TAINAN, Oct 2 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) once again showcased its global excellence when a team of its students captured two prestigious awards at the 2025 International Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake Engineering Research (IDEERS) competition, held at the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) in Tainan.
The UTM team, represented by students Anushri Batumanathan, Nur Farzana Mamat Solleh, and Soon Chen Wei, together with accompanying lecturer Dr. Muhammad Farhan Mohd Fisol, outshone participants from more than 50 international universities. Their innovative earthquake-resistant design earned them two of the event’s most coveted honours: the Best Design Concept Exhibition Award and the Structural Design and Innovation Award.
What made the achievement even more remarkable was that UTM was the only team competing with just three members instead of the required four, due to unavoidable last-minute circumstances. Despite being one member short, the team managed to complete their design within the given timeframe and still emerged with two prestigious awards.
The success was also supported by the expertise and facilities of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, UTM, in collaboration with the Engineering Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research Group (eSEER), which specialises in earthquake-related studies. The team’s preparation and model development were carried out under the guidance and resources of eSEER, ensuring their design met international standards before competing in Taiwan. These recognitions placed UTM among the most outstanding institutions in the field of earthquake engineering, marking another milestone in the university’s track record of international achievements.
For Anushri, the experience went beyond competition. “Participating in IDEERS 2025 gave me a deeper understanding of the real-world applications of earthquake engineering. More than just a contest, it was a platform to exchange knowledge and ideas with students worldwide. I am proud that our team’s hard work was recognised with these prestigious awards, bringing UTM’s name to the global stage,” she said.
Nur Farzana described the journey as both rigorous and inspiring. “IDEERS 2025 in Tainan tested not only our technical skills, but also our creativity, innovation and teamwork. From preparation to presentation, we learned how to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical solutions for earthquake-resistant design. This victory proves that UTM students can compete on par with top universities around the world.”
Soon Chen Wei echoed the sentiment, highlighting the scale of the competition. “Competing against more than 50 international universities was no easy task, but it opened my eyes to the importance of education in seismic protection. The event, organised by NCREE and NIAR, gave young students a valuable opportunity to collaborate and share new perspectives. I am deeply grateful to UTM and to our accompanying lecturer for their constant guidance and support throughout this journey.”
Dr. Muhammad Farhan, who served as the team’s mentor, emphasised that the success extended beyond awards. “This achievement not only elevates UTM’s reputation globally but also opens wider avenues for academic networking with universities abroad. In 2023, I joined IDEERS in Taipei as a participant. To return this year as an accompanying lecturer and witness our students’ triumph was truly special. Beyond the competition, it was also a platform for knowledge exchange with academics from across the world,” he said.
In line with this achievement, UTM’s Faculty of Civil Engineering has also introduced similar competition formats in Malaysia, with more series planned in the future to raise awareness and provide greater exposure to earthquake engineering among students locally.
This accomplishment reaffirms UTM’s commitment to producing graduates of exceptional calibre who excel not only academically but also in research and innovation at the international level.