News and photos Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Samsul Ariffin Abdul Karim
SINTOK, 4 February 2026: The School of Quantitative Sciences (SQS), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), continues to strengthen its global research profile and international engagement through the successful hosting of two outstanding PhD students from Ferhat Abbas University Setif 1, Algeria. The students participated in a fully funded international research internship programme held in October 2025.
The visiting researchers, Mr. Bilel Madjour and Ms. Roufaida Ketfi, are PhD candidates in Applied Mathematics and are recognised among the top-performing doctoral scholars in Algeria. Both were selected through a competitive national PhD selection process in February 2023 and commenced their doctoral studies in the 2022–2023 academic session.
The one-month research attachment, conducted from 1 to 30 October 2025, was hosted by the School of Quantitative Sciences as part of UUM’s ongoing commitment to promoting international doctoral mobility and strengthening collaborative research networks. Throughout the internship, the candidates were jointly supervised by Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Samsul Ariffin Abdul Karim and Dr. Kamarun Hizam Mansor. The supervisors provided rigorous academic mentorship within a highly collaborative environment that encouraged scholarly exchange, intellectual openness, and the pursuit of high-impact research outcomes.
The internship was fully sponsored by Ferhat Abbas University Setif 1, which covered international travel, accommodation, and all research-related expenses. This comprehensive funding enabled the students to focus entirely on their research activities and academic productivity.
Reflecting on his experience, Mr. Bilel Madjour noted that the international attachment demonstrates the growing dynamism of Algerian scientific research and highlights the commitment of Algerian universities to fostering global academic collaboration. He further emphasised that exposure to international research expertise and practices is essential in cultivating a new generation of researchers capable of producing high-quality scientific contributions.
Mr. Bilel Madjour’s doctoral research, entitled “Problèmes aux limites multi-physiques avec conditions aux limites linéaires”, is conducted under the supervision of Lecturer Amel Boudiaf, with additional research guidance from Professor Marouani Abdelbaki. Meanwhile, Ms. Roufaida Ketfi is pursuing her doctoral study entitled “Problèmes aux limites multi-physiques avec conditions aux limites non linéaires”, under the supervision of Lecturer Abdelmoumen Djabi, with research contributions from Professor Boukaroura Lyes.
A major highlight of the internship was its significant academic output. Prior to the completion of the attachment, the collaboration resulted in the submission of two (2) articles to Q1-ranked journals, the preparation of three (3) book chapters, and the development of two (2) conference proceedings. These achievements underscore the productivity and effectiveness of the research engagement between the institutions.
In recognition of the successful collaboration, Dr. Abdelmoumene Djabi and Dr. Boukaroura Ilyas, supervisors of Ms. Roufaida Ketfi, conveyed their sincere appreciation to the School of Quantitative Sciences and the host supervisors for the invaluable support and guidance provided during the research attachment. Dr Djabi expressed his satisfaction with the highly positive feedback received from the student regarding her experience at UUM.
He emphasised that the dedicated mentorship, constructive academic discussions, and professional guidance extended to her were instrumental in enhancing the quality of her research and are expected to contribute significantly to the successful completion of her doctoral thesis. He also acknowledged that hosting an international research student requires considerable commitment of time and resources, and expressed his deep gratitude for the generosity and professionalism demonstrated by UUM academic staff.
Similarly, Dr. Boudiaf Amel, the doctoral supervisor of Mr. Bilel Madjour, expressed her sincere gratitude for the guidance and academic support extended to her student throughout his research visit to UUM. She commended the professionalism, accessibility, and strong commitment demonstrated by the host supervisors in mentoring doctoral researchers. Dr Boudiaf further expressed her hope that this collaboration would pave the way for future joint research initiatives and long-term academic partnerships.
In addition to their research activities, Mr. Bilel Madjour and Ms. Roufaida Ketfi actively participated in various academic and professional events organised by the School of Quantitative Sciences. Notably, they attended the Industry Talk on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science held on 7 October 2025, delivered by Ms. Maggie Lim, Senior Manager of the Data Science Department at PETRONAS.
The session provided valuable industry insights and enhanced their understanding of the practical applications of advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence in real-world contexts.
Overall, the research internship was highly successful in strengthening the students’ research competencies, promoting international scholarly collaboration, and enhancing UUM’s global academic visibility. The programme reaffirmed the School of Quantitative Sciences’ commitment to fostering meaningful international partnerships that contribute to excellence in research, innovation, and postgraduate education.
