Academic visit to Institute of Flexible Electronics, China

Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) Ir Academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik, accompanied by Centre for Sustainable Mobility Technologies Chairperson Ir Ts Dr Bernard Saw Lip Huat and Centre for Healthcare Science and Technology Chairperson Ir Dr Chee Pei Song, visited the Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in Xi’an, China from 28 May to 1 June 2023.

UTAR delegates were cordially welcomed by IFE Chief Scientist Academician Prof Huang Wei and NPU members in a meeting on 30 May 2023.

Prof Huang welcomed UTAR delegates and said, “We are glad to have Tan Sri Chuah, who is also our Consultant Professor here, to share his experience and resources in international organisations, which support and provide guidance to the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) President’s Office. His sharing will also greatly improve the level of IFE and even NPU’s participation in international science and technology governance, as well as promote China’s scientists and engineers to play an important role in the international arena.”

He added, “The three-year pandemic has restructured the entire world. However, UTAR has always been committed to promote education, technology, engineering, and cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia, thus also, writing a new chapter of friendship and common development with China in the new era. NPU and UTAR can work together on research collaboration in various fields, including flexible electronics. Both institutions will learn from each other and advance hand in hand in the process of building a world-class university.”

Tan Sri Chuah thanked Prof Huang and IFE for the invitation and arrangement. He also conveyed the cordial greetings and invitation from UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat to NPU and IFE. Tan Sri Chuah revealed, “UTAR has been at the forefront of cooperation with Chinese tertiary institutions, and has extensive experience in this area. This visit will focus on discussion in the field of flexible electronics, as well as joint scientific research, and mutual visits between both institutions. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we will continue to create a model of Sino-foreign cooperation in education, engineering, science and technology, and cultural exchanges.”

Followed after were the introduction on IFE by Prof Wang Xuewen, and introduction on UTAR and LKC FES by Dr Chee. Then, both institutions had discussions and exchanges on joint scientific research projects and mutual visits between staff and students.

Apart from this, IFE Frontier Science Center Vice Chairperson Academician Prof Liu Xiaogang reported the establishment of “Tech” journal, an international high-level journal. He also invited Tan Sri Chuah to provide guidance to the establishment of the journal during the sharing session. In reply to the invitation, Tan Sri Chuah strongly supported the concept of the “Tech” journal, and said, “The establishment of ‘Tech’ journal is a bridge connecting science and engineering, and will help to promote the combination of basic research and outcome transformation.” He will also make extensive use of the professional resources of UTAR and FEIAP, to actively participate in the establishment of ‘Tech’ journal.

NPU-FEIAP “Belt and Road” Engineering Education and Training Center (NFTC) Expert Appointment Ceremony and “Tech” journal Advisory Expert Appointment Ceremony were held in conjunction with the meeting. Tan Sri Chuah was appointed as NFTC Training Master (培训大师) and “Tech” journal Advisory Editorial (顾问编委), while Dr Saw and Dr Chee were appointed as NFTC Lecturers.

Lastly, Prof Liu and Tan Sri Chuah signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on behalf of NPU IFE and UTAR LKC FES respectively, to lay the foundation for further in-depth cooperation.

The next day, Tan Sri Chuah was invited to conduct a talk, titled “International Mobility in Engineering Education” to IFE staff and students. Based on his experience and China’s national conditions, Tan Sri Chuah has vividly explained the possessed abilities of engineering graduates; the difficulties and challenges in engineering education; as well as the corresponding countermeasures. He advised that academic and students should improve their self-abilities, and constantly train the right way of thinking, in order to obtain success in life development.

Dr Saw, Dr Chee and academics from IFE have also shared their academic outcomes during the academic exchange session. During the Q&A session, the students had great interaction with the speakers. They felt honoured to be able to have a close exchange with Tan Sri Chuah and academics, which was useful to answer the doubts of their study and scientific research, and provided new ideas and innovative inspiration for their academic researches.