OPTIMIZING ENGINEERING RESOURCES FOR THE SUCCESS OF USM’S TRANSFORMATION

NIBONG TEBAL, 28th January 2016 – University Science Malaysia (USM) is striving to optimize the use of existing resources including from the various engineering fields as an effort in transforming the university towards APEX 2020.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman, this includes increasing a more sustainable money generating effort thus ensuring the success of the existing plans.

Speaking at the School of Civil Engineering for the one day excursion to the Engineering Campus, he said that there is a variety of resources which can be generated by the Engineering Campus in adding to the university’s income.
 
“Furthermore, we have the expertise, research products and facilities that have yet to have their use optimized”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Engineering Campus Director, Professor Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said that the Vice-Chancellor’s excursion brings a huge meaning to the campus populace.
 
“Through today’s session, the synergized ideas between the engineering campus and the views from the university’s top management are unified. We are more prepared in suggesting and implementing the strategies in enhancing the university’s excellence even though there are restraints and challenges starting from 2016”, said Ahmad Farhan.

He is currently in the midst of his first 100days excursions to all the departments at Engineering Campus to identify their critical issues and to better associate with their roles and responsibilities for them to be aligned with the university’s vision and mission.

The Vice-Chancellor also visited several laboratories with the capacity to generate money to the university including the Underwater, Control & Robotic Group (URRG) Laboratory headed by Professor Dr. Mohd Rizal Arshad at the School Of Electrical and Electronic Engineering as well as the Graphene Research Laboratory headed by Professor Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed from the School of Chemical Engineering located at the School of Aerospace Engineering.

The Vice-Chancellor was also keen on the Bio Energy Laboratory at the School of Mechanical Engineering headed by Professor Dr. Zainal Alimuddin Zainal Alauddin who caught the media’s attention recently with his research on Kitchen Waste Carbonizer (KWC) as a solution to a more efficient disposal of domestic waste.

The Vice-Chancellor also visited the laboratory that has produced many researchers contributing to the university’s recognition, Professor Dr. Bassim H. Hameed at the School of Chemical Engineering who has also been recently recognized as The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 2015, as well as several other laboratories at the School of Civil Engineering which had grossed the highest earnings through laboratory testings with outsiders.

Also present in the excursion were the USM’s Registrar, Professor Dr. Abd Aziz Tajuddin, Director of Human Resource Division, Dr. Musa Ali, Director of Chancellery Management, Hj. Mohd Saad Hj. Din and Chief Development Officer, Arman Abdul Razak

Translation: Siti Sara Zainal Abidin
Text: Mohd Kamil Ashar / Photos:Faisal Mohamad