Author: Saffron Wright

Member in the Spotlight: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

23rd July 2024

Welcome to our ‘Member in the Spotlight’ series, where we showcase the research focuses and work of our members. We hope these profiles support you in getting to know our members and to identify themes in your work and focuses where you may be able to collaborate with colleagues at member institutions.

Introducing…University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Who are University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria?

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FHOÖ) is a multi-campus university in Austria, Europe with campuses in Hagenburg, Linz, Steyr and Wels.

The university delivers teaching and research which is practice orientated and dynamically evolves to tackle the challenges of the future. Their staff and students are at the heart of their success in setting important impulses for growth and production within Austria and its business and educational sectors.

FHOÖ’s motto, “teaching and learning with pleasure – researching with curiosity”, summarises their ethos and mission as a university.

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria’s campus.

What are their research focuses?

FHOÖ has four schools across four campus locations: Informatics, Communications and Media (Hagenburg Campus), Medical Engineering and Applied Social Sciences (Linz Campus), Business and Management (Steyr Campus), and Engineering (Wels Campus). Underpinning the research and teaching undertaken in these schools, are Centers of Excellence, outlining focuses for the research and development projects taking place at the University.

ICT – Information and Communications Technology
- Advanced Information Systems Technology, Embedded AI and Embedded Systems
- Human Computer Interaction, Digital Media Lab, Human Interfaces & Virtual Environments, Education and Life in a Digital World, Secure Information Systems
- Prescriptive Analytics
Medical Engineering/TIMed Center
- Bioinformatics, Biomimetics and Materials Development
- Hybrid Surgical Simulators, Model Building and Simulation, Motion Analysis and Biomechanics
- Prosthetics and Sensors, Medical Device Software, Ergonomics and Ageing in the Work Environment
Smart Production
- Symbolic Regression, Adaptive Optimisation, Smart Operations, Smart Production, Business Analytics, Extender Reality and Intelligent Systems
Societal Transformation and Social Innovation
- Digisocilisation – Transformations in a Digisocial World
- Social Work Research, Innovations in the Public Sector, Transformation of Organizations People and Planet, Impact Evalution, Living Care Lab
Logistics
- AWARD – Automated Transport Logistics Despite Harsh Weather Conditions, Josef Ressel Center for Predictive Analytics and Data-Driven Intelligence in Value Networks (PREVAIL), Predictive Resource Planning in the Warehouse, SURE – SUstainable and REsilient Interconnected Supply Chains
Digital Transformation
- Digital Strategy and Innovation, Digital Marketing and Commerce, Digital Work and Life
- AI Catalyst for SMEs, Forward-Looking Financial Research: Digital Innovations and Skills Development
Energy
- Hydrogen Technologies
Automotive and Mobility
- Networks and Mobility

Read more about the research undertaken across their campuses, schools and Centers of Excellence in their booklet, ‘Range of Services’.

Some examples of the research projects include:

Human-Centered Artificial intelligence; a program which aims to develop methods to make Artificial Intelligence more understandable, transparent and fair for humans and to support the interaction between humans and AI systems (pg. 12).
Hybrid – Hydrogen Based Research Infrastructure Development Infrastruktur; a comprehensive hydrogen research and testing infrastructure to support and advance the sustainable structural change of industry and society towards climate neutrality (pg. 38).
FOOD-RESCUE; a project which focuses on the development of a self-service trading platform with a logistics solution for foodstuffs to bring supply and demand together (pg.12).

Find out more details about ongoing research work in their ‘Research Projects’ booklet.

FHOÖ and the WTUN

General Board Member: Professor Michael Affenzeller, Provost, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Operational Board Member: Kamilla Trubicki, Head of International Office, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

FHOÖ, as a member, has been involved in several WTUN activities from hosting and sending applicants on exchanges on themes such as: Human-Centered Computing and Data Visualisation; Medical Engineering for Medical Implants; Advanced Manufacturing and NanoTechnologies; Hydrogen Technologies.

They have also interacted with WTUN-member colleagues outside of network activities such as a FHOÖ student attending Suranaree University of Technology’s (SUT) Global Entrepreneurship Camp and Dr Sascha Senck delivering lessons to students at SUT.

If you want to learn more about FHOÖ, you can view their Member Profile or read some recent stories we have shared in our news roundups about their work:

Researchers at FHOÖ’s Embedded Systems Lab have been awarded a European patent in the field of “Smart Textiles” for their work on sensors embedded in textiles.
FHOO announce their International Summer Academy in Engineering for Women 2024 with a theme of Empowering Female Engineer, open to any Female Engineering Student.
A summary on Dr Mandy Keck’s visit to University of Newcastle, Australia through the WTUN 2022-23 Exchange Programme.

WTUN News Roundup – July 2024

22nd July 2024

Welcome to this month’s roundup of the stories, updates and events happening across the World Technology Universities Network.

WTUN News:

Learn more about our member, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, in the latest Member in the Spotlight post. Based in Brazil, they are committed to innovation, social responsibility and sustainable development. Read the full profile here.
Missed our WTUN for International Women in Engineering Day webinar? Watch the webinar replay here.

WTUN Members ONLY:

World Technology Universities Congress 2024

Registration is open for World Technology Universities Congress 2024 until Wednesday 31 July 2024. WTUC2024 will be hosted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor Bahru from Wednesday 02 to Friday 04 October.

For further information about the congress, please visit our Congress pages here.

Call for Speakers

This year’s congress theme is ‘Planetary Health: Alliances for Diplomacy, Harnessing University Collabortions for Planetary Health“. Delegates are invited to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) to present on the following sub-themes:

Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives for Planetary Health
Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Community Engagement and Action for Planetary Health
Environment, Social and Governance for Planetary Health

The deadline for submitting EOIs is Thursday 25 July. EOIs should include a draft title and a brief abstract and be emailed to wtun@bradford.ac.uk. All members should have received an email with further information about this call for speakers. Please contact the WTUN Secretariat should you require further support.

Important Travel Information

Delegates are advised to arrive at Amari Hotel (Johor Bahru) on Tuesday 01 October by either of the following methods:

Arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and take a connecting, internal flight to (Johor Bahru) Senai International Airport and arrive at Amari Hotel in Johor Bahru either via bus or a Grab car.
Please note: UTM will be running an Airport Collection Service from Johor Bahru Senai International Airport on Tuesday 01 October at 09:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 22:00.
Arrive at Singapore Changi Airport and head to Johor Bahru CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex) by public transportation. From Johor Bahru CIQ, delegates can arrive at Amari Hotel either on foot (15 minutes) or via a Grab car.

Following the end of the programme, on Saturday 05 October, UTM will provide onward travel from Tioman Island to Mersing Jetty and then to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. If sufficient delegates indicate that they will return via Singapore Changi Airport, then UTM may be able to provide travel to Johor Bahru CIQ.

To learn more about the venue, accommodation and travel guidance, visit the Venue and Travel Information page here.

News from our Members:

Africa:

Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe

WUA has partnered with the Association of African Universities (AAU) to establish a South Africa Regional Office (SARO). Vice Chancellors, Higher Education regulators and Heads of Research Institutes are invited to join WUA as they introduce themselves as the hosts of AAU SARO. The meeting will be held online on Wednesday 31 July from 11:00 to 14:00 (GMT+2). Find out more here.

Asia:

Ahlia University, Bahrain

The College of Business and Finance at Ahlia has achieved International Accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The prestigious accreditation was testament to Ahlia’s efforts to enhance the quality of education in Bahrain’s higher education environment. Read the full story here.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

NTUST has launched ‘Talk to Me’, a special podcast series highlighting the mental health of international students in Taiwan. The podcast features counselling expert, Dr. Hsu Shuo-Yi, addressing the challenges foreign students face and helpful strategies to cope. The podcast collaborates with students, teaching assistants, and instructors. You can listen to the podcast here.
NTUST’s latest newsletter is now available. As NTUST prepare to celebrate their 50th anniversary, featured stories reflect on the defining spirit of the university. Read about the innovative startup from Indonesian students who founded PT Daun Pintar Raya, which automates hydroponic systems to support Indonesian farmers and about Professor FANG Shao-Yun, a leader in advanced circuit design research, who advocates for greater female participation in technological fields. Read the newsletter here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

Professor Muralidhar Miryala, Operational Board Member for SIT and Former WTUN Operational Board Chair, has been awarded the American Telugu Association (ATA) Excellence Award in Science & Technology for his contributions and dedication to research in high-temperature superconductivity. On behalf of the WTUN, we’d like to extend our congratulations to Professor Miryala. Read more about the achievement here.
SIT academic, Professor Izabela Rzeznicka, visited Botswana for the SusMine project. The project launched in 2022 and researchers from Botswana, Japan, and South Africa collaborate to address environmental problems caused by heavy metals mining in Botswana. SIT aims to provide an affordable and on-demand method for copper quantification in waters using smartphones. Read the full story here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

UTM’s Highlights Issue 7 is now available. July’s issue includes breakthroughs, events and stories from UTM’s campus. Stories include partnerships, such as UTM-Kamarizs Medicare to strengthen health research and news about an undergraduate AI degree offering specialisations in topics such as manufacturing and agriculture. You can find the newsletter here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

UFRN is accepting applications to the Girls in Space project. The project aims to stimulate the interest of girls and women in the aerospace sector and promote trainings in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The project will offer 5 places to undergraduate students and 4 places to postgraduate students. Both places come with a scholarship. Find out more here.

Europe:

Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

TU Ilmenau is working with Kompass GmbH to develop a wireless sensor technology and underground communication which will monitor both the Co2 emissions of peatlands and the nitrate contamination of groundwater. This monitoring hopes to produce efficient measures to protect the environment and health on the basis of the measured values. Read the full story here.
Max Großmann is investigating a new method for computer aided materials research in his doctoral thesis at the Institute of Physics at TU Ilmenau under the supervision of Prof. Erich Runge. Machine learning methods have become increasingly popular in materials science, and can be used to design new materials for energy storage or medicine and detecting material damage. Current applications are expensive and labor-extensive. Großmann aims to provide faster and more efficient applications. Read the full story here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

Dr Becky Alexis-Martin, Lecturer in Peace, Science and Technology presents her research ‘Epistemic Nuclear Justice: Changing What We Don’t Know’ to United Nations delegates. Her research aims to ensure communities know that they have a right to their own history, that their health issues are taken seriously, and any environmental harms are recognised. It also looks to ensure communities have an opportunity to take part in the democratic process of making global policy. Read the full story here.
Dr Pedi Obani, Associate Professor in the School of Law, has been awarded £1.28 million for a four-year project from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding body to examine ways in which climate change adversely impact women and present her findings to governments in Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya. Dr Obani will also create a framework to provide solutions to social and cultural gender inequalities exacerbated by climate change. Read the full story here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

UON is an inaugural member of the first Australian national, cross-university network which will advocate for and advance digital health through collaboration and evidence-based research. Read the full story here.
UON’s I2N’s Startup Stories featured the work of Leonie Cutts and Craig Browne who developed the innovative app, CARISA, designed to combat social isolation in residential aged care facilities. The University’s I2N works with individuals and organisations to turn ideas and challenges into opportunity, cultivating regional entrepreneurship. Read the full story here or watch Leonie Cutts and Craig Browne discuss developing their tech solution here.

To discuss joining the Network please contact the WTUN Development Manager
Denise Whitehead
Email: wtun@bradford.ac.uk

WTUN News Roundup – July 2024

8th July 2024

Welcome to this month’s roundup of the stories, updates and events happening across the World Technology Universities Network.

WTUN News:

Learn more about our member, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, in the latest Member in the Spotlight post. Based in Brazil, they are committed to innovation, social responsibility and sustainable development. Read the full profile here.
The WTUN Secretariat had the pleasure of speaking to this year’s recipient of the BC Scholarship Prize, Nadiia Sadova, PhD Candidate at University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. Read the interview to learn more about Nadiia’s research and what being awarded the prize means for her.

WTUN Members ONLY:

Registration is now open for World Technology Universities Congress 2024, hosted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Johor Bahru from Wednesday 02 to Friday 04 October. All members have been contacted with details and how to register. For further information about the congress, please visit our Congress pages here.

News from our Members:

Asia:

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

KMUTT participated in the Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and leadership in promoting sustainable practices in Thailand. The congress brings together higher education providers, government, industrial sectors and civil society to discuss ways to create a more sustainable future. Read the full article here.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Professor Jem-Kun Chen has developed a “fully automated laser diffraction label-free flow cytometry system” that can detect the number of cancer circulating tumor cells (CTCs) within an hour and detect tiny micro-metastasis and disease risk early, supporting early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The research has also won the National Innovation Award. Read the full story here.
Professor Huei-Tse Hou has developed a game which allows locals and tourists to learn more about the cultural and historical site “Seimokuya” in Puzi, Chiayi, Taiwan and stimulate local tourism. The game is based on principles of cognitive psychology and allows players to glimpse the evolution of urban development in Taiwan, by exploring the streets of Puzi. Read the full story here.
NTUST celebrates their student team placing third in the WTUN Student Competition. The team, “Let it Go, Let it Flow”, proposed an online feminine hygiene product inquiry and sharing app to help women instantly check where they can get sanitary products. Users are also encouraged to donate the same amount of sanitary products in return, achieving the goal of mutual aid and reciprocity. Read the full story here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems use consistent thermal energy below the earth’s surface to provide heating and cooling for buildings, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. Researchers at SIT investigate their efficacy in tropical regions, for sustainable urban development in Southeast Asia. Read the full story here.

Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

Associate Professor Dr Sirirat Tubsungnoen Rattanachan presented at the WTUN for International Women in Engineering Day event in June. She presented the work of her research team, a “Customized Calcium Phosphate Bone Augmentation”, or personalized calcium phosphate bone graft material, developed by Thai researchers. Read the full story here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

UTM’s Faculty of Computing hosted the ‘Faculty of Computing Research and Innovation (FCRI) Day x Meet & Greet with Industries (MGI) 2024’. The event fosters collaboration, enhances research and promotes innovation within the faculty and industry. The theme for this year’s event was ‘AI Transforming Tomorrow’ and highlighted the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the future of technology and industry. Read the full story here.

North America:

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

SAIT reflects on its efforts to decolonize their education opportunities and to remove systemic barriers to Indigenous success. The journey includes hiring Jennifer Russel, Director of Indigenous Engagement and an Indigenous Graduation Ceremony to honour the First Nation, Métis and Inuit graduates, to renaming SAIT’s Indigenous student support space and a course for employees to engage in anti-racism education and promote a transformative relationship between Canadians and Indigenous peoples. Read the full story here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

UFRN share their latest research stories. Learn more about a ceramic material which can convert mechanical force into electrical pulses which can then be used to produce hydrogen by “breaking water into its elements. Another project looks at using natural fibers from kapok, a common, non-edible regional plant, to create sustainable and biodegradable disposable mask filters.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

ATU researchers working on the Project Tech2Heal have been awarded €1.4 million to bridge technology and care to empower rural workforces, address health disparities and improve patient outcomes. The project aims to support those living in peripheral areas live healthier for longer by proposing suitable changes to work and health policies. Read the full story here.
Listen to ATU Podcast to hear their latest news and research. Their newest episode covers Dr Edel McSharry and Sean Kelly discuss their inspiring stories of leading nursing students to Uganda to participate in life-changing community projects. Listen to the episode here.
Ruth Quinn, Assistant Lecturer in Civil, Environment and Water Engineering, shares why we should be collecting and using rainwater, to tackle challenges around climate change such as drought and intense storms. Read the full article here.

Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

The EU Commission has approved the network, European University Alliance SUNRISE, led by TU Ilmenau. SUNRISE, standing for Smaller (Strategic) Universities Network for Regional Innovative and Sustainable Evolution), aims o develop concepts for innovative teaching and learning formats, study programs and student mobility, as well as strategies for improved joint research, but also for more intensive cooperation with business and society. Read the full story here.
Researchers at TU Ilmenau have concluded that the 4-day week can make organisations more flexible and strengthen their workforce when tailored to their company needs. The project tested variants over 6-12 months and established that while some employees felt more relaxed, others felt an increased work pressure. For the companies observed, the 4-day week had no negative effects on figures, customer satisfaction or productivity. In one instance, sickness rate fell significantly. Read the full story here.

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria

FHOÖ celebrate their PhD Candidate, Nadiia Sadova’s success. Nadiia was awarded the WTUN BC Scholarship Prize 2024 for cutting-edge research which is beneficial to people and society. Her work investigates how the intestinal barrier behaves under different stress factors and the implementation of the Drosophilia melanogaster (fruit fly) model organism. Read the full story here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

The Whole-School Physical Activity conference 2024 (WSPA24) concluded that schools pay a key role in addressing long term health inequalities. The conference hear from academics, teachers, psychologists, locality and national partners, and health researchers and pushed for a Creating Active Schools framework to promote children’s physical activity throughout their school day, and not just in breaktimes. Read the full story here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

Clinical researchers look to use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of bladder cancer. Standard practice currently involves resecting the tumour to remove as much of the cancer as possible and hasn’t changed much in 100 years. Using MRI hopes to see how deep the tumour is before operating. Read the full story here.
PhD student Molly Grew has led a study which has uncovered the role stingrays play in shaping estuaries. The threatened stingrays may move more than 21,000 tonnes of sand per year, which is a similar mass to the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt. They do this by creating pits in the sand during feeding and sleeping which helps oxygen penetrate the sand, providing nutrients to organisms. Read the full story here.

To discuss joining the Network please contact the WTUN Development Manager
Denise Whitehead
Email: wtun@bradford.ac.uk

Member in the Spotlight: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Introducing…Unviersidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Who are Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte?

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) is a leading educational and research institution based in Natal, Brazil. Their mission is to promote excellence in teaching and research and to foster sustainable and inclusive growth and development in society. UFRN is committed to innovation, social responsibility and sustainable development.

UFRN undertakes collaborative work with partners and collaborators from around 25 educational institutions within Brazil and 90 more worldwide.

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte’s Campus.

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Campus

What are their research focuses?

UFRN delivers their research within the socioeconomic interests of the region under strategic areas like regional development, sustainable conservation, energy focuses, health and governance public policies, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.

Its research is organised into several interdisciplinary cores which include:

Advancement of Public Policies
Studies in Collective Health and Nutrition
Agriculture and Fishing
Education for Sciences
Studies for Marine Resources
Studies for Oil and Renewable Energies
Environmental Studies
Disaster Research
Studies in Sexual Diversity, Gender and Human Rights

Read more about UFRN’s research stories here.

UFRN and the WTUN

Professor José Daniel Melo, Rector at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

General Board Member: Professor José Daniel Diniz Melo, Rector of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Operational Board Member: Professor Bruno Motta, Department of International Relations at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

UFRN, as a member, has been involved in several WTUN activities from hosting and sending applicants on exchanges on themes such as: Computing; Artificial Intelligence; Music for Game Design; Urban Livability Index; and Gender Based Violence.

If you want to learn more about UFRN, you can view their Member Profile or read some recent stories we have shared in our news roundups about their work:

Dentistry and Engineering researchers collaborate to develop an application to assist the diagnosis of periodontal bone loss which can lead to loss of teeth.
A collaborative project explores climate change in Brazilian urban areas and strives to improve the quality of life in coastal cities within the region.
MEG: Girls in Engineering is a community outreach project which works to narrow the gender gap in young adults and teenagers in STEM.

Meet the Recipient of the WTUN BC Scholarship Prize 2024

2nd July 2024

WTUN Secretariat had the pleasure of speaking with Nadiia Sadova to find out more about her research and what it means to be awarded the WTUN BC Scholarship Prize

Nadiia Sadova, PhD Candidate at University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Currently undertaking her doctoral degree in Technical Sciences (Dr. tech.) in Biophysics at WTUN member university, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FHOOE), Nadiia’s academic career began by studying publishing and editing. Motivated by an interest in biology, she returned to higher education at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria to study Food Technology and Nutrition. Nadiia’s current research interests include immunoassays for inflammatory and stress biomarkers and intestinal function and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster (Common fruit fly).

Among this year’s entries, Nadiia’s entry was highly regarded by the assessment panel who agreed that her application and work best demonstrated a commitment to cutting-edge, challenge led research which will have direct benefit to people and society. The panel also noted the accompanying endorsement from an industry expert.

Could you tell us a little bit about your academic journey and what led you to your PhD and your current research?

At school, I loved biology and maths. I was interested in biology and attended extracurricular biology-related clubs and competitions. Over time, I drifted away from science and began studying linguistics and writing, eventually completing a Masters in Publishing and Editing. My childhood interest in biology stayed with me and I hoped to one day study something biology related. When I returned to university studies, I thought strategically about my choices and looked for a biology-related course that would lead to a profitable profession. I chose a degree in Food Technology and Nutrition. The study of molecular biology in this course led me to my current research in intestinal health.

When I started the course, I never imagined I’d end up in research but as I worked on my bachelor and master theses, established laboratory processes alone, and solved various research questions, I realised I loved it. At the end of my master thesis, I asked my supervisor, Professor Dr Julian Weghuber, if I could continue my research as a PhD student. The programme was competitive, but I was lucky and was accepted as a doctoral student.

Whilst my previous studies in linguistics and writing don’t seem directly related to my work now, the skills I learned are still valuable. These previous experiences support me in structuring papers, organising my thoughts, and writing for scientific publications. Before my second high education I used to work as an editor and later chief editor of a medical magazine, dealing with natural science topics like nutrition.

Can you tell us about the technological solutions and developments that you are using in your research?

I work mainly with Drosophila melanogaster, also known as fruit flies, which are those tiny pests that appear in the kitchen when fruits aren’t put away. For scientists, they are a beloved research model organism, especially in genetics. They are easy to cultivate, are relatively low cost, reproduce quickly, and are very flexible to varying conditions. They also have a similar intestinal physiology to humans. Although, their intestines are simpler, they are still an effective comparable model and a good basis for studying the effects of compounds on the intestines. However, a lot of research topics, specifically nutrition and intestinal research, are unable to utilise the Drosophila melanogaster to their full potential because of their relatively small size.

Normally, the investigation of pharmacokinetic characteristics of a chemical such as its absorption rate is carried out through plasma samples. For example, a human consumes half a cup of glucose solution and an hour later a blood sample is taken and assessed to identify how much glucose is absorbed. Comparing a human’s digestive tract with that of a small fly can include obvious challenges. You cannot take a syringe and draw a sample from a fly and, if that were possible, the amount drawn from a fly is so small that you would encounter several analytical issues, such as limit of detection. I work with bio active compounds, something most often derived from plants, which are usually present in such low concentrations in our food that if you decrease it down to the fly scale, it’s almost impossible to trace. My biggest challenge was how to assess this absorption rate and how much of the consumed compounds are taken in whilst using this tiny fly as a model organism.

To overcome this, I came up with the compound retention methods, abbreviated to CORE. In this method, I used a tracing dye to look at how much of the compound is not absorbed and passes through the digestive tract, rather than how much of it is absorbed. To do this, a precise dose of non-toxic non-absorbable tracing dye is given to the flies, so we can investigate the absorption, distribution, metabolization, and excretion (ADME) parameters of the compounds. Consuming 100 milligrams of something does not mean your body will make use of all 100 milligrams and having an effective and accessible model to evaluate this can enhance the future development of medication and the development of food and food supplements.

Currently, this research is done in clinical studies with humans or mammal model organisms, most often rats or mice. My method aims to provide a cheaper and quicker model organism. The study using this CORE method has recently been published in a peer-reviewed journal, Biomedicine and Pharmacology [1].

Speaking of the other cutting-edge technologies, I used Luminex-based technology to complete mRNA multiplexing for mRNA quantification, which allows scientists to quantify multiple genes in the same sample simultaneously. The standard method for mRNA quantification is using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test. This technique can require multiple tests for multiple genes and larger sample sizes. Using Luminex-based technology, I was able to complete mRNA quantification for multiple genes from a single sample. Up to 50 genes can be tested in two days using this process, saving time and resources. To obtain the same results would take me around nine to ten working days through the qPCR method. This technology is relatively new and isn’t widely applied. I hope that soon it will be used more widely, lessening the resources and costs involved in utilising it. Sustainability is hard to achieve in laboratories. Quantifying multiple genes from a single test will save on equipment use and plastic costs, too.

How did you first hear about the WTUN Brian Cantor Scholarship Prize and what made you apply?

At University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, we have the Doctoral College Initiative, where all doctoral students can learn subjects like ethics and law, independent of the specialist topic of their PhD. The head of this initiative, Professor Dr Katherine Gundolf contacted me, informing me about the opportunity, and suggested that I apply for the prize. I was also encouraged to apply by senior colleagues. These colleagues had only heard about my work briefly through a few presentations but believed in my research and found it interesting. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to apply and that others might find it interesting too.

What impact do you think being a recipient of this prize will have for you and your work?

Nadiia completing analytical work in the laboratory.

The experience of my work being seen and evaluated by others is valuable. This prize has given me confidence that the topic I am working on is meaningful, not just for me. Being acknowledged is good for the mental health of PhD students generally, who often welcome a boost of support for their work. I strongly believe that research is a field of work where internationalisation and exchange experiences are of crucial importance. The idea of a university network where people can exchange ideas and work is fantastic, in my opinion. I was participating in a short academic exchange when I heard the news that I had been awarded this prize.

The main impact of this prize is that it will enable me to visit with other research groups working in my field. The work in the Drosophila melanogaster field is unique and each laboratory does things in their own way as there is no unified standard to guide their handling. Visiting other research groups is valuable, allowing me to learn and gain inspiration from the solutions of others. It also helps to spread this experience, allowing, for example, younger generations of bachelor or master students to work with this model.

What are your hopes for the future of your research and where do you envision your doctoral degree will take you?

The end of 2024 signals the end of the funding period for this project. This project was supported by two Austrian organisations; Josef Ressel Centre for Phytogenic Drug Research and FFoQSI and I have until the end of the year to finalise some of my findings. I hope that the existing project will be prolonged or transformed under a different framework.

As for the future, I love science and I hope I will continue to work in research. I want to dedicate more time to the research of bioavailability and bioactive compounds to better understand what makes some substances more favourable in our guts than others. Why do we absorb this and not that? Can we make our bodies absorb certain compounds and not just let them pass through?

We have learned how to extract valuable compounds from nature and to sell them as vitamins and supplements, but in very few cases do we understand how much of it is used by our bodies and how these interact with everything else we consume. For example, some vitamins require the presence of certain fats to be well absorbed. Diets which restrict the consumption of certain food groups could also impact uptake of certain compounds. I hope to get a chance to investigate these details in future research and I think Drosophila melanogaster make great accomplices in this field of work.

Research into intestinal health and bioavailability of substances conducted by our lab is also related to industry projects. It’s great to see that companies are not just interested in producing supplements, but also in understanding how these supplements work. I think it’s important for applied sciences to work together with industry and enable industry to remain science based.

What advice would you give to individuals who aspire to undertake a PhD?

If you want to do it, go for it. Never stop being curious.

Learn more about Nadiia’s work here:

Nadiia’s Academic Profile on Research Gate
‘Sex-specific pharmacokinetic response to phytoestrogens in Drosophila melanogaster’, published article in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy journal [1].
‘Combined acid hydrolysis and fermentation improves bioactivity of citrus flavonoids in vitro and in vivo‘, published article in Communications Biology

Learn more:

WTUN News Roundup – June 2024

25th June 2024

Welcome to this month’s roundup of the stories, updates and events happening across the World Technology Universities Network.

WTUN Featured News: Introducing Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

The World Technology Universities Network is pleased to announce that Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) will formally join the World Technology Universities Network (WTUN) as a member from 1 August 2024. This news marks the second institution to join the WTUN in 2024, following the welcoming of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology back in February.

WTUN Chair Professor Shirley Congdon welcomed KIIT to the Network – “We are delighted to welcome KIIT as member of the Network. Alongside scientific excellence, KIIT brings to the WTUN a commitment not only to the teaching and development of its 40,000 students but its central mission of social responsibility”

The WTUN’s diverse membership is united by a commitment to the inclusive advancement of sustainable scientific and technology teaching and research; each demonstrating a commitment to truly equitable innovation for the benefit of people and place.

On becoming a member of the WTUN, Dr Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology said “KIIT Deemed University is delighted to enter into the partnership with the World Technology University Network (WTUN), marking our official membership in this prestigious network of universities. The collaboration heralds exciting prospects for global mobility. We intend to nurture a sense of global citizenship by advancing research and innovation. Together with WTUN and its esteemed members, our collective mission is to confront global challenges head-on through research, knowledge dissemination, and innovative solutions. Our focus on sustainable technology and commitment to equity will pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.”

Read the full announcement here to learn more about KIIT: https://www.wtu-n.net/2024/06/the-wtun-welcomes-kiit/

WTUN News:

Learn more about our member, Atlantic Technological University, the next in our series of Member in the Spotlight posts. Read the full profile here.

WTUN Members ONLY:

The WTUN will mark International Women in Engineering Day 2024 on Wednesday 26th June at 2pm (GMT +1). This year’s INWED theme is ‘Enhanced by Engineering’. Register now to attend the live webinar.
We will be joined by colleagues from across the network. Please see below our lineup of speakers:

- Dr Karin Nachbagauer, Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
  Topic: Intercultural Female Collaboration (International Summer Academy in Engineering for Women)
- Dr Rohayanti Hassan, Associate Professor and Quality and Strategy Manager, Faculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
  Topic: Waterfall versus Agile Software Project Management: The Challenges of Women Software Engineers
- Dr Rardchawadee Silapunt, Associate Professor, Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
  Topic: Moo-ving Forward: Revolutionizing Diary Estrus Detection with KomilO
- Dr Sirirat T. Rattanachan, Associate Professor, School of Ceramic Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology
  Topic: Revolutionizing Bone Surgery with Customized Calcium Phosphate Bone Augmentation

News from our Members:

Africa:

Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe

Interested in getting to know more about the research that takes place at WUA? Scroll through some of the short abstracts of research projects undertaken by colleagues at WUA. Here you’ll find projects from the Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Management, Entrepreneurial Development Studies and Information. Read through the projects here.

Asia:

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

Two KMUTT researchers celebrate receiving the WTUN Exchange Programme funding to undertake research projects with colleagues across the network. Both Dr Patcharawat Charoen-amornkitt and Dr Duangradee Kositgittiwog Kongkitkul will be visiting the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. Read KMUTT’s announcement here.

Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, India

HITS celebrates rankings in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) achievements. HITS ranked in SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals. Read the full story here.
HITS congratulates their students who placed first in the WTUN Student Competition 2024. Team ‘Neel Gendh – Water Balls’ placed first for their ‘one solution to clean water and its transportation over long distances’. Read HITS’ announcement here and watch the team’s short video presentation of their idea here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

Watch ‘SIT Lab’, a series of videos sharing the cutting-edge research taking place at SIT. The collection includes videos presenting research projects such as protecting the world’s infrastructure, visualising the health of red blood cells, and a robot that can move freely in soft ground on the moon. Each video is between 3-5 minutes long. Watch the full collection of videos here.

Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

SUT ranks highly in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2024. They achieved high ranks in the following Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy. Read the full story here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

UTM publishes their Issue 5 of UTM Highlights which shares the latest news and stories from the UTM campus. This issue includes news of UTM’s top rankings in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 for Sustainable Development Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Read the issue here.

North America:

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

Hear from 13 women who joined SAIT’s ‘Women Building Futures’ 17 week introductory program which prepares women with the skills, certifications, experience, and confidence to begin a career in the construction trades. Traditionally male-dominated workforces, this course supports women to forge paths in areas such as welding, carpentry, and plumbing. Read the full story here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Want to know more about the exciting research going on at UFRN? Visit their website page dedicated to reports sharing research projects and breakthroughs from colleagues. Stories include patenting technology which improves the extraction of lithium which is used in the production of smartphones, electric cars and medicines and an investigation into the genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease. Visit their webpage to read the full research stories here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

ATU is hosting a conference on ‘Navigating Transformation in Higher Education’ on 3rd and 4th September 2024, both on ATU’s Galway Campus and online. The conference is aimed at those working and studying in Higher Education and will discuss the impact of digital transformation in teaching and learning, with a special focus on Virtual Learning Environments and Artificial Intelligence. The conference is accepting abstract submissions until 5 July. Find out more about the conference here.
Joined by Sligo Council in Ireland, ATU is launching a transformative project which will provide horticulture and tillage farmers with innovative, digital tools and solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sustainability. Agriculture, a cornerstone of Irish culture and economy, accounted for 38.4% of emissions in 2022 and faces challenges such as weather variability and soil degradation. Read the full story here or watch this short video explaining the project.

Technische Universität Ilmeanu, Germany

TU Ilmenau and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment have presented the results of an international research project investigating the risk and crisis communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the key takeaways is that scientists were rated as credible sources in their statements more than national governments, providing valuable insights for the communication strategies of governments and authorities. Read the full story here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

Researchers at UOB are unravelling mysteries from how the ancient Mayan civilization mined material to make their famous fool’s gold mirrors to working with American Institutions to improve methods for identifying submerged landscapes offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The first project includes utilising non-invasive techniques to extract a unique ‘chemical fingerprint’ whilst the second works to integrate indigenous tribal communities during all phases of research and developing an open-access online short course in submerged landscape archaeology. Read more about the work to solve the mystery of the Mayan mirrors here and the work to help identify submerged landscapes on Gulf of Mexico here.
UOB’s 10th annual International Master’s Summer School (IMSS) took place recently. The programme was hosted by the School of Management and attended by 200 participants from across the world to discuss international collaboration to address climate change covering topics such as circular economy and renewable energy. Read the full story here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

Not only are microplastics difficult to detect, but their impact is significant. Scientists at UON team with Samoan scientists to better understand the problem in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific region contributes as little as 1.3% of the world’s plastic pollution but suffers some of the highest recorded quantities of floating plastics worldwide. Read more about this project here.
Researchers at UON look into the ripple effect of drought. Utilising technology to provide farmers with the tools they need to plan and prepare for droughts, and support their mental health and resilience, UON aims to support the communities impacted by drought through multidisciplinary treatments. Read the full story here.

To discuss joining the Network please contact the WTUN Development Manager
Denise Whitehead
Email: wtun@bradford.ac.uk

Member in the Spotlight: Atlantic Technological University

24th June 2024

Introducing…Atlantic Technological University

Who are Atlantic Technological University?

A founding member of the World Technology Universities Network (via former designation ‘Connacht Ulster Alliance’) Atlantic Technological University is a multi-campus technological university, based in the northwest of Ireland in Europe, with campuses in Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal. (Campus locations)

ATU is also a member of the EU GREEN European University Alliance and has international partners across North and South America and Asia. As such, the university celebrates a diverse student and staff population.

ATU has a rich history of academic and research excellence, founded on practice-orientated study which addresses major global and societal challenges. As a university, they are dedicated to enabling sustainable economic, social, and cultural development in its surrounding regions.

Atlantic Technological University – Sligo Campus

What are their research focuses?

With faculties of Business, Science and Health, Engineering and Technology, and Creative Arts and Education, ATU delivers varied research. They have a number of research centres focused on exciting, thematic work.

The Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC) unites researchers and students to enhance the management of marine and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. The research centre has origins dating back to 1980s, and with a custom-built research space and laboratories, they have expanded their work to carry out research projects with agencies and industry, providing expertise and advice to national and international bodies.

Recently, in partnership with Dublin City University, ATU researchers launched a project looking at how marine microorganisms can improve health and wellbeing. The project focuses on bacteria and the diverse chemicals found in marine microorganisms and their pharmacological properties.

ATU researchers are working on a project which looks at using ‘Smart Pebbles’, placed on beaches by citizens and the public, to monitor coastal areas. These pebbles will be 3D scanned and tracked over time to monitor shoreline variations and beach morphology.

ATU has a number of research centres:

National Technology Gateways:

Wireless Sensor Applied Research Laboratory Gateway (WiSAR)
Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
Medical and Engineering Technologies Gateway (MET)

Industry Innovation Collaborations:

ATU and the WTUN

Dr Orla Flynn, President, Atlantic Technological University

General Board Member: Dr Orla Flynn, President (www.atu.ie/about/governance/president)

Operational Board Member: Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, ATU Project Manager (www.wtu-n.net/members/atlantic-technological-university/)

ATU is active member of the WTUN, contributing to the design and delivery of a number of activities. This includes participation in several WTUN Exchange Programme visits, both as host and funding recipient. Past themes include: Nanomaterials; Health; Computing; ThermoFluids and Energy; Materials Engineering; Engineering Management; and Business Sustainability.

Via sustained engagement with the WTUN, they have forged wide reaching and sustained relationships with other member institutions which has lead to activities such as University of Bradford colleague Dr Colins Imoh, who guest lectured at ATU on peace and conflict resolution.

If you want to learn more about ATU, you can view their Member Profile or read some recent stories we have shared in our news roundups about their work:

ATU secures funding to research energy efficiency in Traveller communities.
Researchers at ATU are working to revolutionise energy production by developing low cost materials to facilitate hydrogen production.
ATU launches Local Energy Agencies in Peripheral Regions (LEAP) project to bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss strategies for energy retrofitting and achieving Ireland’s Climate Action Plan targets.
Professor Suresh Pillai’s Nano2H2 project which addresses energy production, waste management and environmental protection to promote circular economy.
Dr Marion McAfee’s ground-breaking 3D printing research and its impact on the world of personalised medicine, advancing healthcare solutions for the ageing population.
ATU is participating in an initiative to introduce higher education courses for students with intellectual disabilities, marking a stride towards equal opportunities and inclusivity in higher education.

Member in the Spotlight: Majan University College

10th June 2024

Introducing…Majan University College

Who are Majan University College?

Majan University College (MUC) was established in 1995 as the first private university college in Oman and is a national leader in educational quality. Their campus in Muscat, Oman, is home to a multi-cultural academic community. As an institution, they aim ‘to provide an innovative learning environment that supports students in reaching their full potential in a changing world.’

MUC is an accredited college of the University of Bedfordshire (United Kingdom) and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MOHERI), Oman.

MUC has collaborators across the world and is a member of numerous networks and associations such as Advance HE (United Kingdom), British Council (United Kingdom), and European Network of Academic Integrity (ENAI).

Majan University College - Al Nahda Block — Majan University College – Al Nahda Block

What are their research focuses?

Sustainability is an integral component of MUC’s Strategic Plan which emphasises productive partnerships with local community, industry and other educational providers in innovation, environmental sustainability and sustainable development.

The majority of MUC’s research responds to the social and economic needs of society and is funded by Oman’s Research Council (TRC).

The Faculty of Business Management explores themes such as entrepreneurship, business intelligence, tourism, social media and its impact, and employee engagement. A current research project considers the impact of tourism development on coastal communities.

Researchers in the Faculty of Information Technology undertake projects related to digital image processing, information multimodal analytics, data centre virtualisation, robotics and artificial intelligence and technology assisted learning. A project which investigates using explainable Artificial Intelligence to enhance fault diagnosis in Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based automation systems is currently being undertaken, whilst another project delves into developing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning based early detection models to look for disease in fruit trees.

MUC and the WTUN

Dr Maha Kobeil, Dean and CEO, Majan University College

General Board Member: Dr Maha Kobeil, Dean and CEO (https://majancollege.edu.om/about/about-majan/senior-management)

Operational Board Member: Dr Susan Trevor-Roper, Associate Dean for Planning & Risk Management (www.wtu-n.net/members/majan-university-college/)

MUC has been involved in several WTUN activities since joining as a member. This includes participation in several WTUN Exchange Programme visits, both as host and funding recipient. Past and current themes include: Entrepreneurship and Gender Equality.

They have also collaborated with WTUN-member colleagues outside of network activities such as sending students to Suranaree University of Technology’s Global Entrepreneurship Camp.

If you want to learn more about MUC, you can view their Member Profile, have a look at the Press Releases published on their website, or read some recent stories we have shared in our news roundups about their work:

MUC launches a new programme DipHe/BSc (Hons) Business Analytics with Artificial Intelligence, joining the world of business data and AI innovation.

WTUN News Roundup – June 2024

Welcome to this month’s roundup of the stories, updates and events happening across the World Technology Universities Network.

WTUN News:

We have announced this year’s winners of the Student Competition. The winning teams were from Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Atlantic Technological University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Thaksin University. You can view the winning presentations in our announcement. Read the announcement here.
The recipients of the 2023-24 Exchange Programme have now been announced. We have awarded £2,000 to 18 recipients under a range of topics from renewable energy, gender equality, international collaboration, good health and well-being, and more. You can view all of the awarded proposals here.
Learn more about our member, Majan University College, in the first of our Member in the Spotlight posts. View the article here.

WTUN Members ONLY:

The WTUN will mark International Women in Engineering Day 2024 on Wednesday 26th June at 2pm (GMT +1). This year’s INWED theme is ‘Enhanced by Engineering’. Register now to attend the live webinar.

News from our Members:

Asia:

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

UTM enters Malaysia’s Book of Records for hosting a 24 hour lecture in Mechanical Engineering. The lecture included around 60 lectureres, and over 1,000 students tuning in worldwide. You can read the full story here and watch some 8 hours of the lecture here.

North America:

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

SAIT announces a new Campus Centre following a $30 million gift from the Taylor Family Foundation. The new Taylor Family Campus Centre will focus on student wellness and building community at the institution. Plans include wellness facilities, health clinics, conference and event space, an arena, gymnasium, running track, and fitness centre. Read the full story here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

‘Safe Care Computer Program: serious game’ has been registered with the National Institute of Industrial Property. The game belongs to UFRN and is designed to support teachers in expanding their teaching strategies on the subject of patient safety. The game provides educators and learners with the a safe, fun and immersive enviornment to expand knowledge on topics such as improving medication safety, safe surgery, and effective communication. Read the full story here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

ATU launches a new undergraduate degree in Outdoor and Environmental Education with three awards: BA in Outdoor Education, BA in Geography and Outdoor Education, BA in Outdoor Education with Therapeutic Applications. the programme emphasises stewardship and care for the natural world with experiential and place-based learning, and the therapeutic benefits of the outdoors. Read the full story here.
Donegal Daily, a local newspaper, has reported on ATU’s student success in the WTUN Student Competition. ATU’s team, ‘PhosLumina’ placed second, developing a user-friendly solution to monitor orthophosphate levels in water bodies, benefitting ocean users and communities near water bodies. Read the full article here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

Dr Behruz Khaghani, is spinning nano-fibres from every day kitchen spices in the biomedical and tissue engineering laboratory at the University of Bradford to create advanced wound dressings. These wound dressings have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, derived from the plant extracts used, and could be used to treat a range of conditions including diabetic ulcers. Read the full story here.
A £125k award from the Academy of Medical Sciences to Dr Karthic Swaminathan will fund his research to gain a better understanding of the metastasis (spread) of malignant melanomas (cancers). Dr Swaminathan’s current work involves ‘tagging’ cancer cells and watching them as they spread to support the development of new treatments. Read the full story here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) is running a program which aims to move innovative technologies out of the lab and into global manufacturing. The program provides access to funding, research teams, facilities and specialist equipment and business growth advice and support. A current project with EM Energy looks at producing green hydrogen from waste. Read the full story here.
A new study at UON looks at whether the drug azithromycin, a form of antibiotic, would put moderate to sever asthma into remission. The findings so far were ‘very promising’, and achieving remission for asthma would have huge and economic impacts, eliminating the the need for risky drugs like corticosteroids. Read the full story here.

To discuss joining the Network please contact the WTUN Development Manager
Denise Whitehead
Email: wtun@bradford.ac.uk

WTUN Exchange Programme 2023-24: Participating Members

5th June 2024

We are pleased to announce that this year, the Exchange Programme 2023-24 funding has been awarded to 18 recipients. We’d like to thank each of this year’s participating member institutions and congratulate the grant recipients on their successful proposals.

The WTUN Exchange Programme runs annually and provides academic and professional services staff and PhD students the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues at a member institution of their choosing. Recipients of the Exchange Programme are allocated £2,000 to support them in their collaborative projects and this is often used as a mobility fund to allow colleagues to work face-to-face, in new research environments, and immerse themselves in the cultural landscapes of their host institution.

In the past, the Exchange Programme has led to outcomes such as student exchanges, collaborative research projects, joint publications, and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between institutions. Exchange visits have focussed on topics such as gender-based violence, embedding entrepreneurship in the curriculum, and collaborating to advance medical technologies to predict fall risks in the elderly.

We are pleased to announce this year’s exchange recipients and their exchange focus below.

Participating Member: Assistant Professor Dr Ammar Abdualla Al Hawaj, Executive Director for Communications and International Relations, Ahlia University

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr George Onofrei, Atlantic Technological University

Theme/Focus: Student mobility and gender related KPIs to promote and ‘mainstream’ equal opportunities

Participating Member: Nabila Al Macki, Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, Majan University College

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr Ammar Al Hawaj, Assistant Professor and Executive Director for Communications and International Relations, Ahlia University

Theme/Focus: Enhancing and nurturing entrepreneurship amongst women, with a focus on women from marginalised sectors.

Participating Member: Dr Hellen Venganai, Director, Gender and Diversity Centre, Women’s University in Africa

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr Penny Jane Burke, Director, Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education, Global Innovation Chair of Equity and UNESCO Chair in Equitym Social Justice and Higher Education, University of Newcastle, Australia

Theme/Focus: Addressing gender disparties in higher education and gender, equity and social justice.

Participating Member: Professor Puspamitra Panigrahi, Centre for Clean Energy and Nano Convergence (CENCON), Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Professor Ajayan Vinu, Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Materials, University of Newcastle, Australia

Theme/Focus: Designing and developing nano porous, carbonaceous materials for CO2 capture and conversion to clean fuels.

Participating Member: Dr Duangrudee Kongkitkul, Assistant Professor Civil Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Professor Georg Aichinger, Center of Excellence Energy Research Center Wels, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Theme/Focus: Fluid Mechanics and Renewable Energy for Sustainable Energy Engineering

Participating Member: Dr Patcharawat Charoen-amornkitt, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr Christina Toigo, Professorship for Hydrogen Technology and Energy Storage Technologies, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Theme/Focus: Green hydrogen production to address contemporary energy challenges

Participating Member: Christina Toigo, Professorship for Hydrogen and Technology and Energy Storage Technologies, University of Applied Science Upper Austria

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr Patcharawat Charoen-amornkitt, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

Theme/Focus: Battery and hydrogen technology to address energy challenges

Participating Member(s): Kanokphorn Sangkharak, Associate Professor Faculty of Science and Digital Innovation, Department of Chemistry and Dr Maneelok Supandee, Faculty of Health and Sport Science, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Thaksin University

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Professor Jhy-Chern Liu, Vice President, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

Theme/Focus: Waste utilisation, waste management, e-waste recovery, environmental science and biotechnology. Problem-based learning (PBL)

Participating Member: Arathyram Ramachandra Kurup Sasikala, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr Suresh Pillai, Director of Health and Bio Medical Centre, The Nanotechnology and Bioengineering Division, Atlantic Technological University

Theme/Focus: Nanotechnology and bioengineering to design and develop triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for self-charging battery-free biomedical implants

Participating Member: Associate Professor Dr Jeyaprakash Thangakumar, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr Irfan Mehmood, Associate Professor in Business Analytics, Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences, University of Bradford

Theme/Focus: Plug-In Electric Vehicles and the use of Artificial Intelligence to predict optimal energy efficient routes

Participating Member: Dr Seyed Reza Moosavi Jafari, Lecturer, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts and Deputy Director of the Institute of Thai Southern Studies, Thaksin University

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Professor Jhy-Chern Liu, Vice President, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

Theme/Focus: Influence of national cultural dimensions on built-in environments toward transportation sustainability enhancement

Participating Member: Dr Maria Cano Dominguez, Associate Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE), University of Newcastle, Australia

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Ar P. C. Associate Professor and HOD, School of Planning Architecture, and Design, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science

Theme/Focus: Decarbonization and decolonization of architecture for future post-carbon and post-colonial settlements

Participating Member: Dr Roziana Shaari, Associate Professor in the School of Human Resource Development and Psychology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr Susan Trevor-Roper, Associate Dean for Planning & Risk Management, Majan University College

Theme/Focus: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for youths from underprivileged backgrounds

Participating Member: Shania Boom, PhD Student in the Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Professor David Lubans, Centre for Active Living and Learning, University of Newcastle, Australia

Theme/Focus: Reducing physical inactivity inequality in the secondary (high) school setting.

Participating Member: Dr Esra AlDhaen, Associate Professor and Executive Director of Strategy, Quality and Sustainability, Ahlia University

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Professor Vishanth Weerakkody, Assoc. Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Bradford

Theme/Focus: Aligning academic programmes and educational skills to the UN SDGs, considering transformational sustainable strategies.

Participating Member: Dr Eoghan Furey, Lecturer in Computing and PhD Training Programme Coordinator, Atlantic Technological University

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Professor Jens Mueller, Vice-President for International Affairs and Transfer, Technische Universität Ilmenau

Theme/Focus: Collaborative research and training opportunities and TU Ilmenau’s Institute for Mobility Research (IMF-THiMo)

Participating Member: Kiyomi Maeda, Program Coordinator, Office of International Studies, Shibaura Institute of Technology

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Dr Samak Kaewsuksaeng, Vice President for Research and Innovation, Thaksin University

Theme/Focus: Student Mobility and exchanges and collaborative staff training opportunities

Participating Member: Dr Jacqueline Deanna Bailey, Associate Lecturer, Computing and IT, University of Newcastle

Host(s)/Collaboration Partner: Professor Werner Kurschl, Web-,Cloud Computing/Natural User Interfaces, Head of Studies, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Theme/Focus: Human-centred computing, virtual reality and augmented reality for innovation, industry and training.