JOHOR BAHRU, 4 April 2016 – The achievement of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as a Research University (RU) was proven last year when UTM was awarded a 6 star MyRA rating. Additionally, two of its centers of excellence, namely, the Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC) and the Institute of Noise and Vibration (IKG) were also recognised as Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HiCOE).
Chairman of the Research University Performance Audit Panel, Dato’ Prof. Dr. Mohamed Isa b. Abdul Majid during the audit’s opening remarks said that although UTM was only recognized as a Research University in 2010, the University was able to compete with other more established Malaysia RUs.
The audit session was held at the Senate and Banquet Hall, Johor Bahru campus.
Meanwhile UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir Dr. Wahid Omar in his briefing to the audit panel said that UTM has conducted five major initiatives with respect to strengthening research in UTM, including combining 10 fields to 5 niche research areas, strengthening faculties’ research eco-system, consolidating 20 Centres of Excellence to 6 Research Institute, Re-branding UTM’s Innovation and commercialization center with a focus on pre-commercialization activities, and filing of patents and technology licensing.
“The university has also implemented a centralized laboratory management system to reduce maintenance costs and promote the concept of sharing and enhance efficiency,” said Prof. Wahid.
According to Prof. Wahid, UTM as a Research University, has managed to increase 50 per cent of its Research Project (Principle Investigator) in 2010. It continues to increase every year between 4 to 14 percent between 2013 and 2015.
“Since 2010, we are also working to increase the number of indexed publications each year between 23 up 37 percent where this increment is also reflected on the number of our citations between 38 and 52 percent every year since 2010.
UTM’s revenue through research grants has also increased every year in general, especially for private grants, with an increase of 200 per cent for 2014 and 37 percent in 2015. Cumulatively from 2010 to 2015, UTM managed to obtain grants amounting to RM433.1 million.
A total of eight panelists, including two University Research Task Force members performed a site audit at UTM, commencing from 4 April to 6 April 2016. The six RU audit panelists comprised Professor Dr. Mohamed Isa b. Abdul Majid, Dato ‘Prof. Emeritus Dr. Muhammad b. Yahya, Dato ‘Prof. Emeritus Dr. Md. Ikram b. Mohd Said, Prof. Dr. Adzir b. Mahdi, Prof. Dr. Robiah Yunus and Prof Dr. Zulkornain b. Yusof.
While the 2 Research University Task Force were Prof. Dr. Muhammad Fauzi b. Mohd Zain and Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hamiruce b. Marhaban.
