Attended Bengkel MyCite 2025 at USIM

Date: 16th July 2025
Venue: Seminar Room, Level 4, Library, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Participants: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria, Dr. Nurzal Effiyana, and Wan Akmal Izzati (AJEE Journal Manager)
Driver: Mr. Hussin (UTM Driver)

We began our journey as early as 5:30 a.m., heading to USIM to participate in the MyCite Workshop 2025. Our main objective was to gain insights and guidance on the requirements and evaluation process for journal acceptance into MyCite, with the ultimate goal of paving the way for ASEAN Journal of Engineering Education (AJEE)’s future inclusion in Scopus.

The session, although slightly altered from its original plan, proved highly valuable. The workshop was initially scheduled to be conducted by Prof. Dato’ Roslan Abd Shukor, Chairman of the MyCite Technical Evaluation Committee. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he was replaced at the last minute by Prof. Dr. Abrizah Abdullah from Universiti Malaya, who is also a member of the MyCite Technical Committee. Her sharing was informative and clarifying, especially for me, as this was my first time attending a MyCite-related workshop.

Prof. Dr. Abrizah Abdullah explaining the MyCite evaluation process
It’s funny that I forgot to snap a photo of any USIM signage, but I managed to snap this photo at level 3 of the USIM library, which is quite a unique setup.

I must acknowledge the excellent groundwork done by our journal manager, Izzati, who has diligently ensured that the AJEE aligns with most of the critical indexing criteria. This puts us in a stronger position as we prepare for MyCite’s 2025 evaluation cycle.

Overall, the trip was productive and meaningful. We return with renewed clarity and motivation to fulfill the remaining requirements for AJEE’s inclusion into MyCite, an essential step toward our broader ambition of gaining recognition under Scopus.

Other Tasks Completed Today:

  1. Finalized and submitted a full paper to ReCASE 2025, targeted for publication in the Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis (BCREC).
  2. Managed miscellaneous RMC-related tasks remotely, including emails and follow-ups.

#20242025 Day 016

#Wednesday

Managing ASEAN Journal of Engineering Education (AJEE) Journal Vol. 9, Issue 2

Alhamdulillah, six days ago, AJEE Journal, Vol. 9, Issue 1, was released. There are 9 scholarly papers in that issue, and as the Chief Editor for AJEE, I’m very glad for the release of that issue.

Today, I have just checked and accepted another manuscript, after critical comments and corrections have been made by the author. This paper is quite interesting as it narrates about a technical bootcamp being held in nature in Indonesia. I’m truly excited about the paper as it provides insightful input concerning several educational theories and models.

#20242025 Day 005

AMSET Research Group Strategic Planning Writing Workshop

In the era where research grants reduces, diminish and shrink, I was invited to this program to share about Research Grant Opportunities for UTM Researchers. It’s best to focus our effort more on industrial and international research grants. That’s the way to go. Thanks AMSET RG for inviting me as a speaker.

Hopefully the sharing was fruitful and beneficial to AMSET members, as well as the students. InsyaAllah.

After lunch I missed Dr. Ilyas inspiring sharing. I heard his sharing was aspiring!

FB Source and Linkedin source for more pics.

In the afternoon, I have MESYUARAT JAWATANKUASA PENGURUSAN JABATAN TNC (P&I) BIL. 3/2025 to attend too.

#20242025 Day 001

New Publication: Thermodynamic Analysis of Glycerol Dry Reforming to Hydrogen at Low Pressure (Editor’s Choice)

Alhamdulillah, today, the work of my SPACE FYP student, Hafiz, has been published in the Chemical Process Engineering journal, under Semarak International Journal.

Brief information about the paper:

Hydrogen plays a vital role in the chemical industry, with about 95% of global production currently sourced from fossil fuels such as methane (CH₄). However, dry reforming technologies face significant challenges, including raw material limitations, efficiency concerns, and integration-related safety issues. Glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production, presents a sustainable and promising alternative feedstock for hydrogen generation. This study investigates the thermodynamics of glycerol dry reforming using the HSC Chemistry software. By applying total Gibbs free energy minimization, the influence of various reaction conditions—including temperature (300°C–1000°C), pressure (0.001–1.0 bar), and glycerol-to-CO₂ ratios (1:1, 1:3, 1:5, 3:1, and 5:1)—was evaluated on hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) production. The results indicate that hydrogen is the dominant product, with optimal yields achieved at 783 K, 1 bar, and a glycerol-to-CO₂ ratio of 5:1. Additionally, at reduced pressure (0.001 bar) and lower temperature (573 K), higher glycerol concentrations further enhanced hydrogen output. These findings highlight glycerol’s potential to improve the efficiency and economic viability of the dry reforming process, particularly under low-pressure conditions.

Link for the paper: https://semarakilmu.my/index.php/sijcpe/article/view/334/760

Here is the June 2025 publication of the journal: https://semarakilmu.my/index.php/sijcpe/issue/view/205

Day 019 (25/26) – Presented as Keynote Speaker – International conference on Advanced Research in Engineering, Technology and Innovation Manageent 2025 (ICARETIM2025)

Amid the discussion with HiCOE IKG this morning, I asked for permission to step out briefly as I had to present a keynote at a conference. Thank you to Anis Amira Wan Ranizang for helping to prepare the slides and paper for the conference. Luckily, everything was conducted online, and thank you to IKG for lending me a room so I could deliver the keynote comfortably.

Here is the Tentative Schedule: https://semarakilmu.com.my/journals/index.php/ICARETIM2025/Program_Schedule

Expertise Summary – Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria (for Erasmus Grant)

Expertise Summary – Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria

 Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria is from the School of Chemical & Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). His main research interests are in catalytic reaction engineering, engineering education, green related technology, and safety and health. He is presently a fellow researcher in the Center of Engineering Education (CEE), UTM. Previously, he practiced as a Project Engineer (2003-2005) and Process Engineer (2005-2008). Dr. Zaki has published his research works in various reputable journals, international conferences and book chapters. In 2018 he published his own book, “Ramblings of a Chemical Engineer”, which has been well received by fellow chemical engineers from Malaysia and around the globe. Dr. Zaki actively shares chemical engineering related information in his Chemical Engineering Facebook Page (facebook.com/ChemicalEngineeringWorld/) which up till now has 40k followers. His first ever blog, Chemical Engineering World (chem-eng.blogspot.com/), was selected as the Top 10 Chemical Engineering Blogs in the internet in 2019. He and his team recently won Gold Medal in 2019 International Conference and Exposition on Invention by Institution of Higher Learning (Pecipta 2019) in UTHM, Gold Medal in New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI 2019) and Best NALI 2019 Award in UTM for various innovations in student-centred-learning approach.

 

My Biography for PIPOC 2019

Biography (As submitted for PIPOC 2019)

Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria

 Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria has been with the School of Chemical & Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) since 2008. His main research interests are in catalytic reaction engineering, engineering education, green related technology, and safety and health. He is presently a fellow researcher in the Center of Engineering Education (CEE), UTM. He obtained his Ph.D (Chemical Engineering) UTM (2013). Before joining the faculty, he has been practicing as a Project Engineer (2003-2005) and Process Engineer (2005-2008). Ir. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria became a Professional Engineer (BEM) and Chartered Engineer (IChemE) in 2010. He was appointed as a Professional Technologist in 2018 by Malaysia Board of Technologist (MBOT).

Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria presently supervises 7 postgraduate students. He has published his research works in various reputable journals, international conferences, book chapters (including Wiley Publisher) and others. In 2018 he published his own book, “Ramblings of a Chemical Engineer”, which has been read and well received by fellow chemical engineers from Malaysia and around the globe. Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaki Yamani Zakaria actively writes in his official FCEE staff website (people.utm.my/zakiyamani/) as well as shares chemical engineering related information in his Chemical Engineering Facebook Page (facebook.com/ChemicalEngineeringWorld/) which up till now has 37k followers. His first ever blog, Chemical Engineering World (chem-eng.blogspot.com/), was recently selected as the Top 10 Chemical Engineering Blogs in the internet. He and his team recently won Gold Medal in 2019 International Conference and Exposition on Invention by Institution of Higher Learning (Pecipta 2019) in UTHM, Gold Medal in New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI 2019) and Best NALI 2019 Award in UTM for various innovations in student-centred-learning approach.

Regional Conference in Engineering Education (RCEE) & Research in Higher Education (RHeD) 2020

If you are an engineering educator and would like to share your scholarly contribution and improvement that you have made in your engineering teachings, this is a spectacular platform for you!

Just prepare an extended abstract (2 pages only) and submit before 10 February 2020.

My Typical Day As A Chemical Engineering Lecturer

My typical day in office when not in class, meeting or others. Shot was taken last Sunday.

https://youtu.be/2j18gYEq3dQ

Congratulations PM Ir. Dr. Mohamed Sultan Bin Mohamed Ali

I would like to congratulate Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohamed Sultan bin Mohamed Ali from Faculty of Engineering for receiving research grant worth RM1.2 million from Microtronics Technology Sdn. Bhd. for research titled Failure Analysis Methods and Processes in Electronics Manufacturing Industry.