JOHOR BAHRU, June 18 – What began as an undergraduate course initiative has developed into a regional academic network connecting Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) with partner universities in Indonesia, fostering student mobility, research collaboration, co-supervision, publication activities, and international academic engagement.

At the core of this development is SSCC4393 – Special Topics in Chemistry, a course offered by the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, UTM. The course introduces students to computational chemistry, particularly Density Functional Theory (DFT), while integrating research-based learning with structured international collaboration.

The initiative is led by Dr. Fazira Ilyana Abdul Razak, lecturer of SSCC4393 and programme lead of the Research Centre for Quantum Engineering Design (RC-QED) academic collaboration framework. The programme is developed in close collaboration with Dr. Febdian Rusydi from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Coordinator and Chairman of the RC-QED Conference series, alongside Dr. Vera Khoirunnisa from Institut Teknologi Sumatera (ITERA) and Dr. Lusia Silfia Pulo Boli from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (Unsoed). Together, they have established a structured regional platform integrating teaching, research, and student development across institutions.

This collaboration has evolved into the RC-QED Conference (Research Collaboration on the Usage of Computational Methods in Integrated Research) series, providing a platform for undergraduate research dissemination and academic exchange.

The inaugural RC-QED Conference 1445 (2024) involved 35 UTM students, followed by Volume 2 (2025) with 25 final-year students. The RC-QED 1447 Volume 3, held in Surabaya, Indonesia, from 4 to 8 May 2026, involved 30 UTM students presenting research in molecular physics, chemical sciences, and materials science alongside regional academic engagement.

The programme featured distinguished speakers from the region, including Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur from Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), Dr. Fadjar Mulya from UNAIR, Prof. Wahyu Tri Cahyanto from Unsoed, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasmerya Maarof, together with Dr. Abdo Mohammed Ali Al-Fakih from UTM.

A key feature of this initiative was its two-way mobility structure. UTM students participated in outbound academic activities in Indonesia supported by UTM International, while lecturers and students from Indonesia participated in inbound mobility at UTM, including academic visits and participation in the International Interdisciplinary Chemistry Workshop (IICW 2026). This reciprocal model strengthened cross-institutional engagement and academic integration between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Beyond conference participation, the initiative has expanded into a broader academic ecosystem supporting student co-supervision, joint research, and international publication activities, enabling students to benefit from shared expertise and multi-institutional research guidance.

A major milestone was achieved through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTM and ITERA, formally exchanged on 5 May 2026 in Surabaya, Indonesia. The MoU formalises and strengthens long-term collaboration in student mobility, staff exchange, joint supervision, co-organisation of academic events, and joint research development.

Importantly, the agreement provides a structured framework for co-supervised research training and joint publications in international journals, while also opening pathways for future collaborative research grants and academic programme development in computational chemistry, advanced materials, and interdisciplinary science. The MoU was witnessed by the Dean of the Faculty of Science, UTM, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir, and the Dean of ITERA’s Faculty of Industrial Technology, Assoc. Prof. Hadi Teguh Yudistira.

According to Dr. Fazira Ilyana Abdul Razak, the initiative reflects a long-term vision of integrated academic development.

“This collaboration is not limited to mobility or conferences. It is about building a sustainable academic ecosystem that integrates teaching, research, co-supervision, and publication across institutions.”

Today, the RC-QED network connects UTM, UNAIR, ITERA, and Unsoed, forming a growing regional platform for scientific collaboration and student development. Driven by Dr. Fazira Ilyana Abdul Razak, Dr. Febdian Rusydi, Dr. Vera Khoirunnisa, and Dr. Lusia, the initiative continues to strengthen academic mobility, research collaboration, and publication impact across Southeast Asia.