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: , , ,

RMC Strategy Review & BTSS Workshop 2025: Two Days of Focused Reflection and Commitment

Posted on July 28, 2025 ·

On 28–29 July 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the Strategy Review and BTSS (Business Technical Support System) Workshop organized by the Research Management Centre (RMC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The workshop was held at Pulai Springs Resort, Johor, and was attended by RMC officers from various divisions and units.

This two-day workshop aimed to assess the implementation status of RMC’s strategic plans for 2025, propose key improvements, and realign the direction and reporting structure for RMC’s BTSS. The event was officiated by the Director of RMC, Prof. Dr. Zulkurnain Abdul Malek, who delivered an insightful address and shared the current strategic institutional focus.

More information and photos from RMC FB here.

The first day featured several key presentations on Blueprint@enVision 2025, KPI action plans, and strategic planning updates. Among the presenters were me myself, Associate Professor Dr. Ezza Syuhada Szazali, and Puan Mazlinda Wati Razli. The sessions included in-depth discussions on Process Evaluation, COI & Innovation Focus, and consolidation of insights from earlier sessions.

Day two focused on detailed BTSS entries by each unit, section, and division. Participants were divided into five major working groups representing the Project Funding Unit, Project Monitoring Unit, Documentation & Data Unit, and other key components within RMC. A central theme across these discussions was the need to reassess workload distribution, clarify scopes of responsibility, and streamline inter-unit coordination.

A major challenge highlighted was the lack of manpower, especially in two critical areas: the Project Funding Unit and the Project Monitoring Unit. With limited officers overseeing numerous proposals and ongoing projects, the workload has become unsustainable. The Double Tax Deduction (DTD) under the Profunds unit is also facing hurdles, not only due to limited personnel, but also a lack of technical expertise in managing industry collaboration tax incentives.

Despite these limitations, the workshop was a valuable platform for reflection, collaboration, and forward planning. I truly appreciate the candid discussions and collective spirit displayed by all participants. It’s encouraging to see such dedication in addressing structural and operational issues with the goal of making RMC more agile and impactful.

May the outcomes of this workshop translate into real, actionable strategies that elevate RMC’s role in supporting UTM’s research ecosystem.

Kudos to everyone involved!
#20242025 Day 028

#Monday

Filed Under: 1 Activity 1 Day, 10 Administrative, RMC Tagged With: , , , ,

Mock VIVA of our PhD Student on a Sunday

Posted on July 27, 2025 ·

Today is my day off (Sunday), but I’ve set a few important tasks to accomplish. First on the list is to complete the marking for my METE1153 ODL course. I also have a mock PhD viva session scheduled with Tan, which I hope will be a valuable preparation for his actual defense. Additionally, I need to prepare for the RMC Strategic Planning meeting, which is scheduled for tomorrow. There are a few other tasks that I plan to tackle as well, depending on how much time I have left in the day.

Because of time limitations and my intention to attend the Pengajian Kitab after Subuh, I brought my laptop to the surau. While listening to the pengajian—specifically the Kitab Faridatul Faraid—I took the opportunity to continue my marking tasks simultaneously. It was a meaningful way to balance both spiritual enrichment and academic responsibilities.

Other tasks performed on this off-day:

  • Submit ICLCA2025 paper correction
  • Insert METE1153 student mark
  • Read/check Izwan’s draft thesis
  • Read/check Suhaila’s paper

#20242025 Day 027

#Sunday

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

Marking METE1153 ODL Occupational Safety in Energy System

Posted on July 26, 2025 ·

Today is Saturday—an off-day—but official responsibilities still call. Knowing that next week will be packed with activities, I’ve decided to make full use of today to complete the marking for my final exam scripts for METE1153 ODL: Occupational Safety in Energy Systems. There are 28 students, and all their answer scripts are in PDF format, which means I have to do all the marking on my laptop—a task that is both time-consuming and mentally demanding.

In addition to that, I also need to start thinking about how to manage UTM’s FRGS (Fundamental Research Grant Scheme) proposals—an overwhelming total of 598 submissions. Of course, it’s not something I’m handling alone, but within my capacity and scope, I have to contribute as best as I can. We’re all hoping that UTM secures as many FRGS grants as possible. The application process itself has already been delayed since February this year due to persistent issues with the MyGRANTS portal, which had been inaccessible for months.

Despite it being a weekend, the work must go on.

Other tasks of the day include Service Marsya’s Axia’s and Major grocery shopping

#20242025 Day 026

#Saturday

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day, 10 Administrative, 2 Research, RMC Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »