Fostering a Synergistic Collaboration: UNISSA’s PhD Students Embark on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Internship at FS, UTM

Pauliena

JOHOR BAHRU, 16th August 2023 – Two PhD students from the Faculty of Islamic Technology, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam, have embarked on a short-term research internship at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science (FS), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), starting from 24th July until 16th August 2023, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norma binti Alias.

The students are Dk Norhazatulimah binti Pg Haji Abdul Salam and Nurulhuda Asilah binti Haji Asli. The internship covers knowledge enhancement on the big data model, large sparse simulation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and mobile app development (MAD) on high-performance computing (HPC) platforms.

The internship’s primary goal is to help them enhance their skills in their PhD research projects, such as analysing information, setting research study direction, and professional exposure to a real working environment. Other goals include strengthening the value of students’ leadership in influencing, motivating, and guiding others to attain the objectives.

Furthermore, to fulfil the UNISSA postgraduate requirement in product development, students are exposed to devices, components, mobile apps, software programs, accessories that attach to the device, data security and protection, and run on smartphones and other mobile communication devices.

Students are encouraged to excel in their research fields while gaining knowledge and adapting to dynamic work by integrating practical skills in AI, ML, and MAD on the HPC platform.

Moreover, this internship aims to ensure fast-growing technology trends stay within Islamic studies. Fostering a synergistic collaboration between UNISSA and UTM is positive and will allow Islamic studies to move forward with the advanced technology of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

Students are exposed to the concepts and applications of devices, data generated, data pre-processing and post-processing, data analytics, and pattern recognition through Islamic studies.

Thus, introducing software applications, digital resources, technical skills in database management, library and repository orientation and data security management are essential elements to support product development.

Students are given the opportunity to collaborate in writing a review paper. These opportunities work efficiently in research teams. Communication skills, confidence, and team-building strategies can all be substantially strengthened as a result of the opportunity to exchange ideas among academics from Saudi Arabia, India, Yaman, Sudan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Norma Alias, as a supervisor, has used advanced skills in face-to-face and hybrid supervision between UNISSA and UTM as methods of ongoing teaching and learning (T&L) development and creating awareness of technology and challenges. During their internship at FS, UTM, students have also had the opportunity to learn more about Malaysian work ethics, multiculturalism, and multilingual social phenomena.

In summary, the series of training courses and workshops encourages students to contribute to advancing knowledge in mathematics-related technology and Islamic studies.

In these collaborations, the expert works to advance technology, develop networks, and bridge the gap between academic knowledge and the ability to solve real-world challenges in today’s employment market.