Several researchers from UTAR were named as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI through the Joint Research Scheme (JRS), organised by the Presidents’ Forum of Southeast and South Asia and Taiwan Universities (SATU Presidents’ Forum). The Joint Research Scheme aims to provide a collaborative platform that facilitates academic research collaboration among SATU member universities.

Among the researchers who were named PI and Co-PI from UTAR were Assoc Prof Ts Dr Ezra Morris Abraham Gnanamuthu, Dr Sim Lan Ching, Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Hum Yan Chai, Assoc Prof Ts Dr Jun Hieng Kiat, Dr Lam Siew Yong, Prof Ts Dr Humaira Nisar, Dr Chin Hon Choong, Dr Mohammad Falahat Nejadmahani, Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Leong Kah Hon, Dr Pang Yean Ling, Dr Steven Lim, Dr Charanjit Kaur Darshan Singh, Ts Dr Yew Ming Kun, Dr Amy Saik Yi Hsan, Prof Dr Yau Kok Lim, Prof Dr Chong Kok Keong, Dr Nurul Iman binti Abdul Jalil, Dr Vikniswari Vija Kumaran, Dr Gengeswari Krishnapillai, Dr Siew Pei Hwa, Dr Ong Kiah Ju, Dr Ong Ying Hui, Dr Chang Sui Kiat, Dr Nurhanim binti Abdul Aziz, Assoc Prof Ts Dr Yap Wun She, Ts Dr Khaw Chwin Chieh, Assoc Prof Ir Dr Chua Kein Huat, Dr Low Foon Siang, Dr Clement Wong Kiing Fook, Dr Kuah Yoke Chin, Ts Dr Low Foo Wah, Dr Lee Foo Wei, Dr Ng Law Yong, Ts Dr Lee Hwang Sheng, Cheah Khang Jin and Dr Zam Zuriyati binti Mohamad.

JRS is a networking platform that connects scholars with similar research interests and integrates resources to increase the quality, quantity and global research scope conducted among SATU member universities. It was recorded that this year alone, they received 601 projects from over 400 PI applicants. The number of PI projects received this year is the highest since the JRS was launched in 2012.

The project fields include Liberal Arts, Management, Sciences, Social Science, Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Planning & Design, Bioscience & Biotechnology, Medicine in Southeast and South Asia, and multidisciplinary research.

JRS was launched by SATU Presidents’ Forum in 2012 as a matching platform for scholars from all SATU member universities to establish international research collaborations. Through the projects that were successfully matched through the SATU JRS platform, the researchers believe that academic and research collaboration can be strengthened by sharing or exchanging ideas, promoting the quality of research and fostering internationalisation through any research activities.