A decade of research excellence: Bridging borders through undergraduate research

UGS UTM

📝 Summary

The 10th International Undergraduate Research Conference (IURC 2026) was held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, bringing together 141 undergraduate students from Malaysia and abroad to showcase their research and exchange ideas. The conference featured presentations from students in engineering, science, and social sciences, and included keynote speakers and an award ceremony to recognize outstanding research. The event marked a decade of excellence in undergraduate research and promoted knowledge sharing and academic exchange among future researchers.

JOHOR BAHRU, June 28 – The School of Undergraduate Studies (UGS), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), successfully organised the 10th International Undergraduate Research Conference (IURC 2026) from 27 to 28 June 2026, bringing together undergraduate researchers from Malaysia and abroad to showcase their Final Year Project (FYP) research, exchange ideas and broaden their academic perspectives. The conference was led by the Faculty of Science, UTM, under the direction of ChM. Dr. Muhammad Amirul Aizat Mohd. Abdah as Director IURC 2026.

Celebrating a decade of research excellence, IURC 2026 reached another significant milestone by welcoming participants from international institutions for the first time. A total of 141 undergraduate students participated in the conference, exceeding the initial target of 100 participants. The conference brought together participants from universities in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Ghana, including Universitas Adi Buana (UAB), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University (NRRU), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).

The conference featured two presentation formats, with the online presentation sessions held on the first day, followed by the physical presentation sessions on the second day. A total of 46 students participated onlin,e while another 95 students presented physically across four parallel sessions involving six presentation rooms. Research presentations were divided into three main categories, namely Engineering, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences and Humanities.

Plenary session by Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur during the first day

The opening ceremony was officiated by the Dean of UGS, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mahyuddin Arsat, who welcomed all participants and highlighted the importance of undergraduate research in nurturing critical thinking, innovation and future researchers.

The first day of the conference featured a plenary session by Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur from Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia, entitled Why Research Matters: From Students to Future Makers. During the session, he encouraged students to embrace research as a lifelong journey of learning and collaboration.

“Good research is not only about knowledge, but also about collaboration and continuous learning. It might not only change your career, but it will also change how you see the world,” he said.

Participants also gained valuable insights from Dr. Rizky Muliani Dwi Ujianti from Universitas PGRI Semarang (UPGRIS), Indonesia, who presented her research on the development of an IoT-based real-time system for coastal water quality monitoring. Her presentation highlighted the role of digital technology in supporting continuous environmental monitoring, early pollution detection and sustainable coastal ecosystem management.

The conference concluded with the Closing Ceremony held at Le Grandeur Palm Resort, Johor Bahru. The ceremony featured two keynote speakers, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mega Novita from UPGRIS, who delivered a keynote address on Building Smart Rural Innovation Ecosystems through Digital Transformation and Community Empowerment, and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohamad Hidayat Jamal, who shared his expertise on Coastal Zone Management: Strategies, Structural Measures and Nature-Based Solutions to Address Future Coastal Threats.

Keynote session by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mega Novita

The closing ceremony also celebrated outstanding research presentations through the IURC 2026 Award Ceremony. Best Presenter Awards were presented to outstanding presenters from both the online and physical presentation sessions. The conference also recognised winners of the Best of the Best Awards in the Engineering, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences and Humanities categories, as well as the Industrial Choice Award, recognising research with strong innovation and industry relevance.

Presentation of the Industrial Choice Award to the recipient during the Closing Ceremony

Marking a decade of excellence, IURC continues to evolve as a platform that bridges borders through undergraduate research. By bringing together young researchers from diverse institutions and countries, the conference not only promotes research excellence but also encourages knowledge sharing, academic exchange and lasting connections among future researchers.