Johor Bahru, 23 April 2024 – The Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), officially launched the FS Research Year 2024 with a virtual opening ceremony on Webex, attended by 64 participants. Led by Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir, the initiative aims to strengthen the research culture within the faculty, focusing on young academics under 40. Running until 5 September 2024, the program features workshops, mentorships, and collaborative projects to enhance research output and visibility.
Building on the success of previous editions, which increased journal publications and patent applications, this year’s program highlights several key activities, including:
- Indexed Journal Writing Workshops for all departments
- Edited Book Creation Workshops
- ChatGPT Training for Academic Writing
- Bibliometric Analysis for Review Articles
- Grant Application Guidance for International and Industry Research
In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz emphasized the faculty’s commitment to mentoring and supporting young researchers. She encouraged staff and students to leverage the program’s activities to improve their skills in manuscript preparation, grant applications, and intellectual property creation.
The FS Research Year 2024 continues to prioritize researchers who have not yet published in indexed journals or secured grants, nurturing impactful research. Participants will also have opportunities for industry mobility, sabbaticals, and post-doctoral training, culminating in the FS Research Awards 2024 to honor exceptional publications and research engagement.
This initiative reflects UTM’s dedication to fostering research excellence, driving innovation, and expanding international academic collaborations.
#utmfsresearch
Summary from Dean’s Speech
The Dean’s opening speech for the Research Month at the Faculty of Science (FS), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 2024 highlighted the launch of the sixth edition of the program, now extended to span several months from April to September 2024. This annual event, previously known as Research Week, was initiated in 2019 and has grown in scope. The dean expressed gratitude to the organizing committee and emphasized the program’s goal of supporting young researchers at the faculty, most of whom are under 40 years old.
Research Year @FS 2024 is designed to provide opportunities for academic staff and postgraduate students to participate in workshops, seminars, and consultations, fostering skills in journal publishing, grant applications, and intellectual property development. The program also supports those who have struggled to publish in indexed journals or secure research grants over the past three years. The initiative aims to enhance the research culture at FS by offering hands-on guidance, networking opportunities, and professional development, with an emphasis on producing high-quality and impactful research outputs.
The speech also mentioned that in the 2023 edition, many participants succeeded in publishing papers, securing patents, and producing edited books. The program’s long-term goal is to nurture a new generation of researchers and academics through mentorship and collaboration, and the Dean concluded by officially launching the 2024 edition.
Assoc Prof Dr Shafinaz Shahir,
Dean, Faculty of Science, UTM
