JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 29 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) proudly welcomed Dr. I.B.W. Gunam from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Udayana University (UNUD), Indonesia, on his official visit from 25 to 29 August 2025. This official visit, held just three months after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTM and UNUD on 28 May 2025, marked a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral collaboration and impactful academic partnerships. Prof. Dr. Fahrul Zaman Huyop represented UTM as the host and coordinator of the whole MoU program between UTM and UNUD. Although the MoU was only formalized in 2025, UTM and UNUD have a long history of meaningful collaboration. Both institutions have co-organized major academic and scientific activities, like the International Conference on Biosciences and Medical Engineering (ICBME) series. These included the 2nd ICBME in Bali (2019), the 3rd ICBME in 2021 and the 4th ICBME in 2022 jointly with the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), the 5th ICBME in Bali (2023) with partners including Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey, and the 6th ICBME in Kuala Lumpur (2024). In addition to conferences, the partnership has produced refereed journal articles and Scopus-indexed proceedings through platforms such as American Institute of Physic – the AIP-Conference Proceedings. In 2023, Prof. Fahrul Huyop was appointed as a University International Senior Fellow (UNISERF) at UNUD, further deepening the academic ties between the two institutions.
Dr. Gunam’s visit to UTM was aimed at strengthening existing collaborations while exploring new opportunities for partnership. His five-day program began on 25th August with his arrival in Johor Bahru. On the following day, 26th August, he attended a meeting session with key UTM representatives at Faculty level, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir, Dean of the Faculty of Science. Also present were Assoc. Prof. ChM. Dr. Mohd Firdaus Abdul Wahab, Manager for International and Global Engagement; Assoc. Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr. Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek, Deputy Dean, Research, Development & Innovation; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alina Wagiran, Head of the Department of Biosciences. The meeting served as a platform to discuss research priorities and internationalization strategies. In the afternoon, he toured the Microscopy & Imaging Laboratory and the Mass Spectrometry Analytical Laboratory at the UTM University Laboratory Management Centre (PPMU), accompanied by UTM’s scientific officers. Dr. Gunam was also taken on a campus tour of UTM Skudai, which included visits to key facilities such as the Research Management Centre (RMC), student hostels, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. The day concluded with a welcoming dinner at Puteri Harbour.
On 27th August, Dr. Gunam participated in a full-day scientific program. He toured research laboratories at the IBD, focusing on bioenergy-related facilities and microbial bioprocessing, guided by Assoc,. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Daniel Joe Dailin and his team. He also visited the Central Analytical Lab and Bioinformatics facilities at UTM’s T02 Laboratory, followed by a business lunch with UTM researchers. In the afternoon, he joined a visit to Nusajaya, Johor, to learn about the state’s administrative hub, before concluding the day with an informal dinner discussion with UTM’s academic leadership.
The highlight of the visit took place on 28th August, when Dr. Gunam participated in the IBD Wellness Day 2025 program at Block N23A, IBD, UTM Johor Bahru. The event was officiated with an opening address by IBD Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rosnani, followed by a keynote speech from Prof. Rosli Md Illias, UTM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), who spoke on current issues in research and development and challenges in doing research. Dr. Gunam’s involvement in the program gave him valuable exposure to UTM’s dynamic research ecosystem and its commitment to integrating wellness, innovation, and community engagement within its scientific mission.
The visit concluded on 29th August, when Dr. Gunam departed Johor Bahru for Denpasar, Bali Indonesia via Surabaya. Reflecting on the visit, Prof. Fahrul Zaman emphasized that Dr. Gunam’s presence at UTM marked an important milestone in advancing the partnership. “This visit is more than a courtesy call—it is a working visit that has generated concrete pathways for collaboration in research, mobility, and academic development,” he said. The successful first visit of Dr. I.B.W. Gunam not only reaffirmed the MoU signed between UTM and UNUD but also strengthened the foundations for long-term cooperation. With shared expertise and a strong record of collaboration, both universities are poised to drive impactful initiatives that will benefit their students, researchers, and the wider academic community.
