JOHOR BAHRU, June 25 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through the Faculty of Computing in collaboration with the School of Graduate Studies (SPS) and the Postgraduate Student Society Faculty of Computing (PGSS FC), successfully hosted the 17th Postgraduate Annual Research Seminar (PARS2025) from 24 to 25 June 2025. The seminar continues to affirm UTM’s commitment to nurturing scholarly excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a vibrant postgraduate research culture. Held in a hybrid format, PARS2025 featured a total of 70 postgraduate research presentations, with 23 conducted physically and 47 delivered online. The participants represented six research groups under the Faculty of Computing: Applied Industrial Analytics (ALIAS), Intelligent Informatics Research Group (IIRG), Information Assurance and Security Research Group (IASRG), Software Engineering Research Group (SERG), Virtual, Visual and Visualization Research Lab (ViCubeLab), and Pervasive Computing Research Group (PCRG). Student participation included 8 from ALIAS, 16 from IIRG, 6 from IASRG, 12 from SERG, 14 from ViCubeLab, and 14 from PCRG.
The success of this year’s seminar was made possible through the dedicated efforts of a 25-member organising committee comprising both academic staff and postgraduate students, including both local and international members. Their collaborative spirit and leadership played a central role in ensuring the smooth execution of the event across both in-person and virtual settings. The seminar culminated in the Faculty of Computing Research & Innovation (FCRI) Day 2025 Closing Ceremony, where outstanding contributions were recognised through a series of awards:
• 6 Best Paper Awards (one per research group)
• 6 Best Presenter Awards (one per research group)
• 1 Best Poster Award
These recognitions underscored UTM’s emphasis on academic excellence, effective communication, and the development of well-rounded researchers.
Since its inception in 2005, PARS has evolved into a flagship platform within the Faculty of Computing for showcasing postgraduate research, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, and cultivating academic leadership. Milestones over the years include the integration of digital abstracts, structured evaluations, keynote speeches, and industry engagement, leading to its largest hybrid participation to date in 2025 and formal inclusion within the FCRI Day agenda.
Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, PARS2025 promoted inclusivity, research collaboration, and the global exchange of knowledge within and beyond the UTM community. The event also embodied UTM’s core values of Integrity, Synergy, Excellence, and Sustainability (ISES). Integrity reflects strong ethical principles, guiding actions with trust and wisdom. Synergy fosters teamwork, inclusivity, respect, and empathy across diverse backgrounds. Excellence drives high-quality performance in research, innovation, and service. Sustainability highlights UTM’s balanced approach in integrating social, environmental, and economic priorities to ensure long-term impact and resilience.
PARS2025 not only celebrated academic achievement, but also embodied the values that define UTM’s pursuit of global impact. As this long-standing initiative moves forward, it continues to nurture future scholars and reinforce the university’s mission toward innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable excellence.