UUM ONLINE: The offering of the Covid-19 Pandemic Research Funding (ResQ-COVID-19) grant to the academics proves Universiti Utara Malaysia's (UUM) commitment to helping the community and nation in confronting the COVID-19 outbreak.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato' Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani said the grant offered was one of its kind as UUM would like to convey to the nation its commitment of assisting the government particularly in addressing the issues of unemployment and food security during the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to him, the research produced by these selected researchers was not solely to meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the fellow academics and that of the university, but rather as contribution to the community in the form of applied research.
"I do not want the researchers of this university to overlook the community. They need to make sure that the studies done are aimed at developing the community and the country.
"Collaborate with the industry to make it easier to obtain research grants, as such devise ways to ensure that the research done is of value and would attract the industry and in one fell swoop help raise the UUM brand," he said at the Presentation of the COVID-19 Pandemic Research Grant (ResQ -COVID-19).
Six researchers were selected to receive the ResQ-COVID-19 grant amounting MYR110,800. Presentation of the grant was officiated by the Vice-Chancellor at the Senate Room.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed his confidence that UUM researchers could still be innovative and produce high quality research studies even though some were still working from home.
The Vice-Chancellor also expressed hope that UUM academics in particular would be able to provide applied and practical inputs to help the Government and the Kedah state government to develop Malaysia post-COVID-19.
He said UUM became the first university to offer the research grant at the time when Movement Control Order (CPP) was implemented beginning 18 March.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Research and Innovation Management Centre (RIMC), Prof. Dr. Nor Aziah Abd Manaf said the outbreak of COVID-19 had affected many sectors including the economic and social sectors.
According to her, RIMC received in total 45 proposals, but only six showed the potential to help through applied research on the means to cope with the effects of COVID-19.
The six researchers who successfully obtained the ResQ-COVID-19 grant were Dr. Risyawati Mohamed Ismail of STML; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shahrul Azmi b Mohd. Yusof and Mdm. Nor Farzana Abd Ghani from the School of Computing; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rozita Abdul Mutalib and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Azlizan Talib from School of Government and Mr. Muhammad Ridhuan Bos Abdullah of School of Economics, Finance and Banking
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ResQ-COVID-19 BUKTI UUM KOMITED BANTU KERAJAAN HADAPI PANDEMIK
UUM ONLINE: Penawaran geran Covid-19 Pandemic Research Funding (ResQ-COVID-19) kepada ahli akademik universiti ini membuktikan kesungguhan UUM untuk membantu masyarakat dan negara dalam menghadapi wabak Covid-19
Naib Canselor, Prof. Dato' Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani berkata, geran ini bukan biasa-biasa tetapi adalah luar biasa kena universiti ingin tunjukkan kepada masyarakat dan negara bahawa UUM komited untuk membantu negara terutama dalam isu pengangguran (unemployment) dan keselamatan makanan (food security).
Menurutnya, penyelidikan yang dihasilkan penyelidik terpilih ini bukan semata-mata untuk memenuhi Petunjuk Prestasi Utama (KPI) sendiri dan universiti, sebaliknya sebagai sumbangan kepada masyarakat dalam bentuk 'applied research'.
"Saya tidak mahu penyelidik universiti ini 'lupa' untuk membantu masyarakat dan pastikan kajian yang dijalankan itu adalah bertujuan membangunkan masyarakat dan negara.
"Jalinkan kerjasama dengan industri bagi memudahkan untuk mendapatkan geran penyelidikan, justeru rancang cara untuk pastikan penyelidikan yang dilakukan itu dapat dihargai dan mampu menarik pihak industri, sekali gus dapat membantu menaikkan nama UUM," katanya pada Majlis Penyerahan Geran Penyelidikan Pandemik Covid-19 (ResQ-COVID-19), pagi tadi.
Seramai enam penyelidik telah dipilih menerima geran ResQ-COVID-19 yang berjumlah RM110,800 yang disampaikan Naib Canselor di Bilik Senat.
Naib Canselor berkata, beliau yakin penyelidik UUM masih boleh berinovatif walaupun ada yang masih bekerja dari rumah dengan menghasilkan kajian yang berkualiti.
Menurutnya, beliau berharap ahli akademik UUM khususnya dapat memberi input bernas berbentuk applied dan boleh diguna pakai untuk membantu kerajaan dan negeri Kedah bagi membangunkan Malaysia pasca Covid-19 nanti.
Katanya, UUM menjadi universiti terawal yang menawarkan geran penyelidikan tersebut ketika negara melaksanakan arahan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) bermula 18 Mac lalu.
Sementara itu, Pengarah Pusat Pengurusan Penyelidikan dan Inovasi (RIMC), Prof. Dr. Nor Aziah Abd Manaf berkata, penularan wabak Covid-19 telah menyebabkan banyak sektor terjejas antaranya sektor ekonomi dan juga sosial.
Menurutnya, RIMC telah menerima permohonan sebanyak 45 kertas cadangan, namun hanya enam yang berpotensi besar untuk membantu menerusi 'applied research' bagi menghadapi kesan Covid-19.
Enam penyelidik yang berjaya memperoleh tawaran geran ResQ-COVID-19 ialah Dr. Risyawati Mohamed Ismail dari STML; Prof. Madya Dr. Shahrul Azmi bMohd. Yusof dan Nor Farzana Abd Ghani dari SOC; Prof. Madya Dr. Rozita Abdul Mutalib dan Prof. Madya Ts. Dr. Azlizan Talib dari SOG dan Muhammad Ridhuan Bos Abdullah dari SEFB.
Sumber berita : UUM Corp Comm