Research and Innovation

Ainex 2019: UMP’s search talent platform for students to invent or innovate cost-effective and eco-friendly products

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP)’s Advanced Innovation and Engineering Exhibition 2019 (AiNEX 2019) received 50 entries of research products created by secondary and university students with this year’s theme focusing on products that were cost-effective and environmental-friendly.

The event was organised by the university’s Automotive Engineering Centre (AEC) and was held at Astaka Hall, Gambang Campus on July 3, 2019.

It was officially opened by AEC Director, Associate Professor Dr. Abdul Adam Abdullah.

Among the guests present were UMP’s Centre for Modern Languages & Human Sciences (CMLHS) lecturer, Captain Imaduddin Abidin and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)’s Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, lecturer Dr. Zafri Azran Abdul Majid. 

The competition was divided into three categories involving academicians, institutes of higher learning students and secondary school students.

In his speech, Associate Professor Dr. Abdul Adam said the objective of the competition was to produce young researchers from schools, colleges, polytechnics and universities.

He added that it was a channel for them to be creative and innovative so they could come up with products that were economical and eco-friendly.

“This is the third time that we are organising the event which is part of our efforts to continue supporting UMP’s mission in providing education, research and high quality service in the fields of engineering and technology.

“At the same time, this programme will help to promote the acculturation of creativity and innovation among the young minds.

“It is also the best platform for researchers to hone their talents and develop more competitive innovations and creations in the future,” he said.

The best overall award was won by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) student, Ahmad Nazrul Hakimi Ibrahim with his product, ‘Expoxidised Natural Rubber (ENR): Modified Bitumen and Asphalt Mixture’, which involved modification of bitumen for road construction that could solve road damages.

He also won first place for the university student category and took home a certificate, medal and cash of RM800.

UMP’s Faculty of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering won second place while Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) took the third spot.

For the school category, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Abdul Rahman Talib (SMART), Kuantan won first place, Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Tun Abdul Razak, Pekan won second place while the third place went to Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor, Kuala Lumpur.

Under the college category, Temerloh Vocational College emerged as the champion, Indera Mahkota MARA Professional College was the first runner-up while Kuantan Vocational College was the second runner-up.

For the Commercialisation and Innovation Award, it was won by Temerloh Vocational College, Pahang through its product, ‘Auto Cut-off Fuel Ignition (AFI)’ while the Sekolah Menengah Sains Hulu Selangor in Batang Kali won the Innovative School Special Award.

Academic & International

ERAS & YMGS share geotechnical expertise via Career Day Programme

By: SAFUAN SHARIFF & MOHD HASHIM MOHD SAAD, EARTH RESOURCES & SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE (ERAS)

To highlight the important roles that future engineers have to shoulder, the Earth Resources & Sustainability Centre (ERAS) of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), in collaboration with the Youth Wing of Malaysian Geotechnical Society (YMGS), recently organized a Career Day Programme at the Astaka Hall of the former’s campus in Gambang.

Themed “Own Your Future”, the programme aimed to lend exposure and enlighten engineering students at the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources (FKASA) of the said roles – especially for the final year undergraduates, as they prepare themselves to cross over to the working world.

According to ERAS Director, Associate Professor Dr. Muzamir Hasan, YMGS is the professional body for the country’s working geotechnical engineers, which coordinates various activities domestically and abroad.

“This career day programme is an opportunity for FKASA students to expand their theoretical knowledge and gain access to the latest real-world information and best practices from an active professional body of local geotechnical engineers,” highlighted Dr. Muzamir, who is also YMGS Deputy Chairman.

“Associating this programme with such professional body will also help highlight to the final year undergraduates what their future career would be like – while simultaneously, boosting the quality and strategic marketability of UMP graduates to the related industry,” he emphasized.

At one of the programme sessions, Dr. Muzamir also shared his real life experience and research into the geotechnical field, entitled “Geotechnical Properties of Kuantan Bauxite” – after the bauxite mining in Bukit Goh, Kuantan, fell under the spotlight of the country’s environmental affairs.

“To ensure the progress of our geotechnical expertise, ERAS has also collaborated with other international institutions of higher learning, like Japan’s Yamaguchi University (YU),” said the YMGS Deputy Chairman, adding that YU has donated some RM65,000 research grant to the Centre to finance its geotechnical-related studies.  
 
Aside from YU, ERAS is in the second phase of geotechnical engineering cooperation with Asahi-Techno Co Ltd of Japan – in the fields of innovative technology and Super Well Point technical application – for infrastructure projects in both Malaysia and Japan.

YMGS Chairman and Director of Dr Toh & Associates Sdn. Bhd., Ir. Ong Yin Heo, was also present at the career day programme to share his experience and information on companies involved in the geotechnical industry.

Sports and Recreational

International-level exposure for UMP football team in Kunming, China

By: MOHD. FARID ALI, UMP SPORTS AND CULTURE CENTRE 

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) football team got some valuable experiences following their participation in the South and South Asia Student College Centre Culture and Sports Week that was held at the Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST), China.

The event was held for 10 days beginning June 3 until June 12, 2019.

A total of 18 players were picked to play at the tournament which was part of their training and preparation for several games they would take part throughout this year and next year.

They were accompanied by their coach, Mohd Farid Md Ali.

In the tournament, UMP FC beat Vietnam National University (VNU), netting four goals against their opponent who scored two goals.

However, they drew 1-1 with Myanmar Mandalay University (MU) and lost 0-4 to Yunnan Normal University China (YNU) 0-4 and 0-2 to Souphannouvong University Laos.

According to Team Manager, Abu Sufian Mokhtar, the players not only gained good exposure from the matches, they also learned a lot about the learning atmosphere in KUST and its campus life as well the local culture.

Mohd Farid also said the opportunity to play against more experienced teams at the international level would help make UMP players more settled and be better players.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the university for giving the opportunity for UMP athletes to gain exposure at a higher level,” he added.

The programme was organised by Centre for Sports and Culture, with the cooperation of the Office of The Vice-Chancellor, International Office and the Department of Student Affairs and Alumni (JHEPA).

The annual event organised by KUST is one of the international student exchange and mobility programmes and it was now into its fifth year.

The players not only got to experience playing against some of the best teams in Asia and South East Asia but also got to experience fasting and celebrating Aidilfitri in Kunming, China.

They were invited by the Malaysia Consulate General in Kunming to join the Adilfitri celebration at the Malaysia Hall on the second day and it was a joyous event indeed.

They also visited several popular attractions in the city such as the Green Lake, Golden Temple and prayed at Yongning Mosque, which was built during the Yuan Dynasty.

UMP officials who were among the delegation included International Office Director and Deputy Director, Dr. Nik Aloesnita Nik Alwi and Dr. Mohd Azmir Mohd Azhari.