A three-day conference involving eminent Malaysian and international speakers to present their thoughts on the need, challenges and hindrances to the revival of Islamic civilization resulting from challenges posed by secularism and secularization, as well as radicalism and extremism. That this revival is needed, not only for the Muslim Ummah but for mankind as a whole.

This conference is to become a platform to deliberate on the solutions based on the epistemological framework built on the thought of scholars like Tan Sri Prof. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas and other Sunni scholars who contributed vehemently in identifying the true problems and proposing solutions for the Muslim ummah. Additionally, the conference could be the venue for international speakers to share their experiences and indigenous solutions in solving societal problems of the Muslims in their respective contexts.

Among the objectives of the programme are:

1. To delve further into how the living pulse of Islamic civilizationcan be revived and how it should proceed from the conceptual level and manifest in the social, economic, political and cultural levels
2. To gather the scholars in the effort of building communication to properly understand our ultimate problems and the ways to provide relevant solutions.
3. To create the awareness that in 2050 the Muslim Community need to lead the world’s civilization.

After convening for three days in this Conference, which involved more than 100 scholars from 37 countries, the team has come to some resolution with the hope that it will be of guidance to the muslim societies worldwide. Among the resolutions are:

1. The establishment of a “World Sufi Centre in Malaysia to coordinate research on Sufism or tasawwuf and
2. The establishment of the International Journal of Sufism.

The closing ceremony was graced by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Zahid Hamidi.

29 July: UTM website ranks the second highest among Malaysian University listed by the Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities July New Edition.

– Regarding PRESENCE. Size (number of pages) of the main webdomain of the institution. It includes all the subdomains sharing the webdomain and all the file types including rich files like pdf documents. Weight:5%
– Regarding VISIBILITY. Number of external networks (subnets) originating backlinks to the institutions webpages.After normalization, the maximum value between the two sources is selected. Weight: 50%
– Regarding OPENNESS. Number of citations from Top authors according to the source Weight: 10%
– Regarding EXCELLENCE. Number of papers amongst the top 10% most cited in 26 disciplines. Data for the five year period (2010-2014) New Weight: 35%
(source: Webometrics)

UTM is currently at the second place at the national level after UM, followed by USM, UPM and UKM.

JOHOR BAHRU, 26 JULY 2017 – The UTM Academic Leadership Center (UTMLead) received a visit from a delegation from Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), yesterday.

The delegation of 10 academic administrators and management team was headed by Prof. Ir. Dr. Khairul Salleh Mohamed Saari, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Academic) of UNITEN visited .

Among the delegates present were Director of Teaching & Learning Centre, Director of Innovation & Research Management Centre, Deputy Deans, and Human Resource Manager.

According to Prof. Ir. Dr. Khairul Salleh, the main purpose of the visit was to learn about the implementation of academic staff talent development at UTM.

The delegation was welcomed by UTMLead’s management team and UTM Human Resource Division (HRD). The discussion session was chaired by Senior Director of UTMLead, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Nazri Muhammad Ludin.

He thanked UNITEN for choosing UTMLead as a centre of reference in talent management and development.
During the session, the UNITEN delegation was briefed on the talent development programs for the academic staff under the Centre of Academic Leadership and Professional Development (CALPD) and Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL).

Among the talent development programs presented were Baseline Competencies for Differentiated Career Pathways (BC4DCP), Academic

Leadership Talent Management (ALTM), Academic Staff Succession Plan, and RDCI Talent Development. Delegates were also given detailed explanation on the implementation of long-term training provided by UTM such as sabbatical leave, industrial training, and post-doctoral studies.

Apart from that, they were also briefed on the implementation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Differentiated Career Pathways (DCP) at UTM. The briefing on the programs under CALPD was provided by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Nasir Wan Kadir, Director of CALPD, while the briefing on the CTL program was delivered by Dr. Zaleha Abdullah, Deputy Director of CTL.

JOHOR BAHRU, 3 August 2017 – A delegation from Phu Yen University, Vietnam led by Vice Dean of Faculty of Foreign Language, Ms Bangtam Le came to Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for 10 days to participate in an international study visit program.

The delegation comprised of four lecturers and 10 undergraduate students from Faculty of Foreign Language, Phu Yen University.

The program was initiated after a Letter of Cooperation between Faculty of Education, UTM and Phu Yen University was signed in April 2017.  The program was from 24th July 2017 until 2nd August 2017.

Among the workshops held at Faculty of Education for the visitors were workshops on Teaching ESL/EFL Writing, Introduction to UTM Toastmasters Club, The Use of Educational Technology in Teaching, Higher Order Thinking Skills in Teaching, Introduction to Malaysian Culture & Language and 21st Century Teaching and Learning Approaches.

In order to enrich their experiences on the process of teaching and learning English in Malaysia, they also had the opportunities to visit two secondary schools namely SMK Mutiara Rini 2 and SMK Medini.

In addition, a visit to Imagineering Institute Iskandar Puteri was also arranged for them. During the visit, they were exposed to the latest invention and technology created by the researchers in the institute.

All participants feel that the activities benefit them in many ways and they look forward to share the positive experiences with their peers and colleagues at Phu Yen University.

JOHOR BAHRU, 9 August 2017 – The Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in collaboration with Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Indonesia (UMP) has organized an International Service Learning Program (ISLP). This program had been conducted with the community at Felda Air Tawar 3, Kota Tinggi, Johor.

The program began on 16 July 2017 and ended on 7 August 2017. A total number of 22 students and 3 lecturers from UMP took part in this program. Meanwhile, 16 lecturers and 3 students from Faculty of Education UTM involved as the facilitators of the program.

Interestingly, the program was auspiciously supported by the nearby community with a total of 9 schools, in which 410 students from secondary and 100 students from primary schools involved in various events conducted throughout the program. EM Group Malaysia was also appointed as the strategic partner of this program.

In addition, a total of 50 residents, alongside with 60 youths and 8 adopted families from Felda Air Tawar 3 were also involved and had significantly contributed to the success of this program.

An ISLP is designed to strengthen an international collaboration between educational institutions in community service collaboration programs. In addition, the program also provides consultation and training for the implementation of the program, and provides services to the community despite the diverse cultures and languages.

These differences have created an agreement in the guidelines, rules and documentation associated with community service program management collaboration at the international level. This is a unique aspect of an ISLP.

The Faculty of Education will continue to promote New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI) through Service Learning. Various activities associated with open classroom learning were provided in the ISLP such as Bio Village Seminar, Bio Agro Community, LOHAS Community with KOSPEN, Kelab Suka Belajar Program, ICT for 21st Century Learning, Kampung Digital, Johor Culinary, Beliaprenur Program, Forum Perdana, Kuliyyah Dhuha and LOHAS Community.

On 3 August 2017, a Bio-village Seminar was held at the Felda Air Tawar 3 Hall and was attended by the ISLP 2017 participants, Felda Air Tawar 3 residents, students from 8 secondary schools chosen by Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) Kota Tinggi and nearby communities.

In this seminar, the participants have demonstrated community service outcomes that have been successfully implemented together with the community.

The closing ceremony was officiated by the Social Development Officer of Felda Wilayah Johor Bahru, Hajjah Saedah Aziz accompanied by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Dr Baharuddin Aris and the program manager, Mr. Shahrin Hashim.

This ISLP received positive responses from the participants.

All participants felt that the activities benefited them in many ways and they look forward to sharing positive experiences with their peers and colleagues at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwekerto, Indonesia.

Professor Dr Baharuddin Aris, during his speech, commented that he was really satisfied with the sincere work that has been showed by all the ISLP’s participating students and staffs, and it would be for sure uplifting UTM’s NALI through Service Learning.

Faculty of Civil Engineering, University Technology Malaysia has introduced the Tunnel Engineering course for the Master Engineering student and it is the first faculty in Malaysia that offers such a course (team teaching concept collaboration with industrial partner) in tunnel engineering.  On the 26^th March 2017, Tunnel Engineering Teaching Team, Dr. Siti Norafida Jusoh, Dr. Rini Asnida Abdullah, Tunnel Engineering class members (MKAJ 1113) and two tunnel experts from the Tunnel and Underground Space Technical Division (Institute Engineers Malaysia); Ir. Syed Rajah Hussain bin Mohd.Haniff (the Chairman of TUSTD) and Mr. Ilanchelvan Polanippan (TUSTD Technical Committee) successfully conducted a workshop on Tunnel Engineering.

Workshop of Tunnel Engineering was scheduled into two parts. This first part was held on 26th March 2017 at PBL 1, M46, Faculty of Civil Engineering attended by 55 participants, consisting of undergraduate to post-graduate students, lecturers from UTM, Universiti Tun Hussien Onn (UTHM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).

The talk began at 9.00 am with the welcoming speech by the Dean of Faculty of Civil Engineering, Prof Khairul Anuar bin Kasim and followed with introduction to the TUSTD by the TUSTD Chairman. Six different modules were delivered which covered the introduction on the tunnel engineering, latest technology in the tunnel construction and case study of tunnelling work in MRT and also in U.K. The first three sessions were presented by Ir Syed Rajah on the Underground Survey, Tunneling in Soft Ground and Tunneling in Hard Rock. In the afternoon session, Mr Ilanchelvan talked on the Mechanized Tunnelling and Tunnel Lining, Instrumentation and Monitoring. Finally, the last session, Ir Syed Rajah covered on the Health, Safety and Environment Consideration.

Indeed, it was an interesting experienced-sharing session. New points of view on tunnelling and underground space development were adopted by the listeners. Experience-sharing by two speakers was a very good exposure to the audience. The talk ended at 2.30 pm with the presentation of memento of appreciation from Faculty of Civil Engineering to TUSTD.  InshaAllah, the second part of the workshop will be held in April. For those who interested in tunnel, come and join us in second workshop. See you soon.

Reported by: Dr. Siti Norafida Jusoh (Coordinator of Tunnel Engineering MKAJ1113)

She is currently a Lecturer at the Department of Geotechnics and Transportation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

NEGERI SEMBILAN, 14^th AUGUST 2017 – Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM IBS) officially announced the cooperation between the Negeri Sembilan State Health Department in training and development.  One of the initiatives in this collaboration is the offering of Master of Business Administration program with concentration in Healthcare Management specially designed specifically for medical practitioner and administrators serving in the health department around Negeri Sembilan.

Our guest of honors attending this auspicious ceremony are Dr. Zainudin Bin Mohd Ali, Director of the Negeri Sembilan State Health Department, Prof. Dr. Durrishah Binti Idrus, Pro Vice-Chancellor, (UTMKL Campus), Tuan Hj. Mat Jali Bin Abd Rahman, Deputy Director of State Health Office Negeri Sembilan Management,  Prof. Dr. Wan Khairuzzaman Bin Wan Ismail, Dean of Azman Hashim International Business School and UTM IBS management, students and faculty members.

As Malaysia strives hard to meet the international norm in its population ratio of doctors, dentists, nurses and other health workers, the government has increased places in public and private education institutions, doubled numbers of nursing and medical graduates and increased post-basic and specialist training. This will lead to the rise in the demand for healthcare management professionals with the skills and knowledge which are best served through a program like an MBA. This program will prepare them to function effectively emphasizing the importance of applying ethics to healthcare management practices and integrating faith with learning in a professional atmosphere.

UTM IBS is committed to the development of innovative and entrepreneurial leaders for the global markets, who contribute to the advancement of knowledge, and contribute to the societal wealth and well-being and collaboration such as the one with the Negeri Sembilan State Health Department will materialize the school’s mission.