SURABAYA, Aug 14 – Seven students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) participated as delegates in the SEGTA Academic Mobility Programme: Sustainable Energy and Green Technology Applications 2025, hosted by Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The delegation was accompanied by two academic advisors, Dr. Siti Mahfuza Saimon and Dr. Rozana Alik. All student delegates and academic advisors are from the Department of Electrical Power Engineering at FKE.

SEGTA 2025 brought together a diverse international cohort, including participants from Thailand, the Philippines, Palestine, and several other countries, as well as Malaysian peers from Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP). The program was organised by the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline (FTMM) at UNAIR and is aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13: Climate Action.

Over the course of nine days, delegates participated in various activities that included academic lectures led by experts in renewable energy, solar power, electric vehicles, and drone applications. This enhanced their understanding of the technical aspects and current research trends in the region.

Learning continued with visits to several laboratories. At the Research Centre for Nanotechnology Engineering (RCnE), students explored nanomaterials using advanced instruments. At the Research Centre for New and Renewable Energy Engineering (RCeNREE) Laboratory, they witnessed demonstrations of wind turbine simulations, solar tracking, IoT-based air quality monitoring, and drone technology. In the Electric Vehicle on Study (EV-OS) Laboratory, students engaged with innovative electric vehicle (EV) platforms aimed at promoting sustainable mobility. Finally, the Kombo Laboratory showcased robotics applications, including humanoid systems and solutions for agricultural and environmental challenges.

These visits provided students with firsthand exposure to emerging technologies and inspired them to pursue future research and innovation opportunities.

Community engagement was a key component of SEGTA 2025. The delegation participated in activities in Sumenep, particularly on Gili Iyang Island and in Kalianget, where they interacted with local communities to understand the socio-technical challenges of rural sustainability. Through these experiences, students learned how to adapt green technologies to local contexts and translate their engineering knowledge into practical solutions that have a meaningful social impact.

Cultural immersion further enhanced the program. Visits to landmarks in Surabaya, the cultural heritage of Sumenep, and the unique ecosystem of Gili Iyang deepened the students’ cross-cultural understanding. An ecotourism excursion to Mount Bromo prompted reflections on the balance between tourism development and environmental conservation.

The activities were essential in building real-world capabilities. Lectures connected theory to practice in areas critical to national energy transition priorities. Laboratory sessions fostered practical skills in measurement, prototyping, and systems integration for renewable energy and electric mobility. Community work addressed issues of energy access, environmental monitoring, and technology acceptance, equipping students to design solutions that are technically sound, socially informed, and ready for deployment. Collaborating with international peers from various countries and Malaysian universities enhanced participants’ collaboration skills and expanded their professional networks, which are vital for future joint research and innovation.

“SEGTA opened my eyes to how classroom concepts can evolve into real solutions. Experiencing EV prototypes at UNAIR, discussing IoT air quality projects, and engaging with communities in Gili Iyang and Kalianget showed me how our engineering work can make a difference,” said Muhammad Ikhwan Abdullah, a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with Honours at UTM, and a UTM Endowment Scholar.

Overall, SEGTA 2025 improved delegates’ technical knowledge and skills in sustainable energy and green technology, strengthened international professional networks through collaboration with UNAIR, and broadened perspectives through community and cultural exposure. This experience supported participants’ academic growth and contributed to UTM’s research and innovation agenda, reinforcing the university’s role as a global partner in sustainable development initiatives.

Source: UTM NewsHub