JSME Leading Global Challenge of Sustainable Mechanical Engineering Technology

The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) that was founded in 1897 is celebrating the 120th Anniversary this year. On behalf of Mechanical Engineering communities and societies in Malaysia, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest congratulations on the 120th Anniversary of JSME. With membership more than 37,000 members, JSME is one of the oldest and sustainable Mechanical Engineering society in the world. There is no doubt that JSME has contributed significantly in Japan’s industry and technology advancement, as well as become platform for knowledge sharing and skill development of the members. Malaysia has adopted many technologies and working culture from Japan. The Look East Policy that was announced by the former Malaysia Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad in 1981, with the aim to adopt some principle of working culture and technology transfer from Japan to Malaysia, have change Malaysia from agricultural based country to industrial country. The true inclination of the policy was towards Japan. Since 1980s, many Japanese company especially electronics companies have open factory and R&D office in Malaysia. The policy has also produced many Mechanical Engineers that graduated from Japanese universities, including myself. In Malaysia, there are 2 major Mechanical Engineering society; the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Malaysia Branch, and the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Technology Advancement (iMETA) host by Universiti Teknologi MARA. Both societies are still young compared to JSME, but we are always learn from experience and emulate the sustainable professional society like JSME on setting up our principle, activities and management. Today, the challenge in engineering and advanced technology have changed rapidly and requires interdisciplinary engagement of engineers and scientist from various fields. Industry 4.0 for example, has setup a new trend for mechanical system, automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. It includes cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things, cloud computing and cognitive computing. These are the new challenge that we wish to establish collaboration with JSME towards sustaining mechanical engineering as the pillar of global technology advancement.

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hanafiah Yussof

Affiliation: Center of Humanoid Robots and Bio-Sensing (HuRoBs), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Research Field:Robotics, Rehabilitation Robotics, Mechatronics and Automation, Tactile Sensor, Artificial Intelligent

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Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) is the largest public university in Malaysia, with total of 35 campuses around Malaysia, accommodating more than 165,000 students and 18,000 staffs. UiTM is consists of 27 faculties hosting more than 500 academic programs covering engineering, applied science, social sciences, agriculture, medical, pharmacy, business, law, accountancy, hotel and hospitality, education, music, media, arts, and language. UiTM offers academic programs at all levels including Diploma, Degree, Master, PhD and also Professional Certificates.

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) was previously known as MARA Institute of Technology established in 1967. In 1999, it has been honoured with full university status. With such acknowledgement from the government, a major restructuring exercise was carried out in order to consolidate the University’s resources for optimum productivity.

The university vision is to establish UiTM as a premier university of outstanding scholarship and academic excellence capable of providing leadership to Bumiputeras’s dynamic involvement in all professional fields of world-class standards in order to produce globally competitive graduates of sound ethical standing. UiTM has aimed it mission to enhance the knowledge and expertise of Bumiputeras in all fields of study through professional programmes, research work and community service based on moral values and professional ethics.
The university strength is at its philosophy where every individual has the ability to attain excellence through the transfer of knowledge and assimilation of moral values so as to become professional graduates capable of developing knowledge, self, society and nation.

UiTM Engineering Faculty is among well-established engineering faculty in Malaysia. It consists of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Faculty of Civil Engineering. UiTM is also proud to host the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Technology Advancement (iMETA) at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, which has play an important role in academic and research activities of Mechanical Engineering in Malaysia with strong collaboration with industries and other universities. UiTM is also proud to host its own university hospital where the Faculty of Medicine has expended rapidly to accommodate an intake of over 200 students per year since 2003. UiTM has established strong international networking with international universities and industry through MoU of academic and research collaboration, including universities in Japan, such as Nagoya University, University of Kyushu, University of Toyama, etc.

UiTM aspires to be world class in all its endeavours and forges ahead in a direction that is in tandem with the latest developments in the world. As UiTM moves forward, it remains focused on academic excellence, innovation, socio-economic goals, worldwide accreditation, globalisation and new technologies in order to contribute to industry and national development.