UMPSA and CLSU Celebrate COAR 2025 Focusing on Knowledge Sharing in Biotechnology and Agriculture
17 June 2025 | UMPSA Gambang Campus
𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐒𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐋𝐒𝐔 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
The Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology (FIST), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has successfully organized the 5th Academic and Research Colloquium (COAR 2025) in collaboration with the College of Fisheries, Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Philippines.
This program is a continuation of the COAR colloquium series that has been taking place since 2021 as an initiative to strengthen international academic and research networks.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Associate Professor Dr. Aizi Nor Mazila binti Ramli, Dean of FSTI, UMPSA, welcoming the presence of Professor Dr. Ravelina R. Velasco, Vice President, Student Affairs CLSU and Associate Professor Dr. Hazel Monica Matias-Peralta, Acting Dean of the College of Fisheries, CLSU as the main co-organizer of the program.
COAR 2025, themed “Sustainable Biotechnology for Food Security”, focuses on research and education efforts in agricultural biotechnology that are relevant to global food security challenges.
The program brought together researchers and academics from both universities with the presence of guest speakers from CLSU, namely Associate Professor Dr. Franz Marielle Garcia, Director of the Crop and Resources Research and Development Center (CRRDC), Associate Professor Dr. Joel Juvinal, Head of the Food Science and Technology Department, Professor Dr. Rich Milton Dulay, Head of the Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development (CTMRD).
Meanwhile, FSTI UMPSA also featured experienced researchers including Associate Professor Dr. Nina Suhaity Binti Azmi, Dr. Mohd Fazli Bin Farida Asras, and Dr. Nazira Mahmud as head of the Industrial Biotechnology Program. The program was attended by at least 120 participants consisting of students and researchers from both institutions.
According to the program director, Dr. Tan Suat Hian, this collaboration not only strengthens the bilateral relationship between UMPSA and CLSU, but also opens up space for the implementation of student exchange programs, international industrial training, Global Classroom activities, and the development of joint research projects of international standard.
COAR 2025 is also a strategic field in supporting the implementation of UMPSA's 2021-2025 Strategic Cores, namely Holistic Graduates (1A), New Knowledge Generation (3A), and Student Internationalization (6A).
Previous COAR events also involved international collaborations with institutions such as the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (2021), Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia (2022), University of The Philippines Diliman (2023) and Universitas Negeri Malang (2024).
UMPSA, through FSTI, continues to be committed to expanding its global network and developing academic and research capacity in line with the university's aspirations towards international excellence.
