Tag: NewsRoundUp

WTUN News Roundup – May 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 winner of the Brian Cantor Scholarship Prize. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Nadiia Sadova, PhD Student at University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. View the announcement 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’.  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. Alternatively, view the event announcement here.

News from our Members:

Asia:

Ahlia University, Bahrain

  • Ahlia University’s College of Business and Finance celebrates receiving accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), joining the top 6% of Business Schools worldwide. Read the full story here.

Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, India

  • HITS achieves top rankings in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, ranking in the top 501-600 worldwide. Read the full story here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

  • SIT researchers share their latest projects:
    • A new reactor design which converts carbon dioxide emissions from small boilers into methane fuel and could offer a promising approach to combating climate change. Read the full story here.
    • A flexible tactile sensor used in a groundbreaking system can support objective assessments of fine finger movements for cognitive development. This example of automated medical research can address the manpower shortage in medical research and contribute to the realization of online medical care. Read the full story here.
    • Perovskite hydrides show promise in various emerging energy technologies but it can be challenging to determine their intrinsic hydride-ion conductivity. Using a novel laser deposition technique, SIT researchers have been able to characterise the hydride-ion conductivity of the perovskite hydrides, bolstering research on hydrogen-related materials. Read the full story here.

Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwain

  • Professor Shao-Yun Fang has pioneered the use of footprint patterns to predict circuit design issues. Professor Fang’s work delves into digital circuits which are composed of standard components and metal wires connected by “footprints”.  As circuits become more complex, these “footprints” can be blocked by other metal wires, creating connectivity issues. Currently, machine learning is used to predict when design issues may arise, but her work looks at using machine learning to predict whether problems will occur based on these “footprint patterns”. Professor Fang has already collaborated with the world’s largest electronic design automation (EDA) companies, integrating her work into electronic design automation software. Read the full story here.
  • NTUST ranks #2 in Thailand and #52 worldwide in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024. Read the full story here.

North America:

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

  • SAIT debuts the first “FinTech” major in Canada with the introduction of the subject to their Bachelor of Business Administration programme. The new major in “Financial Technology (FinTech) and Innovation” will deliver creative, growth-minded and innovative teachings with focuses on technology and Artificial Intelligence. The course interacts with many industries from accounting and cryptocurrencies to real estate and human resources. Read the full story here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

  • Researchers at UFRN have developed a computer program for pregnant women to promote women’s autonomy and good labour and birth practices in an educational, playful, and digital way. The game focusses on five areas; guidelines, language, fun (drawing and colours), non-pharmacological methods of pain relief and periods of childbirth. The game aims to be accessible, utilising colloquial language and played through an online platform via a mobile device or a computer. Read the full story here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

  • ATU marked International Astronomy Day on the 18th May by sharing a study which challenges Einstein’s theory of general relativity and suggests that the expansion of the universe is not uniform as previously believed. The research invites the scientific community to question assumptions that have been integral to our understanding of the Universe for around 100 years. Read the full story here.

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria

  • Researchers at FH OÖ’s Embedded Systems Lab have been awarded a European patent in the field of “Smart Textiles” for their work on sensors embedded in textiles. The patented process allows the identification and location of distributed sensors and microprocessor modules on “smart textiles”, opening pathways for T-shits which can record movement patterns of human bodies and detect incorrect posture. Read the full story here.
  • Following Dr. Sascha Senck’s visit to Suranaree University of Technology through the WTUN Exchange Programme, FH OÖ and SUT are committed to ongoing cooperation and research together. Currently, Dr Senck has begun to deliver courses to SUT students including CAD design for medical engineering, data analysis in chemical engineering, and scientific writing and presentation in English. Read the full story here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

  • Professor Brian Cantor, UOB’s Former Vice Chancellor, founder of the WTUN, and eponym to the Brian Cantor Scholarship Prize, has been named a fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellowship of eminent scientists worldwide and the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. Professor Cantor’s work includes the invention of the field of multicomponent high-entropy materials and the discovery of the “Cantor alloys”. Previous Royal Society Fellows include Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton. Read the full story here.
  • Researchers at UOB have commissioned a report, with contributions from other North England-based Universities, which recommends broadening the role of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) to reward schools that provide enhanced physical activity and healthy nutrition options to support their students health and wellbeing. The aim of this action would be to make rich physical activity experiences a priority in school environments. The topic of the report is the subject of the Whole School Physical Activity Conference taking place at University of Bradford in June. Read the full story here.

Australia

University of Newcastle, Australia

  • How will AI impact your work? Is your business cyber-safe? UON hosted an online panel discussion to discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence in the workplace. The event shared the impact of cyber attacks and data breaches, the need for skilled professionals in the industry and how to prepare and protect yourself and your business in this developing environment. Watch the discussion here.
  • Researchers at UON have presented The Hydro Harvester, a technology which can harvest up to 1000 litres of drinkable water per day from the air. The technology works by producing hot and humid air from solar energy or waste heat. This air is then cooled and water is extracted which can be used for drinking or irrigation. The project has been funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and is designed to operate independent of the ambient temperature and humidity, making it suitable for virtually any environment. Read the full story here.

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

WTUN News Roundup – May 2024

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

WTUN News Roundup – April 2024

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

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

WTUN News Roundup – April 2024

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

  • 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

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


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

WTUN News Roundup – March 2024

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

WTUN News Roundup – March 2024

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

WTUN News Roundup – February 2024

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

 

WTUN News:

  • We have welcomed our newest member, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) based in Calgary, Canada. SAIT is a national leader in applied research and development expertise and is committed o sustainable research and innovation. Read the full press release here: Read SAIT Press Release

WTUN Members ONLY:

  • WTUN for UNESCO’s World Engineering Day programme is available to view. We have confirmed three sessions with a full lineup of speakers. You can view the schedule here: View World Engineering Day Programme
    • Monday 4 March: ‘Latest developments in Energy Storage and Conversion’ hosted by Dr Christina Toigo, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
    • Tuesday 5 March: ‘Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in STEM’ hosted by Professor Ami Agrawal, Hindustan Institute of Technology and science
    • Thursday 7 March: ‘ Theory into Practice: Addressing the Water-Energy-Health-Environment (WEHE) Nexus’ hosted by Professor Iqbal Mujtaba, University of Bradford
  • You can book your place to attend any of the events here: Book your place

Member Institution News:

Asia:

Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, India

  • HITS hosts ‘International Conference on Integration and Transformation with SDGs’ on the 15 & 16 April 2024. “ICITS 2024 is an essential platform for defining and reaffirming the mutually beneficial responsibilities that National and International academia…play in realizing the SDGs by 2030. This conference will jointly design strategies, harness new solutions and create collaborations to enable the unstoppable movement essential for sustainable development. Find out more about ICITS 2024.
  • HITS hosted colleagues from fellow WTUN members University of Newcastle, Australia to initiate research and academic collaboration and remain committed to providing global education to their students. Read more here.
  • HITS unveils two new state-of-the-art labs for Aerospace Engineering and kicks off a 3-day national workshop on Advances in Aerospace Structural Design with guests from the Indian Government’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and their Naval Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL). Read more here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

  • Researchers at SIT “present a unique wearable device that can provide personal thermal control, while also being lightweight, compact, and stylish”. The device aims to support body temperature management, offer thermotherapy and act as an alternative to liquid cooling garments for race car drivers, surgeons, chemotherapy and multiple sclerosis patients, and athletes. Read the full story here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

  • UTM is one of three universities to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for research on environment conservation with Gamuda Land. “Gamuda Parks and UTM will work together to connect academia and the industry through the sharing of space, materials, equipment, and facilities for teaching, learning and lifelong education.” Read the full story here.

North America:

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

  • Welcoming SAIT, the newest WTUN member, by introducing their research centres:
  • SAIT’s Expert in Residence, Dr. Bill Rankin, offered his thoughts on the human side of Artificial Intelligence back in November 2023. He discussed safeguarding the voices of equity-seeking groups as AI tools become more prevalent. Read the article here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

  • ATU researchers show off their findings:
    • Prof Suresh C. Pillai, WTUN Exchange Programme Recipient 2022-23, has partnered with Trinity College Dublin the Nano2H2 project, which addresses three key aspects – energy production, waste management, and environmental protection – to promote circular economy. Read more here.
    • ATU’s Dr Marion McAfee is making waves in the world of personalised medicine through groundbreaking 3D printing research. The project focuses on advancing healthcare solutions for the ageing population by utilising 3D printing to create personalised medicine.  Read more here.
  • On 21 February, ATU hosted its inaugural TEDx event on its Donegal Letterkenny campus, under the theme “Seeing the Light.” The lineup included writers, robotics experts, theatre designers and business leaders. Read more here.
  • ATU takes part in an initiative to introduce higher education courses for students with intellectual disabilities, marking a significant stride towards inclusivity and equal opportunities in education. Read the full press release here.
  • ATU launches the Local Energy Agencies in Peripheral Regions (LEAP) project. The launch event brought together experts and stakeholders from across the energy sector to discuss strategies for energy retrofitting and achieving Ireland’s Climate Action Plan targets. Read more here.

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria

  • FHOO student, Patricia, shares her experience attending fellow WTUN member Suranaree University of Technology’s Global Entrepreneurship Camp. Read more here.
  • FHOO’s International Summer Academy in Engineering for Women 2024 with a theme of Empowering Female Engineers is still open for applications. Female Engineering students between 18-25 are invited to apply to the Academy, taking place 9-24 July 2024. Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to broaden their technical and scientific knowledge, explore the impact of technology on future societies and network and connect with peers across the world. Read more here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

  • A revolutionary method of assessing transplant organs developed at the University of Bradford has been named as a finalist for a major National Health Service (NHS) award. Organ Quality Assessment  (OrQA) will employ artificial intelligence-based facial recognition technology to ‘score’ potential transplant organs, saving money, time and potentially lives. Read the full story here.

Australia:

University of Newcastle, Australia

  • 7 UoN researchers have secured $10.6m AUD to improve the health of the Australian population. Awarded projects include topics such as young people’s mental health, sustainable chronic disease prevention and digital health interventions. Read the full story here.
  • UoN launches the Central Coast Health & Wellbeing Living Lab. “The Lab presents a unique opportunity for older people to work alongside our University as well as healthcare and aged-care providers to test and deliver solutions to four core challenges our older people face: community connectivity, technology-enabled homes, care at home and preventative technology.” Read the full story here.

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

WTUN News Roundup – February 2024

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

 

WTUN News:

  • Join us for the next in our Exchange Speaker Series! Thursday 15 February at 12:00 GMT Dr Fernando Camargo from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte will share details of his exchange visit to University of Bradford. Full details here.

WTUN Members ONLY:

  • We are building a programme of events coinciding with UNESCO’s World Engineering Day. A call for speakers is now live. We invite you to contact us if you are an academic at one of our member institutions and would like to speak at either of our proposed sessions, or suggest a session of your own. Our current sessions include:
    • A knowledge sharing session focused on projects, initiatives, and work to increase participation in STEM from underrepresented groups. Read more here.
    • A session on Latest Developments in Energy Storage and Conversion, led by Dr Christina Toigo, from University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria Read more here.
  • To suggest your own session, please email wtun@bradford.ac.uk.

Member Institution News:

Asia:

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

  • Taiwan Tech publishes their newsletter showcasing their latest news and updates. This issue’s stories include the launch of a Master’s Program in Cybersecurity in collaboration with industry partners and their Centre of General Education’s progress in shaping curriculum aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Read more here.

Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

  • Back in December 2023, the ‘IRCGE Green Energy Workshop’ was held at SIT. The workshop, organised by Mele lab and endorsed by the International Research Centre for Green Electronics (IRCGE), was attended by eminent scientists from Japan and overseas to present research on advanced materials and the sustainable energy solutions they enable. Read more here.

Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

  • In collaboration with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Sustainability (SEAMEO-SEPS), SUT held the opening session for the 2024 Southeast Asian Youth Camp on Sustainable Development Goals. 56 participants from 11 schools attended from a host of countries such as Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Laos. The camp employs a design thinking approach, emphasising empathy, creative problem-solving and collaboration to inspire learners to integrate Sufficiency Economy Philosophy into school routines. Read more here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

  • UTM publishes UTM ENGAGE Magazine, which highlights the success of their current academics and staff. Featured stories include work on river conservation, restoration and preservation within the region. Read more here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

  • ATU launches its Biomass Heat Centre (BHC) and district heating network, showcasing its commitment to sustainability, renewable energy and carbon reduction. Read more here.
  • ATU secures €19.6 million in funding through the TU Rise programme which aims to establish, equip and staff research and innovation offices to foster engagement with local and regional industry. Read more here.

Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany

  • Hamm-Lippstadt receive €1.5 million to generate solutions for sustainable industrial parks. The funding will allow academics to explore what modern industrial spaces should look like and how they should be planned to focus on space-saving and climate-resilient planning and construction in conjunction with climate-friendly energy supply.. Read more here.

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria

  • FHOO announce their International Summer Academy in Engineering for Women 2024 with a theme of Empowering Female Engineers. Female Engineering students between 18-25 are invited to apply to the Academy, taking place 9-24 July 2024. Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to broaden their technical and scientific knowledge, explore the impact of technology on future societies and network and connect with peers across the world. Read more here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

  • UoB’s School of Management takes on a key role in testing the viability of a 6G network as part of a €13 million EU-funded trial. The university will analyse the use of 6G in test cases across themes of health, smart cities, farming, and education to consider the efficacy and the socio-economic impacts of 6G use, Read more here.

Australia:

University of Newcastle, Australia

  • UoN’s Hunter Cleantech Accelerator has been awarded $438,000 AUD to support the programme in offering opportunity to tech-enabled entrepreneurs across the sectors of clean energy, clean water, recycling and waste, supply chain, built environment, air quality, and transportation. The programme provides them with the opportunity to bring products to market and foster local innovators. Read more here.

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

WTUN News Roundup – January 2024

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

 

WTUN News:

  • We hosted two webinars in January:

    WTUN Exchange Programme: Speaker Series Dr. Ammar Al-Balushi, Head of Faculty of Business Management, Majan University College Oman (MUC visits SUT)

    The WTUN celebrates International Day of Clean Energy – Featuring Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Suranaree University of Technology,  University of Applied Science Upper Austria and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

    Recordings of all WTUN online events can be found at the WTUN’s YouTube Channel

  • Join us for the next in our Exchange Speaker Series! Thursday 15 February at 12:00 GMT Dr Fernando Camargo from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte will share details of his exchange visit to University of Bradford. Full details here.

Member Institution News:

Asia:

Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, India

  • HITS is hosting the ‘International Conference on Integration and Transformation with SDGs (ICITS-2024)’ on 23-24 February 2024. Read more here.

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

  • Back in December 2023, KMUTT held a meeting at their Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment to discuss fostering collaboration in sustainable biomass utilizaton and decarbonization. The meeting was attended by representatives from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Embassy of Finland, SCG Packaging and SCG Cement. Read more here.

Majan University College, Oman

  • MUC students share their experiences and highlights from their time at fellow WTUN member Suranaree University of Technology’s Global Entrepreneurship Camp. Watch the highlights here. The visit took place following on from Dr Ammar AlBalushi’s exchange visit to SUT. You can watch the recording of the webinar with Dr AlBalushi where he revisited his experience as a recipient of the WTUN Exchange Programme 2022-23  here.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

  • Taiwan Tech hosts their second annual Infinity Festival aimed at promoting sustainable development to create a low-carbon campus. Read more here.

Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

  • SUT is shortlisted for two THE Awards Asia 2024: ‘Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership’ for their Klong Plakang Tral Project which address environmental, human-animal conflict and community economic issues, funded by the Canadian Embassy & ‘Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ for their silk innovation community model in Korat. Read more here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

  • UTM partners with Cisco to pioneer an initiative that will shape the future of Education with Smart Classrooms for Hybrid Learning. Read more here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

  • UFRN profiles MEG: Girls in Engineering community outreach project which acts to narrow the gender gap in young adults and teenagers in STEM subjects. The project carries out visits to girls from public secondary schools in Natal with a team of undergraduate students who give lectures, short courses and lead on dynamic activities to engage young female children to pursue engineering. Read more here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

  • ATU hosts The WP8 EU Green Workshop where nine universities come together to foster sustainable and healthy campus initiatives. The workshop took place at ATU Donegal and ATU Sligo campuses. Read more here.
  • The 2nd ATU Modelling and Computation for Health and Society (MOCHAS) Symposium takes place at their Sligo campus with focusses on how ATU’s research addresses the UN’s SDGs through a variety of technologies. Read more here.

Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany

  • HSHL has received €6 million euros of funding for the ‘Workbench Sector Coupling’ project, which is intended to support market players in the concrete implementation of climate-friendly measures in the field of energy supply through a mutual transfer of knowledge and technology. Read more here.

Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

  • TU Ilmenau opens the doors for the first time to children and young people through the Children’s and Youth University. Featuring lectures on science, technology and media, all with a focus on sustainability, the programme is designed to give young people a taste of university life, tailored for their knowledge levels. Read more here.
  • TU Ilmenau secures a €6.4 million for their Digital Mobility Research Initiative centre to focus on digital methods within its environmentally friendly, resource-saving, low-emission engineering work. Read the post here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

  • UoB’s Centre for Digital Innovations in Health and Social Care wins £4.86 million from Research England’s Expanding Excellence in England Fund to support two flagship research programmes aimed at creating novel technologies to disrupt current practices and improve decision-making and develop and evaluate technologies that reduce the carbon footprint whilst improving patient care within health and care systems. Read more here.
  • UoB launches The Bradford-Renduchintala Enterprise Ecosystem (BREE) to provide financial and mentoring support from business leaders to young entrepreneurs. The project has been partly funded by a donation made by University of Bradford alum, Dr Murthy Renduchintala and will be open to staff, students and the local community. Read more here.

Australia:

University of Newcastle, Australia

  • UoN’s research project with LAVO, a clean energy company, showcases hydrogen storage and technology that supports storing surplus energy. Read more here.
  • UoN social work researchers publish findings that the community-based response to the 2022 Norther Rivers’ flooding. predominantly led by women, was hugely sophisticated and successful, where authorities failed. Read more here.
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants have been awarded to a number of UoN researchers to support projects looking into preterm birth, treatments for severe asthma and COPD, and how environmental signals from fathers are passed onto their offspring via sperm. Read more here.

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

WTUN News Roundup – 15 January 2024

We’re delighted to share a roundup of the stories, updates and events happening at the World Technology Universities Network and at our member institutions.

 

WTUN News:

  • First look at our World Technology Universities Congress 2024, hosted by Univeristi Teknologi Malaysia from 10-12 September 2024. Read more here.
  • 2022-23 WTUN Exchange Programme Speaker Webinar with Dr Ammar AlBalushi from Majan University College discussing his visit to Suranaree University of Technology to learn more about implementing entrepreneurship and innovation in curricula: Wednesday 24 January 2024, 12:00-13:00 GMT. Join us here.

 

Member Institution News:

Asia:

Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, India

  • HITS are accepting research papers for their IEEE International Conference on Advances in Data Engineering and Intelligent Computing Systems (ADICS 2024) which will be held on 28-29 March 2024. The deadline for paper submissions is 10 February 2024. Read more here.

Majan University College, Oman

  • MUC launches a new programme DipHE/BSc (Hons) Business Analytics with Artificial Intelligence, joining the world of business data and AI innovation. Read more here.
  • Continuing connections made during the WTUN 2022-23 Exchange Programme by Dr Ammar AlBalushi, MUC students participate in a Entrepreneurship Development Camp at Suranaree University of Technology. Read more here.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

  • A student start-up product launches! Students at UTM have created their own start-up technology company, Uninet Technology, and launched an innovative product called PrinTEX. The product is based on the Internet of Things which is connected with a mobile application for automatic and on-demand document printing services. Read more here.
  • UTM signs partnership MoU with Forest Fine Foods to develop research and commercialisation agendas in line with UTM’s Research & Innovation Blueprint 2024 to support sustainable agriculture and economic growth in Malaysia. Read more here.

South America:

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

  • UFRN offers the first doctorate (PhD programme) in the interior of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The course is part of the Postgraduate Program in Physiotherapy and 20 vacancies are expected to open from the first half of 2024. Read more here.

Europe:

Atlantic Technological University, Ireland

  • ATU Researchers win funding of  €210,000 (EUR) under EU GREEN to foster collaborative research to further the sustainable development of the regions. EU GREEN is a European university alliance for sustainability, responsible growth, inclusive education and environment. Read more here.

Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

  • TU Ilmenau announces their Research Theme for 2024: Environment and Health. The theme focusses on the key livelihoods we rely on (pure air, clean drinking water and intact nature) for a healthy life which are threatened by the effects of climate change. Read more about the theme here and their current research projects on the Environment and Health here.
  • A new project begins to build a 5G mobile network on campus to enable the university to conduct research and teaching in fields like autonomous driving, medical technology, and automated production. Read more here. 

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria

  • A summary on Dr Mandy Keck’s visit to University of Newcastle, Australia through the WTUN 2022-23 Exchange Programme. Read more here.

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

  • Two students celebrate their successes in the WTUN Hackathon 2023. Read more here.
  • A Bradford PhD student makes a breakthrough with his development of a new treatment for breast cancer. The new treatment awaits clinical trials but aims to produce fewer side effects in patients. Read more here.

Australia:

University of Newcastle, Australia

  • UoN Researches receive a $2.3 million (AUD) grant to reduce methane emissions, a common emission in Australia’s coal and gas sectors. Read more here.
  • Researchers at the Centre for Ironmaking Materials Research complete a development program designed to promote breaking down barriers that prevent women in the engineering and mining sectors from entering into leadership roles. Read more here.

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

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