Professor Ir. Dr. Taksiah A.Majid (School of Civil Engineering)
5 August 2026 (Wednesday)
3.30pm – 4.30pm
The topic aims to guide postgraduate students at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the sole APEX university in Malaysia, towards realizing their full potential and contributing significantly to the institution's mission and vision. The key areas addressed include: Postgraduate at USM, Postgraduate Contribution to USM's Mission and Vision, The Perspective of Your Supervisor, Scenario as a Postgraduate, Attributes of a Good Postgraduate and Preparing Postgraduates for VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world and preparing postgraduate students to thrive in such an environment. Through addressing these topics, the presentation seeks to inspire and equip postgraduate students to maximize their academic and professional potential during their
Dato’ Dr. Khairul Anuar Che Azmi (Legal Office, USM)
11 August 2026 (Wednesday)
9.30am-12.30pm
This session clarifies the ethical and responsible use of AI in students' assignments and theses by highlighting the boundaries between acceptable academic support and academic misconduct. Participants will explore practical case studies, emerging challenges, institutional expectations and best practices for maintaining originality, transparency, and accountability while leveraging AI to enhance learning and research. The session aims to equip both students and academic staff with a clear understanding of how AI can be used responsibly without compromising the integrity and credibility of academic work.
Prof. Dr. Ahmad Zuhairi bin Abdullah (School of Chemical Engineering)
12 August 2026 (10.00am-12.00pm)
10.00am-12.00pm
This speech aims to equip postgraduate students with essential knowledge and strategies to publish their research in reputable journals successfully. It will cover the different types of journal articles, such as original research papers, review articles, and short communications, to help students determine the best format for their work. The session will also define high-impact publications, explaining key metrics like impact factor, citation counts, and indexing databases. The speech will introduce practical approaches and tools for selecting the right journal to enhance the chances of acceptance. This includes the use of online search tools such as Journal Finder (Elsevier), Springer Journal Suggester, Wiley Journal Finder, and Scopus and Web of Science databases, which provide key information on journal scope, impact, and acceptance rates. The session will also offer tips and tricks to tailor manuscripts to suit targeted journals, maximizing the likelihood of publication. Additionally, students will learn how to identify and avoid predatory journals, ensuring ethical and informed publishing choices. The ultimate goals of this talk are to help students increase their chances of acceptance, gain the most benefits from their publications, and enhance the impact of their research through strategic journal selection and effective manuscript preparation.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sasidharan Sreenivasan (Institute for Research In Molecular Medicine)
20 August 2026 (Thursday)
9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Statistical analysis is more than selecting a test—it begins with understanding the principles that guide sound research decisions. This workshop is designed for postgraduate students who want to strengthen their foundation in biostatistics before applying statistical methods to their own research. Participants will explore the fundamental concepts that underpin appropriate statistical analysis, including how to choose the right statistical test, recognize common analytical mistakes, and correctly interpret key measures such as the standard deviation (SD) and the standard error of the mean (SEM). Through practical examples and clear explanations, the session will help demystify biostatistics and provide participants with the knowledge needed to make informed, accurate, and reproducible analytical decisions. Whether you are just beginning your research journey or looking to reinforce your statistical understanding, this workshop will equip you with the essential skills to approach data analysis with greater confidence and clarity. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the fundamental principles that guide appropriate statistical analysis.
2. Identify common pitfalls and misconceptions in biostatistical practice.
3. Select suitable statistical tests based on study design, data type, and research objectives.
4. Distinguish between standard deviation (SD) and standard error of the mean (SEM), and understand their appropriate applications.
5. Interpret statistical results more accurately and communicate findings with confidence.
6. Apply sound statistical reasoning to improve the quality and credibility of their research. Dr. Mansour Amini (School of Languages, Literacies & Translation)
27 August 2026 (Thursday)
9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
This talk introduces the development of a strong theoretical foundation and a clear research problem statement as the basis of rigorous academic research. It explains the role of theory in guiding research design and interpretation and shows how to identify research gaps from the literature and translate them into well-defined problem statements. Through examples and guided discussion, participants learn to align theory, research problems, and research design into a coherent framework for producing high-quality research proposals.