From 10–13 February 2026, Assoc Prof Ts ChM Dr Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) participated in the Joint Supervision Program 2026 at Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), East Java, Indonesia. The visit was conducted under the UM Grant Scheme and aimed to enhance postgraduate supervision, academic exchange, and strategic collaboration between the two institutions.
Day 1: Academic Engagement and Leadership Meetings (10 February 2026)
The program commenced with a formal meeting with Prof. Dr. Hadi Suwono, Dean of FMIPA, Universitas Negeri Malang. The discussion focused on strengthening institutional collaboration and exploring long-term academic partnerships.
Subsequently, a meeting was held with Dr. Hendra Susanto, Head of the Biology Department, FMIPA, at the UTM–UM Satellite Office. This session laid the groundwork for the joint supervision framework and collaborative research initiatives.
Day 2: Academic Integration and Guest Lecture (11–12 February 2026)
A major highlight of the visit was the Guest Lecture organized by the Department of Biology, FMIPA UM titled:
“Process and Tips of Excellent Scientific and Technical Writing”
The lecture was delivered by Dr. Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek, Associate Professor and Deputy Dean (Research, Innovation and Development), Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
The session was held on Thursday, 12 February 2026, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at B20 – Aula FMIPA, Level 2, Universitas Negeri Malang.
The lecture focused on:
• Structuring high-impact scientific manuscripts
• Strategies for publishing in reputable journals
• Common mistakes in technical writing
• Effective communication of research findings
• Improving clarity, coherence, and scientific rigor
The session attracted a large audience of undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as academic staff. Active discussions took place during the Q&A session, demonstrating strong interest among participants in enhancing their scientific writing skills.
In addition to the public lecture, Dr. Nik Ahmad Nizam also participated in co-teaching sessions for master’s students (Biology Education), provided thesis consultation to postgraduate students, and conducted focused academic discussions with research students under Dr. Hendra Susanto’s supervision.
Strategic Meetings and Regional Engagement
The visit also included a courtesy meeting with Prof. Markus Diantoro Resmi, Vice Rector III of Universitas Negeri Malang, strengthening high-level institutional engagement.
A luncheon meeting with FMIPA administrators—including the Vice Dean and Heads of Departments from Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, and IPA—further reinforced faculty-level collaboration, particularly in joint conferences, academic mobility, and research partnerships.
The program extended to a strategic visit to the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, where discussions were held with the Vice Deans for General Affairs and Student Affairs. This engagement opened opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in biomedical and health-related research.
Future Directions and Outcomes
The Joint Supervision Program outlined several forward-looking initiatives:
• Organization of a joint undergraduate competition across FMIPA departments in Indonesia
• Two-stage competition format (screening stage in Indonesia and final stage at UTM)
• Joint conference collaboration with the Chemistry Department
• Institutional networking across East Java universities
• Formalization of partnerships, including potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings
Overall, the visit reflects a shared commitment between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universitas Negeri Malang to strengthen postgraduate supervision, research collaboration, scientific writing excellence, and sustainable international academic engagement.
