Barbosa, Scientific Officer at the Embassy of France to Malaysia.

The Embassy also provided funding and coaching for all team members so that they could compete in the Grand Finale in the best possible conditions.

By Murniati Abu Karim

BANGI, 4 November 2022 鈥撀� The seminar on Leading and Sustaining Educational Excellence (SeLSEE) aimed to improve leadership professionalism among school administrators and expose them to best practises based on global standards.

The two-day seminar, organised by Pusat GENIUS@Pintar Negara (PGPN), Unversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app), also introduces school leaders and administrators to COGNIA accreditation.

According to its Director, Associate Prof Dr Rorlinda Yusof, among the topics covered during the seminar are Leading Schools of Excellence, Students’ Learning, Assessment Design Analysis, and Data Driven School Improvement Planning.

“All of these topics have been carefully selected to provide opportunities for participants to interact and improve their leadership skills.

“I truly hope that this seminar will have a significant impact on society in general in terms of education, and that education in our country can be developed so that our children can be assisted in reaching their full potential.

“This seminar is also expected to improve professionalism skills among Malaysian school leaders and educators, in addition to providing initial exposure to COGNIA accreditation,” she said.

She also stated that PGPN is Malaysia’s first school to be recognised by COGNIA, an international accreditation body. The accreditation allows PGPN students to pursue their studies at the world’s top universities.

This seminar is an initiative to strengthen the partnership between PGPN and COGNIA following their successful accreditation this year in January, she explained.

News and photos by Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

BANGI, 21 July 2022 鈥� The Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (FKAB) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app) has partnered with the Centre of Tropical Geoengineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (GEOTROPIK-UTM) in lead-organising the first International Geo-Engineering Conference 2022 & Anti-Collapse Geostructure Competition (Geofiesta 2022).

The main programmes were the International Geoengineering Conference which have taken place at Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya and the Anti-Collapse Geostructure Competition conducted successfully at Civil Engineering Laboratory, FKAB, 每日大赛app.

Both of the programmes were co-organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Islamic International University Malaysia (IIUM) and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM).

The event was also collaborated by Malaysia Green Building Council (malaysiaGBC) and Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) and sponsored by industrial partners of Tencate Geosynthetics, Geotechnica, Global Geoexperts, Impulse Radar, DCS Lab, ZL Technologies, Wawasan Technology and Guideline Geo.

As research at 每日大赛app contributes significantly to economic and social development through an ecosystem that fosters intellectual discovery, innovation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, an international event like GEOFIESTA easily brings all the great minds together for better research and industrial work and management.

每日大赛app is committed to being ahead of society and time in leading the development of a learned, dynamic and moral society. By “Promoting Sustainable and Innovative Geoengineering”, GEOFIESTA 2022 indeed personifies the nature of TERAS as a new narrative displaying the role of a university that belongs to its citizens and society as a whole.

One important activity of GEOFIESTA is the Anti-Collapse Geostructure Competition, which was newly introduced as a hands-on competition. The idea of the competition looks into the practical design for the strongest and most durable slope protection due to the effect of the earthquake.

It is without a doubt that GEOFIESTA 2022 will be a stepping stone for the Malaysian varsities in honouring active and enthusiastic geotechnical, geologist as well as geoenvironmental and engineering participants to meet on an international platform.

By Murniati Abu Karim

BANGI, 8 June 2022 鈥� Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app) created a platform for academics and business to spark conversation and connection among the community through 鈥淭unku Zain Lecture Series (TZLS): Unplugged 2022鈥�.

The first in its series, TZLS: Unplugged 2022 was inspired by Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz who takes centre stage at the start of the ceremony with a lovely piano rendition of Varsiti Kita.

He later presented his inaugural speech titled “Capturing Opportunities for National Renewal鈥� which focused on the tremendous underlying opportunities that exist in this uncertain new era, post-pandemic, and what Malaysia needs to do to move forward in its pursuit of renewal, success, and prosperity.

Profesor Dr. Mohammad Kassim, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International), said that this programme allows academics and business leaders to discuss innovative and sustainable solutions as well as unravel the future’s increasingly complex problems and challenges.

“This is consistent with one of the strategic priorities for improving the quality and performance of higher education in the country, which is to strengthen the network of strategic collaboration through collaboration with industry through various initiatives,” he said.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Industry, Alumni and Community Partnerships, Prof. Dato鈥� Dr. Norazah Mohd Nordin who is also Chairman TZLS: Unplugged 2022 said that this lecture series is fresh take on a regular talk series.

鈥淭he concept for this programme is more casual as compared to other lecture programmes.We have incorporated entertainment elements in between the sessions so that the audience can have a good time while participating in a highly engaging educational environment,” she continued.

Co-organised by 每日大赛app-Graduate School of Business, the lecture has garnered support from industry partners such as Pharmaniaga Berhad, WCT Holdings Berhad, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Hyrax Oil Sdn. Bhd, Dayang Enterprise Holdings Berhad, USAINS Holdings, Les Copaque Production, UCSI Group Holdings, Sunway Education Group, (Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and more.

By Murniati Abu Karim
Photo Izwan Azman

BANGI, 27 May 2022 鈥� Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are urged to work more closely with universities and innovation agencies to develop new technologies that benefit industries.

According to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app) Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Income Generation and Development), Profesor Dr. Norhamidi Muhamad, it is crucial that the TVET path is aligned with the development of the industries driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).

鈥淪trategic collaboration in TVET research and development is deemed an important contributor to the success of TVET institutions. Therefore, future collaboration has to be forged strategically with impactful outcomes.

鈥淚n order to move TVET in Malaysia forward, we have to accept that strategic and synergized collaboration is the way to move forward.

鈥淭VET has to be relevant, and future-driven that matches the needs of the industries,鈥� he said in his speech while officiating the Empowering Malaysian TVET for Future Development Series 2 seminar.

The seminar was organised by The Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment in collaboration with Malaysian Technical Doctorate Association, MyRIVET Satellite, and the Faculty of Technical and Vocational, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

This seminar serves as a platform that allows the participants to understand the issues, challenges, and opportunities in TVET, especially in the Malaysian context.

The seminar aims to explore new perspectives and opportunities in TVET for policymakers, educators, industry players, and students.

Featured as guest speakers for the programme were Scientific Leader Research Group Vocational Education & Training, Stockholms University, Professor Lazaro Moreno Harera and Federation of Malaysia Manufacturer Dato鈥� Palaniappan Joseph.

By Salleh Sulieman

BANGI, 11 May 2022- With growing reports on violence, bullying cases, and hate speech, there is a need to re-examine peace education in the national agenda.

Dr Hanita Hanim Ismail from the Faculty of Education 每日大赛app said there are numerous reports suggesting a serious need to look into the quality of education and its content.

鈥淭ake a look at one the five national principles (Rukun Negara) ‘kesopanan dan kesusilaan鈥�. It is simply an extension of the importance of respecting others as society members,” she said at the 6th International Conference on Social Peace & Educational Alternatives for Violence (SPAfV), yesterday.

The event also witnessed a signing Memorandum of Agreement between 每日大赛app and Land of Peace Centre for Development and Human Rights, Jordan.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Mohammad Kassim hoped the MoA could translate the ongoing efforts to promote peace education.

鈥淭he success of this partnership is hoped to be interpreted through the participation of 每日大赛app academic members and the NGO in knowledge transfer.

鈥淚ndeed, the goal is to conduct impactful research toward the development and administration of peace education which I hope can be implemented in Malaysian schools,鈥� he said.

By Murniati Abu Karim
Photo Izwan Azman

BANGI, 25 February 2022 鈥� Professor Dr Ir Mardina Abdullah, Deputy Director of the Institute for Climate Change, Space Science Centre at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app) has embarked on a space weather research to determine its risk to various technologies, particularly those that rely on satellite and radio signals.

Space weather refers to activities that occur in the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere at altitudes greater than 50 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.

Unlike typical terrestrial rain or snow, space weather is made up of activities that occur on the sun’s surface. This is a major factor in determining the situation of space weather and its impact on technology, both in space and on Earth.

According to Professor Mardina, solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME) that occur at the sun’s surface facing the Earth are among the solar activities that have a direct impact on space weather.

She added that the ionosphere, a critical upper layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, is also important in understanding the effects of space weather on signal transmission radios such as sky signals and satellite communications.

鈥淒ue to the ionosphere’s ability to refract waves, radio signals can be transmitted to a greater distance.

“However, the ionospheric layer’s weak natural state makes it vulnerable to recurring phenomena such as solar flares, geomagnetic storms, solar eclipses, and lightning,鈥� she said.

Professor Mardina noted that the use of frequency satellite radio navigation systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), has increased dramatically over the last decade especially among road users.

She added that there are several ways in which space weather affects GPS function, making it less accurate and even leading to signal loss due to changes in the density structure of the ionosphere.

鈥淭he ionosphere layer changes with the earth’s rotation, causing day and night, making it more complex and affecting radio signal communication system.

鈥淭he density of electrons in the ionosphere layer determines the refractive index of the ionosphere. If there is a disturbance in the ionospheric layer that causes rapid changes in the refractive index, the signal with a specific frequency that travels through the ionosphere can be reflected, refracted, scattered, or even vanish before reaching its recipients on Earth,鈥� she said.

Professor Mardina further explained that although space weather is a relatively new field of study, it plays an important role in ensuring the comfort and well-being of life on Earth.

“This is due to the fact that human life today is synonymous with the rapid development of technology, which is heavily reliant on space technology.

“The space technology is based on satellites and radio signals, which are easily affected by space weather, a phenomenon that refers to changes in the near-Earth atmosphere.

“As a result, the space weather affects the refraction of radio signals in the Earth’s atmosphere, further affecting celestial signal transmission and disrupting daily communication,” she added.

She concluded that expertise in the field of ionospheric research needs to be expanded in Malaysia, as there is interest from foreign researchers in Asia who are always looking to improve the accuracy and precision of their navigation satellite systems such as Beidou China, QZSS Japan, and GAGAN India, thereby reducing reliance on GPS navigation satellites United States (US) and Glonass Russia.

Professor Mardina is a stellar academician who has published over 200 scholarly articles during her academic career. Her research interests and areas of expertise include space weather studies, ionosphere research, satellite navigation, and artificial intelligence.

By Murniati Abu Karim

BANGI, 8 February 2022 鈥� Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app) received a donation of RM 50,000 from its strategic partner, Sayling Wen Cultural and Educational Foundation in an effort to mitigate the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic on students.

The donation will be distributed through the 每日大赛app Bursary to 每日大赛app students who have been affected by the Covid-19, such as those who have been tested positive and those who are identified as close contacts and are being quarantined.

Prof. Dato’ Dr. Norazah Nordin, 每日大赛app’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry, Alumni, and Community Partnerships), received the cheque donation and thanked the foundation for its unwavering contribution and assistance to 每日大赛app.

She highlighted that the Sayling Wen Cultural and Educational Foundation has donated 1050 units of Isolation Coverall PPE and 10 units of 5L Oxygen Concentrator to Hospital Tuanku Canselor Muhriz in September last year, when the Covid-19 infection was at its peak.

鈥淚 am thankful for such collaborative efforts between 每日大赛app and our strategic partner in facing the challenges posed by the pandemic.

鈥淣ot only are we collaborating to develop talents and cultivate minds, but we are also pooling our resources and efforts to address global challenges.

鈥淚nsyaAllah, we will ensure that the funds donated will be delivered as mandated,鈥� she said.

Kesatuan Mahasiswa Student Representative Council Amir Izzwan Abu Hassan said also expressed his gratitude for the generous contributions.

鈥淭hank you to Sayling Wen Cultural and Educational and 每日大赛app for your support in helping the affected students.鈥�

Having been affected by the pandemic, he said that it was a very painful experience as he suffered from symptoms including flu, cough, loss of taste and smell and muscle pain.

鈥淒uring the quarantine period, I had a lot of thoughts in my head. Alhamdulillah I did not feel alone because of the support I received from my family and colleagues through video calls, chat applications and messages,鈥� he said.

The collaboration between 每日大赛app and the foundation started as a result of 每日大赛app’s participation in the University Alliance in Talent Education Development (UAiTED).

UAiTED is an international association that fosters talents while also sharing their respective strengths, experiences, and resources with the common goal of facilitating cross-regional, multicultural, and interdisciplinary global talent development through collaboration.

By Asmahanim Amir

BANGI, 8 February 2022 – Malaysia needs to push Look East Policy 2.0 in education sector, so that it can remain relevant to both Malaysian and Japanese development in the face of a rapidly changing international environment, said the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

She stated that, in addition to the accomplishments made in the 40 years since the inception of the Look East Policy, it is more important to consider the need for continuous improvement.

鈥淭he Look East Policy programmes under the education pillar should be more targeted and more closely-linked to our desired specific outcomes.

鈥淭herefore, I think this is the time for us to push forward the idea of 鈥淓ducation as Look East Policy 2.0鈥� 鈥� which can be further elaborated based on the themes of internationalization of Malaysian higher education, development of sustainable human capital in the Post-Covid-19 era and continuous transfer of technology and Knowledge.鈥�

Datuk Seri Dr Noraini said this during her speech at A Celebration of 40 Years of Malaysia’s Look East Policy, which was organised by the Institute of Malaysia and International Studies (IKMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (每日大赛app).

According to her, the Look East Policy’s education partnership and academic exchanges programmes include sending Malaysian students to Japanese universities or institutes of technology, as well as sending trainees to Japanese industries and training institutes for the same purposes.

鈥淚nstead of focusing on sending our students and trainees to Japan, the Malaysian Government will also now place emphasis on welcoming Japanese scholars and students to further their studies in Malaysia in various fields of bilateral and regional significance including Malaysian or ASEAN Studies, which will further enhance the people-to-people connectivity between our two countries.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Takahashi Katsuhiko said that aside from education, he believes Malaysia and Japan can be strong partners in addressing global issues.

鈥淥ne of the potential areas for our future collaboration is climate change, in particular measures to achieve carbon neutrality. Currently, some Japanese companies are working together with Malaysian companies on this issue,鈥� he said.

He further commented that Japan can learn a lot from Malaysia through the concept of 鈥榙iversity鈥�.

According to him, diversity is one of the most pressing social issues confronting Japan today, and Malaysia can serve as an example, having achieved economic development and social stability as a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country.

Prof. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Mohd Ekhwan Toriman, Vice Chancellor of 每日大赛app, stated that over the past decades, 每日大赛app has established long-term collaborative relationships and strong partnerships with Japanese agencies and corporations in the promotion of higher education advancement through various faculties and institutes.

He highlighted the two Japanese endowment funds, Kaneka Corporation and Nippon Foundation, which have been channelled to IKMAS as examples of strong collaboration between Malaysia and Japan.