5th Article : Establishing strategic collaboration and alliances

   THE Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)’s Advanced Technology & Innovation Centre (ATIC) was officially opened at the Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil by Institute of Technology Petronas (ITPSB) chairman Juniwati Rahmat Hussin recently.

  ATIC is established in line with the government’s policy that encourages transfer of knowledge and technology between universities and industries.

   It functions as a ‘one-stop centre’ for UTP to provide for the needs of industry and a ‘shop window’ to display UTP’s expertise and facilities worldwide.

   The centre was set up at Technology Park Malaysia to support collaboration between the university and external entities such as industry and government agencies.

   With the opening of ATIC, the university aims to promote collaboration and establish strategic alliances with the industry, academic and research institutions.

   It will provide support to academics and researchers at UTP in dealing with industry and research organisations, transfer knowledge and technology and promote deployment and commercialisation of IP through business collaboration and joint ventures through its commercialisation and IP unit.

4th Article IPTA : USM creates oil absorbent product from prawn shells

GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers have created an oil absorbent substance from prawn shells.

   GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers have created an oil 

absorbent substance from prawn shells.

   Research group head, Dr Suzylawati Ismail said the 10-year research found some special characteristics of the prawn shell that were effectively able to enhance the decomposition process in chemical and oil wastes in polluted water.

   The product known as Chi-Sorb, was created using oxidation technology that would enable simultaneous absorbing, clotting and scouring process, besides  having a faster reaction.

   "Chemically, the prawn shells modified by certain processes make for an effective absorbent substance to clean up oil-contaminated water.

   "The product is comparable to the normal synthetic absorbent material and is more environmental friendly because it is metal-free," she told reporters, here today.

   She said apart from treating water in industrial areas, the absorbent substance could be used to remove oil spills along the coasts, by scattering the substance onto the affected areas.

   She added that used Chi-Sorb could be used as fertiliser and easily disposed of.

   Last month, the research product won the main award at the Korea International Women's Invention Exposition (KIWIE) 2012 held in Seoul. -- BERNAMA

3rd Article : UPM gets AACSB accreditation

   SERDANG: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is the first university in the country to receive an accreditation from the international body, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), recently.

   Among the universities which had received the recognition were Texas University of the United States, Chonnam National University and Dongguk University in South Korea, Istanbul University in Turkey and Peking University in China.

  Among the universities which had received the recognition were Texas University of the United States, Chonnam National University and Dongguk University in South Korea, Istanbul University in Turkey and Peking University in China.

   UPM vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said, the recognition was for the Economic and Management Faculty and Putra Business School, making UPM the sixth university in South East Asia to receive the accreditation.

   "AACSB accreditation is a feature of excellence in business education which is only obtained by less than five per cent of business programmes in the world," he told a press conference, here, today.    

   AACSB, which was set up in 1916, is the oldest international accreditation body for business education at universities offering bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees programmes.    

   UPM's success was announced by AACSB president and chief executive officer John J. Fernandes in Tampa, Florida, United States through the website www.aacsb.edu on July 26.

   Dr Radin Umar said the accreditation process involved a stringent internal study, evaluations and adjustments and took several years to meet the 21 stipulated criteria.

   Among the criteria, he said were quality teaching activities, deciding on challenging but realistic standards, guiding improvement in education programmes and providing challenges to education to carry out continuous improvements.

   Furthermore, also taken into account was the academic quality as a result of the faculty communicating with students in a scientific programme which was supported by the institution including the existing quality of education in the institution.    

   Dr Radin said all business schools which received the recognition must undergo a 'Peer Review' process every five years to ensure their accreditations would be maintained. -- BERNAMA

2nd Article IPTA : UiTM to extract energy from 'petai belalang'

 Varsity teams up with Thai university to explore new green fuel.

BANGKOK: IN what is believed to be the first of its kind ever, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and a Thai university will "steam up" energy from a tree species.

UiTM rector (Pahang campus) Associate Prof Datuk Dr Hilmi Ab Rahman said UiTM would collaborate with Kasetsart University of Thailand to explore the new renewable energy source from "energy plantations".

He said wood from the Luceana tree could be burnt to produce steam, which could be turned into new energy to serve as an alternative to prominent energy sources such as oil, gas, coal and hydro.

"It is a green technology and renewable energy as the Luceana tree can be harvested in just 18 months compared with thousands of years for fossil fuel to develop."

He said, so far, no other country had produced energy based on Luceana wood.

The Luceana species is known as petai belalang in Malaysia, and ipil-ipil, in Sabah.

Dr Hilmi said the new renewable energy could offer a cheaper solution to the depleting fossil fuel and higher crude oil price, which hit about US$120 (RM365) per barrel.

"Investors are keen to look at the source of energy as they move towards green technology."

He said Kasetsart University had the expertise and technology in energy plantation as they had been carrying out research for 40 years.

UiTM has also engaged in the research of energy plantation, and together with Kasetsart University, the varsity aims to enhance its research, especially in the genetic engineering of Luceana tree, in ensuring the sustainable supply of the tree.

Dr Hilmi said UiTM had planted the Luceana species on a 5,000ha plantation in Merchang, Dungun, as its pilot project.

He said the new renewable energy had vast potential, not only for Malaysia and Thailand but also for the Asean region and worldwide.

"We need to educate the industry players that tree plantation is not merely for producing wood for furniture."

In Thailand, the tree is used to prevent soil erosion and its leaves are used as animal feed.

"Energy plantation may seem like a crazy idea, but it is doable," said Dr Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Abdul Rahman, a scientist of UiTM Pahang.

He added that the new renewable energy had been proven to produce one megawatt of electricity and generate a diesel engine in Sabah.

"We used two combustions, with 80 per cent consisting of the renewable energy and 20 per cent of diesel in generating the engine."

Dr Nazri said more research was needed if 100 per cent of the new renewable energy were to be used for the diesel engine.

He said the energy plantation pilot project was supplying energy for a timber factory in Kertih. Bernama

1st Article IPTA : UTM launches mobile hotspot bus

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) recently launched its first UTM Mobile Hotspot bus which is equipped with modems to enable 200 people to be connected to the Internet at the same time within a 100 metre radius of the vehicle.

Prof Dr Zaini Ujang launching the UTM bus equipped with Wi-Fi technology. Pic courtesy of UTM Johor

1 / 1

 JOHOR BARU: UTM Vice-Chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Zaini Ujang said the product combined Internet access with the smart antenna technology produced by UTM Wireless Communication Centre (WCC).

 "The WCC Mobile Hotspot  is UTM's latest technology product that is overseen by the Innovation and Commercialisation Centre. It will be commercialised by the private sector," he said at the university campus in Skudai here recently.

   Zaini said the  project  is WCC's collaboration with Maxis and bus provider Mara Liner. Maxis sponsored the SIM cards.

 The pilot project took three months to ensure that  the mobile hotspot quality is stable and consistent.

    "The use of mobile Wi-Fi on public buses will be a boon for  bus operators  as it would enable them to attract more passengers," Zaini said.

    UTM plans to use the product in all its buses as well as introduce it  to  Mara Liner buses, airport limousines and other transport  services.

    So far, the WCC has created  products like the smart antenna technology and the flat antenna, which is more effectiveness than the conventional antenna.

5th Article IPTS : Students recycle items into eye-catching stuff

ECO FRIENDS:Sunway College Johor Baru students show they can be both environmentally conscious and creative when they marked Earth Day recently
1 / 4   Themed "Earth Day Every Day", college principal Hor Poh Choo said the event aimed to cultivate a caring attitude towards Mother Nature among youths, raise awareness and involve students and the public in the environment protection movement.
   One of the main programmes of the day was the Recycling Awareness Project which is a campus-wide joint effort between staff and students whereby items made from paper, plastic and aluminum were collected for recycling.
   Information technology diploma student, Choong Han Sheng, 19, said the papers he collected for recycling were  mainly contributed by his relatives and friends.
   "I enjoyed the whole process of collecting and recycling because I know I am doing something very meaningful," explained Choong.
   Another student, Kow Yong Hui, 19, said, "We should learn to be more mindful of the environment and not to simply waste resources."
   A competition, "Re-Create", was held and the  pre-university, diploma, degree and professional accounting programme students were challenged to produce an item by re-using everyday materials such as magazines, aluminum cans, envelopes, plastic bottles and newspapers within 30 minutes.
   "The whole idea behind this competition is to test the creativity of the students and to help them realise how used materials could be re-used," said lecturer Thevidarsny Kaliapan who was in charge of the competition.
   A group of  A-Level  students won the hearts of the judges with their masterpiece which took the shape of a poodle.
   Team member Haran Mohanadas, 19, said, "We didn't just want to make something which served no purpose so we came up with an idea of a decorative cum storage object."  
   Another event held in conjunction with the event was the "Eco-Fashion" competition, coordinated by English lecturer, Vimala Devi, who was proud of the creativity shown by the students.
   Devi said the competition was meant to emphasise the merits of the 3R's -- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle -- while having the interests of today's youth in mind.
   "In a group of five, the students were asked to design an outfit made out of used materials. I am impressed with the teamwork the students had shown through their outfit creations, many of which impressed the judges and made it difficult for them to decide," said lecturer and competition judge, Yoong Wai Sin.
   Winners of the competition was a group of A-Levels and Monash University Foundation Year  students who designed a Hawaiian-themed outfit made with aluminium foils, straws, egg trays, newspapers, magazines and cardboard boxes.  
   "We watched the fashion footages from the television show Project Runway to gather ideas for our outfits which we completed within two days," said team member and appointed "designer" Wong Wye Kin, 19.
   Visitors  had a fun-filled morning with families  participating in games and activities which made use of reusable and recycled materials such as tissue boxes, paper cups, paper rolls, plastic bottles and cans.

4th Article IPTS : Innovation meaningless if remained in showcase

   CYBERJAYA: Any innovation would not be meaningful, if it only remained in a showcase, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili said today.

   He said it was not the creation of an innovation that should be the trophy of success but instead, the real victory would be when the innovation makes a

difference in the life of others.

   "For this we should not only look at the outcome in economic gain, but we should also celebrate creative innovations that affect simple positive changes in our society, those that make our lives a little easier, those that make us a little bit happier or even help us smile more," he said at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Graduation 2011, here today.

   Ongkili said the government with its clear foresight had outlined definitive strategies of transformation with an ultimate goal of ensuring prosperity and equitability for the people, which also seek to change the mindset of the people to embrace innovation and creativity as the very pillars for these changes.

"It is imperative that we work together for these common goals," he said.

   During the graduation Ongkili was also conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Leadership in Innovation, for his efforts in spearheading Prime Minister Datuk

Seri Najib Tun Razak's vision for innovation across all levels of society, upgrading Malaysia and it's citizens and enabling them to compete with the best

in the world.

   Besides him, Lord Sheikh of Cornhill in the City of London, the first Muslim elected into the British House of Lords, was also conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Social Development for championing a harmonious relationship between the respective traditions in Great Britain as well as across the world.

   Both were conferred by Limkokwing University of Creative Technology President Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Lim Kok Wing.

   About 1,000 students from 59 countries, including Malaysia, Brazil, Russia, Denmark, Japan, Singapore, China and the Middle East who graduated, received

their scrolls. - Bernama