KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 – The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur, showcased its research expertise and student innovation through the ICaTAS 2026 Pre-Conference Programme, featuring seven iKohzas (research groups), 12 student research entries and five Best Poster Awards.

Held in conjunction with the 11th International Conference on Advanced Technology and Applied Sciences (ICaTAS 2026), the programme brought together academics, researchers and students to share achievements, exchange ideas and recognise emerging talent.

Held at Sakura Room, Level 4, MJIIT, the iKohza Coffee Talk featured seven groups: Tribology and Precision Machining (TriPreM), Intelligence Dynamics and System (IDS), Software Engineering of Industrial Revolution (SEIR), Algae and Biomass (ALGAE), Chemical Energy Conversions and Applications (ChECA), Wellness Innovation Technology (WIT) and Tropical Indoor Environmental Research (TIER).

Each iKohza was allocated up to three minutes to introduce its research areas, activities and achievements. Heads of iKohza and appointed representatives, including postgraduate students, also had the opportunity to communicate their research communities’ work.

The student showcase featured 12 entries, comprising 10 postgraduate and two undergraduate submissions. Projects addressed issues ranging from waste recovery and water treatment to industrial monitoring, employment matching and community-focused agriculture, reflecting the conference theme, “Advancing Engineering, Science and Technology for a Resilient and Sustainable Future”.

Several entries explored ways to turn discarded materials into useful resources, including biomass-based bioplastics, eggshell-derived catalysts for biofuel production and agricultural residues for sound-absorbing materials. Other projects examined microalgal research, heavy metal removal and corrosion-resistant coatings.

Digital and engineering applications included artificial intelligence for graduate-to-employment matching, smart bearing monitoring, early landslide warning systems and hydrogen-assisted diesel power generation. Through poster presentations, students explained their research objectives, approaches and potential applications to an academic audience.

Five students received Best Poster Awards: two undergraduates and three postgraduates. Each award carried RM300, bringing the total prize pool to RM1,500.

Undergraduate recipient Nahid Hasan Rayan presented “InternSage and VEM: Verified, Explainable AI for Human-Centric Graduate-to-Employment Matching”, exploring artificial intelligence (AI) for connecting graduates with employment opportunities. Sumaiya Tabassum Haque presented “Smart Bearing Health Monitoring for Industry 5.0”, focusing on intelligent monitoring for industrial applications.

Postgraduate recipient Vikneshvaran Tanabalam was recognised for an integrated Azolla-tilapia project combining smart monitoring, sustainable feed formulation and community empowerment for the Special Education Integrated Programme (PPKI). Yat Yaw Huei was recognised for research on eggshell-derived catalysts for biofuel production using waste materials, while Lim Zhi Yang presented research on removing two heavy metals using a mixture of shell-derived biosorbents.

The programme brought MJIIT’s research expertise and student innovation together, creating opportunities for research communication and knowledge exchange within the institute’s academic community.

Co-authors: Dr. Syarifah Zyurina Nordin and Dr. Hafizah Farhah Saipan @ Saipol