SERDANG – Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) had organized an oversea mobility program from November 17, to December 1, 2018 to Erzurum, Turkey.

The program, which was led by ITMA Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Nizar Hamidon who also acted as an escort officer, aimed at strengthening the collaborative relationship between the two parties that have been established for the past few years. This program served as platform for introducing UPM generally and ITMA specifically as a research institute in the field of advanced materials and nanotechnology.

This two-part program involved 5 students and 6 researchers of ITMA. The student mobility program started from November 17 to December 1, 2018. The students were introduced to their buddies and toured to the research laboratories around the Faculty of Engineering at Atartuk University and Erzurum Technical University. They were also introduced to the local cultural and historical buildings such as Erzurum Kalesi (Erzurum Palace), Çifte Minareli Medrese, Üç Kümbetler (Three Cemetery), Tashan (Erzurum jewelery market) and Erzurum Evleri (Erzurum Coffee House). They also had the opportunity to meet the Rector of East Anatolia High Technology Application and Research Center (DAYTAM) and visited their research laboratories. They also visited the Rector's office at Gumushane University. This group of students also had the chance to experience the mandarin orange fruit picking as well as touring around the garden at Trabzon.

The second part of the program comprising of six ITMA researchers started from 26 November until 1 December, 2018. This mobility program of ITMA was also joined by seven other researchers from Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Science, UPM. All researchers had participated in The International Symposium on Applied Sciences and Engineering (ISASE2018) to present their research findings. Researchers also visited DAYTAM, Rector's Office Ataturk and Erzurum Technical University, YUTAM (Yüksek Teknoloji Uygulama ve AraÅŸtırma Merkezi). Some participants had a chance to join activities with students of the Akif Merkezi Community Cultural Center and visited the historical places around Istanbul before returning home.

This mobility program has not only strengthening the relationship between ITMA, UPM and Atartuk University, but also provides valuable opportunities and experience to all participants in terms of networking, knowledge sharing and exposure to local culture, language and food. The warmest gratitude is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ertugrul for the good hospitality throughout the stay in Erzurum, Turkey. Hopefully, the relationship will continue with other collaboration program activities in the future.

Date of Input: 31/01/2019 | Updated: 25/07/2019 | nursyahirah