Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73650

Silver in AGES 2016

For a group of students with a passion for e-sports, winning a medal at an international competition can be one of the best memories of university life. It was such a moment for a team of five UTAR students from Kampar Campus when they were announced as silver medallists in the ASEAN Games for E-Sports 2016 (AGES), in the game of DOTA 2 under the category of University Open held at Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur from 27 to 29 May 2016.

AGES 2016, organised by Platinum Eden Sdn Bhd and supported by Esports Malaysia, had attracted a total of 51 teams from eight countries.

Combining their aptitude, determination, and passion, the team bested 49 other teams and bagged RM8,675 for the second prize. The team comprised Marketing student Cheong Tzun Yin, Advertising student Kok Liang Hua, Computer Engineering student Chai Mun Hong, Environmental Engineering student Tay Kok Sheng, and Accounting student Ang Boon Liang.

AGES 2016 was the brainchild of chairman and founder of Esports Malaysia (eSM) Dato’ Latt Shariman. The tournament was open to all ASEAN countries and aimed to unite electronic sports enthusiasts from all walks of life to compete and strive further in electronic sports.

The three-day event kicked off with the Malaysian Finals – Road to AGES 2016 on 27 May, which then led to the ASEAN Round of qualifiers on 28 May, and followed by the AGES Grand Finals on 29 May. The three electronic games that were played at AGES 2016 were DOTA 2, Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), and FIFA 16. The participating countries were Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

“It was truly an unexpected win and we didn’t expect that we could secure the second place in this tournament. The match was tough yet we managed to win in the finals and we are very happy,” said one of the winners Ang. He added, “The competition served as a good platform for all of us to further improve our skills and knowledge in electronic sports. We too had fun during the entire tournament and it was really a good stage for us to learn and at the same time to relieve our stress. Besides that, one of the benefits I gained is that I learned how to handle extreme situations by staying calm and thinking about the solution to solve the arising problems.”


Cheong (far right) and Kok (third from right) receiving a mock cheque from former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi while the other team members (from left) Chai, Ang, and Tay look on

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73653

MoU with SecureKi


UTAR staff with delegates from SecureKi, MDEC, Glocomp, and GCIS

UTAR and SecureKi signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Sungai Long Campus on 15 July 2016. Signing on behalf of the parties were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and SecureKi Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Brandon Low. It was witnessed by UTAR Vice-President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei and SecureKi Solutions Director Ching Kim Joo. Also present at the signing ceremony was Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Head of Technology Innovation Ecosystem and Innovation Capital Pak Mei Yuet, MDEC Head of Information Security Victor Lo, Glocomp Executive Director and PIKOM Council member Alex Liew, and GCIS Executive Director Chan Tze Ming.

Both parties hoped that this MoU can promote collaboration in the context of cyber security which includes aspects such as R&D activities, sharing of ideas and facilities, enhancing research and curriculum development, providing industrial attachments for students and staff, and holding seminars, conferences, and workshops that are relevant to the industry.

“I hope that this MoU will be an active one which UTAR will work together with SecureKi to ensure our students are not only trained in traditional theoretical studies but also taught the real life applications in the industry to cope with challenges brought about by technological advances,” remarked Prof Chuah.

“I am thankful for such a collaboration with UTAR and I hope that through this MoU we can collaborate in key areas such as cyber security-related R&D activities; the exchange of ideas from both parties; and the facilitation of industry studies for the purpose of enhancing learning experiences, professional and future development, and also the industrial placements of UTAR students; while producing local cyber security talent with innovative and global mind-sets,” said Low.


Prof Chuah and Low

The Centre for Cyber Security (CCS) aims to attract significant external research grants and encourage multidisciplinary collaboration, while demonstrating national leadership and gaining international recognition for excellence in the area of cyber security. The main objectives of CCS are to promote R&D among its members, commercialise research output, encourage technology transfer, and provide seminars and training in cyber security to enhance the competitiveness of local industries in the global market. Its research focuses on areas such as biometric security, information security, implementation and systems security, information privacy, and network coding for security.

CCS Chairperson Dr Yap Wun She said, “We hope to secure more grants so that we can focus on reducing gaps between theory and practical application in the industry, while boosting the commercialisation of products.”

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73658

Talk by TV host

TV host Gan Jiang Han was invited by the Department of Student Affairs’ (DSA) Counselling and Guidance Unit to present a life sharing talk titled “The Fear of Making Decisions (选择的恐惧)” at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Kampar Campus on 11 July 2016.

The talk aimed to inspire the audience to find positive energy and overcome their fear of making decisions, and successfully attracted a crowd of more than 1,800 participants.


Gan imploring the participants to not fear making decisions

During the introduction session, Gan shared his life experiences and the reason he choose this topic. “Everyone faces decision making scenarios daily, but some people will face a dilemma and struggle with making the right choice for themselves,” he said. From his past experiences, he felt that he was lucky when faced with those difficult moments as “opportunities always come first when I need to make an important decision.” He shared on the experiences that had led him down the path to becoming a news broadcaster after graduating university, a career that has spanned 10 years till today.

As he puts it, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”

Later on, he listed five ways to help the audience reach a decision in a short period of time and overcome the fear of making decisions. He emphasised, “You can’t have the whole world. Most of the time, people can’t make decisions because of their desire to have the whole world. Do you know that you will never achieve anything if you try to have everything?”

He added, “Choosing something means giving something else up. Making decisions also involve forsaking the lesser choices, though they look desirable from afar. Remember that you can only gain something by truly desiring it and working hard for it.” His advice provoked the audience’s memories of choosing their degrees when enrolling.

He advised, “Don’t waste your time saying ‘I don’t know’ or giving other excuses when decisions must be made because the final answer must still come from you.” Using the examples of Tun Mahathir and Taiwanese singer Luo Ta-yu who both are licensed doctors but gained their success in different professions, Gan showed the audience that we can still succeed even if we take a different path in life. He encouraged, “There will always be opportunities to turn back and change course, and for second chances as life is not a straight road surrounded by dead ends.”

Finally, he brought up the importance of “making many kind friends and not offending people (广结善缘，不得罪人).” On this matter, he expressed his gratitude to his colleagues who kindly adjusted their working schedules to accommodate his absences while working in China.

During the Q&A session, the audience asked questions related to relationships, daily life, studies, freedom of the media, and political issues. His humorous answers sent the audience into roars of laughter. He revealed, “I like to interact with young people because with increasing age, our passion and vitality gradually fades. That’s why I like to visit school campuses to revitalise myself once in a while.”

In his conclusion, he hoped that the points he shared can be used as a reference when making decisions and more importantly to reduce the fear of making decisions.

“The Fear of Making Decisions” was part of a talk series organised during the 2016 Counselling and Wellness Week (CWW) by DSA Counselling and Guidance Unit.


Gan’s humorous style lightened the mood during the Q&A session


Ho Sheau Huey, a counsellor from the Counselling and Guidance Unit presenting a token of appreciate to Gan


Gan with all the participants

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73713

Agriculture Technology Seminar Series XIII


Speakers, organisers and participants posing at the end of the seminar

Following the past 12 successful seminars that highlighted the advances of agriculture and food science, this year’s Agriculture Technology Seminar Series XIII recommenced with the aquaculture industry being the cynosure of the seminar. Themed ‘Towards Environmentally Sustainable Aquaculture’, the seminar was co-organised by UTAR’s Centre for Biodiversity Research (CBR), Faculty of Science (FSc) and Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research (IPSR) on 16 July 2016 at the Kampar Campus.

Attracting the largest crowd among the previous seminars, UTAR Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei thanked the 160 participants for their support and participation that has enabled the seminar to grow from strength to strength over the years.

“As the seminar is the university’s responsibility and initiative in agricultural science, I believe the seminar has received a good reputation and following from the general public and industrial experts. I hope you participants will benefit from the information shared by the speakers and I look forward to seeing fruitful discussion among yourselves,” said Prof Lee during his welcome speech.


Prof Lee delivering his welcome speech

Organising Chairman Prof Dr Ooi Aun Chuan also expressed his gratitude to everyone present for making the event a success and concisely introduced the speakers, namely Professor for Faculty of Veterinary Medicine from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) Prof Dato’ Dr Mohamed Shariff bin Mohamed Din, Fish Health Management and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant of LTS Consultancy Malaysia Dr Leong Tak Seng, Professor in Fish Nutrition Laboratory of the School of Biological Sciences from Universiti Sains Malaysia Prof Dr Ng Wing Keong, Deputy Director for the Institute of Tropical Aquaculture from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) Dr Shahreza Md Sheriff, Biovalence Sdn Bhd Chief Technology Officer Ung Eng Huan, and Assistant Professor of Mechatronics and Biomedical Department from UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science Dr Loo Joo Ling.

“I am very grateful for the support of our distinguished speakers for sharing their experiences in the emerging aquaculture industry. The seminar was organised to meet the needs of UTAR students and the public interested in aquaculture, with hopes to enhance our understanding of the current issues facing the industry,” said Prof Ooi.


Prof Ooi introducing the speakers during his speech

Looking at the aquaculture industry as an important protein source for people, the seminar placed emphasis on sharing solutions to advance its sustainable production, to address the limiting factors for growth of the aquaculture industry, and to identity the research activities that will help the aquaculture industry.

The first speaker Prof Mohamed spoke on “What Triggers the Outbreak of Fish Diseases in Aquaculture Systems?”. His message highlighted stress as the primary cause of disease outbreaks in fish. He associated changes in temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen levels, as well as sublethal levels of chemicals as factors contributing to the changes in fishes’ bodies that eventually cause fish to succumb to infectious agents. Therefore, Prof Mohamed spoke that understanding the topic was crucial to devising solutions to control and prevent disease outbreaks in aquaculture systems.

Apart from stress, Dr Leong spoke of the improper quarantine procedure used on imported fish upon arrival as also the cause of disease outbreaks that have diminished economic gains. With his topic “Managing Parasite and Diseases in Marine Fish Cultured in Floating Cages”, he shared findings from his study of freshwater treatment on farmed fish to determine the effect of the treatment on monogenean ectoparasites and their rapidness in re-infecting the treated fish.

Prof Ng, with his topic on “Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture through the Utilisation of Functional Additives in Aquafeeds”, too acknowledged that diseases have been one of the most limiting problems in the aquaculture industry today and highlighted the current status of global shrimp production with its accompanying challenges. Through his presentation, participants were enlightened with the use of various functional feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics and their modes in enhancing the disease resistance of farmed shrimp. He hoped that participants would be able to derive a better understanding of the potential contribution of functional feed additives to the sustainability of the global shrimp farming industry.

Further expatiating on aquaculture, Dr Shahreza, with his topic “Genetic Improvement in Aquaculture: Issues and Potentials in the Malaysian Aquaculture Scenario”, shared the importance of producing good quality seed that is disease tolerant, hardy and with good appearance through the Genetic Improvement approach. He believed the approach will further improve current aquaculture species; and thus his study discussed on the issues and potentials of the Genetic Improvement approach on the aquaculture industry.

Participants also learnt of the aquaculture industry benefitting from technological advances as Ung presented on “Designing the Next Generation Shrimp Farm”, by introducing the Rosette Model, along with the hardware and software involved in the concept. He mentioned that the model will combine the latest aquaculture engineering, Cloud-based Information Technology, biotechnology and water reuse technology to help design innovative shrimp farms with reduced human error.

The final speaker Dr Loo spoke on her study titled “Investigation of Alternative Ingredients as Partial Fishmeal Replacement in Aquaculture Feed” that addressed the need for good and cost-effective protein sources. With importance placed on determining the effect of protein substitutes on the biochemical and physiological changes in fish, her research aimed to develop suitable substitutes for Fish Meal (FM) to maintain the sustainability and improve the cost efficiency of by-products and plant feedstuffs. Through her research, the optimum protein substitute that will support the maximum growth and survival of fish can be determined.


Clockwise from top left: Prof Mohamed, Dr Leong, Prof Ng, Dr Loo, Ung and Dr Shahreza sharing valuable information on the aquaculture industry

Towards the end of the seminar, Prof Ooi recapitulated the lucid information presented by the speakers and Faculty of Science Dean Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng was invited to deliver his closing remarks.

“This seminar reminds us once again that agriculture is related to food production and food security which we all need. Therefore, with this seminar, I hope Bachelor of Science (Hons) Agricultural Science students will be exposed to the current state of the industry and the problems facing the industry. This is to prepare the students so that they will be able to contribute and to work with others in the agriculture field. Indeed we have learnt a lot today and the questions asked have probed deeper into the issues faced,” said Dr Lim.


Dr Lim delivering his closing remarks

Chee Wei Ling, a formulator from Dindings Soya & Multifeeds Sdn Bhd enthused on her enjoyable time at the seminar that enabled her to obtain the latest information regarding the industry. She mentioned that the information was eye-opening and looked forward to applying the information in her job and research.

Dr Lim also delightedly informed every one of the upcoming 14th seminar that will be held in November this year and thanked the sponsor, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK), for their support in making the seminar possible. The seminar ended with souvenir presentations to the speakers, and a group photograph of all speakers, participants and organisers.


Top, from left: Dr Lim presenting souvenirs to Prof Mohamed, Dr Leong and Prof Ng
Bottom, from left: Seminar Moderator and Committee Adviser Dr Wong Wey Lim presenting souvenirs to Dr Shahreza, Ung and Dr Loo

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73706

Talk on SMEs for young entrepreneurs


Koong presenting his slideshow to the crowd

The Institute of Management and Leadership Development (IMLD) organised a talk titled “Malaysia SMEs — Young Entrepreneurship Challenges and Strategies” on 21 July 2016 at Sungai Long Campus’ Multi-purpose Hall.

The talk featured Koong Lin Loong who serves as a Managing Partner at Reanda LLKG International and the CEO of K-Konsult Taxation Sdn Bhd. He is also the current National Council Member of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) and Chairman of ACCCIM’s SMEs & HRD Committee.

The talk focused on the main issues encountered by young entrepreneurs and SMEs, and the 4Ms (Money, Man, Machinery, Market) that should be embraced to overcome these challenges. The talk provided an overview of the “world's economic hubs from west to the east”, how they affect the SMEs, and Malaysia as a competitive Principal Hub location for ASEAN.

The talk impressed upon the audience that a young entrepreneur should develop a drive to acquire more “know/edge” of the industry they wish to pursue. “Know/edge” refers to having knowledge and having business ideas with an edge. Furthermore, there will always be macro- and micro-challenges faced in business, thus it is important to increase competitiveness by implementing strategic plans with the incorporation of innovative technologies into branding and marketing.

Koong said, “In order to overcome matters arising during the set-up of any venture, one should have an idea that can be executed while having strong determination and the willingness to absorb influences from the environment, although success may take a longer time to achieve. Remember that ‘nothing is difficult if you put enough effort into something you want to achieve’.”

He also mentioned, “Applying the principles of ‘ABC’ or ‘Attitude, Behaviour and Commitment’ is the basic recipe for success of startup businesses by youth. Pick up skills, knowledge, and gain more exposure as you grow as it will benefit you in the long run.”


An audience member posing a question


IMLD Director Prof Cheng Ming Yu presenting the token of appreciation to Koong

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73699

MoU with Meizhou City People's Government


Zhang (left) and Prof Ewe with the MoU agreements while Tang, Tan Sri Hew, and Tan Sri Lee look on

UTAR and Meizhou City People’s Government (MCPG) officially inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Kampar Campus on 3 August 2016.

Delegates from MCPG present at the ceremony were Standing Committee Member and Secretary of United Front Work Department of Meizhou City Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhang Lixia, Vice-Chairman of Meizhou City Returned Overseas Chinese Association Tang Zhiping, Director of Meizhou City Returned Overseas Chinese Association Qiu Kaixin, Office Director of United Front Work Department of CPC Meizhou Municipal Committee Ling Lili, and staff of Communication Exchange Center of United Front Work Department of CPC Meizhou Municipal Committee Liang Jiafeng.

The delegates were welcomed by UTAR Planning and Development Committee advisor Tan Sri Hew See Tong, accompanied by UTAR Education Foundation Board of Trustees Member Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian, UTAR Council Member Hew Fen Yee, Vice-President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Institute of Chinese Studies Dean Dr Chong Siou Wei, Institute of Management and Leadership Development Director Prof Cheng Ming Yu, and representatives from faculties, institutes, and administrative departments.


Prof Ewe delivering his welcome speech

Prof Ewe in his address expressed his warmest welcome to all delegates from MCPG with the Chinese idiom, “It is a great pleasure to have friends coming from afar (有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎).” He also said that he looked forward to more mutually beneficial cooperation and collaboration with MCPG in future, such as student scholarships and Hakka Cultural Studies. Henceforth, UTAR will annually offer five UTAR-Meizhou Student Scholarships for outstanding students in Meizhou City.

Introducing UTAR to the guests who are visiting for the first time, he said, “UTAR was established in 2002. Although still a young university, UTAR has achieved various commendable results such as being named one of the ‘top three Malaysian universities in terms of number of citations per paper’ in year 2015 by QS World University Rankings recently.” He added, “Our capable graduates are popular among the industries, such as well-known Chinese company Huawei, which has repeatedly come to UTAR for recruitment.”


Zhang expressing her delight in working together

Commenting on the bronze sculpture of Confucius and Einstein, Zhang said, “The sculpture symbolises the convergence of wisdom from both the East and the West and impressed me a lot. I believe the multiracial, multicultural, and multireligious environment in Malaysia and UTAR will provide our students with a good platform to learn cultural adaptation.” She also gave a brief introduction about Meizhou City’s history and culture during the meeting.


Dr Chong introducing the research conducted in Hakka Studies

Dr Chong, as a representative for ICS’s Hakka Studies, gave an introduction on the Hakka community in Malaysia and shared on the research findings throughout the years. “Hakka people form the second largest subgroup of the ethnic Chinese population in Malaysia and there is much worthwhile research we can conduct in Hakka Studies.” Besides that, he explained on the field studies conducted in collaboration with Taiwan’s National Chiao Tung University recently and hoped for similar collaboration with Meizhou’s institutions in the future.

With the MoU marking the beginning of much future collaboration, both parties welcomed every opportunity to cooperate with each other.


UTAR representatives together with the visitors from MCPG

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73707

First offshore Mencius Institute at UTAR


The VIPs and UTAR staff and students

UTAR reached a new milestone with the establishment of the first offshore Mencius Institute (孟子学院) at its Kampar Campus on 4 August 2016.

The first Mencius Institute was established in Xuzhou, China in 2008 under the joint initiatives of Jiangsu Normal University (JSNU), China Zoucheng Heritage Tourism Bureau, and Xuzhou Mengshi Clan Friendship Network to promote the study and research of Mencius, his Confucian thoughts, and also Chinese culture. To further promote these overseas, the institute chose UTAR as its first anchor point to establish the first ever offshore Mencius Institute.

The Mencius Institute at UTAR will emphasise on the dissemination and promotion of Chinese culture integrated with educational activities for all, further allowing keen learners to gain deeper insight into Chinese history, geography, humanity and the essence of Chinese culture.

Invited to grace the opening ceremony was Senator Dato’ Dr Hou Kok Chung, who was cordially received by UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik. Also present at the inauguration were Jiangsu Normal University Council Chairman Prof Xu Fangming, Mencius Thought Research Association President Meng Shuqin, UTAR Council Member Hew Fen Yee, UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, and Dean of UTAR Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) Assoc Prof Dr Chong Siou Wei.

The event commenced with Dato’ Hou unveiling the plaque of the Mencius Institute located at UTAR ICS building, followed by an opening ceremony which was attended by over 100 staff and students.


From left: Meng, Prof Xu, Dato’ Hou and Prof Chuah applauding after unveiling the plaque

“It is a great honour for UTAR to establish the first offshore Mencius Institute. As the most well-known Confucian philosopher besides Confucius, Mencius’ thoughts and stories have inspired generations of people in perceiving and living life, as well as perfecting attitude to life. I believe that the inauguration will greatly benefit the university community by creating an atmosphere which encourages the learning of humanistic values,” remarked Prof Chuah during his welcome speech. “The Mencius Institute will also promote sharing of knowledge and academic expertise, further helping us to enrich elective courses such as Confucianism in Modern Society and others. This is in line with UTAR’s six pillars of education, namely Virtue and Morality, Knowledge and Intellect, Physical and Mental Health, Sociality and Humanitarianism, Aesthetics and Harmony, and Creativity and Innovation; and our commitment in providing holistic education, which focuses not only on students’ academic development, but also the cultivation of humanism,” he added.


Prof Chuah welcoming the guests

Concurring with Prof Chuah, Prof Xu said, “The Mencius Institute is very much in sync with UTAR’s founding principle (of ‘by the people, for the people’) as it is community-oriented and engages different segments of society to contribute to its overall progress and development.” He also highlighted that ICS’s impressive teaching and research strength, coupled with the sizeable Malaysian Chinese population with relatively well developed Chinese education infrastructure as well as enthusiasm in cultural inheritance, are amongst the top reasons for the Mencius Institute to anchor itself to Malaysian shores. “UTAR is highly reputed among the JSNU community following an exclusive coverage by JSNU on our nine postgraduate students’ enriching and extraordinary learning experience at UTAR. Therefore, with our strengthened collaborative ties, I hope there’ll be more of such exchange programmes and we welcome UTAR students to visit JSNU for learning and research opportunities.”


Prof Xu explaining the significance of the establishment of Mencius Institute

On behalf of the Mencius Thought Research Association and the Mengshi Clan Friendship Network, Meng congratulated UTAR on the institute’s inauguration. “The establishment of UTAR’s Mencius Institute heralds a new era in this country for the promulgation of universal values advocated by Mencius. Staff and students are able to use this platform for knowledge transfer and cultural exchange, further helping the institute to grow and progress. The Mengshi Clan Friendship Network also provides assistance to those interested in carrying out research in fields related to Mencius. With the support given by all, I strongly believe that the institute’s various projects and development will bear fruits of success.”


Meng congratulating UTAR on the establishment of the first offshore Mencius Institute

Dato’ Hou described UTAR as a “cultural fortress” and that the establishment of the first offshore Mencius Institute at the university is a great advantage. “Culture relies greatly on education, and it is through education that we understand the culture’s essence and significance upon practising, thus enabling us to live a more meaningful, purposeful and fruitful life. UTAR is a university by the people and is growing exponentially despite its young age. It has all the favourable conditions to have a Mencius Institute which will share positive cultural values and essence to a wider group of people,” Dato’ Hou explained.


Dato’ sharing his thoughts on UTAR’s Mencius Institute and its future

The event ended with a souvenir presentation session and group photograph, followed by a keynote address on Mencius and Confucianism titled “Dialogue among civilisations: Confucianism and Mencius through global lens” by Prof Xu, who is also an eminent TV host for the China Central Television (CCTV) television programme Lecture Room (百家讲坛).


Prof Chuah presenting tokens of appreciation to (clockwise from top left) Dato’ Hou, Prof Xu and Meng


Prof Xu (second from right) presenting a souvenir to Prof Chuah while Dato’ Hou and Meng look on


Dr Chong receiving a portrait of Mencius from Meng while Prof Chuah and Dato’ Hou look on


Group photo of the VIPs

The delegates also visited UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 1 August 2016 to explore collaborative opportunities and promote mutual understanding.

The scope of activities by UTAR’s Mencius Institute include summer or winter culture camps, experiential learning about Chinese cultural heritage, seminars as well as academic talks focusing on Confucianism and traditional Chinese philosophy.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73723

Agriculture Technology Workshop II


Speakers, participants and organisers posing at the end of the workshop

Once again expanding their efforts to educate students, staff and the public on organic farming, UTAR’s Centre for Biodiversity Research (CBR) together with the Faculty of Science (FSc) and Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research (IPSR) organised their second Agriculture Technology Workshop on 17 July 2016 at the Kampar Campus.

Continuing from their first workshop that was successfully organised at Cameron Highlands in 2014, this year’s workshop was themed ‘DIY: Vermicomposting and Bokashi Composting’ and featured two experienced speakers, namely Wynnee Goh and Angie Yim, to share their insights on organic farming.

In his opening remarks, Organising Chairperson Prof Dr Ooi Aun Chuan expressed his thanks to the sponsor, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) for making the workshop possible and to the participants for their support.

“The attendance from the public today shows a positive response and interest to organic farming. As the workshop aims to enlighten participants on various approaches in vermicomposting and Bokashi Composting and to encourage participants’ involvement in these environmentally friendly processes, we also included other subtopics such as biological control, ecology and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to share with everyone,” said Prof Ooi.

Initiating the first half of the workshop on vermicomposting, Yim demonstrated the setting up of a home worm bin and elucidated the various species of worms used in composting the waste. Participants actively participated as they learnt of the ways to manage the bin from the demonstration and discovered the benefits of enzymes produced from the compost. The aerobic process is also believed to be helpful in eliminating odour from the waste.

Goh continued the workshop with her topic on Bokashi Composting and shared her three years’ experience with the participants. She dexterously demonstrated the steps involved in preparing the compost, using the microorganisms mixed into the carbon base to ferment the food waste. Participants were informed that the composting process would take three to four weeks to complete and the final product can then be used as fertiliser for plants.

The workshop saw the participation of both young and old who were able to expand their knowledge of organic farming. Besides inculcating farming skills, the workshop also served as a platform for participants to exchange information through the Q&A session.

The workshop then ended with souvenir presentations to the speakers by Faculty of Science Dean Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng and a group photograph.


Yim explaining the home bin system


Yim describing the various worms used for composting


Goh demonstrating the setting up of the compost


Goh guiding participants in preparing the Bokashi compost


Dr Lim presenting tokens of appreciation to Yim (left) and Goh

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73730

SoSE 2016


From left: IPSR Director Prof Dr Faidz bin Abd Rahman, Dato’ Aminah, Prof Chuah, Dr Sariah, Asean Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET) President Datuk Hong Lee Pee, Teoh, Organising Chairperson Winnie Er Pek Hoon, MTSF winners Sia Peng Yee and Dr Choong Chee Guan

Over 300 educators were present at the 3rd Symposium on Science Education, themed ‘Inculcating Innovation in the Teaching of Science and Mathematics’, held at Sungai Long Campus on 13 August 2016.

It aimed to share innovative and effective teaching methods in STEM education, create awareness of adopting modern and innovative teaching methods of STEM subjects, and provide networking opportunities for STEM educators from various schools, colleges and universities.


Sia (left) demonstrating how lessons can be taught in the classroom

“When students are able to apply and relate the knowledge learnt to their daily lives and for creative innovation, these subjects will become exceptionally intriguing and fun. Educators must be aware that young learners learn best through hands-on experience as it creates curiosity and interest in learning,” said Ministry of Education (MoE), Curriculum Development Director Dr Sariah Binti Abdul Jalil.

“As all of us are aware, there is a steady decline in enrolment of students for STEM subjects and this is indeed a cause for concern. The world is increasingly defined by the advancement of science and technology and there is a need to arrest this steady decline,” said Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik.


Teoh providing ideas for developing effective teaching aids

“Jobs in STEM-related careers are some of the fastest growing and best paid of the 21st century, and they often have the greatest potential for job growth. Therefore, it is important that our students are well versed in these subjects,” said Representative of Majlis Profesor Negara, Kluster Pendidikandan Pembangunan Modal Insan Prof Emeritus Dato’ Dr Aminah Ayob.

Award winners of the Malaysian Toray Science Foundation (MTSF), Guru Cemerlang, Ikon Guru, Global Teacher Prize and others shared their experience, ideas and thoughts on innovative and effective teaching methods for STEM subjects.


Sasbadi Learning Solutions’ Tengku Hazrul Tengku Haizar demonstrating Lego robotics

In addition, there was a hands-on workshop by Malaysian Mental Literacy Movement (MMLM) trainer Teoh Poh Yew on developing innovative teaching aids to help students understand mathematical concepts.

This symposium was organised by UTAR’s Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT), Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research (IPSR), and Division of Programme Promotion (DPP), together with the Majlis Profesor Negara (MPN) and Kuala Lumpur Engineering Science Fair (KLESF), and supported by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MoE), Toray Group (Malaysia), SASBADI and GTI Media.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73731

International Culture Day

The Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC) for Sungai Long Campus, Arts and Cultural Performance unit students, several UTAR international students and staff jointly organised the International Culture Day: Malam Budaya (Cultural Night) on 12 August 2016 at Sungai Long Campus.

Present at the Cultural Night were UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, sponsors, DSSC’s trainers and UTAR staff. Aimed to promote the advantages of cultural strength and diversity in the university, the Cultural Night also saw participants from various countries besides Malaysia such as Jordan, Nigeria and South Sudan.

At the opening ceremony, Prof Choong said, “An event like this enables us to learn a great deal by working with friends from various ethnic, cultural, geographic, socioeconomic, linguistic and religious backgrounds. Such an opportunity is certainly an open door for you to have real interactions with peers from diverse backgrounds before you enter your future workplace.”

There was a range of enthralling performances at the Cultural Night. The first session consisted of Japanese Fan Dance, Vietnamese and Chinese Dance, and a Japanese song presentation titled ‘Tokyo’. The second session comprised a variety of traditional and modern performances: Korean Mask Dance, Traditional Indian Dance, Cowboy & Irish Tap Dance, Modern Dance and Diabolo.

The highlight at the Cultural Night was the Fashion Show with models wearing beautiful traditional costumes which drew thunderous applause from the audience. Awards were presented to two respective winners for the Best Male Traditional Costume and Best Female Traditional Costume. The event also saw prizes won by some guests and participants at the Lucky Draw.

The International Culture Day: Malam Budaya concluded with a group of eight singers performing Michael Jackson’s ‘We Are the World’ in different languages, namely English, Chinese, Tamil and Arabic.



Japanese Fan Dance


Vietnamese and Chinese Dance


Models in traditional costumes at the Fashion Show


A choir singing ‘We Are the World’


Booth selling Nigerian food and traditional clothes


Some performers taking photos with the Fashion Show models


All the performers with the guests at the end of the Cultural Night

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73733

IEM UTAR crowned best student section


Teo (centre) receiving the award from YES Chairman Kok Jing Shun, as IEM President Ir Tan Yean Chin looks on

IEM UTAR Student Section 2015-2016 (IEM UTAR-SS) of the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) won the award of Outstanding IEM Student Section 2016 at the Institution of Engineers Malaysia-Young Engineers Section (IEM-YES) National Summit 2016 Closing Ceremony held at Hilton Kuching, Sarawak on 30 July 2016.

They were awarded based on their outstanding performances in organising activities that focused on the importance of engineering professions, such as the Engineering Fiesta and IEM visits.


IEM UTAR-SS’ Outstanding IEM Student Section 2016 trophy

“It was an honour for us to be awarded as the best student section for the third year in a row. Our deepest appreciation goes to UTAR for giving us a platform to learn and grow; thank you for believing in us,” said ex-Chairman of IEM UTAR-SS 2015-2016 Teo Hock Meng. He also thanked their advisor Ir Dr Khoo Hooi Ling, YES, and his committee members for their endless support.


IEM UTAR-SS committee receiving the ‘Best Society Award (Course Based)’ from UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat


IEM UTAR-SS 2015-2016 committee members posing with Dr Khoo (front, third from left) and KLC FES Dean Prof Ir Dr Goi Bok Min (front, centre)

The summit acts as a platform for young engineers, graduates and IEM student sections from all higher-learning institutions to exchange ideas, experiences and achievements, while providing networking opportunities with professionals.

The IEM-YES National Submit 2016 was organised by YES’s Sarawak Branch in collaboration with IEM. It was held at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus from 28 to 31 July 2016.


Participants of IEM-YES National Submit 2016

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73737

UTAR Caring Community 2.0


The volunteers for Caring Community 2.0

The UTAR Caring Community 2.0 was a gotong-royong event organised by the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) held on 12 August 2016 at Sungai Long Campus.

The gotong-royong was a continuation of the UTAR Caring Community project started in April 2016. The initiative incorporates the spirit of volunteerism and co-operation, inculcates caring towards the environment, and at the same time promotes selflessness for the benefit of the residents of the Sungai Long community.

“I feel motivated after the gotong-royong but I hope the next gotong-royong will include more participation of residents from Bandar Sungai Long, as well as more UTAR staff and students to create the muhibbah feeling,” said V. Vidyarthini from Chemical Engineering.

Chemical Engineering student S. Brinthawani said, “I feel so much more connected to the environment after this gotong-royong. I like how an event like this enables me to get to know new friends and talk to the neighbourhood people.”

International Business student Tan Shiong Yeek gave a talk on the concept of volunteerism during the interaction activity at the Multi-purpose Hall (MPH). Currently, he is a member of Uniting Gens (UG), which is an interest group from ChangeU International that aspires to bring people together to spread love, not hate. During his sharing moment, he mentioned, “we need more people who share the same idea of volunteerism to create a harmonious environment for all to live in.”

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr Myo Oo said, “I made new friends through this event and I think I am playing my role in taking care of the environment, but there is still space for improvement in educating the public on conserving our environment and ensuring cleanliness in our neighbourhood.”

The event adjourned after some refreshments at MPH.


Registration booth


Students picking up rubbish along the alley


Staff and students collecting water bottles from the drain


Volunteers working together along the walkway of Block KB

Tan sharing his opinion on volunteerism

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73754

Nirvana founder inspires UTARians

Nirvana Asia Group’s Founder and NV Foundation Honorary Chairman YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Kong Hon Kong inspired UTARians through his talk on “How to Create a Life That Shines” at the Sungai Long Campus on 15 August 2016.

The talk was organised by the Department of Consultancy and Commercialisation and the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS). Besides the speaker, NV Foundation Vice President Tan Kean Huat, UTAR Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, and ICS Dean Assoc Prof Dr Chong Siou Wei were also present at the talk.

Prof Lee said in his welcome remark, “Success is made up of ups and downs. I hope the audience, especially our students, will learn how Tan Sri has strived towards his dreams against all adversities.” He advised, “The roles of an entrepreneur goes beyond the business world. I wish that this talk will enlighten budding entrepreneurs on how entrepreneurial ventures are conducted, and how they influence the business community and the largest society beyond a single organisation.”

The founder of the largest integrated bereavement care service provider in Asia shared his life stories as he triumphed over adversities to achieve his dreams. He encouraged the audience especially the potential entrepreneurs to be courageous and learn from their failures. “Failures and downturns are the precursors to reaching your ambitions. Being able to overcome challenges and learn from these experiences will help you to better cope with a multitude of hardships before you can enjoy the fruits of your labour.”


Tan Sri Kong speaking about his entrepreneurial ventures

Tan Sri Kong added, “Most times, we are hindered by obstacles and apprehensive about new changes simply because we refuse to endure struggle and are often petrified by the unknown. Nevertheless, being able to face and overcome challenges helps you to build the willpower to face larger obstacles in life that you could never imagine before. You must condition yourselves to embrace your imperfections and at the same time learn to counteract your disadvantages.”

At the end of the talk, Tan Sri Kong highlighted that courage, passion and human network are also key to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He added, “Reading is a form of investment in yourself. Reading various genres of books, including biographies of notable figures, can help you to understand how success can be achieved, and how to materialise your dreams and ambitions.”

The talk saw some 180 participants making up the audience, with the presence of representatives from Nirvana Asia Group as well as UTAR staff and students.


Tan Sri Kong (front row, centre) with the audience


Prof Lee (left) presenting a fruit basket to Tan Sri Kong


The audience at the talk


Students and staff at the Q&A session

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73755

IPRMSA - UTAR Chapter launches

The Institute of Public Relations Malaysia Student Association (IPRMSA) — UTAR Chapter was officially launched at Kampar Campus on 9 August 2016.

Invited to officiate the opening of the IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter was Second Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan. On hand to receive him were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) Dean Dr Alia Azalea, and IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter Director Chew Luck. Other invited guests included IPRM Education Committee Chairperson Prof Dr Kiranjit Kaur representing IPRM President Dato’ Haji Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, UTAR PR programme external examiner Assoc Prof Dr Amiso M. George from Texas Christian University, UTAR Planning and Development Committee Advisor Tan Sri Hew See Tong, Industry Advisor-cum-CEO of Intelectasia Consultancy Manminder Kaur Dhillon, former Industry Advisor-cum-Executive Director of JLPW Communications Jackie Leong Lai Yin, and Yeo Hiap Seng (Malaysia) Bhd Corporate Communications Senior Manager Joe Wong.

Also present were PR alumni Eric Moo Hong Yuen, Chia Yi Jing, Bey Bun Kiat and Wong Jia Min, who were earlier invited to share with their juniors on their past involvement as PR students in the annual PR campaigns as well as current working experiences in the field of PR and Strategic Communication.


Second Year PR student Lee Yin May moderating the panel discussion and sharing session by alumni


From left: Bey, Chia, Lee, Wong and Moo

Introducing IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter’s raison d'être and significance, Chew said that it aims to enhance PR students’ practical skills, while building rapport with professionals from the PR industry. “Furthermore, we aim to train and keep PR students updated with current industry practices through various programmes, as well as to strengthen the relationships among the IPRMSA members and students from other universities. Another objective is also to create opportunities for networking, exchanging of views, and sharing of knowledge, experiences and ideas for improvement between the students and professional PR practitioners, further heightening our competency in our jobs,” the second year PR student explained.

Heartened by the PR students initiative in actively collaborating with professional institutions like IPRM, Prof Chuah said, “The PR students have been very supportive of the university’s efforts in giving back to the community by organising campaigns benefitting the local community. Last year, the campaign managed to win the Malaysia Public Relations Award under the Public Sector Category, enabling our students’ work to be widely recognised by the industry. With this IPRSMA — UTAR Chapter, there’ll be an even more solid platform for students to enrich themselves.” Citing the student chapter as a gateway between academia and the industry, Prof Chuah also encouraged the students to make full use of the opportunity to network with industry experts and also to continue learning even after graduating.

Congratulating UTAR on being the seventh local institution of higher learning to have a student chapter after Universiti Teknologi MARA, International Islamic University Malaysia, HELP University, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Utara Malaysia, and SEGi University, Prof Kiranjit also welcomed the members to keep in close contact with IPRM. “IPRM was established in 1962 to promote and enhance the professionalism among PR practitioners in Malaysia through trainings, as well as provide a conducive environment for professional and ethical practice. The institute’s Education Chapter looks into the accreditation of PR courses, professionals and academics. Collaboration is key to greater success, so I hope that IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter will collaborate with the other six student chapters to jointly look into more programmes, CSR activities and other areas.”

Thanking UTAR for the invitation, Dato’ Seri Ong expressed his confidence that the careers of UTAR PR graduates are bright as they are sought after by various industries to enhance brand visibility and engagement. Speaking from his experience, Dato’ Seri Ong also highlighted the importance of PR and also the skills in multilateral and bilateral trading to generate interests, as well as the ability to network strategically with trade partners on the international stage. “What you have learnt from UTAR and from the activities by the student chapter will be very relevant and useful in your future careers. PR practitioners need to embrace technology and must be equipped with the right skills,” he mentioned.


Clockwise from top left: Chew, Prof Chuah, Dato’ Seri Ong and Prof Kiranjit delivering speeches

The event reached its highlight with the VIPs being invited on stage to officially launch the opening of the IPRSMA — UTAR Chapter.


From left: Tan Sri Hew, Prof Kiranjit, Prof Chuah, Dato’ Seri Ong, Chew, Dr Alia and Dr George at the launch of the IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter


From left: Tan Sri Hew, Prof Kiranjit, Prof Chuah, Dato’ Seri Ong, Manminder, Dr George, Leong, Wong, Dr Alia and Chew

In line with the university’s commitment in providing a supportive and enriching environment for students to realise their full potential and develop industry-relevant skills, the event was also followed by a keynote address titled “Crisis Communication and Media Roles” by Dr George, as well as a panel discussion consisting industry experts Manminder, Leong and Wong. Attended by over 100 students, the panel discussion saw the trio speaking candidly about their professional experiences, sharing insights about the country’s current PR and Communication landscape, as well as advice for budding PR practitioners.


Dr Cheah Phaik Kin (left) from FAS Department of PR moderating the panel discussion


From left: Manminder, Dr George, Dr Cheah, Leong and Wong

With the motto “Talk with action, perform beyond expectation”, IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter strives to provide a strategic platform for UTAR PR to upgrade their skills through a multitude of activities which primarily connect them with the industry and broaden their horizons. Upcoming activities for 2016 include Industry Field Trip, Industry Experts Talk and PR Workshop.


The organising committee of the IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter Launching Ceremony

This post has been edited by cnvery: Aug 27 2016, 12:46 AM

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74776

New Village Collaborative Project with UST and NCTU


The guests and participants

The New Village Collaborative Project between UTAR and the University System of Taiwan (UST) made a comeback following last year’s successful joint venture focusing on new villages and aboriginal villages in Pahang.

This year, the UST team led by Assoc Prof Dr Lo Lieh-Shih was also joined by another National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) team, under the “Field Trips and Travel Studies” (异地教学) initiative led by Assoc Prof Dr Shu Wei-Der and also Dr Lo. The UST team comprising 11 Taiwanese students focused on new villages in Kampar’s Sungai Siput Selatan, whereas the NCTU team comprising 15 students concentrated on the history of Kampar’s old town and its surrounding multiracial community.

Both teams were cordially received by UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Institute of Chinese Studies Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Dr Wong Wun Bin, and Head of Department of Soft Skills Competency for Kampar Campus Hee Chwen Yee at the opening ceremony held on 22 July 2016 at Kampar Campus.

Also invited to the ceremony was Deputy Director of Kinta Tin Mining (Gravel Pump) Museum Chew Sin Long, who briefly introduced the various places of interests in Sungai Siput Selatan, the people’s livelihoods, and also the potential of improving the visibility of the quaint new village.

As an accompanying project supervisor from UTAR, Dr Wong also highlighted the reason Kampar and Sungai Siput Selatan were selected for research and study purposes. “Malaysia is undoubtedly rich in terms of historical context, and the historied Kinta Valley is part of this richness. Previously, we’ve carried out research and field trips on Gopeng. This time around, the focus will be on Kampar, specifically the Sungai Siput Selatan new villages and also Kampar old town, allowing us to have a more in-depth study on these two places,” he told.

Delighted by the strong ties between UTAR and UST which have sparked continuous collaborative projects, Prof Choong said, “As UTAR aspires to be a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact, it is important to be working closely with partners from all over the world. The collaboration with UST and NCTU has certainly helped UTAR in reaching its vision.” He also proceeded to thank UST and NCTU for the collaboration opportunity as the mutually beneficial working relationship benefits not only the students, but also the communities nearby.


Clock-wise from top left: Chew, Dr Wong and Prof Choong

Dr Lo and Dr Shu also stated that it is an honour to be working closely with UTAR on community engagement projects as such. “It’s always heartening to share the same passion with a group of enthusiastic students and lecturers who make work more enjoyable, enriching and endearing. It is only with mutual interest and support from the locals that we are able to produce favourable results and newfound ideas which will be highly beneficial for posterity, which in this context is how we can prevent the disappearance of new villages due to an ageing population, and also induce others to remember the past history of an old town which was once colourful and meaningful.”


Prof Choong (middle) presenting a token of appreciation to Dr Shu while Dr Wong looks on


Prof Choong received a souvenir from Dr Lo

During their three-week long stay, both teams managed to accomplish their projects under the guidance and support of the project supervisors and community leaders. An added bonus to them was the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local cultures through field trips, food sampling and other activities.

NCTU Group Leader Huang Yuwen was delighted to be involved in research on the history of Kampar’s old town. “Cultural anthropology and the humanities have always been my favourite study areas. Hence, it was an insightful trip to me as I got to learn about Kampar’s past history which showed that multiculturalism has been in existence since long ago. This is evident through the co-existence of Chinese temples, Sikh Gurdwaras, chapels, churches, Hindu temples, and mosques,” the postgraduate student added.

The UST group, on the other hand, successfully launched a series of community engagement projects involving primary school children, while also engaging social media as a means to improve the visibility of these aging new villages by introducing them to Malaysians and the world.


Outdoor activities at Sungai Siput Selatan


UST students with primary school children


Serving food to the school children

During the closing ceremony on 7 August 2016 at Sungai Siput Selatan, UST Group Leader Lo Fang Yi said that he was humbled by the experience of working on this project which will benefit the community in the long term. “Most of us were not acquainted with one another prior to this. However, this new village project has managed to bring us together as a big family. It feels rewarding to come together as a team and brainstorm ideas, thinking how best to tap into the potential of Sungai Siput Selatan and introduce to others its beauty and its people, and in turn rekindle the love of the people who were born here but are currently residing elsewhere,” Lo mentioned.

Echoing Lo’s sentiment was UTAR student representative Yim Jian Nam, who was one of the UTAR students who worked alongside the UST team in the project. “Coming together is the beginning and working together results in success. We’ve had so much fun learning and working together as a team that we’re like one big happy family. This New Village Collaborative Project has certainly broadened my horizon and encouraged me to participate more in such activities as it’s also a platform for me to network with people from different backgrounds,” shared the Final Year Biomedical Science student.


Lo (left) and Yim sharing their experiences

Representing UTAR President at the closing ceremony was Dean of UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology Dr Yap Vooi Voon, who said in his speech, “UTAR is a not-for-profit private university with the core principle of ‘by the people, for the people’. The establishment of this university was made possible due to the trust and support from society. Therefore, UTAR’s success today is very closely linked with the community and it is due to this fact that is why the benefit and wellbeing of the community have always been at the heart of UTAR. Acts of outreach to the community, engaging with them and servicing them have always been an important aspect of UTAR’s holistic education.” He added that the New Village Collaborative Project is one of the many initiatives by UTAR to bring itself closer to the community.


Dr Yap presenting a certificate of participation during the closing ceremony


UTAR and UST students with the guests and villagers

Curtains were officially drawn for the three-week project following a souvenir and certificate presentation ceremony and group photograph session.

UST consists of four institutions of higher learning from Taiwan, namely National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), National Tsing Hua University, National Central University, and National Yang Ming University. Both UTAR and UST have been working closely the last several years on several projects ranging from academic projects to community betterment.

This post has been edited by cnvery: Sep 7 2016, 01:53 PM

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73770

Chinese embassy awards financial aid

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia awarded financial aid to 20 UTAR students. The award giving ceremony was held on 25 August 2016 at Sungai Long Campus.

The award recipients were 20 Malay undergraduates evenly chosen from the Kampar and Sungai Long Campuses. A total of RM60,000 was disbursed by the embassy for this financial aid award with each deserving UTAR student given RM3,000 in recognition of their academic achievements. The financial aid award was specially created and given solely on this occasion only.

Present at the award giving ceremony were its guest of honour, the Malaysian Second Minister of International Trade and Industry, YB Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan; the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, His Excellency Dr Huang Huikang; and UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik. The ceremony also saw the presence of UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat, as well as Third Secretary Gao Shuang and Attaché Bai Yuzhu from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia.


Back row, sixth from left: Gao, Prof Chuah, His Excellency Dr Huang, YB Dato’ Seri Ong, Prof Ewe, and Bai with the financial aid award recipients

In his welcome speech, Prof Chuah expressed his heartiest gratitude to the Embassy and His Excellency for providing financial support to the commendable students through this meaningful award. He elaborated, “UTAR as a non-profit university constantly emphasises its obligation to give back to society since its inception. To date, RM107.8 million worth of internal scholarships and more than RM6 million of internal loans have been disbursed to over 12,226 deserving UTAR students.”

“Through MoUs and collaborative agreements with many local and international universities and industrial partners, UTAR is able to sustain its growth to provide more opportunities for student and staff exchanges, trainings, internships and research collaborations.” Prof Chuah added, “The recent setup of the first offshore Mencius Institute in our Kampar Campus marked another milestone in UTAR’s history to becoming a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact.”

Citing UTAR graduates’ employment rate of 97% within six months of graduation, Prof Chuah attributed the high employability to the students’ adaptability to multicultural and multilingual environments. He advised, “I hope our students will capitalise on their strengths at the workplace, and continue the university’s legacy by giving back to the university through any form of contribution you are capable of.”


His Excellency Dr Huang speaking at the award giving ceremony

Speaking at the award giving ceremony, Dr Huang enthused, “Today’s ceremony demonstrates that the embassy is interested about Malaysian education, besides the country’s development in other aspects. We do not only pay attention to the Chinese community, but also to other Malaysian communities such as the Malay students. It is my wish that this initiative generates awareness that comprehensiveness and inclusiveness are important assets in sustaining the amicable friendship between China and Malaysia.”

“Knowledge is power; align yourselves with UTAR’s philosophy of ‘by the people, for the people’. The embassy hopes to contribute to society as we believe everyone should have equal access to education. Therefore, we wish to help students to achieve their dreams in spite of their financial difficulties.” Dr Huang added, “I am very impressed that UTAR as a young university has established such strong foundations by expanding its scholastic strengths through continuous academic development and international networking with multiple collaborative partners. I yearn to see more students materialising their ambitions through their studious ventures in UTAR and contributing to their respective communities, as well as the nation in the future.”

Dato’ Seri Ong said, “The award goes beyond an act of generosity as it recognises the students’ achievements which will encourage them to strive further on their scholastic journeys.” He highlighted that the world is progressing towards increasing integration where holistic mind-sets are key to fostering closer relationships between all economies. “China and Malaysia enjoy a special bond where we are interdependent and mutually important, sharing ties that bind us socially and economically. As such, the bridge for cultural, commercial and educational exchanges between China and Malaysia remains sturdy to this day.”

He added, “The financial aid award has made this bridge of connection even stronger. This event initiated by the embassy as a caring gesture goes beyond the boundaries of race and culture in support of education and the close ties between China and Malaysia. I do hope the students will pass on this gesture to others in need when the time comes in the future.”


Some award recipients with Prof Chuah and His Excellency Dr Huang

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74778

MoU with Sunway Medical Centre


From left: Dr Khoo, Lau, Tan Sri Cheah, Prof Chuah and Prof Ewe

UTAR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sunway Medical Centre Sdn Bhd on 25 August 2016 at Sunway Medical Centre, Swan Convention Centre.

Signing on behalf of the parties were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and Sunway Group Healthcare Services Managing Director Lau Beng Long. It was witnessed by UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat and Sunway Group Healthcare Services Deputy Managing Director and Sunway Medical Centre Chief Executive Officer Dr Khoo Chow Huat. Also present were Founder and Chairman of the Sunway Group Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Dean Emeritus Prof Dr Cheong Soon Keng, Department of Nursing Head S. Sheela Devi and UTAR staff.

The MoU established a platform for UTAR and Sunway Medical Centre to have future collaborations in advancing nursing education and creating career opportunities, as well as joint efforts such as career fairs, conferences, recruitment drives, health seminars, talks, workshops and exhibitions to benefit both parties and the public.

“I believe the signing of this MoU enables us to move forward together towards the increased development of the healthcare sector, especially in training the nurses to provide intensive care. I am proud to be associated with UTAR as a fast growing university that is known for its academic excellence,” remarked Lau.

“I hope this will be an active MoU with Sunway Medical Centre whereby we help each other to ensure that our future nurses are well trained for future success to reach our ultimate goal, which is to improve and develop the nursing sector to enhance the Malaysian healthcare industry as a whole,” said Prof Chuah.

The signing ceremony adjourned after both parties exchanged tokens of appreciation.


Lau and Prof Chuah during their speech

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74779

Innovation in University: Impacts and Challenges


Staff, students and speakers

The Institute of Management and Leadership Development (IMLD) organised a talk called “Innovation in University: Impacts and Challenges” at Sungai Long Campus on 12 August 2016.

The talk featured two international speakers known as Prof Robert Tijssen and Prof Wong Poh Kam. Prof Robert Tijssen holds the positions of the Chair of Science and Innovation Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, a professorship at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and as an international research partner at the Centre for Global Higher Education at University College London in the United Kingdom. His current work interest focuses on 21st century universities, the socioeconomic impacts of science, and university rankings.

Meanwhile, Prof Wong Poh Kam is a professor at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) School of Business and is director for the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre. His achievements consist of publishing numerous international refereed journals on innovation policy, industrial and competitiveness policy, and technology entrepreneurship, while providing consultation for international agencies.

The talk aimed to bring about innovation in universities which seek to enhance their research and its application to their work, and also to boost revenue through university-industry partnerships. Ideally, an innovative university possesses several organisational conditions such as well-equipped facilities and equipment, adequate funding resources and managerial structures which offer opportunities for novel research, teaching and training and enhanced creativity, a culture of excellence that fosters competitiveness and collaboration, performance-based incentives and reward systems, and human resources management and strategy that promote and sustain innovation and entrepreneurship.

In the talk, Prof Tijssen spoke on his topic “Innovative University: From World University Rankings to Entrepreneurial Academics”. The topic covered the idea of an innovative university and the criteria to measure an innovative university’s performance, along with its socioeconomic impacts and the performance indicators for university-industry linkages.

“It is not only about the research but also the quality of higher education. Innovative universities are defined by enterprising staff and students with high-quality lecturers and educators that develop professional coursework, organisers of ground-breaking cultural events, and researchers that cooperate with the industry to be involved in areas of consultancy,” said Prof Tijssen.

Prof Wong on his part shared his experiences in “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: The Experience of NUS Enterprise”. He said, “If you really want to succeed, do not look at the leaders alone, but also to look at the latecomers because it is the latecomers that are going to leapfrog and come out with innovation. While we try to learn from the best in the world, we must never copy. We must try to adapt and try to achieve impacts where they matter the most.”

The two speakers gave the audience some fascinating insights into innovation within universities and the frameworks that may induce universities to grow and make a greater impact on society.


Prof Cheng presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Tijssen


Prof Cheng presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Wong

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74781

Fostering stronger relations

A conference titled Discourse on Fostering Ethnic Relations in Malaysia was held at Sungai Long Campus on 24 August 2016. The conference aimed to foster greater interethnic understanding and relations, and unite Malaysians through interfaith dialogue.


Prof Mansor (right) receiving a gift basket from UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat

“The concept of commonality is very important for ethnic relations. Universal values that we share as well as common issues that we face, such as crime, poverty and cost of living, are strengths that bind us together,” said Head of the National Unity Cluster, National Council of Professors, Prof Dr Mansor Mohd Noor.

Prof Mansor also said that our diversity has great potential to aid Malaysia to becoming a dynamic and competitive nation, but also warned that it could be manipulated by irresponsible parties to cause discord.

The discourse was divided into two sections with differing themes. The first was ‘Dialog Antara Agama: Mencari Titik Pertemuan Kesepaduan Sosial Antara Penganut Agama (Interfaith Dialogue: Seeking the Nexus of Interfaith Social Unity)’.


From left: Dr Rajantheran, Dr Wendy, Dr Ahmad, UPM Faculty of Human Ecology Dr Lee Yok Fee, and Assoc Prof Dr Sarjit share the importance of building good ethnic relations

Prof Dr Rajantheran a/l Muniandy, from the Department of Indian Studies, University of Malaya (UM), said every religion shares common values such as piety, love of God, respect for tradition, emphasis on duty, and responsibility to uphold basic human virtues, such as nonviolence, truthfulness, compassion and charity.

“Change starts with the individual. Building a harmonious and peaceful society starts with self-reflection and transformation,” said panelist Dr Wendy Yee Mei Tien from UM.

Panellists from the Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Assoc Prof Dr Ahmad Tarmizi Bin Talib and Assoc Prof Dr Sarjit Singh Darshan Singh said the key to harmony and peace lies in our courage to learn the differences of other religions, and then embracing and acknowledging their strengths.

One of the strategies for improving ethnic relations is for people from different communities to be involved in programmes such as this, which ensures higher tolerance and forms a sense of togetherness.

The second part of the discourse was ‘Symposium: Language, Unity and Identity in Malaysia’.


From left: Dr Kamila, Dato’ Dr Saran and Dr Susan speaking on the importance of language in nation building

Language also plays a significant role in nation building as it contributes toward the forging of a national identity. Malaysia’s complex multicultural background has given birth to unique linguistic choices, such as rojak, a distinctive Malaysian speech that incorporates words borrowed from Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and others.

Assoc Prof Dr Mary Susan Philip from the Department of English Language, UM said language choice remains a highly debated issue, as some individuals in various ethnic groups still prefer to express themselves in their own languages.

Using her research on Orang Asli languages, Prof Dr Kamila Gazali, also from UM’s Department of English Language, showed that a majority of the Orang Asli communities still maintain a positive attitude towards their languages but also acknowledged the importance of learning languages that are used for trade. However, she also found out that their minority languages and even cultures are sometimes sacrificed in pursuit of attaining competence in the lingua franca.

“Multiethnic and multilingual countries like Malaysia are currently facing the challenge of creating the essential balance that is needed between national, ethnic linguistic and cultural identities,” said Prof Dato’ Dr Saran Kaur Gill from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

This conference was jointly organised by the National Council of Professors (MPN), together with UTAR's Centre of Modern Languages and Literature (CMLL) and Faculty of Creative Industries’ Department of General Studies.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74789

MoU with Alibaba.com


From left: Dr Liew, Prof Ewe, He Dongpei and Wang Hu with the signed documents

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between UTAR and Alibaba.com, a leading B2B marketplace for global trade under the Alibaba Group, on 6 September 2016 at Kampar Campus. Both parties announced their joint initiative to better equip UTAR students and staff as well as Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with e-commerce knowledge.

Signing the MoU on behalf of the parties were He Dongpei, Deputy General Manager of Operations at Alibaba.com, and UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Wang Hu, Malaysia Country Manager of Alibaba.com, and UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat. Also present at the ceremony were Business Development Manager of Alibaba.com Ben Sim, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Dean of UTAR Faculty of Information and Communication Technology Assoc Prof Dr Liew Soung Yue, Director of Division of Community and International Networking Prof Dr Cheng Ming Yu and Director of the Division of Corporate Communication and Public Relations Ong Soo Weon.

The UTAR-Alibaba.com collaboration, a part of Alibaba.com’s “Global E-commerce Talent (GET)” programme, represents the culmination of hard work between both institutions to enhance the understanding of e-commerce by UTAR students and staff, as well as Malaysian businesses. This collaboration will be implemented through the provisioning of third-party trainers by Alibaba.com to coach UTAR staff and students in e-commerce and related subjects in the core fields of e-commerce, finance and other related curriculum. Qualified trainees will receive certification from Alibaba.com. Alibaba.com will also provide students and staff with access to its online e-commerce learning platform.

Under the GET programme, 30 UTAR staff from Kampar Campus and Sungai Long Campus attended the 5-day training within the same week of the MoU signing. At the end of the training, the staff will be assessed and they will receive certification depending on the outcome of the assessment. Once certified, the trained staff can then teach students and other staff.

To roll out Alibaba.com’s GET programme to the wider community, UTAR will provide and use their online and offline platforms to facilitate the implementation and promotion of the programme in Malaysia. In addition to that, UTAR and Alibaba.com will engage other education centres, as well as academic and industry experts, for the development and improvement of GET’s course content, training of certified trainers, facilitation of trainee enrolment and certification, offline teaching, practical training, and the connection of certified trainees to potential employers at job fairs in Malaysia. UTAR will also join hands with Alibaba.com to provide training and certification programmes to SMEs in Malaysia, in a bid to grow more e-commerce talents in the local business community.

Representing UTAR President, Prof Ewe in his speech said, “UTAR is truly grateful for Alibaba.com’s initiative to establish a cooperative relationship in efforts to improve the current e-commerce business environment and to promote e-commerce in Malaysia. With this strong collaboration, we look forward to the numerous opportunities presented to us through the vigorous activities under this MoU. Therefore, with our collaboration, I believe the intellectual and personal development of staff and students will be improved and we will be able to nurture them in the right direction in response to professional and community needs.”


From left: Prof Ewe and He Dongpei addressing the audience

He Dongpei said, “We believe that the future of global e-commerce will be a driving force to promote global economic development. In fact, e-commerce in China has been growing rapidly and is almost the fastest in the world. Likewise we look to Malaysia as being home to a wealth of high-quality manufactured products that are sought after by global buyers. In spite of the growing popularity of online shopping, many Malaysian entrepreneurs and businessmen have yet to fully understand and embrace the potential opportunities that B2B e-commerce has to offer on a global scale.”

“By partnering with an influential local university like UTAR, we hope to broaden our reach to current and future business decision makers in Malaysia with the aim to cultivate e-commerce talent that will be the cornerstone of development for the industry and to build their capability and confidence in online trade,” she added.

With the mission “to make it easy to do business anywhere”, Alibaba.com has 17 years of experience connecting buyers and sellers from around the world for cross-border trade on its online wholesale marketplace. Recognising a shortage of e-commerce talent, Alibaba.com this year initiated the “Global E-Commerce Talent (GET)” programme, under which it collaborates with universities, colleges, business schools and training centres across the globe to empower cross-border trading communities through training, assessment and certification, as well as career development and guidance.


From left: Prof Choong, Dr Liew, Prof Ewe, He Dongpei, Wang Hu and Sim after the signing


GET training of UTAR staff in progress