Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL MIMET) strengthened its international research collaboration and sustainable materials research through a five-day research mobility programme at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (XAUAT), China, from 31 August to 4 September 2026.
The programme connected UniKL MIMET’s expertise in marine materials and sustainable coatings with XAUAT’s capabilities in functional materials, nanomaterials, surface analysis and computational materials research, creating opportunities for deeper Malaysia–China research cooperation.
Representing UniKL MIMET was Ts. Dr. Asmalina Mohamed Saat, Senior Lecturer and researcher in marine materials, sustainable coatings and advanced materials characterisation.
She was hosted by Professor Sining Yun and his research group at XAUAT’s Functional Materials Laboratory, School of Materials Science and Engineering.
At the heart of the mobility was a shared interest in developing more environmentally responsible materials for future applications.
Dr. Asmalina presented UniKL MIMET’s research on green slow-release antifouling coatings, which combine silica nanoparticles with capsaicin, a naturally derived compound being investigated as a biofouling deterrent.
The research forms part of her Fundamental Research Grant Scheme project, Deep Neural Network Surface Interaction Mechanism Prediction for Non-Uniform Complex New Green Slow-Release Capsaicin Antifouling Coating.
The project integrates materials characterisation, computational investigation and data-driven prediction to improve understanding of coating behaviour and antifouling performance, demonstrating how advanced materials research can increasingly intersect with artificial intelligence and machine-learning approaches.
Knowledge transfer throughout the programme took place through research presentations, technical discussions, laboratory demonstrations and engagement with researchers and postgraduate students.
UniKL MIMET shared its applied experience in marine coatings, materials characterisation and maritime sustainability, while XAUAT researchers contributed expertise in functional materials, nanomaterials, surface analysis and computational materials research.
Rather than focusing on a single experimental technique, the mobility explored how laboratory evidence, materials modelling and machine learning could complement one another within an integrated research workflow.
Exposure to Density Functional Theory (DFT) was part of the exchange, alongside discussions on research planning, methodology selection, data interpretation and practical application.
This combination of experimental and computational research strengthens UniKL’s growing visibility in areas such as sustainable materials, artificial intelligence in engineering research, marine technology and interdisciplinary innovation.
The mobility also provided first-hand exposure to XAUAT’s research culture, including regular scholarly discussions, systematic research documentation, mentoring and active postgraduate involvement in laboratory activities.
Visits to research facilities allowed Dr. Asmalina to observe not only instrumentation and technical capabilities, but also laboratory organisation, research workflows, data management, safety practices and equipment utilisation.
Professor Yun’s research group works across new-energy materials and devices, inorganic nanomaterials, renewable-energy utilisation, resource recovery and computational materials methods.
These areas offer strong intersections with UniKL MIMET’s focus on sustainable technologies for the marine environment.
For UniKL MIMET, the impact therefore extends beyond the five-day programme.
Knowledge and research practices gained at XAUAT can be transferred to colleagues and students through research briefings, postgraduate supervision, laboratory practices and future collaborative projects, allowing an individual mobility programme to contribute to broader institutional research capacity.
The UniKL MIMET–XAUAT research mobility contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It supports SDG 4: Quality Education through international knowledge exchange and research-capacity development; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure through advanced materials research and laboratory innovation; SDG 14: Life Below Water through environmentally responsible marine-protection research; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through international academic and research collaboration between Malaysia and China.
