Fraser Mitchell: How would you define the identity of UKM?

Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Kamal Mujani:

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) was established as a public university on 18 May 1970. Initially, UKM had only three faculties: Sciences, Arts, and Islamic Studies at its temporary campus located at Jalan Pantai Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, until it was moved to its current location in Bangi as main campus, which is approximately 35 minutes driving distance away from the Kuala Lumpur city.

Over the years, UKM has evolved into a comprehensive higher education institution. Currently, we offer a wide array of undergraduate and postgraduate programs through 12 faculties, 13 institutes, and several centers. Our Kuala Lumpur campus hosts the Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Faculty of Dentistry, while the Faculty of Medicine is situated on the Terrace campus. Notably, UKM is the sole Malaysian university with two teaching hospitals: Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz and the Specialist Children’s Hospital.

UKM holds a significant status in Malaysia. Recognized as a Research University (RU) since October 2006, designated by the Ministry of Higher Education in alignment with the Higher Education Strategic Plan. Our university embraces a national identity, utilizing Malay as the medium of instruction to address national agendas. Starting January 2021, we’ve implemented a new framework termed “TERAS” (Trust, Ethics, Revitalise, Agile and Soul) to fortify our institution. This initiative aims to invigorate and drive UKM to the next level of excellence.

Recently, UKM has been tasked with advocating the Malaysia Madani agenda, championed by our Prime Minister. This concept is vital for Malaysian higher education, emphasizing sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust, and compassion. Notably, UKM was the first public university in Malaysia to establish an overseas campus. In 2022, we, alongside a consortium, founded our campus in Qatar, marking a significant milestone in our global presence.

Fraser Mitchell: Let’s specifically look at the areas of research and innovation that are flourishing at the university.

Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Kamal Mujani: Certainly.

As a university, we take responsibility for applying management knowledge and innovation to benefit the industry, the community, and enhance the quality of life.

According to the Malaysia Madani concept, innovation is a vital and necessary component for promoting a good quality of life and sustainability. For instance, we are actively engaged with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), a critical sector that significantly contributes to the country’s economic growth. This sector requires the effective knowledge translation and technological innovation generated by universities for practical application and problem-solving in the industry.

We ensure that the country provides various government funding to support and nurture technology, innovation, and transformation into industry and the market. As one of the leading universities in Malaysia, we are fostering innovative minds to create new solutions.

To address identified problems, we provide state-of-the-art facilities and research instruments within our faculties to support research and technology development activities. For example, the Center for Research and Instrument Management (CRIM) offers various funds to aid researchers at different stages of their project development into a product.

Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Kamal Mujani:

In the market, we have the UKM Innovation and Commercialization Center to assist researchers with patent applications, matching them with industry partners, and providing innovation funds to support product commercialization in line with the Industrial Revolution.

To foster innovation in the engineering and alternative energy, we have the Faculty of Technology and Information Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, the Faculty of Science and Technologies, and the Institute of Fuel Cells. These entities are dedicated to micro-engineering, nano-electronics, solar energy research, and Visual Informatics, all focusing on increasing production efficiency and reducing production costs.

Looking ahead to Revolution Industry 5.0, we emphasize the importance of ethics, culture, spiritual development, and human nature over just machines and technology. It’s about balancing the development of machines and humans.

We have faculties and institutes dedicated to social sciences, humanities, ethnic studies, and international studies to address these aspects. In the realm of medical innovation, we have the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Dentistry, and the Institute of Medical Molecular Biology, complemented by two teaching hospitals, all contributing to various advancements in medical technology.

Equally vital is our focus on environmental sustainability. We have the Institute of Environment and Development, the Institute of Biology Systems (INBIOSIS), and the Institute of Climate Change, all working diligently to ensure societal well-being. We offer numerous undergraduate and graduate courses at UKM to ensure a continuous growth of talent, supporting the country’s economic advancement.

Fraser Mitchell: Yes, it’s interesting how you emphasize the need to strike a balance between humans and technology, especially in the context of Industry 5.0.

Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Kamal Mujani: Absolutely.

Fraser Mitchell: Are there specific research projects or collaborations you’d like to highlight for our audience?

Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Kamal Mujani:

Thank you for your insightful question. We have numerous flagship projects at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). I’ll share few example here. First, Associate Professor Dr. Elena Aisha Bt Azizan from the Faculty of Medicine, she leads a long-term research project titled ” Deciphering the pathology of aldosterone related hypertension and its relevance to cell fate physiology using a comprehensive human adrenal single-cell atlas.” The project was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, approximately 1 million US dollars.

The project investigates the cause of hypertension due to abnormality in the adrenal gland, utilizing cutting-edge technology like transcriptome technology to understand the disease. We explore the potential of immunotherapy technology to combat the disease, a novel target approach to lessen the burden of government in treating hypertension. International collaborators from the Queen Mary University of London and the National University of Singapore are involved in this project.

Another significant project is leaded by Professor Dr. A. Rahman Bin A. Jamal from UKM’s Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), focusing on genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. This project, funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI), has a budget of about 521,000 US dollars. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our Medical Molecular Biology Institute significantly ramped up testing capacity and contributed to monitoring variants and tracking transmission. The project’s outcomes have been published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, underscoring its impact.

Additionally, there’s a noteworthy project by Dr. Rozan Binti Mohamad Yunus from UKM’s Institute of Fuel Cell, titled ” Development of MEA In AEM Water Electrolyser.” This project is funded by PETRONAS, with a budget of approximately 547,000 US dollars. It focuses on developing green energy, specifically producing carbon-free hydrogen through electrode membrane development.

This project aims to create more affordable green hydrogen energy. The device developed under this project can potentially provide future electricity to rural areas.

It’s vital to note that the findings of this study significantly contribute to advancing the energy industry and the hydrogen energy generation. This supports the goals of affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13).

We also have project to strengthen the community in rural area. The project is leaded by Professor Dr. Rokiah Bt Haji Omar, from the Faculty of Health Sciences. it is funded by TNB (the National Energy Company), which cost approximately three hundred and fifty-nine thousand US dollars. The project’s title ‘The Socio-Economic Development Project of the Indigenous Community in Pos Lenjang, Lipis, Pahang’. This project is crucial, focusing on uplift indigenous people or “Orang Asli,” living condition.

The project spanning from 2022 to 2024. Its objective is to facilitate sustainable economic development through collaboration with corporate bodies and capacity building within the indigenous community. The outcome of the project will improve the well-being and lifestyle of the indigenous people by providing electricity through the Micro Hydro project by TNB.

Additionally, it will transform the area into a high-value fish production hub and a hub for agro-based products. Furthermore, the location will become a prominent tourism area based on its natural beauty and a flourishing handicraft industry, enabling cultural demonstrations to boost the local economy. These projects showcase our commitment to overcome current challenges while preserving the indigenous people’s way of life.

It’s crucial to address the current problems while also preserving the indigenous people’s culture and way of life.

You also mentioned the challenges of building strong ties with industries, as seen in your collaborations with PETRONAS. How do you approach building partnerships with the industry at UKM? And from your perspective, what defines a successful partnership?

Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Kamal Mujani:

Universities are the birthplaces of new knowledge and technology. On the other hand, industries utilize this knowledge and technology to produce goods and services at a more affordable cost. Partnerships are crucial to translate academic knowledge into practical applications for the industry.

From my perspective, a university-industry partnership should adopt a practical approach, and from my viewpoint, several keys contribute to its success. Firstly, trust and mutual belief are paramount. Secondly, focus on both short-term and long-term collaborations. Thirdly, interaction is vital to understanding market or consumer needs, facilitating effective knowledge or technology translation. Project proposals can be initiated by the industry-seeking solutions.

Lastly, in the cycle of Innovation University-Industry partnership, translational research is initiated by the industry identifying a problem. This prompts the university to pool knowledge and talent to seek solutions. They engage experts, collaboratively define the problem, identify new knowledge gaps, and design a proposal with associated costs. Industry partners provide funding, and upon completion, the project yields a solution that benefits the industry.

For instance, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) prioritizes industry and community networking to enhance the quality of teaching, learning, research, and services. Partnerships with foundations like palm oil companies and Sime-Darby have been established. We’ve also set up a Community Education Center, a result of collaboration between various entities, enhancing education for Orang Asli children.

Fraser Mitchell: What does internationalization mean to UKM?

Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Kamal Mujani:

International collaboration at UKM involves engaging with universities globally across various levels, from education to industry and the community. This engagement benefits both industry and the community, enhancing intellectual and economic well-being. Interested parties are welcome to sign memoranda of understanding with UKM to initiate partnerships and collaborations.

Additionally, UKM has center like UKM Global, focusing on establishing partnership with global institutions through active participation and communication. We offer diverse global education, research, and entrepreneurship programs. UKM actively participates in international bodies and organizations like ASEAN University Network, University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP), and ASEA-Europe University Network (ASEA UNINET), facilitating student mobility and exchange programs.

Moreover, UKM has UKMShape, its commercial arm, providing a variety of courses and programs for lifelong learning for industry professionals. We offer micro-credential courses and online distance learning. Notably, UKM has research centers and living labs, providing essential resources for studying tropical climates and living organisms.

Fraser Mitchell: As a summary, considering the global challenges related to the environment, economy, and social development, partnerships are vital in addressing these challenges. How does UKM envision its role in this global fight concerning environmental and social challenges?

Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Kamal Mujani:

Environmental challenges like climate change and global warming are significant global issues. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort. At UKM, we have a dedicated Strategic Center and a special task force focusing on sustainability. We’re committed to becoming a sustainable university, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. This strategic plan focuses on governance and management, teaching and learning, research and innovation, and building a sustainable and wellness campus.

In term of social challenges, we foresee that technology and artificial intelligence will pose significant impact to the society. We advocate for Industrial Revolution 5.0, which emphasizes the importance of humanity. This is particularly crucial for Asian citizens who value their culture and traditions. By harnessing the power of technology while maintaining humanity at the core, we aim to create a better world. Thank you for this opportunity.