AAC, SMART & Lynas

This year 10^th Academic Advisory Council was held on 3 July 2012 at the ‘Kayangan’ meeting room, level 86 in PETT Twin Tower. As usual it was another heck of a job starting from preparing logistic matters; drafting the presentation materials, coordinating and collecting appropriate data and finally preparing the Minutes of meeting. Nevertheless, the meeting with Tun was something that I looking forward to each and every year. If my calculation is right, this is my fourth time having a meeting with the AAC members.

The Council amongst others discussed matters related to direction, strategy and proper planning for a ‘global university’ status. It’s an avenue for exchanging ideas between academicians and industry leaders, I must say. All members turned up for the meeting except for Prof Dieter Jahn (CEO BASF).


After the meeting, we were taken to MMC-Gamuda’s SMART tunnel control room for a visit. Datuk Zaidee himself briefed us on the history, operation and processes of the smart tunnel. SMART is an acronym of storm-water management and road tunnel, is the first and ‘smartest’ flood management and at the same time efficient road tunnel in the world. It started off with Tun Mahathir bold decision and aspiration to have smart roadways that will connect KL to Putrajaya in not more than 20 minutes driving. After sometimes, I do understand why Datuk Zaidee delivers the briefing with proud.

Prior to the trip to the SMART control room, I had a small chat with Datuk Zaidee.  We talked about Lynas and how rare earth, if it is developed and industrialized in Malaysia, could reduce at least 10% of total China domination of world’s rare earth. That 10% is huge in terms of dollars and cents. I guess that’s why some people ‘politically’ do not want the industry to take off citing environmental and safety as an issue.

As usual there are few good phrases of words from the meeting that I wish to highlight: -

a) Any long term investments especially in research and development, will always have a significant impact to the people and nation although it does not contribute to an immediate Return on Investment (ROI).

b) Aspiration has got to be realistic but at the same time should also be ambitious. The dilemma in balancing both aspects is of paramount important in order to have a clearer direction in achieving desired vision.

c) Students who are globally aware are those who are encouraged to develop their own critical thinking, have a broad basis in liberal art as well as being very competent in particular areas.

d) While we continue to learn from others, we must always take matters with 'a grain of salt' i.e. to accept the fact of other’s success but always maintain a degree of skepticism about its whole truth.

e) It is expected that in five-year time, a successful institution is the one that is better able to address the so-called 3Ps (people, planet & prosperity).

P/s – Convo event will be another hectic activities right after this... 

Meeting Tun

After more than couple of week of ‘hard labor’ preparation, last July 7th we finally had our annual meeting with Tun M and the rest of the AAC members. At some point during those weeks, my blood boiled so high that I barely can eat during the day and sleep at night. But Alhamdulillah, everything goes well as planned. We had a fruitful 3 ½-hour discussion on the 6th and 2 ½ hours meeting with Tun with this year theme ‘Financial Sustainability’.

The Council members expressed their gratitude towards the institution’s achievements on teaching, learning as well as in its Research & Development since the last time we met. Tun Mahathir started the ball rolling and conveyed the idea of having a University-town in UTP, a concept adapted from university-towns such as in the Cambridge and Oxford. He added, with clever planning, UTP can be a catalyst for new growth areas which eventually will attract visitors and industries. Developer should be given opportunity to invest and develop the surrounding land through building shops and residences for staff and students. This should also be alternative revenues for the institution rather than being too dependent on the students’ fee.

The Chairman were then invited all Council members to discuss openly and provided advice or suggestion on the theme ‘financial sustainability’ and other related matters that will be beneficial to UTP and its students. We talked a lot that day. Below are some of the salient points of discussion that I could not agree more: -

a) The establishment of UTP is a large investment for PETRONAS and the country. However, value created from the investment in education i.e. by its contribution to society and the nation in the area of teaching, researches and services, will take time. Therefore, any investment made for UTP is also considered an investment for the future of PETRONAS and the nation.

b) Massive and arduous staff recruitment by hiring outstanding individuals as senior faculty members is critical for UTP to reach the next plateau of excellence. In doing so, UTP should look for quality rather than quantity e.g. CALTECH has only 150 faculties but is able to make a global impact through its teaching, learning as well as R&D.

c) The 20th century Asian only played catch up in Science and Technology with their Western counterpart. With superior economic and intellectual strengths, it is quite natural that Asia viewed the West as the ‘standard of excellence’. Institute of Higher Education in Asia needs to educate the Asian students what it means to become Asians in the 21st century. Therefore, there are four (4) values need to be given a priority (i) Education Integrity; (ii) Intellectual Agility; (iii) Academic Courage; and (iv) Intrinsic Self Confidence.

– A very interesting notes by Prof Feng Da Hsuan from Tsinghua University, Taiwan. I plan to have another write up on these values in the coming post.

d) UTP is urged to establish the Technology Target Group for specific areas to ensure funding acquisition focusing within the energy industry. UTP should also identify projects and/or equipment that will enable UTP to do research and simultaneously commercialize the usage of the facility. Collaboration strategies and tactics are immensely important. It may take time but most importantly UTP need to identify the suitable target group to collaborate with. The Council members noted that there is still a gap between research in PETRONAS and UTP. Therefore, the link between UTP and PETRONAS researchers should be made very clear.

e) In a broader perspective, education and infrastructure are the two main elements for any country to be highly competitive in meeting future challenges. Education and infrastructure (aka Public Goods) will eventually encourage other economic activities to flourish. UTP is contributing to Public Good or Sectoral Good by fulfilling PETRONAS and the nation’s human capital in the oil & gas industry. PETRONAS should consider the financial gap as the value representing benefits in investing and should not be interpreted in accounting value of dollars & cents. Therefore, UTP is recommended to re-visit and re-negotiate the understanding with PETRONAS and Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) with regards to the above matter.

Obviously the item (e) above really made the day meaningful for me and UTP management. We just need to pray hard for the parent company to open up their heart and try to understand that sometimes it will not always the ‘bottom line’ that matter most.

Below are some unedited snapshots from the above meeting. Enjoy (as I do). Thanks to Hazrin for nice pic taken.

Cepat Sembuh Tun..

We'll be waiting for you for our 10th Convo..