JOHOR BAHRU: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has launched an ‘enVision Moonshot’ initiative as a catalyst in realising the UTM enVision Strategic Plan 2025 to produce forward-looking and advanced technology-based research graduates.
UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail said the initiative adopting a radical, fast and efficient approach, outlines four main focuses which are to produce quality graduates who able to take the lead in solving complex problems through knowledge and research.
The focus is also on achieving global excellence as the country’s leading technology-based research university, as well as taking advantage of high technology by applying the quadruple helix approach.
“UTM’s status as the country’s leading research university based on science, technology and engineering must continue to be strengthened in the face of various global systemic challenges, hence UTM introduces enVision Moonshot to meet national aspirations as outlined by the Ministry of Higher Education.
“Through the enVision Moonshot platform, UTM is committed to producing quality graduates through the Empowerment Programme 5 ETP (Excellence Track Programme), offering academic programmes and forward-looking curriculum review and student union empowerment,” he said when addressing the university community at the Sultan Iskandar Hall, UTM here today.
The event, which was attended by 3,391 UTM staff members, was also broadcast live at the UTM Kuala Lumpur campus and the UTM Pagoh campus, Muar.
Ahmad Fauzi said UTM has identified four new niche fields of expertise namely digitalisation, affordable housing, agriculture tech & food security and natural resources & spiritual tech, with all of them to be added to the existing four areas of expertise namely water, energy, materials and robots.
He said all areas of excellence will be placed under the Fantastic Four + (F4+) strategy in driving civilisation studies at UTM through new knowledge and focused research thus making UTM a hub and leader in solving complex universal problems.
He said in order to achieve Global Excellence, UTM will explore strategic collaborations with the European Union and renowned foreign universities that are thriving as well as targeting the setting up of six Institutional or Industrial Satellite Laboratories either inbound or outbound.
He added that perceptions and bureaucracy often become constraints in successful collaboration between university entities, agencies, industry and the community, therefore intelligent collaboration across entities should be forged in an effort to improve the wellbeing of the people.
He said UTM would continue to intensify the quadruple helix approach by establishing cooperative relationships between staff and external stakeholders and utilising advanced technological innovation to solve systemic problems by establishing a consortium under the AIMS4STAR agenda. – BERNAMA
