JOHOR BAHRU, 8 Sept – Two distinguished scholars from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), including the Vice-Chancellor, have been appointed as international experts by Ningxia University in support of China’s ambitious University Discipline Innovation & Talent Introduction Plan, commonly known as Project 111.
This collaborative endeavour, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the State Administration of Foreign Affairs, represents a significant step towards advancing Chinese universities onto the global stage.
Prof Datuk Ir Ts. Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail (Category: Master 学术大师 ) and Associate Professor Dr Goh Pei Sean (Category: Youth 学术骨干) from Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC) and Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering have been appointed as Project 111 international experts with an effective duration spanning from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2027 with both being part of propelling the transformation of Chinese national universities into world-class institutions.
To date, only three Malaysian scholars have been appointed by Ningxia University as international experts for this project.
Focused on international discipline leadership and aligned with national development goals, the project seeks to attract top-tier talents from dominant discipline teams within the world’s top 100 universities and institutions. Its primary objective is to assemble a high-calibre research team and establish 100 world-class discipline research and education centres, thereby enhancing Chinese universities’ overall standing and global recognition.
During the course of their appointment, UTM’s international experts will collaborate closely with the State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering at Ningxia University in Yinchuan, China.
Their responsibilities encompass various dimensions of academic engagement and collaboration. Firstly, they will actively participate in research collaboration by engaging in joint research projects aligned with their areas of expertise, thereby fostering collaborative research proposals and co-authored publications. Secondly, they will play a crucial role in facilitating knowledge transfer through training and capacity-building programs, ensuring that cutting-edge insights are effectively shared among peers and students. Additionally, Prof Fauzi and Dr Goh Pei Sean will spearhead academic exchange programs, workshops, and seminars that aims to bring together researchers and students from both institutions, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and mutual learning.
The work will also involve mobilizing resources by identifying and applying for international funding opportunities and grants providing essential financial support for research and development activities.
This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of UTM and its partners to elevate higher education institutions’ quality and global competitiveness. By harnessing the expertise of UTM’s scholars, including the Vice-Chancellor, Project 111 aims to make significant strides in realizing its mission to create world-class universities in China.
The appointment and partnerships align with UTM’s enVision 2025 strategic plan and enVision Moonshot action plan, which aim to establish the university as a globally recognized institution through scholarly excellence.
The partnership between UTM and Ningxia University exemplifies the spirit of international cooperation and knowledge exchange essential in today’s interconnected academic landscape. It is anticipated that this collaboration will yield transformative outcomes for the participating institutions and advance academic excellence on a global scale.