Nowadays, era of globalization is increasing rapidly showing great competition, responsiveness and leadership that can lead to transformation and changes.

Leading towards autonomous

University students are not only about to carry out academic programs including research and innovation or just being a mere follower from the other resource. University students are also required to identify their own sources of income leading towards autonomous and corporate universities that are competitive and sustainable. Malaysia Education Development in 2015-2025 has stated that effort to obtain an excellent research centre at the local universities in specific sector can be implemented by 2020. Focus areas are Green Technology, Information and Telecommunication Technology, Sustainable Manufacturing, Nano- Materials, Transportation Systems, Defence Electronics and Medical Services.

Before 2009 | Planning a system

Research conducted at UTHM and in Malaysia is generally limited to their respective areas of expertise. Hence, there is a lack of coordination between institutions, faculties or departments in conducting multiple field research in an integrated manner. Research results found to be less impacted to the commercialization stage if there is lack of coordination. Existing internal expertise in specific areas should be trained and enhanced towards sustainable development. The merger of intellectuals from various engineering fields at UTHM able to generate research areas leading to new and integrated exploration of knowledge and products.

2009 | Establishing the system

UTHM has published the Journal of Integrated Engineering since 2009. This journal is capable to achieve a higher impact factor of 0.025 compared with the availability of quality integrated research articles. “Institute of Integrated Engineering" or I²E will provide new synergies to the management of research and innovation centres in the university. The role of I²E is expected to be more effective through the better human resources and existing facilities at UTHM. It includes exploring opportunities through contract research activities, expert consultation as well as integrated engineering program handling including promoting alternative sources of revenue that help increase benefits on government-provided investments and more intangible outcomes such as knowledge sharing and expertise enhancement through formal integration between several identified research centres. The outcome from the training held with external experts (2-4 October 2009 and 28 December 2009) strongly agree with the proposed establishment of the institute.

2010 | Positive feedback from vice chancellor

Based on the result of first PAPERWORK to YBhg. Dato Noh, the vice chancellor of UTHM held on 16th August 2010 shows various positive feedback and has been taken into account to strengthen the content of PAPERWORK.

2013 | Successfully implemented as autonomous authorized centres

In 2013, the Office of Research, Innovation, Commercialization and Consultancy (ORICC) is the centre responsible for managing four (4) Centres of Excellence (CoE) comprising the Applied Electromagnetic Research Centre (EMCentre), Soft Ground Research Centre (RECESS), Microelectronics Centre and Nanotechnology - Shamsudin Research Centre (MiNT-SRC) and Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Centre (AMMC). By the establishment of I²E, efforts to integrate the Centre of Excellence and Engineering-Based Research Centre at UTHM can be successfully implemented as autonomous authorized centres to manage activities involving integrated research and consultation, governance, finance, planning human resources, post-graduate students, and policy planning and so on.

2014 | Approved at the office coordination meeting of the deputy vice-chancellor

This PAPERWORK has been presented and approved at the Office Coordination Meeting of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) UTHM No. 6/2014 on 1st September 2014. The meeting agrees to present the paperwork for approval from the University's Senate Meeting.

Click here to know more about the history and implementation strategy