An impactful R&D Colloquium 2014 (2.0)

Following the success of the first R&D Colloquium in May 2014, the Institute of Postg0raduate Studies and Research (IPSR) organised its second R&D Colloquium at the KL campus on 18 October 2014.

Dubbed as R&D Colloquium 2014 (2.0 ), this second R&D Colloquium continued to re-inforce  the nurturing of regular interactions among researchers from the twenty-seven (27) research centres through establishing research co-operation and strengthening cross disciplinary research. It is also a valued platform for continuous updating of research outcomes to research centres, faculties, IPSR and the Vice President’s office for Research Development and Commercialisation (VP RDC).

The Chairman of the Organising Committee Prof Dr Faidz Bin Abd Rahman gave the opening address on behalf of the Vice President for RDC Ir Prof Dr Lee Sze Wei. Prof Faidz said,”Today’s colloquium engages researchers and postgraduate students towards a cross disciplinary knowledge producing community as well as advancing the culture of research excellence at UTAR. It would help to pave the way for the researchers with different perspectives to work together in finding common ground.”

More than 126 participants comprising researchers, presenters, postgraduate students and staff attended the R&D Colloquium 2014 (2.0) which proved to be impactful with informative presentations on relevant topics and lively discussions at the Q &A sessions. The topics included learning of the English language, application of technology in learning & mobile shopping, and development of electric vehicle.

There were a total of 20 presentations by eighteen local and two foreign researchers. The presentations were conducted in parallel sessions. The first presentation by See Zi Siang on ‘A Preview: Medical Learning Laboratory with Augmented Reality’ exemplified a potential collaboration between Centre for Immersive Technology and Creativity (CITC) and the Centre for Research on Non Communicative Disease (CRNCD). See elaborated on Augmented Reality (AR) to support medical learning.AR refers to viewing a physical, real world whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by a computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video and graphics. 

 Other highlights included Chew Wee Lee’s presentation on ‘Mobile Shopping behaviour and M-Payment Acceptance among Malaysian online shoppers’ and Dr Lee Mah Ngee’s elaboration on ‘Globalisation through Community-based projects: Enhancing Civic attitudes and Competence Skills in Undergraduates.’ For more details, please refer to www.utar.edu.my/colloquium2014.

Ms Teoh Ley Ling, a postgraduate student in Science said, “Attending the colloquium helps me to gain more knowledge on the types of research topics and research methods. It is advantageous to network with the researchers to improve my understanding of research requirements.” Concurring with Teoh’s views were Chung Zi Ling and Lim Kin Yin who are both lecturers in English at the Centre for Foundation Studies, Perak Campus. Chung and Lim enthused that R&D Colloquium was a ‘one-day quality research training experience’ and a golden opportunity to touch base with a gathering of researchers.

Prof Lee attended the later session in the afternoon and in his closing remarks at the R&D Colloquium, he said, “It is vital to enhance research with more collective ideas and efforts through adopting a broader view of the topics and the need for trade-offs and balances. There is growing demand for cross disciplinary research to help to address socio-economic issues that are increasingly inter-linked.” He further added on the heightened competition for the external fundings and building knowledge and understanding from cross-sector perspectives of the researchers.  

Prof Faidz, first row second from right with the participants. 

Prof Lee giving his closing address

 

Sit-down discussions during coffee-break

See Zi Siang explaining a point in his explanation

 

Chew Wee Lee elaborating on m-payment

Dr Kenji Kaneko explaining his thesis

Dr Lim Jee Hock presenting his talk

Koay Ying Yin emphasizing a point in the presentation

 

Dr Lee Mah Ngee presenting her talk