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

WTUN News:

• Reminder: The WTUN will be attending NAFSA 2024 in New Orleans. WTUN Development Manager, Denise Whitehead, will be attending from 27 – 31 May and is looking forward to meeting colleagues old and new. If you or your organisation will be there and would like to meet up to discuss opportunities for International Collaboration, please get in touch at wtun@bradford.ac.uk. 
• We are updating our Member Profiles to include details around the research focuses and strategic aims of our members, to aid colleagues in identifying themes for collaborative work. Have a look at Suranaree University of Technology‘s page as an example of the new format.

WTUN Members ONLY:

• The WTUN will mark International Women in Engineering Day 2024, as we did for 2023. This year’s INWED theme is ‘Enhanced by Engineering’. A call will be shared with members shortly to convene speakers and panellists. The proposed date is Wednesday 26th June, 2pm (GMT+1). If you would like to suggest a topic for a session or have any other ideas, please contact the WTUN Secretariat at wtun@bradford.ac.uk.

News from our Members:

Asia:

Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, India

• HITSPitch Podcast is ‘For the students, by the students’ and discusses topical themes such as ‘Future of AI Audio’, ‘Glimpes of G20’ and Expert Talks, including one from Mr Anand Melateur, Regional Director of Boeing India. Listen to the podcast here.

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

• KMUTT students and staff plant 300 mangrove seedlings and 100 mangrove trees on the university’s campus, working to conserve and restore national resources to their full potential and balance the ecosystem. The project aims to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases and raise awareness of the importance of limited resources. Read the full story here.
• With the use of micro-nano bubbles to wash Phulae pineapples, KMUTT strives to increase the life and quality of pre-cut Phulae pineapples which are sold as ready for consumption. This project hopes to support the exportation of pineapples from Thailand; Thai canned pineapple products are number 1 in the world. It also aims to increase income for farmers in the area. Read the full story here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

• SIT researchers share their promising new use for origami. A self-folding origami gripper can be mounted to drones, enabling them to grasp and hold objects. The current model is light-weight, strong, and has biodegradable properties which could lead to revolutionary changes in the use of origami technology in quadcopters (low-cost drones). Read the full story here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

• UTM’s Centre for Tropical Geoengineering (GEOTROPIK) was awarded a comprehensive assessment project by SUKE Highway to address the issue of landslide risk mitigation. The investigative team is multi-disciplinary including experts in Slope Engineering, GIS, Geotechnics, and Sensory Technology. Read the full story here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

• Through a partnership between the dentistry and engineering courses at UFRN, researchers have developed an application to assist the diagnosis of periodontal bone loss. The disease can lead to reduced stability of teeth, loss of teeth, and affect the aesthetic of smiles and chewing functions. Early diagnosis is key to preserving oral health. Read the full story here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

• ATU announced 60 PhD scholarships under the Technological University Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise (TU RISE) scheme. All PhDs are funded with a fee waiver and an annual stiped of €22,000 per year over the 4-year programme. The programme also includes an internship with a related business. International students may also be eligible for a two-year post-graduate work permit to work in Ireland. Find out more here.
• ATU’s Research Project, ‘Irish Students Wellbeing and ADHD Project (I-SWAP)’ has won Best Research Project in the 2024 Education Awards in Ireland. It was awarded for recognition of its impactful contributions to student welfare. Read the full story here.

Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany

• HSHL researchers have been looking into how Augmented Reality (AR) and Assisted Reality (aR) can be used to optimise processes within industry. The project aims to simplify laboratory processes through AR data glasses or step-by-step instructions which utilise assisted reality on mobile devices. Read the full story here.

Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

• TU Ilmenau researchers utilise AI to precisely predict the allergenic pollen in plants. Almost a third of the world’s population suffer from pollen-related respiratory allergies and that number is continuing to rise. The interdisciplinary study of medicine, botany and data processing works to precisely predict when which pollen pollutes the air and in what concentrations, making it possible for sufferers of pollen allergies to take effective precautionary measures. Read the full story here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

• UOB’s School of Management is hosting the 9th Edition of the International Workshop on Sharing Economy (IWSE) series, titled, ‘The Faces of Innovation in the Sharing Economy’. The workshop is a platform for academics, practitioners, industry experts and local authorities to advance the understanding of the sharing economy phenomenon and explore cross-disciplinary collaborations in research and application. The workshop is accepting abstracts submissions until Tuesday 7th May. Find out more here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

• UON has been awarded a $500,000 (AUD) grant from Cancer Australia to investigate how to improve outcomes of children diagnosed with high-risk cancers such as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and aggressive brain tumours called diffuse midline gliomas (DMG). These cancers are responsible for around 30 per cent of all childhood deaths from cancer annually. Read the full story here.

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

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

WTUN News:

• Last week, we announced that the WTUN will be attending NAFSA 2024 in New Orleans. WTUN Development Manager, Denise Whitehead, will be attending from 27 – 31 May and is looking forward to meeting colleagues old and new. If you or your organisation will be there and would like to meet up to discuss opportunities for International Collaboration, please get in touch at wtun@bradford.ac.uk. 
• We will be announcing the winners of the Brian Cantor Scholarship Prize, shortly. Keep your eyes out for the announcement!

WTUN Members ONLY:

• The WTUN hopes to mark International Women in Engineering Day 2024, as we did for 2023. This year’s INWED theme is ‘Enhanced by Engineering’. A call will be shared with members shortly to convene speakers and panellists. If you would like to suggest a topic for a session or have any other ideas, please contact the WTUN Secretariat at wtun@bradford.ac.uk.

News from our Members:

Asia:

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

• SIT researchers explore the growing concern around obesity and its links to memory loss. When observed in mice, obesity decreases learning ability and increases brain oxidation, but using tocotrienols as a supplement can help to prevent this decline. The researchers are calling for further investigation to understand how obesity impacts oxidative stress on the brain. Read the full story here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

• UTM discusses research-led teaching and how it aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice. By incorporating latest research findings, methodologies, and debates into the classroom, research-led educators ensure that students are exposed to the most up-to-date knowledge in their field of study. These students are also enabled to engage, question, and contribute to the ongoing discourse around their chosen subject. Read the full story here.

North America:

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

• SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) has shared two stories on its recent work and research:
  • Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), also known as drones, are being used for a variety of tasks. Researchers at ARIS are uncovering new ways to utilise drones across a variety of industries. From delivering medical supplies to remote access communities to use in infrastructure inspections where human access is difficult or unsafe, drones can be used to improve safety, expand data collection and provide new perspectives. Read the full story here.
  • Researchers at ARIS have developed a new device which can bring real-time measurement to the on-shore oil market. This device, is smaller, cleaner and more efficient, and prevents the need to separate out oil, gas and water in pipes to measure their ratios. With this device, there is capacity to monitor in real-time, increase safety, reduce downtime, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Read the full story here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

• ATU announces 60 PhD scholarships under the Technological University Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise (TU RISE) scheme. Scholarships are available in a range of disciplines such as Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering; Audiovisual & Creative; and Renewable Energy, Climate Change Mitigation & Sustainability. All PhDs are funded with a fee waiver and an annual stiped of €22,000 per year over the 4-year programme. The programme also includes an internship with a related business. International students may also be eligible for a two-year post-graduate work permit to work in Ireland. Find out more here.

Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

• Researchers at TU Ilmenau are optimizing the manufacturing for chrome coatings, which could produce higher quality, more environmentally friendly and economical sanitary fittings. They have been able to achieve this by using artificial intelligence and digital tools. Read the full story here.

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria

• FHOO have shared with the WTUN their upcoming events and conferences which are of interest to WTUN members. You can find the full list of events here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

• A team of researchers has developed a platform to define the impact of exposure to landscape fire smoke on the heart and lungs. The platform is the first of its kind in the world. Millions of people in Australia, and worldwide, are exposed to bushfire or wildfire smoke which can decrease cardiac function  and increase respiratory or cardiovascular symptoms. Read the full story here.

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

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

WTUN News:

• We have updated the Exchange Programme Case Studies showcased on our website. The new case studies include a visit to enhance capacity to embed of entrepreneurship in curriculum and the development of a test bed for new healthcare technology. Read the cases studies here.
• To aid our members in initiating collaborations and identifying potential themes for collaborations, we have begun to develop a short profile of each of our members on our website. You can view the profiles here:
  • Atlantic Technological University, Ireland
  • Majan University College, Oman
  • National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
  • Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
  • University of Bradford, United Kingdom

WTUN Members ONLY:

• REMINDER! The deadline for entries into the WTUN Student Competition is Thursday 11 April 2024.

News from our Members:

Africa:

Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe

• WUA, in partnership with the US Embassy Zimbabwe, hosted a leadership seminar on ‘Women Leading Globally: A Conversation About Leadership’. Watch the full seminar here.

Asia:

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

• KMUTT is co-hosting the upcoming Workshop on Agri-PV “Technology Status and Business Opportunities” on 24 April in Bangkok, Thailand. Agri-PV allows the dual-use of farmland to improve resource efficiency, enable synergies to increase productivity of certain crops and PV panels, and protect crops against pests and climate events. Find out more about the workshop here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

• SIT researchers find that giving a blended antioxidant supplement to aged mice improves their cognition and memory, alongside spatial cognition and muscle durability. Antioxidants are known for reducing oxidative stress and prevent age-related health decline. The findings suggest that blended antioxidant supplements could be a promising dietary intervention for age-related health issues. Read the full story here.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

• Professor Yun-Shang Chiou, a sustainable architect at Taiwan Tech, sits down and discusses his take on cultural preservation and revitalising rural communities to deliver sustainable architecture. Professor Chiou discusses the most pressing challenges for sustainable architecture, sharing his approach which focuses on two main components, ‘people and materials’. Read the full story here.

North America:

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

• SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) is joining NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) network to provide expertise in materials science, advanced manufacturing, robotics and automation. As one of two test centres in Alberta, the initiative will provide services to support start-ups and entrepreneurs. Read the full story here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

• ATU launches projects which turn to nature to tackle 21st century issues:
  • ATU, in partnership with Dublin City University, launches a project looking at marine microorganisms to improve health and wellbeing. The project focuses on microorganisms such as bacteria and the diverse chemicals found in plants and fungi. The marine environment and it’s pharmacological properties ‘hold immense potential to benefit human health’. Read the full story here.
  • The SCORE (Smart Control of the Climate Resilience in European Coastal Cities) Project, led by ATU, is aiming to incorporate citizen science into efforts to monitor coastal areas. Citizens can deposit ‘Smart Pebbles’ on beaches which will be 3D scanned and tracked over time to monitor shoreline variations and beach morphology. Read the full story here.
• ATU launches a free course aimed at the construction industry providing an introduction to lean construction principles, a basic understanding of the methodologies and best practices to improve efficiency, reduce waste and boost productivity in construction projects. The program includes modules such as ‘Construction Waste’ and ‘Lean Management’ and include formats such as video lectures, industry-based interviews and quizzes. Read the full story here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

• UOB is hosting an ‘AI Industry Forum’ on Friday 17 May. This year’s theme for the forum is ‘Frontiers of AI Applications’ and will cover three themes; AI for Sustainability & Communities; AI for Innovation; AI & Ethics. The forum is open to national and international partners of the university, local authorities, SMEs and alumni. Find out more here.
• UOB academic, Dr Colins Imoh, visits Atlantic Technological University. During this visit Dr Imoh gave a public lecture to ATU students and developed next steps to work on a collaborative research project with ATU researchers. Read the full story here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

• UON’s ‘The Minds Changing Lives’ podcast covers the breakthroughs and research from UON academics. Episodes include insight into the resilience-building research and technology that works to combat drought and the pioneering work happening at UON to advance gynaecological cancer research and improve the prognosis for ovarian cancer. Find out more about the podcast here.

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

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

WTUN News:

WTUN Members ONLY:

• REMINDER! The deadline for entries into the WTUN Student Competition is Thursday 11 April 2024.

News from our Members:

Africa:

Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe

• Professor Sunungurai Dominica Chingarande, Vice-Chancellor at Women’s University in Africa, spoke at an International Women’s Day 2024 event and outlined that despite efforts to invest in women in higher education within Africa, the statistics show that a gap in gender parity still exists. Professor Chingarande spoke to University World News to discuss strategies to support women in academia and what investing in women means to her. Read the full story here.

Asia:

Ahlia University, Bahrain

• Academic staff at Ahlia University engaged in a debate on “AI Will Replace Humans”, held at the 7th Equal Opportunity Conference attended by leaders, academics and industry experts. The debate concluded with strong opposition from the audience with 64% voting against the idea of AI replacing humans. Read the full story here.
• Ahlia University opens a call for papers for the International Conference on Global Economic Revolutions: The Era of the Digital Economy (ICGER). The conference is organised by Ahlia University, and will be held 1-3 October in a hybrid manner. Submissions on the following topics are encouraged; Artificial Intelligence, Business Innovation & Economic Diversification; Artificial Intelligence, Big Data & the Digital Divide; Business Resilience, Circular Economy & Sustainability Governance; Digital Social Equality, Industry 5.0, Society 5.0. Read the full story here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

• SIT held the 18th South East Asian Technical University Consortium Symposium (SEATUC2024). The event was attended by fellow WTUN members; King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Suranaree University of Technology and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Students at member institutions engaged in technical and innovative sessions for an active exchange of information, followed by a discussion on the theme “Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Green Transformation and Digital Transformation Era”. Read the full story here.
• Researchers at SIT present findings on their works:
  • Professor Yuki Oyama from the Department of Civil Engineering presents the ‘Global Local Path Choice’ Model, which is a new method to understand the walkability of cities. Dr Oyama’s innovative model emphasises the influence of visual attributes on the local adaptations of path choices from pedestrians.Read the full story here.
  • Professor Naomi Osakabe and Dr Yasuyuki Fujii share their work on ‘Deciphering the Role of Bitter and Astringent Polyphenols in Promoting Well-Being’. Their work looks at polyphenols, abundant in fruits, vegetables, tea and coffee, and how the mechanisms behind their beneficial health benefits work and interact with human sensory receptors. Read the full story here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

• UTM researchers present their stance on best principles and guidance for water management across borders and continental regions. Malaysia, as a nation, is focussing on leveraging water for peace, whilst also engaging in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which works toward peaceful water-sharing across the region. Read here for Malaysia’s perspective on water resource sharing and here for more on the ASEAN cooperation for water management.
• Noting that bridges are increasingly susceptible to structural failures due to natural disasters, UTM hosted a training session with industry engineers on effective structural health monitoring, for guidance on maintaining bridges in a serviceable state. Read the full story here.
• UTM launches pathways for working adults to access higher education. The initiative will recognise work experience and support transitions for professionals aspiring to pursue master and doctoral degrees. Read the full story here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

• ATU has secured Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) funding to research energy efficiency in Traveller communities. The project aims to research and demonstrate societal, economic, political and technological factors affecting the implementation of energy efficiency measures in Traveller communities. Read the full story here.
• ATU, in partnership with Trinity College Dublin, is working to revolutionise energy production by developing low-cost materials to facilitate commercial hydrogen production from renewable sources. Read the full story here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

• UOB ‘s Digital Health Enterprise Zone benefits from national funding to develop its work supporting business growth, knowledge and skills development by connecting with academics, researchers and health and social care partners. The use of its Technology House, a dedicated simulation space, also contributes to the training of future healthcare professionals. Read the full story here.
• Trials for a new breast cancer test are taking place at the University’s Institute of Cancer Therapeutics. The test, Ran Diagnostics, is undergoing trials to test its efficacy in practice, outside of clinical studies. If successful, the test will help to cut on costs and personalise cancer treatment for patients by predicting those at risk of their cancer spreading through a quick and accurate test. Read the full story here.

Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

• TU Ilmenau are participating in a project that develops new courses on sustainability topics and provides support for lecturers to implement the sustainability goals in their teaching within Engineering. Read the full story here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

• UON welcomes their new Chancellor, The Hon. Patricia Forsythe with an Investiture Ceremony. Chancellor Forsythe is an alumna of the University and is passionate about equity and the belief that education can transform lives. Read the full story here.
• UON’s ‘Field Epidemoiology in Action’ programme has been awarded $7.5M AUD in funding. The program works to improve health by training local health professionals in the Pacific how to investigate and respond rapidly to health threats. Read the full story here.

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

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

WTUN News:

• The WTUN hosted a series of events during the week 4-8 March to mark UNESCO’s World Engineering Day. We would like to thank all of the speakers for their participation. Missed the live events? Watch back here or the WTUN YouTube Channel

WTUN Members ONLY:

• REMINDER! The deadline to submit proposals to the WTUN Exchange Programme 2024 is Thursday 21 March 2024

News from our Members:

Asia:

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

• Researchers at SIT have developed a novel AI-based noise suppression system for more effective victim detection by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) during natural disasters. Current UAVs depend on visual information and are unable to detect victims trapped under rubble as their propellers can drown out human sounds. Read the full story here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

• The Geoscience and Digital Earth Centre -INSTeG at UTM is using Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) data and geospatial modeling for coastal zone management. The main focus is to monitor the seagrass habitat in the Straits of Johor to conserve the dugong population, which is already classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Read the full story here.

North America:

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

• SAIT’s Director of Indigenous Engagement, Jennifer Russell (Sik’see na ki) reflects on International Women’s Day, safety for Indigenous Women and the historical and present-day power of Indigenous women in Canada. Read the full story here. 
• SAIT launches a post-diploma certificate program in Artificial Intelligence to teach students how to integrate AI into existing skillsets. The program will focus on AI tools like ChatGPT and CoPilot whilst examining the implications and responsible practices of AI. Read the full story here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

• UFRN participated in the collaboration of the National Institute of Science and Technology – Klimapolis to prepare Brazilian urban areas for climate change, address environmental problems and improve the quality of life of the population, in coastal cities such as Natal in Rio Grande do Norte. Read the full story here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

• ATU hosted an Engineering Fair at their Sligo campus. The fair was organised in collaboration with Engineers Ireland NW and a global healthcare leader, Abbott, offering a wide range of performances, workshops, and demonstrations for families to enjoy. The Abbott’s Engineering Room, allowed attendees to get hands-on experience with various aspects of STEM disciplines. Read the full story here.
• The latest edition of ATU’s Magazine is now out with a great story around ATU’s WiSTEM Society which aims to empower Women in STEM (pages 22-23). The Society is headed by Dr Anurshree Dwivedi also spoke at our WTUN for World Engineering Day Event, ‘Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in STEM’. Read the ATU Magazine, Issue 12 here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

• UOB launches a £1.9 million project named SIBLING (Scientific Instrumentation for Business Leadership in Innovation and Growth) will provide SMEs with scientific equipment in the University’s centres and laboratories. SIBLING will deliver 45 fully-funded research and innovation projects between September 2023 and March 2025. Read the full story here.

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