Volume 1 May June 2013

Chartered Engineer Status Awarded to Mr Ehsan Amiri

Mr Ehsan Amiri, a Mechanical Engineering Programme lecturer at UCSI University, has been awarded the prestigious Chartered Engineer (CEng) status by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), United Kingdom. The Chartered Engineer the professional title for engineers is recognition of professional competence for undertaking significant postgraduate work in the industry/ engineering consultancy and/ or research and development. Mr Ehsan Amiri has also encouraged his peers to apply for CEng by organising a talk titled, Submitting a Successful Chartered Engineer Application through IMechE and Its Criteria on June 7, 2013 by Ir Mathew Thomas, the current Hon. Treasurer of IMechE (Malaysia Branch). The talk was well received, raising many questions from the audience. In the end, both staff and students alike gained valuable insight and experience from the speaker.

UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur Campus (North Wing) Lot 12734, Jalan Choo Lip Kung, Taman Taynton View, 56000 Cheras Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: (+603) 9101 8880

Fax: (+603) 9102 3606

www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my

Dr Tan Khang Wei Secures RM130, 000 Exploratory Research Grant Scheme
Dr Tan Khang Wei, a Chemical and Petroleum Engineering lecturer at UCSI University, secured an Exploratory Research Grant Scheme (ERGS) worth RM130,000 for his project titled, Ultrasound Assisted Isolation and Functionalization of Nano crystalline Cellulose (NCC) from Oil Palm Biomass for Better Hydroquinone Delivery. The projects co researchers include Dr Irene Chew Mei Ling and Dr Edward Ooi Chen Wei, both from the School of Engineering, Monash University, Sunway Campus; and Assoc Prof Dr Irene Lee Chew Kek from the School of Anti-aging, Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine, UCSI University.

The study proposes a new method of oil palm biomass NCC extraction using ultrasonic cavitation and the potential being biodegradable drug carrier for hydroquinone delivery in dermatology. NCC offers abundant opportunities and a promising alternative and effective approach for dermatologi c therapy. Conventional extraction of NCC that relies on strong acid (H 2 SO 4 ) hydrolysis with mechanical stirring is environmental ly hazardous, energy inefficient and time consuming. Furthermore, the most challenging task remains: To harvest the
UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur Campus (North Wing) Lot 12734, Jalan Choo Lip Kung, Taman Taynton View, 56000 Cheras Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: (+603) 9101 8880

Fax: (+603) 9102 3606

www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my

extracted nanoparticles with narrow particle-size distribution, and also drug loading on the NCC product. The study intends to solve these critical problems by employing an external physical energy namely, ultrasonic cavitation during the breakdown process of the cellulose complex matrices, and also the drug intergrading procedure for water soluble hydroquinone.

ACCREDITATION VISIT FOR CIVIL & MECHATRONIC ENGINEERING PROGRAMMES

May 8 9, 2013
In line with the efforts of UCSI Universitys Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment to improve the quality of its Civil and Mechatronic Engineering programmes, a two-day audit was carried out by the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) panelists, namely, Ir Assoc Prof Bahardin Baharom, Universiti Teknologi MARA; Ir Assoc Prof Mohammed Alias Yusof, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia ; Ir Dr Goh Teik Cheong, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, practicing engineer at M.E.I Project Engineers Sdn. Bhd.; Ir Assoc Prof Shuib Sahudi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; and Prof Dr Mohd. Syuhaimi Abdul Rahman, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The accreditation benefits UCSI Universitys engineering graduates; the accredited institution and programme is recognised, which enables graduates to not only register with professional societies and licensing bodies, but also enhances their employability and mobility. During the visit, the panelists also shared valuable knowledge on how the Faculty of Engineering, Technology &
UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur Campus (North Wing) Lot 12734, Jalan Choo Lip Kung, Taman Taynton View, 56000 Cheras Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: (+603) 9101 8880

Fax: (+603) 9102 3606

www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my

Built Environment can continue to advance the quality of its programmes for the benefit of its students.

UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur Campus (North Wing) Lot 12734, Jalan Choo Lip Kung, Taman Taynton View, 56000 Cheras Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: (+603) 9101 8880

Fax: (+603) 9102 3606

www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my