Prof Ng Jo-Han

Strategist. Builder. Multiplier.

I am an institutional strategist in essence, expressed through the trifecta of engineer-scientist-educator, quietly designing systems, partnerships, and structures that reshape the future of my organisation, while cultivating the minds that will carry that future forward.

An educator at my core, a scientist by discipline, an engineer by mindset, and an institutional strategist by evolution.

Profile

Prof Ng Jo-Han
Professor (Green Engineering), University of Southampton Malaysia

h-index
33
Citations
5,010
i10-index
69
Publications
140+
Awards & honours
40+
Updated as of 25 February 2026

Research areas
Biodiesel
Combustion
Transesterification
Diesel engines
Chemical kinetics
Energy–water–food nexus (EWF)
Pyrolysis
Exergy

Current roles

Chief Strategy Officer
University of Southampton Malaysia
  • Institutional growth strategy design and execution
  • International partnerships and global platform development
  • Financial sustainability and growth engine development
  • Institutional transformation and capability building

Director of Research, Enterprise & Innovation
University of Southampton Malaysia
  • Research ecosystem and strategy development
  • Industry partnerships and enterprise engagement
  • Postgraduate research and doctoral programme leadership
  • Research funding growth and institutional research capability

Work Experience

Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
November 2025 – Present

Director of Research, Enterprise and Innovation
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
August 2025 – Present

Director of Research Management Centre
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
January 2024 – August 2025

Head of Research
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
September 2021 – December 2023

Head of Academic Quality & Innovation
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
August 2019 – November 2020

Director of Engineering Foundation Year Programme (UoSM)
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
March 2018 – August 2019

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) Leader
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
October 2016 – April 2022

Programme Coordinator for Mechanical Engineering Programme (USMC)
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
January 2015 – January 2017

Module Coordinator (Thermofluids and Thermodynamics)
University of Southampton (Malaysia)
February 2012 – Present

Education

PhD in Engineering
University of Nottingham
( Semenyih, Malaysia )
2007 – 2011
Thesis: Experimental and Computational Study of Combustion and Emission Characteristics of Biodiesels in a Light-Duty Diesel Engine

Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) Honours in Mechanical Engineering (First Class Honours)
University of Nottingham
( Semenyih, Malaysia )
2005 – 2007

Western Australian Universities’ Foundation Programme (WAUFP)
Canning College
( Perth, Australia )
2002

Rotary International Youth Exchange Programme (RIYES)
Rosentein Gymnasium
( Baden-Württemberg, Germany )
2001

Professional Membership

  • Fellow, Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy), UK (FHEA)
  • Member, Society of Automotive Engineers, USA (SAE)
  • Associate Member, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK (IMechE)
  • Member, Persatuan STEM Johor, Malaysia

Awards & Distinctions

Recognised for sustained excellence across education innovation, research impact, and international student development,
with repeated national and international awards spanning university-level teaching excellence, high-profile innovation competitions, and competitive research communication.

Education & Student Impact
World Champion Robotics Coach (2016)
Coached the first all-female team to World Robot Olympiad world championship; sustained track record of student excellence from state to national to global levels.
World Robot Olympiad (India)

Research & Innovation
Top 5 Global Finalist — Omnipreneurship Award (2020)
Selected among the top five globally in a USD 1 million innovation prize competition, recognising scalable solutions linking climate action and entrepreneurship.
Omnipreneurship Award

Selected awards and distinctions
Teaching Excellence Award
University of Southampton Malaysia
Institutional recognition for teaching excellence and student impact (2023)

Best Research Award
Teaching Academic Conference of Chinese Universities
International recognition for collaborative learning research innovation (2023)

Multiple Gold Medals, Best Mentor Awards, and Innovation Honours
PECIPTA; Malaysian Toray Science Foundation; International Innovation Competitions
Repeated national and international recognition for innovation leadership (2015–2022)

Gold Medal and Special Achievement Award
SAEM International Innovation Exhibition
Recognition for translational research and industrial innovation (2021)

Royal Society of Chemistry Global Audience Award
International Twitter Poster Conference
Two-time consecutive international research communication award (2017–2018)

Highly Cited Research Paper Award
Applied Energy (Elsevier)
Highly cited scholarly contribution in energy systems research (2015)

Long Service Award
University of Southampton Malaysia
Recognition for sustained institutional leadership (2021–2022)

View full awards and distinctions list
Teaching Excellence Award
University of Southampton Malaysia
Institutional recognition for sustained excellence in teaching and student impact (2023)
Best Research Award
Chinese Universities Teaching Academic Conference
International recognition for innovation in collaborative international learning research (2023)
Best Award (Energy) and Gold Award
Carnival of Research and Innovation
Top innovation honours recognising excellence in sustainable energy research (2023)
Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and Best Mentor Award
China International College Students Innovation Competition
Multiple international honours recognising research innovation and leadership in student entrepreneurship (2022)
Best Award (1st Place) and Gold Medal
Defence, Security and Sustainability Exhibition
Top national innovation award recognising applied science and technology impact (2022)
Long Service Award
University of Southampton Malaysia
Institutional recognition for a decade of sustained academic and institutional contribution (2021–2022)
Gold Medal and Special Achievement Award
SAEM International Innovation Exhibition
Recognised for industry-impact technological innovation and translational research excellence (2021)
Global Top 5 Finalist — Omnipreneurship Award
International Innovation Prize Competition
Selected among top five globally for scalable innovation addressing climate and sustainability challenges (2020)
Double Silver Medallist
Malaysia Technology Expo
National innovation honours recognising excellence in scientific and educational technologies (2020)
Platinum and Multiple Gold Medals
National Innovation Competition of Education and Technology
Top national honours recognising sustained leadership in educational innovation (2019–2021)
Silver Medal
International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition
International recognition for technological innovation and research impact (2018)
Global Audience Award (Two Consecutive Years)
Royal Society of Chemistry
International recognition for research communication excellence (2017–2018)
World Champion Coach
World Robot Olympiad
Led world championship robotics team, demonstrating global leadership in student excellence (2016)
Third Place, National Finals
Falling Walls International Research Competition
National recognition for research communication excellence (2016)
Silver Medal
Innovative Practices in Education and Industry Exhibition
Recognition for educational technology innovation (2016)
Multiple Medals and Best Award
PECIPTA International Innovation Exposition
Premier national innovation honours including Best Award in Energy Cluster (2015–2022)
Six Consecutive National Science Education Awards
Malaysian Toray Science Foundation
Recognising sustained national leadership in STEM education innovation (2015–2022)
Highly Cited Research Paper Award
Applied Energy Journal (Elsevier)
Recognised for highly cited publication in top-ranked international energy journal (2015)
Best Paper Award
SEAMEO RECSAM International Conference
International recognition for educational innovation research (2015)
Gold Medal
National University Carnival on e-Learning
National recognition for innovation in engineering education software (2015)
Best Overall Academic Practice Award
University of Southampton / UK Higher Education Academy
Institutional recognition for excellence in academic teaching practice (2015)
Silver Medal
Invention, Innovation and Design Johor
Recognition for biodiesel reactor innovation (2015)
Silver and Bronze Medals
Industrial Art and Technology Exhibition
Early national innovation recognition (2014–2015)

© 2026 Prof Ng Jo-Han