Nordin Saad

About myself

I graduated with a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University USA in 1984, a MSc in Power Electronics Engineering from Loughborough University UK in 1992, and a PhD in Control Engineering from the University of Sheffield UK in 2003. I am registered with the Board of Engineers (BEM), a Chartered Engineer registered under Engineering Council UK, a senior member of IEEE (SMIEEE) and a member of the Institute of Measurement and Control (MInstMC) UK. I had been with Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS from June 1997 until February 2022. My current position is as Professor and Head of School of Engineering in the Faculty of Computing and Engineering, Quest International University, Malaysia.

Teaching experience

All through my career at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, I have taught more than eight undergraduate core courses, three undergraduate elective courses and two postgraduate modules. I have experienced in teaching undergraduate courses, that includes Analogue electronics, Digital electronics, Semiconductor devices physics, Microprocessors, Instrumentation and measurements, Control systems, Modern control engineering, Industrial automation and control systems (IACS) and Power electronics control of drives, as well as at the postgraduate level, namely a sub-topic in Research methodology (Simulation and Modelling), and a course in Artificial Intelligence (Fuzzy logic, Genetic algorithm, and Artificial neural network), besides the PhD, MSc and final year students' projects supervisions. 

My knowledge in Process instrumentation, Fieldbus and DCS technology and Programmable logic controllers (PLC) was an asset to the university and has been the crux for the IACS course offered under Control and Instrumentation specialization, which have been taken by undergraduates in Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree programme as well as Chemical Engineering degree programme specializing in Process analysis and control. Notably, the PLC is a heart of modern automation systems that have many applications in mechatronics and flexible automation ranges from electro-mechanical systems to large process plants. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have experienced of conducting classes on-line to maintain the teaching and learning activities.  Humbly say, I have been consistently highly rated by students for teaching delivery and interactions with students. In addition, I have experienced in leading research projects and consultancies with several industrial partners. Moreover, I have led in the curriculum development for the undergraduate programme of the Electrical and Electronics engineering during my tenure as Head of Department at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. I have also led a team in developing curriculum for a home-grown MSc in Electronics Systems Engineering (Taught course) at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. 

Research and consultancy

Throughout my career at the university, there are a total of seven PhDs and four MScs by research that had graduated under my supervisions. In addition to that, I had supervised more than 100 final year undergraduate projects. Many of my publications are in the application of Artificial Intelligence in improving processes in engineering systems. I have authored and co-authored four books and published about 200 journals, transactions, book chapters and technical papers. I have been consistent with high annual publication rate in ISI-indexed Q1/Q2 journals and currently have a Google scholar h-index of 23 with cumulative citations of 1973. Besides, I have also served as Assessor for the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) and have been a member of the Expert Panel for Assessment of R&DC Grant Application for Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) Malaysia. 

During the years from 2008 to 2012, I have been involved in three industrial projects and consultancy work with PETRONAS (an oil & gas company wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia) and these are, firstly, FOUNDATION Fieldbus Interoperability Testing and Standards for PETRONAS Technical Standard (PTS), secondly, Partial-stroke test of emergency shut-down valves, and thirdly, development of a 3-dimensional Fire & Gas Detector Mapping software tool (3-D FGDM). I was able to apply knowledge in engineering design and analysis as well as practicing engineering work during my involvement in these industrial projects. The development of 3-dimensional Fire & Gas Detector Mapping software tool was an example of a successful industrial project conducted by the university.  In addition, besides my role as a lecturer, I was able to practice engineering through the industrial projects with direct involvement of PETRONAS and has achieved through involvement in the FOUNDATION Fieldbus Interoperability Test and the Partial stroke test of Emergency shut-down valves Test facilities. 

Management experience as Head of School

I have been with Quest International University as Professor since May 2022. My tasks include developing and delivering teaching materials, planning and writing grant proposal, undertake research activities and publish research findings in refereed journals. At the Quest International University, I have taught two courses namely, Robotics engineering, and Electronics measurements and instrumentation offered under the Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours programme, besides the final year students’ project and capstone project supervision. As Head of School, my tasks include managing matters related to teaching-learning, assessment, research, manpower needs, workload allocation, time-tabling, facilities/resources preparations of EAC monitoring visits/full accreditation audit and compliance audit for Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours programme, and most recently leading a team on formulation of new Bachelor of Electronics Technology with Honours programme, for MBOT and MQA provisional accreditation.  

Research Areas

My knowledge in Control Engineering, Power Electronics, Artificial Intelligence and Industrial IoT motivates me working in the following research areas in electrical and electronics engineering:

Summary of potential contributions to HWUM

I believe that my experience and education as well as current and previous roles (management skills) as Head of School, Head of Department, and Cluster leader for Power control and instrumentation, and more recently as Head, Centre for smart grid energy research, leading a team of ten active researchers in flexible automation and energy conversion applications, are the key strength that would able me to contribute to the Heriot Watt University Malaysia research and teaching and learning programmes, and managing a school.  My experiences as lecturer and researcher in Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS and Head of School in Quest International University should able me to execute several tasks and duties that require designing, preparing and developing teaching materials, delivering lectures and tutorials, assessing students’ course work, setting and marking examinations, and supporting students through an advisory role, supervisions of postgraduates Doctoral and Masters students and final year students’ projects, publications, writing research grant proposals, and leading and assisting to establish collaborative research links within and outside the university with industrial and government organisations, and managing a school.

Thank you in advance for reviewing my profile and experiences.

I am registered with the Board of Engineers (BEM), a Chartered Engineer registered under Engineering Council UK, a senior member of IEEE (SMIEEE) and a member of the Institute of Measurement and Control (MInstMC) UK. 

I graduated with a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University USA in 1984, a MSc in Power Electronics Engineering from Loughborough University UK in 1992, and a PhD in Control Engineering from the University of Sheffield UK in 2003.