XMUM’s First Fully Accredited PhD Programme Marks Historic Milestone
PhD in New Energy Science and Engineering Granted Full Accreditation by MQA
A proud and historic moment for the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering (SECE), Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), as its pioneering Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in New Energy Science and Engineering (MQA/FA 13701) has officially been granted Full Accreditation (FA) by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
The accreditation was endorsed during the Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Akreditasi Bilangan 04 Tahun 2026 held on 29 April 2026, marking a significant milestone as the first-ever PhD programme in XMUM to attain Full Accreditation status.
As one of XMUM’s pioneering doctoral programmes, this achievement reflects the University’s strong commitment towards research excellence, academic quality, and impactful innovation in sustainable energy science and engineering.
The PhD in New Energy Science and Engineering programme was initiated in 2019 and officially approved by MQA and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) Malaysia in 2020. The programme welcomed its first postgraduate intake in August 2022, during a challenging period shaped by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the unprecedented circumstances, the programme steadily progressed through the dedication and collective commitment of faculty members, supervisors, postgraduate students, administrative teams, University leadership, and supporting stakeholders.
The MQA Programme Assessment Visit conducted from 31st March to 1st April 2026 comprehensively evaluated the programme’s academic quality, governance, research ecosystem, postgraduate supervision, curriculum structure, facilities, student development, and quality assurance practices.
This achievement signifies not only a major programme-level milestone, but also reflects the continuous growth of SECE and XMUM in strengthening postgraduate education and research excellence in sustainable and emerging energy technologies.
MQA panels assessing laboratories, facilities, teaching-learning support and research environment (top left to right), review of academic governance, supervision and quality assurance frameworks ensuring continuous enhancement and compliance with MQA standards (middle row left to right), and MQA panels and NESE postgraduate committee members during the official exit meeting for the Full Accreditation (bottom)
Distinguished PhD Candidates Reflecting the Programme’s Research Strength
The successful Full Accreditation journey was further strengthened by the remarkable academic achievements and research impact demonstrated by the programme’s postgraduate candidates, particularly its pioneering cohort.
Among the distinguished candidates is PEG2208003 – Ng Sue Faye, who is currently serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Germany. Her research contributions in photocatalysis, carbon nitride engineering, solar fuel catalysis, and sustainable energy conversion have resulted in an outstanding portfolio of high-impact publications in internationally renowned Q1 journals, including Materials Horizons, Green Energy & Environment, Chinese Journal of Catalysis, Small, Nano Research, and Coordination Chemistry Reviews.
Sue Faye has contributed extensively to the advancement of photocatalytic hydrogen production, CO₂ reduction, advanced heterojunction engineering, and multifunctional nanostructured photocatalysts. Her scholarly achievements include numerous SCI-indexed publications, international conference presentations, prestigious research awards, and global research collaborations. She was also the recipient of the 2022 Green Talent Award by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, further reflecting the international recognition of the programme’s research quality and talent cultivation.
Another outstanding postgraduate candidate is PEG2208004 – Phuang Zhen Xin, who will commence her postdoctoral research appointment at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou (HKUST-GZ) in August 2026. Her research expertise focuses on life cycle assessment (LCA), circular economy, sustainable waste management, environmental systems optimisation, and renewable energy sustainability.
Throughout her doctoral journey, Phuang demonstrated exceptional academic and research performance through numerous high-impact SCI-indexed publications, international conference presentations, invited talks, and research awards. Her research works have been published in internationally renowned journals, including Journal of Cleaner Production, Science of The Total Environment, Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Environmental Pollution, Energy, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, and Chemical Engineering Transactions.
Her research contributions on plastic waste circular economy, geospatially enhanced life cycle optimisation, municipal waste management, hydrogen production systems, environmental sustainability, and low-carbon energy transition have significantly advanced sustainability-oriented engineering research both regionally and internationally.
In addition to her strong publication record, Phuang actively represented XMUM at numerous international conferences and academic platforms. Her achievements include multiple Best Presenter Awards at international conferences, invited speaker recognition at the World Sustainability Forum (WSF), Merit Award for Best Presenter at the 4th Sustainable Process Integration Laboratory (SPIL) Conference 2020, Top 10 Most Viewed Presentations recognition, championship achievement in the XMUM 3 Minutes Thesis Competition 2025, and Semi-finalist nomination in Merdeka Award for International Attachment 2025
The accomplishments of both distinguished graduates reflect the programme’s strong research ecosystem, international academic exposure, supervision quality, and commitment towards producing globally competitive researchers and future scientific leaders.
Collective Efforts Behind the Achievement
The attainment of Full Accreditation represents a collective institutional accomplishment achieved through the dedicated efforts of numerous parties across different levels of the University.
At the programme level, the success reflects years of continuous curriculum enhancement, rigorous quality assurance practices, dedicated postgraduate supervision, and the perseverance of both academic staff and students in maintaining high research standards.
At the School level, the achievement highlights SECE’s commitment towards fostering a research-driven academic environment that supports interdisciplinary collaboration, impactful scientific discoveries, publication excellence, and talent development aligned with global sustainability priorities.
At the University level, this milestone demonstrates XMUM’s growing strength in postgraduate education, advanced research development, and international academic positioning. As the University’s first fully accredited PhD programme, the recognition further reinforces XMUM’s commitment towards academic excellence, research innovation, and global engagement.
The School of Energy and Chemical Engineering extends its sincere appreciation to all academic staff, postgraduate supervisors, administrative personnel, MQA panels, University management, collaborators, alumni, and postgraduate candidates whose dedication, trust, and contributions have shaped this meaningful accomplishment.
With Full Accreditation now officially granted, XMUM looks forward to further strengthening its postgraduate programmes, expanding impactful research collaborations, nurturing future researchers, and contributing towards scientific advancement and sustainable development at both national and international levels.
