Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=60388

VR technology at Malacca


Front row, fifth from left: Yapp, Datuk Wira, and Datuk Haji Khamis

The Centre for Immersive Technology and Creativity (CITC), a research centre with a vision of heritage and cultural preservation, presented a virtual reality (VR) walkthrough featuring traditional Malay houses at the Malay and Islamic World Museum (Muzium Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam (DMDI)) in Malacca from 23 March to 19 April 2016.

The main organiser of the exhibition was Seremban Chinese Culture Society (SCCS), along with CITC and DMDI as co-organisers. Ten Diamond served as the main sponsor. The exhibition was launched on 23 March 2016 by Pengerusi Lembaga Pengarah Perbadanan Muzium Melaka (PERZIM) Datuk Wira Haji Hamdin Bin Abdollah and Pengurus Besar Perbadanan Muzium Melaka Datuk Haji Khamis Bin Haji Abas. The opening ceremony was attended by local NGOs, culture developers, press, and students.

The Traditional Malay House VR Walkthrough by CITC's VR and AR Division 2 (VRAD2) was presented during the launch. The VR walkthrough was modeled by CITC Chairperson Aloysius Yapp and developed by Lim Chai Kim.

During the launching of the exhibition, Yapp shared his insightful thoughts on using virtual reality as a new media for preserving and presenting local culture, such as the intricate architecture of traditional Malay houses. He shared that it is important for the younger generation to pick up an interest in and take care of their heritage and culture. He also looked forward to future collaboration with PERZIM in the area of virtualisation.

It was an interesting and fascinating event that came about through the merging of traditional culture and modern technology.


The VIPs and guests at the launch


Exhibition Hall


Renderings on display

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=60390

Huawei recruitment drive

After successfully employing a total of seven alumni who possess good work ethics from UTAR last year, Huawei United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Huawei Middle East (ME) returned for another recruitment drive from 24 to 29 March 2016 at both UTAR Kampar and Sungai Long Campuses.

The positive attributes of UTAR alumni at work had greatly impressed Huawei and ensured they came back to look for potential graduating students to be recruited. This time round they were mainly seeking telecommunications engineers, but still keep an eye out for potential candidates for other positions. Huawei is a global technology company supplying telecommunications and networking equipment and solutions, and is also a collaborative partner of UTAR.

This year, the selection was made based on two exclusive interview sessions, namely a group interview and an individual interview where more than 100 eligible year three students from various faculties partook in to expose themselves to this huge career opportunity.

The candidates were tested on their knowledge of Telecommunications, Computer Technology, Information Technology, and Wireless Communications, and Automation. Apart from that, the students were also tested on their presentation skills, language competency, and ability to work together and communicate in a multicultural setting.

The recruitment drive was monitored by Vice-President of Huawei UAE Yu Junkui, Human Resource Director of Huawei UAE Zhang Huaqiao, Service Solution Speciallist of Huawei UAE Huang Hun, Procurement Manager of Huawei UAE Oon Hsu Zhen, Director of Huawei ME Network Technological Department Zhang Honghua, and Human Resource Speciallist of Huawei ME Mu Siqin.

“We would like to thank UTAR for providing us with talented individuals who will be the backbone of our company in the future. The good qualities of UTAR graduates such as dual language competency, communication skills, organisational skills, and good discipline has impressed us to be here again to recruit more UTAR graduates,” said Honghua. He added, “Today’s recruitment session is open to all and it was also aimed to spread more information about Huawei and its corporate culture to more UTAR students.”

Apart from that, a career talk was also held in conjunction with the recruitment drive. More than 100 students participated in the career talk to enlighten themselves more about Huawei and its working culture. Also present at the career talk were Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training of Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) Dr Choo Peng Yin, FICT lecturer Wong See Wan, and Deputy Director of Centre for Foundation Studies Lim Jit Theam.


Eligible candidates at the registration booth


Group interview


Seated, from left: Huang, Oon, Huaqiao, Honghua, Yu, Dr Choo, Wong, Lim, and Mu with UTAR students after the career talk

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=60426

UTAR-JACTIM Career Fair


Students at the booth

UTAR Department of Alumni Relations and Placement (DARP) jointly organised the 2016 UTAR-Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM) Career Fair that was held at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 6 April 2016.

The UTAR-JACTIM Career Fair has been held annually for the fifth time since 2012. The career fair aims to provide employment opportunities for the matching of jobs and training programmes between employers, UTAR students and alumni. It also provides an insight into Japanese companies in Malaysia and their business activities.

There were 7 Malaysia-based Japanese companies that took part in the fair; namely, Renesas Semiconductor KL Sdn Bhd, Hiro Food Packages Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, TORAY Group, NIFCO Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NSK Micro Precision Sdn Bhd, HIROSE Electric (M) Sdn Bhd, and Top Thermo Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. The companies provided information on company profiles, skills requirements, employment benefits and other related employment details.

JACTIM, formed in 1983, was established with the objective of promoting economic relations between Malaysia and Japan in the areas of international trading, commerce, industry and investment. It also promotes mutual friendship and social interaction among member companies.


The registration booth


Recruitment staff guiding the students


The HIROSE recruitment team presenting their company profile

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=60438

UTAR joins Cloudera Academic Partnership


UTAR Vice-President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat (far left) at the launch of Cloudera’s BASE (Big Analytics Skills Enablement) Initiative

UTAR is the first university in Malaysia to join the Cloudera Academic Partnership which will empower students with Big Data Analytics (BDA) skillsets. Students can also access the latest Apache Hadoop curriculum and gain employment opportunities through Cloudera partnerships.

Cloudera, the global provider of the fastest, easiest, and most secure data management and analytics platform built on Apache Hadoop and the latest open source technologies, announced that UTAR has joined the Cloudera Academic Partnership (CAP) programme. The partnership will allow UTAR students access to a curriculum, software, and skills training for the Hadoop platform.

Globally, industries are facing a talent crunch for data professionals. In Malaysia, the number of IT graduates produced each year, which numbers about 30,000, is not enough to cater to the growth of the industry, according to the country’s National ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Association (PIKOM). The association also believes that the current workforce requires upgrading and upscaling.

Cloudera’s Senior Director of marketing for APAC, Daniel Ng said, “A rapidly evolving data landscape is giving rise to a strong demand for skilled professionals that are able to deploy and manage big data initiatives on the Apache Hadoop data platform. CAP is one of the ways that Cloudera is leading the way in putting more data-skilled talents into the workforce.”

“The CAP programme not only equips students with valuable skillsets, but it also benefits public and private sector organisations as they can harness these data talents to drive innovation and gain competitive advantage. We are currently also working with partners across industries to form an ecosystem to groom more data professionals. More will be announced regarding this initiative in the coming weeks,” added Daniel.

Ir Dr Karl Ng, Director of Innovation Capital at Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) said, “Data professionals are very much in demand right now and they are in short supply. Malaysia is poised to become one of Southeast Asia’s leading BDA hubs and with Cloudera’s CAP programme, we hope to close the talent gap as well as spread the awareness on the need for more data professionals, including data scientists.”

He added, “MDeC is set to embark on a major regional big data platform where the agency brings together innovative talent development models and showcases the latest BDA technologies. MDeC believes that talents from the CAP programme will be able to fill the demand for skilful data scientists when the platform is launched.”

UTAR is the first university in Malaysia to officially join the CAP programme, which already counts over 100 academic institutions across the globe as members.

UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik commented, “As a global university of educational excellence, we are committed to promoting the use of ICT and IT-intensive learning through innovative courses and learning support systems. Cloudera’s CAP programme allows us to put together a strong curriculum that encourages the intellectual and personal development of students. The programme also allows our students to gain valuable skills that are in demand across sectors in the industry.”

How does Cloudera CAP work?

Through the CAP programme, Cloudera provides partner institutions with a complete, free, industry-standard Hadoop curriculum that can be incorporated into computer science and business analytics courses. Teaching staff and students affiliated with CAP programme institutions can freely download a wide selection of Cloudera supplementary training material and receive discounts on all Cloudera Certification examinations. Teaching staff also qualify for deep discounts on Cloudera University professional training delivered by Cloudera's team of expert Hadoop instructors, and benefit from up-to-date classroom tools, instructor forums, dedicated program support, and the world's largest Hadoop knowledge base.

Cloudera Education Software License Programme

Accredited, non-profit academic institutions can also take advantage of the more robust features of Cloudera's software suite through a special University License. CAP members have free access to Cloudera Enterprise: Data Hub Edition for 12 months to support data-intensive testing, development, and research. In conjunction with Cloudera's industry-leading open-source platform, the University License provides CAP participants with the tools needed to achieve major breakthroughs in big data.

Foundation for CAP Programme Curriculum: Cloudera University

The CAP programme curriculum was developed from the industry-leading training courses and technical certifications offered by Cloudera University, which focuses on Apache Hadoop, its ecosystem and data science. Cloudera University offers the world's most complete and comprehensive Hadoop education programmes for data professionals.

To date, Cloudera has trained more than 40,000 participants and certified more than 10,000 Hadoop professionals. Over 65 percent of the Fortune 100 and all 20 of the top 20 global technology firms have leveraged Cloudera's expertise to train employees in Apache Hadoop on university.cloudera.com.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=64455

FEGT Dean teaches in Germany

Following the MoU signing ceremony between UTAR and the Regensburg University of Applied Sciences (Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg (OTH Regensburg)) from Germany in 2014, both parties have constantly worked together to hold productive collaborations in order to benefit one another.

UTAR and OTH Regensburg have conducted numerous projects together, with one of the recent projects being the Dean of UTAR’s Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology Dr Yap Vooi Voon offering block courses at OTH Regensburg. Dr Yap most recently conducted a block course titled “Multi-processor and Multi-core Designs for Reliable Embedded Systems” from 1 to 18 March 2016.


Dr Yap (third from left) with OTH Regensburg students

The block course focused on engineering reliable embedded systems and was delivered to a group of German students who are pursuing their Dual Master’s Degree Programme in Electrical and Microelectronic Systems. Apart from block courses carried out by Dr Yap, a total of three UTAR students are currently doing their Dual Master’s Degree Programme in Electrical and Microsystems Engineering (OTH) / Electronic Systems (UTAR) in OTH Regensburg. These students organised a mini Malaysia Day in conjunction with Dr Yap’s trip to Regensburg. Through the mini Malaysia Day, the three UTAR students assisted in promoting Malaysian culture through presentations and a Malaysian food tasting event. Prof Rupert Schreiner gave an overview of the OTH Regensburg-UTAR Dual Master’s Degree Programme and Dr Yap presented the UTAR corporate video followed by a power-point presentation of UTAR and FEGT.


Prof Rupert Schreiner (left) and Dr Yap delivering their presentations


German students and staff trying out Malaysian food


From left: Dr Yap with Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) students Woon Xuet Yen, Ng Kah Haur, and Pang Kang Jiunn

The trip also marked another substantial milestone as OTH Regensburg and UTAR’s FEGT successfully secured a second grant titled “Practice Oriented Partnerships” worth RM1.8million from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The grant will support students from the Department of Electronic Engineering at FEGT to complete their final year projects at OTH Regensburg in association with German companies such as Infineon and Osram. The grant will also support staff exchanges between both universities.

Dr Yap said, “The DAAD grant will provide an opportunity for the students from UTAR to gain unique and valuable experience working in German industries.”

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=64460

MoU inked with Hume Cement Sdn Bhd


From left: Dr Tan, Dr Ng, Prof Naoto, Tan, Dr Yap, Choi, Prof Chuah, Chan, Prof Lee, Ng and Dr Lo

UTAR and Hume Cement Sdn Bhd officially inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UTAR Kampar Campus on 4 May 2016 to mark a new chapter of industry collaboration.

Representing UTAR at the signing ceremony were UTAR President, Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and UTAR Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation, Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei; while signing on behalf of Hume Cement Sdn Bhd were Hume Cement General Manager, Joonho Choi and Hume Industries Berhad (HIB) Head of Human Resources, Adam Tan Lee Yee.

Other guests from Hume included Hume Concrete Products Research Centre Sdn Bhd Senior Manager for Research and Development, Ng Kah Seng and Manager for Quality Control, Chan Yew Lai. Also present at the signing ceremony were UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) Dean Dr Yap Vooi Voon, FEGT Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Dr Lo Po Kim, FEGT Deputy Dean for Academic and Undergraduate Programmes Dr Ng Choon Aun, FEGT Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Dr Tan Kok Tat, FEGT Head of Department Dr Wai Soon Han, and SHL Professor of Construction Management Professorial Chair Prof Dr Naoto Mine.

Aimed to boost the collaboration between the two organisations, the MoU will not only unlock opportunities for student internship and consultancy projects, but also channel immense experience from the industry into the university’s engineering syllabi. “This will allow us to introduce some elective courses and revise our syllabi so that our students are more exposed to the needs of the industry,” said Prof Chuah, and added that the main function of a university is to produce knowledge workers who fit into the industry. Envisioning how UTAR graduates can further contribute to the industry, society, and humanity, Prof Chuah stressed that industry collaboration is no longer seen as a luxury but a necessity. “The MoU also promotes mutual learning between the academia and the industry because by learning from each other, the academics will also understand the industry needs and educate students more effectively.”


Prof Chuah welcoming the guests from Hume Cement

Speaking from the industry’s perspective in achieving a win-win situation, Choi is hopeful that the MoU will be a talent magnet. “The search for talents to enrich the industry and workforce has led us to work with UTAR. The collaboration also allows the students to see the cement industry in a different perspective,” explained Choi, who also mentioned that Hume Cement is member of the Hong Leong Group which has core businesses ranging from Banking and Financial Services, to Manufacturing and Distribution. “Under HIB and the Hong Leong Manufacturing Group, there is a ‘Rotation Programme’ which also allows UTAR students joining Hume Cement to explore job opportunities in other sectors besides the cement industry,” he concluded.


Choi expressing his delight to be working with UTAR

The ceremony reached its highlight with the dignitaries signing the MoU documents and ended with a souvenir presentation.


Prof Chuah (second from right) and Choi (second from left) shook hands while Tan (left) and Prof Lee (right) look on


Souvenir presentation


Prof Chuah explaining the milestones and campuses of UTAR during the tour of the UTAR Gallery

The guests from Hume Cement were later introduced to some of FEGT’s well-resourced laboratories such as the Construction Management Lab, the Environmental Lab and the Petrochemical Lab during a campus tour accompanied by FEGT staff.


The guests visiting the FEGT labs

The MoU with Hume Cement is the latest addition to the existing 217 MoUs and Memorandums of Agreement signed over the past 14 years, propelling UTAR towards its vision as a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact.

Prior collaborative projects with Hume included student internships at Hume Cement plants, exchange and sharing of testing equipment to achieve common goal towards R&D excellence and other initiatives.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=60392

Educational site visit at Sunway


The group gathered at SMC3 construction site

Forty-eight UTAR students from the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology’s (FEGT) Department of Construction Management had an educational experience during their site visit to the Sunway Medical Centre 3 (SMC3) and Commercial Precinct 4 (CP4) projects of Sunway Construction Sdn Bhd on 2 April 2016.

Initiated by Prof Dr Naoto Mine, the site visit aimed to educate students in the Building Technology III course. From the visit, students were exposed to information regarding the building and construction technologies of high-rise buildings. Citing his motto “Seeing is believing”, Prof Mine organised the visit so that students have the opportunity to gain on-site experiences that could not be learnt in the classroom. “The best way to learn building technology is to explore the construction site,” said Prof Mine, who believes that site visits are the best textbook for students.

He understood very well that construction projects are the frontline of a company, and with that, Prof Mine intended for his students to learn the technical issues and the detailed planning that goes on in a construction site. Careful planning is essential for safe and efficient construction to be carried out. More so, students were able to listen to personal experiences at briefings by the management personnel. The learning scope included piling, earthworks, architecture, external works, landscaping, and many more.

There was also new knowledge to be learnt, which was not available in the classroom, such as the assemblage of scaffolding and the types of drawings used at the site. On a wider scope, the students were taught about the piling works, formworks, reinforcement works, structural works, machinery and electricity, and finishing works involved in the construction of a high-rise building.

Year One Construction Management student Yong Jia Jun expressed his joy in being able to learn from the site visit and stated that, “I appreciate the chance given which has allowed me to improve my experience and to gain more knowledge.” He said that the site visit has taught him team management, upon watching how the experienced supervisor managed the team. At the site, Yong and his classmates were exposed to the actual working environment that proved to be helpful for their studies and also to prepare them for the future. The site visit also provided a networking platform for students to contact the organisation, which may help in their internship or work.

Agreeing with Prof Mine’s statement, Year One Construction Management student Ch’ng Hong Hoe mentioned that the site visit was an eye-opener for him because it provided a better understanding on the construction of building structures. “I was able to learn the diversity of architectural and structural aspects,” stated Ch’ng. He continued by stating that the site visit gave him experience in the practical skills involved in construction. Feeling grateful for the trip organised, he also thanked UTAR and his lecturer Prof Mine for the site visit as it was certainly a golden opportunity for Ch’ng to have learnt so much that day.

Separated into two sessions, the trip first brought the group to visit SMC3, where they were led and briefed by SMC3 Deputy Project Director Balamurugan. SMC3 is the extension project of Sunway Medical Centre located at Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya. In hopes of educating the students, Prof Mine wanted them to understand that the construction of a hospital involves the assembly of various function rooms, such as the operating theatre and X-Ray room. All these rooms require careful attention during the building process. With that understanding, the site visit to SMC3 taught the students on matters relating to earthworks, piling work, and the hospital’s finishing works which Prof Mine had taught in his previous lectures.


SMC3 project briefing by Balamurugan


SMC3 site walk

The second session continued with the visit to CP4. CP4 is one of the Sunway South Quay Development projects and is also located at Subang Jaya, Selangor. The completed commercial building will consist of a shopping mall, offices, and car parks.

CP4 Deputy Project Director Lee Meng Hua led the visit and also gave a briefing on the project. For some of the students, the visit to CP4 was their second experience as they had previously visited the site in July 2015. This group of students had the advantage of witnessing the progress of the construction after eight months. “By visiting the site twice at different periods, I was able to observe the construction processes that have taken place and the differences from before. It showed that the project had progressed quickly just as it was planned,” said Year Two Construction Management student Lim Min. From the progress, it gave these students insight into the duration needed for certain construction to be completed.

As for the first-timers at CP4, they were able to learn about the construction management system, which included time and manpower scheduling, safety management, quality management, and waste management.

The visit ended with a souvenir presentation to Balamurugan and Lee.


The students at CP4 construction site


Student Loo Xiao Ying (right) presenting a certificate of appreciation to Balamurugan


Student Sim Chuen Yee (left) presenting a certificate of appreciation to Lee

Hi...i also offer Home tuition for German language..I am a German teacher in PJ..

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Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=859730840817090

UTAR Master of Architecture (MArch)



Part 2 of the professional architecture training approved by LAM and MAPSM

Programme Features:
- Environology
- Architectural Entrepreneurship
- Industry Integration
- Green and Sustainable Design
- Research Integrations

We are accepting application for May 2016 intake.

Drop us an email at ipsr@utar.edu.my to find out more.

For more details, kindly visit http://research.utar.edu.my/ipsrweb/MArch.html


 Architecture_Flyer.pdf ( 2.97mb ) Number of downloads: 91

Dear all, does anyone want to sell 1 malaysia book vouchers? Those 5 vouchers must not written any personal details in front of it and with UTAR chop or signature behind it, I am willing to buy urgently, please pm me, Thankyou very muxh!!

For UTARians here, how the heck do you guys handle 6 subjects? Mine's all mathematical this semester and I'm seriously wondering how do I plan my studying out. Can anyone give some tips?

Plan your time wisely, do your report/assignment asap

Do your own notes after each lecture class

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=69504

Starken AAC rewards top students


Ng (centre) and Prof Chuah (fourth from right) with the award recipients

Sixteen students from UTAR’s Civil Engineering and Architecture programmes were awarded cash prizes totaling RM5,400 for their outstanding achievements in their studies at the Starken Awards held at Sungai Long Campus on 2 June 2016.

“I believe this recognition will inspire our students to strive even harder to pursue greater academic ventures and endeavours in the future, knowing that their efforts are acknowledged by prominent industry players,” said Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik.


Gan (left photo) and Teh (right photo) recieving the award from Ng

“It feels amazing to be recognised for the hard work I’ve put in,” said Gan Kang Chan, one of the winners from the Civil Engineering programme. “This award gives me encouragement and motivation to improve myself and do even better,” he continued.

Architecture student Teh Xian Zhi saw this award ceremony as an opportunity to better prepare himself and learn more about the industry. “This is a great networking opportunity for me to expose myself to learn what it is like to be in the industry,” he said.


Ng hopes to have more collaboration between both institutions

“Ir Dr Low Kaw Sai, Dr Tioh Ngee Heng, and Ir Dr Ng Soon Ching from the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) have collaborated with us on thermal conductivity tests for lightweight concrete,” said Starken AAC Sdn Bhd Executive Director Ng Wai Luen.

“This synergy between UTAR and Starken is a leading example of both institutions working together in developing innovative ideas and products for the masses. Our collaborations also enable students to be equipped with the latest skills and knowledge to be future leaders in the industry,” he continued.

Prof Chuah and Ng said both institutions are looking forward to more friendly and fruitful collaborations and opportunities in areas such as R&D projects, guest lectures and seminars, site visits, and other joint initiatives in the future.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=70512

Toastmasters at UTAR


Members at the UTAR Sungai Long Toastmasters Club meeting

The UTAR Sungai Long Toastmasters Club held its second meeting on 8 June 2016 at the Sungai Long Campus amidst a packed room of members. The UTAR Sungai Long Toastmasters Club was chartered on 1 April 2016 with 28 members, including three staff. The first meeting was held on 13 April. Both meetings were successfully conducted and well attended with invited members from other Toastmasters Club.

The Toastmasters Club in UTAR was initiated by lecturer Ms Janet Fernandez from the UTAR Faculty of Creative Industries. Ms Fernandez together with Ms Khoo Suat Hoong from the UTAR IT Infrastructure and Support Centre are both advisors of the Club. The Club is open to all staff, students and alumni. Meetings are held every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at Sungai Long Campus.

According to Ms Khoo, “The Club was set up in the university to help create awareness on the importance of good public speaking and communication skills for personal development and for career later on. Good speaking skills enhance one’s confidence and creates presence when speaking in a crowd. Public speaking is more than words, it is an art that incorporates so many other elements such voice, style, body language and intonation on top of language used to make a speech entertaining. There is so much to learn and it is a fun activity. I hope more staff and students will join the club.” It is also about networking with other Toastmasters Club members who share their experiences and knowledge during meetings.

Toastmasters Club meetings are very structured and well planned with several role players consisting of the General Evaluator, Evaluator, Table Topics Speaker, Assignment Speaker, Table Topics Master, Toastmaster of the Evening, Timer, Grammarian and the Ah-Counter; each with a specific role. Members have chances to present their speeches (4 to 6 minutes) in an organised manner with a clearly defined goal and be evaluated constructively for improvements each time. It’s an excellent way to really improve speaking skills and overcome stage fright.

Membership is currently USD36 per half yearly with USD20 as registration fee and the fees are subject to changes by Toastmasters International. However, those who join now till September 2016 need only pay USD24 for half year subscription. Students are welcomed to join Toastmasters Club for an enriching experience in improving public speaking.

For more information, please refer to the links below:

Toastmasters International: http://www.toastmasters.org/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/utarsglongtoastmasters12345

For registration, please contact Khoo Jia Sheng (018-7778191), email: sjkhoo0719@gmail.com

This post has been edited by cnvery: Jun 10 2016, 02:46 PM

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=70513

MoU with Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad


From left: Prof Cheng, Sin Howe, Prof Choong, Prof Chuah, Loke, Xinyi, Wai Hoo and Yew

UTAR and Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH) established official partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 8 June 2016 at UTAR Kampar Campus.

Signing on behalf of UTAR were UTAR President, Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and Dean of Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF) Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong; while signatories from TCMH were Deputy General Manager of Human Resources, Loke Kean Mun and Associate of Human Resources, Lim Xinyi.

Also present at the signing ceremony were TCMH Associate of Human Resources Tan Wai Hoo, FBF Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Peter Tan Sin Howe, FBF Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Yew King Tak, FBF Head of Department of Finance Lim Chong Heng, and Director of UTAR Division of Community and International Networking Prof Dr Cheng Ming Yu.

Aimed primarily at boosting student employability as well as enriching the industry workforce, the MoU will allow both UTAR and TCMH to pursue a holistic approach in connecting with UTAR students via various activities, as well as assisting them to explore career paths, identify and apply for career opportunities with TCMH. This will be carried out through a range of activities including guest lectures, networking sessions, mock interview sessions and others.

Citing one of UTAR’s hallmark achievements whereby 97% of graduates are gainfully employed within six months upon completion of studies, Prof Chuah ascribed the feat to the University’s unremitting efforts in strategic partnerships as well as the industry partners’ confidence in UTAR’s educational excellence. “One important element in educating our students is to provide them industrial exposure not only in the form of industrial training but also others. Exposing our students to the industry allows them to build human network as well as gain knowledge and skills which are unobtainable from lectures and tutorials alone, thus giving them an extra edge when seeking employment,” commented Prof Chuah, who also welcomed TCMH to join hands with UTAR in areas such as R&D as well as leadership and management trainings.

Besides echoing Prof Chuah’s sentiments on the importance of grooming industry-ready students, Loke also complimented UTAR and the FBF management staff on their commitment in nurturing talents for nation building. He further elucidated that while academic qualifications act as gateway to better employment opportunities, the industry experiences will be strategic thrusts to one’s career advancement. “As TCMH expands locally and internationally, we are also in need of great people with great talents and attitude. I’m delighted to see TCMH and UTAR share common values and principles in people development which will further strengthen our ties to collaborate in developing and attracting talents,” he said, and pledged that TCMH and UTAR will work hand in hand in enhancing the industry experience of students, allowing them to be marketable in the future and ultimately, contribute to the society, nation and the ASEAN region.


Prof Chuah (left) and Loke (right) expressing their delight to work together

The event reached its highlight with the signatories being invited to sign the MoU documents, followed by a souvenir presentation session.


Prof Chuah (second from left) and Loke (second from right) shaking hands after the signing of MoU documents, while Prof Choong (left) and Xinyi (right) look on


Prof Chuah (middle) presenting tokens of appreciation to Loke (right) while Prof Choong looks on

The TCMH delegates also delivered a career talk to FBF students as well as promoted their two-year Management Associate Program, a catalyst program designed to advance high-achieving graduates into managerial positions within TCMH’s business functions which include Sales, Accounting and Finance, Information Technology and Human Resources.


Loke (right) delivering the talk

FBF was first visited by TCMH delegates in July 2015 for a recruitment drive, which then saw 16 students in the fields of Finance and Accounting being successfully recruited.

With the signing of this MoU, TCMH is another addition to UTAR’s list of robust industry partners who have been instrumental in cementing UTAR’s position as a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact.

This post has been edited by cnvery: Jun 10 2016, 02:48 PM

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=70522

Publication in Newton-Ungku Omar Fund report

Moving forward with positive progress, the collaborative research project between UTAR and University of Strathclyde (UoS) United Kingdom (UK) has made another step as the project was published in the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund impact report.

Winning the grant from the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund has enabled UTAR Department of Computer and Communication Technology Head Dr Goh Hock Guan, who is also the Principal Investigator, and his team, together with the UK experts, to contribute in promoting the economic development and social welfare of Malaysia.

The joint research team is currently bidding for the Newton-Ungku Omar Research and Innovation Bridges Competition Fund that will help expand the research for public showcasing and commercialisation.

Citing from pages 32 to 33 of the report, the research project was highlighted in the category of Future Cities. With the plan to find effective solution to grow and distribute organic food within the cities, the research project focuses on having crops grown in well-controlled indoors environments, and using sensor, wireless and cloud technology to distribute the crops. Dr Goh mentioned that the idea was to improve the urban lives through the data gathered from information technology.

One of the aspirations of the research team is to implement the research project in major cities of Malaysia, such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Penang. “We can use idle spaces within cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru to grow food, this will reduce delivery cost and carbon footprint to transport food from outside the city. And by using cloud and analytic technology, we can build an intelligent transportation system to find the best routes to distribute the fresh produce”, explained Dr Goh from the report.

“It is truly an honour and recognition to UTAR for having the research project published in the report. I hope, with this continuous support, the project can be used for commercialization. Currently, we have already managed to produce vegetables in the indoor environment at our UTAR lab,” commented Dr Goh.

The research project was also previously presented to local and international public in the International Workshop of Sustainable Future Cities (IWSFC) in Kuala Lumpur on 2 March 2016. Involved in organising the IWSFC were UTAR, UoS, and Sunway University Malaysia, where IWSFC Honorary Chair and UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, British Council Malaysia Newton Programmes Manager Liew Siew Hui; Newton Fund Programme Manager Izza Ismail and Science and Innovation Officer Lee Ching Heong; and IWSFC Organising Chairman and UTAR Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) Dean Dr Liew Soung Yue were present. At the IWSFC, Dr Liew also said that these sustainable plans for the cities are able to solve issues like overpopulation, congestion, and resource scarcity. He also mentioned that UTAR has been actively working on research projects relating to Sustainable Cities and hopes to see more collaborative efforts with other universities and industries.

Read the report here.


Principal investigator Dr Goh


Newton-Ungku Omar Fund impact report


Pages 32 and 33 of the published research project


Research plants being grown in controlled indoor environment


Plants successfully grown in indoor environment


Transportation simulation program for delivery purpose

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=70524

Inclusive Growth and Responsible Leadership Forum


Panellist with students and staff

UTAR Institute of Management and Leadership Development (IMLD) and Global Shapers Community KL Hub jointly organised the Inclusive Growth and Responsible Leadership Forum on 3 June 2016 at Sungai Long Campus’ Multi-purpose Hall. It was moderated by UTAR’s Prof Cheng Ming Yu, who is the Director of IMLD and of the Division of Community and International Networking. She is also a member of the Young Global Leader 2011 & is a Founding Curator of the Global Shapers Kuala Lumpur Hub.

The forum featured speakers from the Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum. YGL is a diverse community of leaders that commit a portion of their time to jointly shape a better future and improve the state of world. They were University of Cumbria Professor of Sustainability Leadership and Founder of the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability Prof Jem Bendell, Founder and President of Social Innovation Park (SIP) Singapore and Member of Parliament of Singapore Penny Low, and CEO and Founder of The Now Group Jeffrey Lim Tau Hoong, who also happens to be a Malaysian investor, entrepreneur, lecturer, councillor, and philanthropist.

The forum featured discussions between the panellists on their different views about inclusive growth, responsible leadership, and their impact towards society as a whole. The topics ranged from equal job opportunities to health services, and even to universal access to education. Through the sharing of opinions and feedback between the experts and the participants, the forum provided an opportunity to gain insight on world issues and how inclusive growth and responsible leadership play their roles in ensuring the economy remain healthy.

The panellists further shared their working experiences and how the Global Shapers Community helps to alleviate economic problems and other related issues such as education and health, while supporting young leaders to drive community projects and to contribute to every class of society.

Prof Bendell said, “Inclusive growth requires growing the economy while considering its impact and ensuring everyone has an equal share of the benefits while making sure that the benefits prioritises quality over quantity, as our current measure for growth relies on numbers alone which is not comprehensive enough. I believe in people who believe there is a need for change. Some of the big impacts begin right now, not later. A leader should be able to think critically, freely, and independently in order to gain insights and new perspectives about people and their culture, while learning to love and having the courage to accept uncomfortable realities as they move towards a goal.”

“The Global Shapers Community was formed with the idea of ‘Global Network, Local Impact’. There is a need to gather to the same platform people who are not only thinkers but also doers in order to move the global agenda to shape a brighter future. A leader must have clarity of thought and a vision for society to be able to mobilise resources. In order to excel, first you must change yourself, and then your community. Inclusive growth occurs as each and every person cultivates themselves with skills and knowledge and contributes back to society to build a better world,” said Low.

Lim said, “Inclusive growth has to include everyone so that inequality is diminished, while looking at every aspect that needs consideration such as people, poverty eradication, and environment. There is a need to foresee the accessibility to opportunities in the areas of education, job placement, and health. Above all, we have to brace ourselves for the Fourth Industrial Revolution where cyber system application exceeds our human thoughts as we are responsible for guiding its development and determining our technologically-driven future in decision making. Leadership has to start from one self’s heart, before attempting to govern the country and to bring peace to all.”


Lim, Low, Prof Jem, and Prof Cheng introducing themselves to the crowd


Jeffrey Lim


Prof Jem Bendell


Penny Low

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=71536

Medical tourism expert shares valuable insights

UTAR’s Department of Consultancy and Commercialisation (DCC) and the Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF) successfully organised an entrepreneurial talk by Chairman of Penang Health Association Prof Dato’ Dr Chan Kok Ewe on his valuable experiences and extensive knowledge in the cross border healthcare sector of ASEAN to UTAR students and staff. The talk was held on 7 June 2016 at Kampar Campus.


Prof Chan

His two-hour talk titled “Cross Border Healthcare: A Leader’s Insight to the Healthcare Sector in ASEAN Economic Community” was aimed to enhance students’ understanding of the cross border healthcare industry in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and its benefits. Also attending the talk were UTAR FBF Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Peter Tan Sin Howe and Head of DCC Ching Yen Choon.


Prof Chan presenting his knowledge

Aided by enlightening PowerPoint and video presentations, the former medical specialist spoke about the importance of the cross border healthcare industry and its power in revolutionising ASEAN’s economic growth. He elaborated on the aspect of medical tourism which involves going to a different country to receive treatment for a disease, ailment, or condition due to the felt need for higher quality of care, better access to care, or care that is preferable to what is available.

Apart from that, the talk also covered on the vision and mission of the ASEAN Economic Community. Prof Chan explained, “Collectively, the AEC is the third largest economy in Asia and the seventh in the world, and it offers many prospects and opportunities to the business community and general public. Following its formal establishment in 2015, the AEC will have a great impact on the way we live, work, and do business in the ASEAN region.”

Besides that, he also elaborated on the AEC’s blueprint which has determined to achieve higher levels of economic dynamism, inclusive growth, and integrated development of ASEAN, as well as stressing the importance of narrowing the development gap.

Relating back to cross border healthcare, Prof Chan elucidated, “ASEAN will continue to promote the development of a strong healthcare industry to meet the growing demand for affordable and quality healthcare in the region and continue to open up the market to private healthcare providers and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investments in the provisioning of universal healthcare.” He added, “By promoting sectors with high-growth potential such as health tourism and e-healthcare services, there will not be any negative impacts on the healthcare system of each ASEAN member state.”

Prof Chan is a graduate of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme from Universiti Malaya (UM) and has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from the University of St Andrews, UK. Prof Chan was a Professor of Pharmacology at UM and a consultant to Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He has served in the University Senate of UM, University Hospital Board of Management, University Senate of USM, Pharmacy Board of Malaysia, and Drug Control Authority of Malaysia.

Prof Chan has also held positions as CEO, Director, and Advisor in Island Hospital, Penang. He currently holds the position of the Treasurer of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia. As chairman of Penang Health Association, Prof Chan initiated collaborative efforts by the seven Penang Private Hospitals since 2009 to make Penang the foremost medical tourist destination in Malaysia.

In addition, Prof Chan is also a recipient of the Prestigious “Malaysia Business Leadership Award – Healthcare Sector”, an award recognised by many as a leading leadership award in Malaysia. The award highlights and recognises the achievements of leading business visionaries to honour their great contributions towards Malaysia’s economic development.


Tan (middle) presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Chan, while Ching (left) looks on

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=71535

Win at WiC 2016


Yapp (far right) with the Korea Invention Academy's special award

UTAR’s Centre of Immersive Technology and Creativity (CITC) received a silver medal and a special award for their VR Malay House Walkthrough project from the Korea Invention Academy at the 2nd World Invention Innovation Contest (WiC) 2016 held in Chung Mu Art Hall, Seoul, South Korea from 5 to 6 June 2016.

Aloysius Yapp and Lim Chai Kim, the team behind the project, are both lecturers from the Faculty of Creative Industries’ (FCI) Department of Game Studies. They said that their award-winning project carried significance in the context of culture and heritage preservation by new media.

“Virtual Reality (VR) and Computer Generated Images (CGI) allow users to interact and fully immerse in an environment,” said Yapp. He created the digital art and 3D models of the Malay houses. Using a game engine, Lim programmed the assets created by Yapp into interactive components.


Lim receiving the silver medal

“It is the years of practice and experience in research projects that has helped me materialise the VR Malay House Walkthrough,” said Yapp. The team was also invited to join the World Invention Innovation Contest in Toronto, Canada later this year.

This post has been edited by cnvery: Jun 17 2016, 12:35 AM

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=71534

Win at concrete competition


Participants with (second row, from left) Dr Yew, Dr Lim, Prof Ir Dr Goi Bok Min, Ir Dr Lim Siong Kang, and Ling

Four teams from the Department of Civil Engineering of the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science made UTAR proud by winning several awards in the 2016 International Highest Early Strength Self-Consolidating Concrete Cube Competition held at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam on 14 and 15 April 2016.

The competition was organised by UiTM Institute for Infrastructure Engineering and Sustainable Management (IIESM) in collaboration with UiTM Faculty of Civil Engineering, the American Concrete Institute Kuala Lumpur Chapter (ACI-KL Chapter), and the Concrete Society of Malaysia (CSM).

The purpose of the competition was to encourage innovative ideas and technical skillsfrom the participants, who were researchers, students, and representatives of the building industry, in producing optimal high strength self-consolidating concrete within 24 hours.

UTAR Department of Laboratory Management and Safety Administration Head Dr Lim Jee Hock and lecturer Ling Lloyd were the advisors for the teams, while Department of Civil Engineering Dr Yew Ming Kun assisted the teams as the technical advisor.

The teams competed against 38 teams and won two out of eight categories. The team which won the Most Efficient Team Award comprised Wong Shi Wei, Choo Wen Yi, and Thung Mun Heng, while the team which won the Most Flowable Concrete Award was made up of Hor Yon Hu, Chia Khee Yang, Lee Chee Kiat, and Tan Thean Long.

The winning teams took home a USD 100 cash award, a trophy, and certificates.


The participants with their prizes at UiTM