In a significant stride toward international academic excellence and cross-border knowledge exchange, senior academics from the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FCSIT), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), completed a highly productive two-week visiting professorship spanning from April to May 2026 at D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU) in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan.
Dean, Professor Dr. Jane Labadin, and Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation), Associate Professor Dr. Stephanie Chua, engaged in high-impact teaching, doctoral co-supervision, and strategic bilateral discussions aimed at forging closer academic ties between both institutions during this period.
Professor Dr. Jane Labadin was attached to the International School of Engineering, where her efforts focused on cultivating high-level research capabilities among postgraduate and doctoral candidates.
She taught an advanced postgraduate course on Optimization and Numerical Methods alongside a vital module on Scientific Research Methods specifically tailored for PhD students.
Beyond her classroom lectures, she also conducted critical, face-to-face mentorship and thesis review sessions for the PhD students she currently co-supervises at EKTU, ensuring their doctoral research meets rigorous international benchmarks.
She also conducted a 1-day workshop on Strategic Guide to International Publishing.
Simultaneously, attached to EKTU’s prestigious School of Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Associate Professor Dr. Stephanie Chua brought her digital expertise to both undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts. Dr. Chua delivered specialized lectures designed to equip students with critical, future-ready computational skills.
At the undergraduate level, she taught a comprehensive course on the Applied Tasks of Data Analysis, focusing on real-world problem-solving through data metrics.
For the postgraduate students, she led intensive sessions on Machine Learning Algorithms, deep-diving into predictive modelling and advanced computational intelligence.
Beyond the classroom, the visit served as a vital catalyst for deeper institutional synergy.
Professor Dr. Jane Labadin and Associate Professor Dr. Stephanie Chua held high-level consultative meetings with the deans of both host schools to discuss future collaboration between EKTU and UNIMAS.
These strategic discussions centred on creating sustainable pathways for joint research initiatives, student exchange programs, and collaborative publications that leverage the unique, complementary academic strengths of both universities.
A major highlight of the two-week visit was a comprehensive campus tour that showcased EKTU’s state-of-the-art facilities and proactive commitment to experiential learning.
The tour also highlighted a modern e-sports lab reflecting the growing global intersection of technology and cognitive computing, as well as a cutting-edge biomedical facility dedicated to the 3-D printing of anatomical structures for medical use.
Written by AP Dr Stephanie Chua Hui Li
FCSIT is one of the Premier Digital Tech Institutions endorsed by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).
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