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: , ,

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: , , , , ,

My First Ph.D VIVA as Internal Examiner

Posted on May 14, 2023 ·

A few months ago, I was invited to be an internal examiner for a Ph.D student under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Aishah Jalil. I received the thesis during Ramadhan month and I took quite some time to digest the thesis, which I targeted to complete during Shawal month. Unfortunately, I could not complete it due to the hustle and bustle of celebrating the festive Eid.  

The past 4 days I rallied aggressively to comprehend the thesis and prepared the report to be submitted to the Post Graduate office. Today, Alhamdulillah, the VIVA proceeded smoothly and successfully. The student, Abdelrahman Hamad Khalifa Owgi, managed to defend his thesis finely. 

Overall I am pleased and happy with my first session. I think I did quite well. Alhamdulillah. My report was quite detailed too. But I learned something from Prof Dato because he prepared an additional report. 

More pictures of the VIVA session can be viewed HERE.

Filed Under: 2 Research Tagged With: , , ,

2021 Day 161 Task – Checking My EER PhD Student’s Proposal

Posted on June 11, 2021 ·

I spent my Friday morning and afternoon checking and providing comments on my PhD EER Student who is very far far away at UAE or Sudan or United States (yes, he lives in all those places and travel a lot in between those locations). Prior to reading the report and progress, I also read several more completed PhD EER projects by previous CEE students. It’s quite different from the normal chemical engineering research… I can say it is more directed to the social sciences approach. But, I finally written down my comments and passed it to the Co-SVs.

Other highlighted tasks of the day:

  • Discussed about BCREC paper Chapter 4 – Nazlina, already pending due to submit correction.
  • Went through some EXCEL reports from my PA students – verified and approved their activities.
Filed Under: 1 Academic, 1 Activity 1 Day Tagged With: , ,

Day 330 Task – Mock Viva for My First PhD Student

Posted on November 24, 2020 ·

Today we had a Mock Viva session for my first PhD student, Nur Nazlina Saimon which was conducted at our house. The venue was decided because students are not allowed to enter UTM yet unless he or she has official written permission from UTM student affairs, which will take quite some time to be obtained. Hence, we decided just to launched the Mock Viva at home, directly using Webex for her to present. The lecturers and students are used to online class and presentation but for Nazlina, she is not used to this because she’s a Phd student who do not require any online meeting or class, and I have only been contacting her for the passed months using whatsapp and email, if not a face to face meeting.

The session was very fruitful and a very long one. Nazlina is a very good and dedicated student. Imagine starting the session at 11am and it ended at 3.30pm. Many fundamental and basic questions were thrown by PM Dr. Mazura Jusoh, whom is co-supervisor #1. All her questions were really challenging yet important. I hope Nazlina will improved the slides and be better equipped for the second mock presentation next week, before heading to the Viva on the 2nd of December 2020. InsyaAllah. Amin.

Read all my “1 Official Task Per Day Record Challenge for 2020” —> https://people.utm.my/zakiyamani/category/1-activity-1-day/ 

Filed Under: 2 Research Tagged With: , , ,

Day 255 Task – Evaluator for IBD Industrial PhD Proposal

Posted on September 10, 2020 ·

This is the first time I became an examiner or evaluator for PhD proposal for Institute Biotechnology Development (IBD). The PhD candidate, I have known before because I was one of his Master (MKKL) examiner too. The First stage was conducted online via Webex platform. I was the examiner together with Dr. Kamarizan Kidam. Prof Ani Idris was the Chairperson. The Supervisors were PM Dr. Wijaya and Dr. Harisun.

The session went well and I believed the comment given by us has given a clearer direction and strength for Tee’s Phd study. All the best!

Read all my “1 Official Task Per Day Record Challenge for 2020” —> https://people.utm.my/zakiyamani/category/1-activity-1-day/ 

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

Day 161 Task – PhD Viva Trial Session

Posted on June 9, 2020 ·

Y Brs. Prof./ Prof. Madya / Dr. / Saudara,

Seperti yang sedia maklum, viva pelajar  Lai Yee Qing akan diadakan secara atas talian pada 10/06/2020 jam 9.30 pagi.  Bagi melancarkan perjalanan sesi VIVA tersebut,  Y Brs Prof./Prof. Madya / Dr. / Saudara yang terlibat adalah diminta untuk turut serta pada sesi ujian tersebut.

Untuk makluman, sesi ujian pautan video, suara dan penglihatan akan dilakukan pada maklumat berikut;

Tarikh        :  09/06/2020 (Selasa)

Masa          :  3.00 petang

Urutan Link adalah seperti berikut:

1) Webex

Webex Meeting Information
Meeting link: https://utm.webex.com/utm/j.php?MTID=mb4d88cf9198e2ca1756c57fb2ff15a1d
Meeting number: 910 195 774
Password: p6J3idrGqm6
Host key: 774659
Admin notes: fe2

2) Google Meet

Google Meet Meeting Information
Meeting ID : meet.google.com/gxh-zwxx-qiz

Mohon kerjasama Y Brs Prof./Prof. Madya / Dr. / Saudara untuk turut serta dan  Pegawai IT bertugas adalah Encik Jaya bin Abdul Hussain (013-799 0356).

Read all my “1 Official Task Per Day Record Challenge for 2020” —> https://people.utm.my/zakiyamani/category/1-activity-1-day/ 

 

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

Day 35 Task – PhD VIVA Session of Shafiqah, a Student that I Co-supervised

Posted on February 4, 2020 ·

Read all my “1 Official Task Per Day Record Challenge for 2020” —> https://people.utm.my/zakiyamani/category/1-activity-1-day/

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

Day 32 Task – Checking & Reading My PhD Student’s Thesis

Posted on February 1, 2020 ·

After returning back from the 3 day engineering education workshop, I rest a bit and then continue my work to check and read my PhD Student’s thesis, Nazlina’s. Not only read and check but also proof read the work too as well. It’s going to be a mountain of task for this coming few days.

Read all my “1 Official Task Per Day Record Challenge for 2020” —> https://people.utm.my/zakiyamani/category/1-activity-1-day/

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

PhD Mock Viva Session for Shafiqah

Posted on January 30, 2020 ·

Despite attending the engineering education Workshop Part 3, I attended the PhD mock viva for Shafiqah, a student that I co-supervised (She is supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mazura Jusoh). The event took place at 2.15pm till 5pm. The session was very fruitful and hopefully she can rapidly improve her slides and presentation for next week’s VIVA session.

Filed Under: 1 Academic, 2 Research Tagged With: , , , ,
Next Page »