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: , , , ,

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: , , , , , , ,

Attended Bengkel MyCite 2025 at USIM

Posted on July 16, 2025 ·

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

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

RMC Beban Tugas Staf Sokongan (BTSS) Workshop

Posted on July 2, 2025 ·

Today, for I am not sure how many times already, we conducted another BTSS workshop in RMC, from 9 am to 5 pm. The good thing is that we are almost there, which means we have practically finalized and adjusted the working hours of all RMC members to a more logical indication.

We are doing this to quantify and justify the working loads of our staff. The amount of tasks and responsibilities, as well as expectations given to us, versus the number of manpower that we have. InsyaAllah, we are doing our best to optimize and utilize all the resources we have, but there are still some areas that require human intervention to be executed.

#20242025 Day 002

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