MAKASSAR, May 27 – From 23 to 27 May 2025, a delegation from the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FKA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) conducted an official academic visit to the Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS) in Makassar, Sulawesi. The delegation, led by Ts. Dr. Azman Mohamed, included six researchers from the Pavement & Transportation Research Group (PTRG) and one researcher from the Geotechnical Research Group (GRG). The primary objective of this visit was to foster international collaboration in research, knowledge exchange, and academic engagement between the two institutions—particularly in the areas of pavement, transportation and geotechnical engineering.
The highlight of the engagement was the International Symposium on Infrastructure Engineering, held on 24 May at the UNHAS Engineering Campus in Gowa. Themed “UNHAS-UTM on Infrastructure Engineering: Sustainable Solutions for Resilient Infrastructure on Transportation and Geotechnics”, the symposium gathered 18 presenters from six countries who shared their research projects and technological insights. The event served as an important platform for academic discourse and opened avenues for collaborative innovation in addressing critical infrastructure issues, especially in tropical and developing regions.
On the second day, UTM delegates took part in a cultural tour of Makassar, visiting prominent landmarks such as the Masjid Kubah 99 Asmaul Husna and several historical and scenic sites across the city. The third day featured a strategic discussion session between the UTM team and faculty members from the Department of Civil Engineering, including the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, UNHAS. Discussions focused on future collaboration in areas such as joint research projects, co-supervision of postgraduate students, academic publications, journal writing, dual degree program and sandwich program. Additionally, two executive lectures were delivered: Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli Hainin presented on sustainable pavement technologies, while Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nor Zurairahetty Mohd Yunus addressed innovative practices in geotechnical engineering.
The visit concluded with a memorable ‘Sailor Dinner’ aboard the traditional Pinisi ship, where the delegation enjoyed a scenic sunset, fireworks display, and warm hospitality from their Indonesian counterparts. The FKA extends its deepest appreciation to the delegation members for their valuable contributions: Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli Hainin, Ts. Dr. Mohd Khairul Idham Mohd Satar, Ts. Dr. Mohd Khairul Afzan Mohd Lazi, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Sitti Asmah Hassan, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Norhidayah Abdul Hassan, and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nor Zurairahetty Mohd Yunus. This visit marked another meaningful step in UTM’s global academic outreach and commitment to advancing civil engineering excellence.