ICP and R&D Colloquium 2022 promotes sustainable research

UTAR ICP and R&D Colloquium 2022 with its theme ‘Integrate ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) in Shaping Sustainable Research’ was held at Sungai Long Campus on 3 December 2022. The colloquium, which was attended by more than 100 participants, aimed to engage UTAR ICP, industries, MoU and MoA partners to share their research findings and provide interactive platforms among ICP, UTAR staff and students from multidisciplinary fields to establish research collaborations.

Front row: Prof Lim (far left), Prof Goi (third from left) and Dr Yong (fourth from left) with the academics during the group photo session

Organised by the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPSR), the colloquium was attended by UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Ir Prof Dr Goi Bok Min, Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research (IPSR) Director Assoc Prof Dr Yong Thian Khok, IPSR Deputy Director Prof Ts Dr Lim Yang Mooi, international collaborative partners, industry advisors, MoU and MoA partners, academics, students and staff.

Prof Faidz giving his speech

Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ts Dr Faidz bin Abd Rahman in his opening remark said, “I appreciate the commitment of all participants in this colloquium with the common objective of exchanging and sharing knowledge among researchers. It is important for researchers from multidisciplinary fields to meet, discuss, debate and explore new avenues to establish research collaboration and implement sustainable research projects that address local and global issues. This year’s theme is timely as research should not be only multidisciplinary but also consider the environmental, social and governance aspects when drafting research proposals to achieve impactful outcomes that benefit society.”

The colloquium kickstarted with keynote lectures moderated by Prof Lim, featuring both international and local speakers with different expertise. Yuan-Ze University Prof Lin Chih Yang presented the first keynote titled “How AI and computer vision make our lives better?”. He said, “We focus on computer vision technologies based on machine learning and deep learning, aside from interdisciplinary integration of technology to find better solutions from both academia and industry.”

Beijing Jiaotong University Dr Wang Xin presented the second keynote titled “Urban renewal from the perspective of ESG”. Dr Wang Xin shared the case study of the bell and drum tower community in Beijing whereby he spoke about the problems with the quality of the physical environment, ESG relating to the phenomenon and the analysis of the current situation of the courtyard in Beijing.

The third keynote presented by Universiti Putra Malaysia Prof Dr Samsilah Roslan titled “Education and ESG” focused on the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world, research and projects related to ESG, learner’s ecosystem, power of hidden curriculum, intrinsic and extrinsic goals, knowledge and beliefs as well as other related topics that are associated with education and ESG. She said, “It is projected that there will be a 3.5 per cent decline in tertiary education enrolment which will result in 7.9 million fewer students. It is important to implement ESG in education to reduce negative impacts. We need to raise the importance and belief that principles are important and advocated, combine intrinsic and extrinsic goals when advocating and practice the hidden curriculum of what is being observed and absorbed by students.”

A parallel session was conducted which addressed five different research areas, namely Engineering and Technology with its theme ‘Interdisciplinary research and practice’, chaired by Dr Ng Oon-Ee; Science, Medical and Health, TCM with its theme ‘Sustainability: Innovations in Science, Medical and Health, TCM’, chaired by Dr Tan Yen Nee and Assoc Prof Dr Te Kian Keong; Art and Social Science with its theme ‘The Impact of Cyber Security in Disaster Control’, chaired by Dr Lim Ming Han; Teaching and Learning with its theme ‘ESG Sustainability in multicultural societies: Challenges and Pathways Forward’, chaired by Dr Wei Chooi Yi; and Collaboration with Taylor’s University chaired by Dr Foo Chai Nien and Taylor’s University Prof Dr Chong Pei Pei.

Participants during the parallel session

Ongoing discussion for research proposal

The parallel session was followed by a multi-disciplinary research proposal presentation. UTAR thanks Elsevier Singapore Pte Ltd for sponsoring the colloquium and Taylor’s University for the impactful research collaboration.

Dr Yong said, “We thank Taylor’s University for joining us this year, which means that UTAR’s R&D research is growing. I’m looking forward to witnessing the positive outcome from the research proposal projects that have been discussed.”

Dr Yong (left) and Prof Lim (right) during the colloquium