Collaborate for greater success
THE vision of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) is to achieve educational excellence with transformative societal impact. It offers quality and affordable postgraduate programmes that enhance graduates’ employment opportunities and career advancement.
To enrich its research endeavours and culture among academics and postgraduate students, the university through its Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research (IPSR) organised the R&D Colloquium 2018 (1.0) at UTAR Kampar Campus this year.
The objective of the colloquium is to offer a platform to exchange research ideas, interests and project funding related to cross-disciplinary areas. Presenters were encouraged to present early-stage research plans to receive some valuable feedback and suggestions.
It also aimed to develop cross-disciplinary collaborations through finding synergies and common interests.
Held since May 2014, this ninth R&D Colloquium continued to strengthen regular interaction between researchers from the university’s 32 research centres by establishing research collaborations and reinforcing cross-disciplinary research.
It served as a platform for a continuous update on research outcomes to the research centres, faculties, IPSR and the vice president’s office for R&D and commercialisation.
A total of 34 presentations on various topics, including medical tourism, social media, foodborne infection, infant mortality rates, stem cells, mental health, cyberbullying, artificial intelligence, social economic impact, eco-friendly smart house, e-commerce and the fourth industrial revolution, were delivered.
“It is indeed a great platform for all to improve in the field of research and development (R&D). The R&D Colloquium is a platform for academics of varied disciplines to share their expertise and exchange resources for R&D projects,” says Faculty of Arts and Social Science lecturer Teh Boon Teck.
Also pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy at UTAR, Teh thanks the university and the organising committee for being active in organising R&D-centred events such as symposiums, forums and colloquiums for staff and students to network with academics and industry players.
Stimulating events like this are a regular fixture for UTAR’s academics and postgraduate students. The university insists on providing consistent exposure to cuttingedge research to continually broaden the minds of staff and students without neglecting cross-disciplinary instruction and hands-on practical training.
These efforts, along with all the postgraduate programmes and R&D activities at UTAR, are coordinated by IPSR.
According to UTAR’s vice-president for R&D and commercialisation Prof Ts Dr Faidz Abd Rahman, “The institute functions as a central body ensuring that the programmes and R&D projects are well administered and monitored to provide the best possible R&D experience.
“In line with its motto ‘Intellectual Pursuits through Sustainable Research’, the postgraduate programmes offered are designed to encompass a large share of R&D activities to provide students with the most up-to-date technical knowledge and skills.
“This allows those pursuing postgraduate qualifications to enhance their competency, guaranteeing that they gain sustainable competitive advantage in their respective industries.”
It is no wonder that the university’s postgraduates have formed a strong reputation among employers as reliable, well-trained and insightful individuals.
The industry experience and technical knowledge of UTAR’s dynamic academics work together to provide critically effective pedagogical instruction that contributes to UTAR’s 97% employability rate within six months of graduation.
It is no exaggeration then to say that a postgraduate degree acts as a passport to a more successful future.
IPSR has endeavoured to cultivate innovative research, which can be seen from the number of grants received by UTAR researchers from local and international organisations.
To better serve student needs, IPSR provides support and advice on course content, fees, entry requirements, financial aids and classes. Intake occurs year-round.
UTAR’s postgraduate may be completed by coursework or research or a combination of both. This ensures flexibility to suit the diverse needs of individuals and their learning styles.
The university was awarded self-accreditation status by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency last year and ranked 501-600 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. UTAR was also ranked #99 in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2018.