TAR UMT and Adamson University, Philippine

Overview

From 7th to 11th October 2024, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) participated in a faculty exchange programme with Adamson University (AdU) in the Philippines, represented by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Chi Wee Tan as the visiting professor. This programme was designed to deepen academic partnerships, enhance cross-institutional collaboration, and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Programme Objectives

The programme was developed to:

●        Strengthen academic partnerships through shared expertise and knowledge exchange.

●        Facilitate scholarly dialogues on key topics in computing, IT, and artificial intelligence.

●        Foster sustainable educational practices aligned with SDGs.

●        Bridge academic learning with industry demands, promoting sustainable, career-aligned learning under SDG 9.

Key Programme Activities

The five-day programme included a range of impactful activities:

Opening Ceremony and Industry Partnership

The programme opened with a ceremony at AdU’s VPAA office, followed by a faculty tour and an industry session at Philtech, a subsidiary of Albertsons Inc. in Bonifacio Global City. The discussions with Philtech emphasised technology development and career opportunities for AdU students, aiming to strengthen industry-academic integration. 

Research and Faculty Development Sessions

Morning Session: Dr. Tan led a workshop titled “Breaking the Ice with Strategies for Creating Lasting Professional Relationships,” aimed at enhancing collaboration skills among faculty and students. 

Afternoon Session: In a Faculty Development Session titled “Exploring Synergies Between TARUMT and Adamson University for Collaborative Growth,” Dr. Tan engaged 50 CCIT faculty members in discussions on collaborative growth and shared research interests. 

Cultural and Academic Engagement

Dr. Tan participated in a campus and museum tour, promoting cross-cultural understanding and media engagement to highlight the exchange programme. 

Research Mentorship Session: Dr. Tan led a mentorship session for selected research groups on “From Euclidean to Hyperbolic Spaces in Machine Learning Applications,” providing insights into advanced AI techniques for 20-30 researchers. 

National and Student Outreach

IT Educators Session: In collaboration with PSITE-NCR, Dr. Tan presented “AI Project Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them - Lessons from the Frontline” to 100-200 IT educators. This session provided guidance on effective project management for AI, emphasising ethical considerations and sustainable practices. 

Student Development Session: Dr. Tan’s talk on “Transforming SDG Research with LLMs for Bridging AI and Sustainability” reached 100-200 CCIT students, inspiring them to integrate AI with sustainability efforts, aligning with SDG research goals. 

Send-Off and Appreciation

The programme concluded with a send-off at AdU’s President’s Office, celebrating the success of the exchange and expressing gratitude for the collaborative efforts.