An international academic engagement between Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), Malaysia, and the University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Pakistan, underscores APU’s growing global standing in advanced research, thought leadership and cross-border collaboration in emerging technologies.

On 18 November 2025, a meaningful international academic knowledge exchange was brought to fruition between the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), Malaysia, and the University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Pakistan. This engagement marked another significant milestone in APU’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its global academic presence while fostering cross-cultural collaboration in frontier areas of technology and innovation. 

Representing APU on the international stage was Dr Hassan Jamil Syed, Senior Lecturer at APU’s School of Technology (SoT), who was invited to deliver a keynote address on the opening day of the 20th International Conference on Emerging Technologies (ICET 2025). Hosted by UET Peshawar—one of Pakistan’s oldest and most prestigious engineering institutions—the conference served as a high-impact platform for knowledge sharing among leading researchers, academicians and industry experts. 

ICET 2025: A Confluence of Global Expertise

Held from 18 to 19 November 2025 at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering (FECE), UET Peshawar, ICET 2025 brought together national and international delegates for two intensive days of dialogue, innovation and collaboration. The conference showcased a strong line-up of research contributions and stimulating discussions, reflecting the growing global momentum in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing and big data. 

As the flagship event of the IEEE Islamabad Section, ICET has maintained a proud tradition of academic excellence since its inception in 2005. This year’s edition continued to uphold that legacy, providing a vital platform for academia, industry and government stakeholders to connect and exchange ideas. All accepted and presented papers will be submitted for inclusion in IEEE Xplore, subject to IEEE’s quality guidelines—further enhancing the global reach and academic value of the research presented. 

APU Thought Leadership on the Global Stage

Dr Hassan’s keynote session, titled “eBPF Meets AI: Intelligent Security Enforcement in Cloud Containers”, explored the convergence of kernel-level observability and artificial intelligence to enable real-time, intelligent security enforcement in cloud-native and containerised environments. The session resonated strongly with conference participants, highlighting cutting-edge approaches to addressing contemporary cybersecurity challenges.

Holding a PhD in Computer Science with a specialisation in Cloud Computing from the University of Malaya (UM), Dr Hassan brings more than two decades of academic and industry experience in cloud computing, cybersecurity and kernel-level observability using eBPF. His research spans eBPF-based observability, AI-driven security enforcement, intelligent threat detection, secure container orchestration, cloud monitoring and IoT, with extensive publications in top-tier Q1 Web of Science-indexed journals. 

Building Bridges for Future Collaboration

Reflecting on the invitation, Dr Hassan shared, “I was invited by Professor Dr Nasru Minallah, Chair of ICET 2025 and Director of the National Centre for Big Data & Cloud Computing at UET Peshawar, in recognition of my research contributions in AI-driven security for cloud-native environments, which strongly aligned with the conference’s focus on emerging technologies.”

He further emphasised the broader significance of the engagement, stating, “This platform fostered academic diplomacy by enabling the exchange of ideas between Malaysia and Pakistan on critical areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing. It not only strengthened professional ties but also highlighted APU’s growing global presence and its commitment to collaborative innovation.” 

As the sole representative from APU—and the only participant from Malaysia—Dr Hassan’s presence underscored APU’s ability to contribute meaningfully to global academic discourse. His participation opened avenues for potential joint research initiatives, student exchange programmes and collaborative grant applications in strategic areas including AI, big data and cloud security. 

Translating Global Insights into Student Impact

Beyond institutional collaboration, the knowledge exchange carries direct benefits for APU students. “Engaging with researchers and industry professionals from across the region enriched my understanding of regional research priorities and industry challenges,” Dr Hassan noted. “These insights will be integrated into my teaching and supervision, ensuring that APU students benefit through updated course content, real-world case studies and potential collaborative projects with UET.” 

Elevating APU’s Global Academic Standing

This international engagement reflects APU’s strategic vision to position itself as a globally connected university that actively contributes to the advancement of knowledge beyond borders. By participating in prestigious international platforms such as ICET 2025, APU continues to elevate its academic standing, strengthen international partnerships and reinforce its role as a hub for future-ready education and research.

As global challenges become increasingly complex and interconnected, such academic exchanges remain vital in shaping innovative solutions—firmly placing APU at the forefront of international collaboration in emerging technologies.