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School of Aerospace Engineering

Strategic Engagement Visit: USM and HIT Forge New Horizons in Aerospace Excellence

On 10th April 2026, the School of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) conducted a strategic engagement visit to the School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), China. This high-level meeting aimed at fostering a robust collaborative framework in the fields of aerospace innovation and astronautical engineering.

The USM delegation from USM was led by Professor Dr. Habibah A. Wahab, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Associate Professor Dr. Elmi Abu Bakar, Dean of the School of Aerospace Engineering. He was accompanied by Dr. Norizham Abdul Razak, Deputy Dean of Research Innovation & Industry - Community Engagement, and Dr. Mohamad Haniff Junos, Lab Manager of the USM Space System Lab.

The meeting was hosted by a distinguished team of experts from HIT’s School of Astronautics:

  • Professor Zhi Xiyang, Vice Dean, School of Astronautics
  • Professor Qu Zhenshen & Professor Wang Zhenghua (Control Discipline)
  • Professor Chen Yanhong & Associate Professor Yao Liaojun (Mechanics Discipline)
  • Professor Wei Mingchuan (Aerospace Discipline)
  • Associate Professor Hu Jianming & Associate Professor Jiang Shikai (Optical Engineering Discipline)

 The discussion focused on establishing a sustainable partnership through several academic and research-driven initiatives:

  • Creating pathways for undergraduate and postgraduate exchanges to broaden students' global perspectives and technical expertise.
  • Committing to co-publication in high-impact journals and the co-supervision of postgraduate researchers to elevate the quality of aerospace scholarship.
  • Reciprocal appointments as scientific committee members for international conferences hosted by both institutions.
  • Exploring matching grants to fund high-priority research projects that serve bilateral interests.

A significant portion of the dialogue centered on specialized research, particularly in composite materials and microsatellite development. By pairing scholars with overlapping research interests, the partnership will leverage HIT's sophisticated infrastructure to accelerate USM’s local space system initiatives.

As a global leader in space technology, HIT’s advanced capabilities in microsatellite engineering offer a transformative opportunity for USM. This collaboration aims to foster synergistic cooperation between the two institutions; by integrating HIT’s world-class facilities and proven expertise with USM’s growing research infrastructure, this partnership serves as a foundation for long-term technological exchange, strategically positioning both parties to accelerate innovation within the regional aerospace sector.

Text and Photo : Dr. Mohamad Haniff Junos