The 10th Joint Workshop for Global Engineers in Asia & Beyond (JWGEA) 2022 was successfully hosted by King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Bangkok, Thailand, from July 21 to 26, 2024. JWGEA is a consortium involving four member institutions from four countries: KMUTT (Thailand), Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS, Indonesia), Ritsumeikan University (RU, Japan), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM, Malaysia). Since its inception in 2015, the workshop has been organized annually, with hosting responsibilities rotating among the partner universities.
UTM was represented by Assoc. Prof. Norahim bin Ibrahim, Associate Director of Global Education & Student Experience at UTM International. During the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norahim, who is also a faculty member in the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, highlighted UTM’s dedication to advancing its internationalization agenda, especially in student engagement.
The workshop’s objectives include fostering communication, planning, leadership, and intercultural skills by bringing together students from diverse linguistic, cultural, and academic backgrounds. It also aims to enhance cross-cultural understanding, English proficiency, and promote networking and research exchange between faculty, researchers, junior scholars, and students from the participating institutions.
Of the 12 UTM students who participated in the event, 9 were from the Faculty of Science, 2 from the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FKT), and 1 from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM). The three-day workshop featured a variety of programs, including debates on contemporary issues such as cryptocurrencies, AI in daily life, electric vs. gasoline cars, and the impact of social media on communication. Participants also discussed the importance of pursuing higher degrees and attended a seminar on sustainable mobility, focusing on battery and hydrogen technologies. Cultural activities added further enrichment to the workshop experience.
Parallel sessions were held for students to present their research findings. These sessions allowed participants from different countries to collaborate in small groups, improving their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
At the closing ceremony, Muhammad Muhaimin bin Mohd Zuli, a final-year student from the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science at UTM, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norahim bin Ibrahim, received the Best Research Presentation Award. His paper, titled “Characterization of Black Soldier Fly Waste Compost and Its Effect on Solanum Melongena Growth Performance,” garnered much attention for its innovative approach and contribution to sustainable agriculture.
