Morning to Afternoon with the PDRU Postdoc Monitoring Team

Posted on August 8, 2025 ·

Today, my morning and early afternoon were dedicated to an important task, serving as part of the PDRU postdoc monitoring team. The monitoring session was held at UTM RMC, divided into two panels. The first team consisted of Prof. Dr. Farid Said and PM Dr. Ezza Syuhada Sazali, while the second team, hosted in my office, was made up of myself and Prof. Hafiz Dzarfan. Each team was assigned to review 10 postdoctoral researchers who were appointed in 2023 (the majority) and 2024. Off course, the Postdoc secretariat were with us.

The session was engaging and insightful, with each postdoc presenting their progress, challenges, and research outputs. By 12.30 pm, we had completed all our scheduled reviews for the day.

Monitoring postdocs is a crucial exercise for the university. These researchers are appointed with the clear expectation of producing high-quality Q1 and Q2 journal papers, contributing significantly to UTM’s research excellence and global reputation. Through structured monitoring, we ensure that they are on track with their research objectives, receiving the guidance they need, and delivering outputs that strengthen the university’s standing in international rankings.

For me, it was not just a formal evaluation. It was also an opportunity to interact with highly talented researchers, understand their work in depth, and help them navigate challenges so they can produce impactful results. In the end, effective postdoc monitoring is not just about accountability; it is about nurturing excellence and driving innovation for the benefit of the university and the broader research community.

Other tasks today include attending the Pra-JKPD meeting of PPMU at T03.

#20242025 Day 039

#Friday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 2 Research, 4 Publication, Meeting, Workshop

From RMC Teh Tarik to Sunway: A Day of Projects, Consultations, and Preparation for IChemE Career Discovery Workshop 2025

Posted on August 6, 2025 ·

This morning began like many others at the Project Management and Monitoring Division (PMMD) of RMC, juggling multiple project-related tasks, monitoring updates, and assisting researchers with their grants (from far). Today, however, had an extra twist: it was RMC Teh Tarik Day. This is our monthly open-door session where researchers are encouraged to drop by and consult directly with our PMMD and Finance teams on any project management or funding-related matters.

I had the opportunity to sit down with PM Dr. Lee Ting Hun and Dr. Nardiah from the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FCEE). Both had questions and uncertainties regarding their projects, and we were able to walk through their concerns together. It’s always fulfilling to see how these sessions not only resolve immediate issues but also help researchers feel more confident in navigating the administrative side of their work.

After lunch, the day shifted gears as we travelled to Sunway Hotel, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, for the upcoming IChemE Career Discovery Workshop 2025, jointly organized by IChemE, Sunway University, and Monash University. I made the decision to arrive a day earlier to avoid the rush of same-day travel.

This time, I was joined by my wife and Marsya. I thought it would be a great opportunity for Marsya to gain some early exposure to professional events and to experience the inspiring environment of Sunway University. We took the scenic route, walking (burning some caloories) via the canopy walk from Sunway Pyramid, and arrived at the campus around 6.30pm.

The first impression was nothing short of super impressive. Sunway University’s facilities are modern, spacious, and thoughtfully designed to encourage collaboration. Everywhere we looked, there were open discussion areas, well-equipped study spaces, and visible Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) signage. It’s clear that Sunway doesn’t just talk about sustainability, they live it.

After returning to the hotel, I shifted into presentation mode. Tomorrow, I’ll be delivering my session on Renewable Energy, and I spent the evening finalizing my slides. The content includes pie charts, key policy references, graphics, and discussions on both challenges and innovative solutions in the renewable energy sector. It’s always exciting to be part of a platform that connects academia, industry, and young engineers, and tomorrow promises to be one of those days.

#20242025 Day 037

#Wednesday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 10 Administrative, 2 Research, Conference, Meeting, Project Monitoring, Workshop Tagged With: , , , ,

Understanding QS World University Rankings: Insights from the Special Briefing at UTM

Posted on August 5, 2025 ·

Today, I had the opportunity to attend a special talk on the QS World University Rankings, by Mr. E. Way Chong, held at Dewan Kuliah 7, N24, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The session was conducted by representatives from Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the organization behind this globally recognized university ranking system. The event saw the attendance of many UTM administrators, reflecting the importance of the QS ranking to the university’s strategic direction and global standing.

The QS World University Rankings are an annual evaluation of universities worldwide, providing comparative insights across various indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, citations per faculty (research impact), international faculty and student ratio, and more recently, sustainability and international collaboration. These rankings are highly regarded by students, academic institutions, researchers, and even governments, who use them to benchmark excellence in higher education.

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) is a British higher education analytics company established in 1990. Since publishing its first global ranking in 2004, QS has grown to become one of the most influential ranking bodies in the world, providing insights that guide institutional improvement and student decision-making globally. The QS rankings exist not only to assist students in making informed choices about where to study but also to help universities benchmark their performance, guide institutional planning, attract international collaborations, and support government and funding decisions.

For universities like UTM, the QS rankings are highly relevant. They influence the university’s global reputation, impact international student recruitment, guide internal strategy, and provide a framework for institutional improvement. Rankings also affect funding prospects, partnerships, and how employers view the institution’s graduates. In short, rankings matter, and they offer tangible benefits beyond prestige.

In the most recent QS World University Rankings, UTM continues to show commendable performance. UTM’s latest rank at 153 (2026). It ranks within the top 100–200 globally, particularly excelling in engineering and technology fields. UTM has demonstrated improvements in areas such as research output, international faculty recruitment, and sustainability initiatives, while maintaining a strong reputation among employers. These results reflect UTM’s dedication to maintaining high academic standards and expanding its global impact.

The impact of the QS World Rankings on UTM is significant. It enhances UTM’s global visibility, making it more attractive to international students, collaborators, and institutions. Rankings also serve as a benchmark for internal improvement, motivating faculties and departments to improve research, teaching quality, and student outcomes. Additionally, as the Ministry of Higher Education often references global rankings in policy and funding decisions, QS performance can indirectly influence national recognition and support.

In summary, today’s briefing was a valuable reminder that rankings such as QS are more than just numbers, they represent the university’s broader mission to strive for excellence in education, research, and global engagement. As UTM continues to advance its status as a leading research university, the QS World University Rankings will remain a key indicator and driver of its international aspirations and institutional progress.

#20242025 Day 036

#Tuesday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 10 Administrative, 2 Research, 4 Publication Tagged With: , , ,

Reviewing Papers for REES 2025 – A Meaningful Afternoon Task

Posted on August 4, 2025 ·

After lunch today, I had the opportunity to join the REES 2025 paper decision workshop — a critical and exciting session as part of the preparation for the upcoming Research in Engineering Education Symposium (REES 2025). For those unfamiliar, REES 2025 is a major international symposium that brings together researchers, educators, and practitioners focused on advancing engineering education. You can find more information about it on the official REES 2025 site.

The main purpose of today’s session was to review and decide on paper submissions. With over 200 papers submitted, the task was not only demanding but also required careful and objective evaluation to ensure that only papers aligning with the scope and quality standards of REES were accepted. As reviewers, we were guided to consider whether the papers fell within the symposium’s central themes and whether they contributed meaningfully to the field of engineering education research.

Despite the workload, it was a genuinely interesting and enriching experience. The diversity of topics submitted — from curriculum innovation to identity development in engineering — highlighted how vibrant and globally relevant engineering education research has become. It also gave us a deeper appreciation for the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into maintaining the academic integrity of international conferences like REES.

I’m grateful to be part of this process and excited to see how REES 2025 unfolds. Looking forward to meeting fellow educators and researchers when the symposium takes place at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia next year!

Other tasks performed today include the preparation of slide from my program at Subway University this coming Thursday, as well as updating a little bit information in my CV.

#20242025 Day 035

#Monday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 2 Research, Conference, Workshop Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

A New Challenge: Designing METE1153 for the Short Semester

Posted on August 3, 2025 ·

About three weeks ago, I received unexpected news: students had registered to take Occupational Safety in Energy Systems (METE1153) during the short semester break. I was honestly quite shocked, as I had been hoping for a well-deserved academic break—especially considering the heavy administrative workload currently on my plate.

Over the past academic year, my teaching responsibilities have been intense. I taught 6 credits in Session 1, followed by another 6 credits in Session 2. Last year during Session 2 alone, I carried a 12-credit load, which included multiple versions of METE1153 (full-time, part-time, and ODL) along with METW1153: Quality Management. Given that context, it’s clear why I was hoping for some breathing space this time around.

However, as it turns out, this will be my first time teaching a course during the short semester. My goal is to structure the course in a self-learning format, allowing students greater flexibility while managing the compressed timeline. There are currently 7 to 9 students enrolled in the course, and I’m hopeful this approach will work well for them.

Today, I spent some time setting up the eLearning platform for METE1153, using the ODL model as my reference. In fact, I’m also working on enhancing the full METE1153 ODL version in parallel. Should I be assigned to this course again next year, it would mark my third time handling METE1153—but that’s still eight months away.

Right now, the pressing challenge is how to compress a traditionally 14-week syllabus into just 8 weeks, without compromising learning quality. I believe I’ve managed to prepare at least 50% of the content and structure for students to begin their self-learning journey today. I hope that they’ll find the materials engaging and beneficial, and that this short semester will still provide meaningful learning, despite its condensed format.

Other official tasks today include coming out with a new novel review paper idea to collaborate with someone from Australia. InsyaAllah.

#20242025 Day 034

#Sunday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 10 Administrative, 11 Personal, 2 Research Tagged With: , , , , , ,

FRGS 2025: A Sudden Turn, a Tight Deadline, and a Research Mission That Matters

Posted on August 2, 2025 ·

The Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), funded by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), faced an unexpected disruption in early February 2025 when the MyGRANTS system abruptly went offline. Since then, the fate of FRGS proposals and the many researchers who had applied, remained uncertain, leaving a cloud of doubt over the national research agenda.

However, today brought a surprising development. All FRGS applicants from the early 2025 cycle, including myself, received an email notification instructing us to improve and resubmit our proposals manually. Specifically, we were asked to include supporting quotations for V24000 (research materials), V28000 (professional services), and V29000 (rental and maintenance). What came as a shock was the urgency of the deadline, just 33 hours to revise, complete, and submit everything to our respective Research Alliance (RA).

Once verified for completeness and accuracy, the proposals will be forwarded to the Research Management Centre (RMC) for final submission to MOHE. The timeline is intense, but the mission remains clear.

My FRGS proposal this time focuses on a cutting-edge topic:
Converting Fuel Oil Blended Stock (FOBS) to Hydrogen using waste catalysts from refineries.
This project holds great promise in addressing the long-standing FOBS-related issues faced by refineries worldwide, particularly in sustainability and waste valorization. I believe strongly in the future relevance of this research, which is still in its early stages.

Since 2020, I have been working on this idea with the help of several research students. Together, we have built a foundation with experimental and thermodynamic studies and have already published several research articles. Alhamdulillah, the work is steadily gaining traction.

Despite the sudden rush and limited time, I remain committed to pushing this research forward. The road may be steep, but if successful, this project could contribute meaningfully to sustainable hydrogen production and industrial waste management.

Let’s hope this proposal finds its way to success and that FRGS continues to support transformative research like this for years to come.

#20242025 Day 033

#Saturday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 2 Research, 4 Publication, 6 Supervision, RMC Tagged With: , , , ,

Engineering Identity Development: A National Responsibility

Posted on August 1, 2025 ·

Today, after lunch, I set aside time for a PhD consultancy session with my engineering education student, Izwan. He has been a full-time PhD candidate for the past three years, and his research focuses on the development of a framework for Engineering Identity Development (EID) within the Malaysian context.

Our discussion today reminded me of how critical EID is for our younger generation. In recent years, we’ve seen a worrying trend: a decline in student interest in STEM, particularly engineering. This shift has become even more apparent with the rise of social media, which often pulls young minds toward instant gratification and away from long-term, intellectually challenging pursuits like science and engineering.

This begs the question: Are we, as a nation, doing enough?
Are we on the right track, as a government, ministry, school system, teachers, parents, and as a community?

We must not take this lightly. Engineering is not just another field; it is a pillar of national development. Engineers are the ones who build, design, and solve the grand challenges of our time. If we fail to inspire our youth to pursue engineering, we risk weakening the very foundation of our nation’s future progress.

That’s why developing a strong engineering identity among students must be a collective priority. We need more programs, more initiatives, more mentorship, and more exposure to real-world STEM experiences at all levels—from primary school to university. We need to celebrate engineers, share their stories, and let students see how science and technology can shape a better Malaysia.

It’s time we all do our part, in whatever capacity we can, to reignite the love for STEM and ensure our next generation proudly identifies as engineers, scientists, and innovators.

Other tasks today include managing AJEE submissions and reviewing.

#20242025 Day 032

#Friday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 2 Research, 3 Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Productive Public Holiday: EIF Proposal Submitted and Thesis Review Completed

Posted on July 31, 2025 ·

Today is Thursday, but it’s an official holiday in Johor in conjunction with the Hol celebration. I took this opportunity to focus on academic work, especially finalizing my Engineering Information Foundation (EIF) proposal draft. Fortunately, I had already completed about 70% of the proposal earlier, so today’s task was mostly about fine-tuning the details. Alhamdulillah, I managed to submit the proposal by 6:45 p.m.

This time, my EIF project is titled:
“Enhancing Communication Skills Through Multi-Mode Presentations in an Introductory Engineering Course.”
The project aims to embed structured communication training into a CPBL-based curriculum for first-year engineering students, a topic I feel strongly about and have been working on for some time.

In addition to the proposal, I also spent time reading through my engineering education student’s thesis. Alhamdulillah, the research work is nearing completion, and it’s rewarding to see the progress made.

It’s been a meaningful and productive holiday—proof that a day off can still be fulfilling when spent on things that matter.

#20242025 Day 031

#Thursday

Filed Under: 1 Activity 1 Day, 2 Research, 4 Publication, 6 Supervision Tagged With: , ,

PhD Viva for Tan Wan Ting – Exploration of PFAD to Biodiesel

Posted on July 30, 2025 ·

Today, the PhD viva session for my student, Tan Wan Ting, was successfully conducted. Her research focused on the conversion of PFAD to biodiesel using a sulfonated sago pith waste catalyst, an innovative and sustainable approach to renewable fuel production. The external examiner was Datuk Prof. Dr. Taufik Yap, the internal examiner was PM Dr. Muhammad Arif Ab Aziz, and the viva chairman was Prof. Ir. Dr. Nor Aishah Saidina Amin, assisted by Dr. Amnani as co-chair. I had the pleasure of supervising this work alongside PM Ir. Dr. Mazura Jusoh.

Alhamdulillah, it was a very engaging and insightful viva session. I particularly enjoyed the moment when I met Datuk Taufik Yap again—we always end up having a good laugh together, and today was no exception. Hahaha…

Other tasks of the day include checking and commenting on my other PhD student’s thesis draft, and also my Undergraduate student (Sumaiya) research work.

More info and pics from FB Post.

#20242025 Day 030

#Wednesday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 2 Research Tagged With: , ,

Attending Sesi Ujibakat Innovathon Musim ketiga 2025

Posted on July 29, 2025 ·

The audition session for the third season of Innovathon in the southern region of Malaysia was held at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) on 29 and 30 July 2025. My wife and I participated in this audition. It was a truly fascinating experience, seeing so many innovators coming together to take part in the event. There were three screening stages, and Alhamdulillah, we successfully passed all three stages. From here on, it’s all in God’s hands. If we are granted the opportunity, we may be selected for the final 56. InsyaAllah. Allah is All-Knowing.

#20242025 Day 029

#Tuesday

Filed Under: 1 Activity 1 Day, 2 Research Tagged With: , , ,
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