SYNOPSIS

The collaboration between Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) and French institutions has fostered a robust engineering alliance, driving innovation, research, and academic mobility. This partnership has played a significant role in advancing engineering education and research through joint PhD programs, collaborative projects, and student exchanges, strengthening expertise in key engineering disciplines.
A core focus of this collaboration is the development of cutting-edge engineering solutions through interdisciplinary research. Joint initiatives have contributed to advancements in areas such as industrial automation, sustainable energy, digital communications, and smart manufacturing. Key efforts include the establishment of UTP-France workshops, high-impact research collaborations, and participation in prestigious funding programs such as Erasmus+ and MyTIGER, securing more than RM1.2 million in funding. These initiatives are further reinforced by the appointment of 15 visiting professors, fostering knowledge exchange and engineering excellence.
UTP has also built strong partnerships with France’s top engineering schools, including Arts et Métiers, IMT Mines Albi, IMT Atlantique, Télécom Sud Paris, INSA, and Polytech. These collaborations enhance research in engineering applications, strengthen faculty and student exchanges, and create opportunities for technology-driven solutions.
This session will highlight key strategic milestones, engineering breakthroughs, and future directions for strengthening the France-Malaysia engineering collaboration. It will explore opportunities for expanding mobility programs, advancing joint research in emerging engineering fields, and securing new funding to drive technological innovation and industrial impact.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Dr. Mohamad Naufal bin Mohamad Saad is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia. With over two decades of academic and research experience, he is a core research member of UTP’s Centre for Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research (CISIR) and a leader in international academic collaboration.
Dr. Naufal earned his Ph.D. in Telecommunications from the Université de Limoges, France, and his engineering degree from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Limoges (ENSIL). He has been fostering international collaborations, specifically with France, since 2005. From 2018 to 2019, he served as UTP’s Director of International Relations, achieving substantial growth in student and staff mobility programs and establishing partnerships with leading European universities, including Université Paris Saclay, Arts et Métiers, IMT Mines Albi, INSA Rouen, Université de Lyon I, Université de Bourgogne, and Institut Polytechnique de Paris - Télécom Sud Paris.
Under his leadership, UTP saw a nearly 200% increase in inbound students, hosting over 300 European students in various programs and sending more than 30 UTP students to European institutions. He facilitated the mobility of over 15 visiting professors and academic staff, enabling joint research, supervision, and teaching engagements. His initiatives also resulted in over 48 funding applications, including Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility and DAAD projects, of which many were successfully awarded to support research collaborations, staff exchanges, and student mobility.
Dr. Naufal’s contributions to UTP-France collaborations include organizing strategic workshops, initiating over 30 collaborative agreements across 11 European countries, and creating new research pathways in telecommunications, biomedical imaging, and intelligent systems. His efforts have significantly strengthened UTP’s reputation as a global academic partner, enhancing its impact in Europe and beyond.