Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is strengthening its position as one of the region’s leading higher education institutions recognized for excellence in teaching and research. UTM fosters impactful research collaborations with both local and international partners. Additionally, its staff frequently participate in knowledge-sharing activities such as guest speeches, keynote lectures, expert panels at international forums, and visits as subject matter experts.
A notable example of this commitment is the recent two-week attachment (September 8-21, 2024) of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zainul Akmar Zakaria from the Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Polymer in the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FKT). He served as a Visiting Professor at the Fakultas Teknobiologi of Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya (UNIKA) in Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) City, Jakarta. During his time there, Dr. Zainul delivered approximately 18 hours of lectures to first- and third-year students in the Biotechnology and Food Technology programs. Notably, UNIKA is the first university in Indonesia to offer a Bachelor’s Degree specializing in Biotechnology.
In addition to classroom lectures, Dr. Zainul engaged in academic and research discussions with the faculty’s academic staff, which included focused training sessions on academic writing. He also explored potential research collaborations with UNIKA’s research management team and exchanged views with the university’s International Office and Corporate Unit.
Dr. Zainul had the opportunity to visit a local tempeh production facility in a nearby village. This facility was initially developed by a staff member from Fakultas Teknobiologi, an expert in food and food-waste processing technologies. The facility is now successfully operated by local villagers who have received training from UNIKA’s staff. This success story serves as an inspiring example for UTM and Malaysian researchers, highlighting the positive impact of long-term university-community collaborations in improving the quality of life for local communities.
Additionally, UNIKA invited several other UTM experts to contribute to its academic and research activities this year. For example, two academic staff members from the Department of Biosciences in the Faculty of Science delivered online guest lectures during a short training course on Fermented Food organized by Fakultas Teknobiologi on August 6-7. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Madihah Salleh shared her expertise in Fermentation Technology, while Dr. Zarita Zakaria provided new insights on Product Development from Fermented Food. Earlier, on June 6-7, a sizable contingent of UTM students participated successfully in the 3rd Atma Jaya Business & Innovation Expo 2024 held at UNIKA’s main campus in Jakarta.
It is anticipated that increasing joint activities between UTM and UNIKA will strengthen relationships and produce mutually beneficial outcomes, further advancing the institutional missions of both universities as locally relevant and regionally recognized centers of academic and research excellence.
