UTP Engineering Student Brings Malaysia’s Voice To Global Peace Summit

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- A Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering student from Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) represented Malaysia on the international stage as a delegate at the Global Peace Summit Paris 2026, held recently in Paris, France. 

UTP, in a statement today, said that Azeem Dzakwan Noordin was selected as a Partially Funded Delegate at the summit, becoming the only Malaysian among participants from over 60 countries. 

“Guided by the theme ‘Youth as Architects of Global Peace,’ the event brought together young leaders, policymakers, and peace advocates to engage in dialogue on global challenges and sustainable solutions.

“At the time of the summit, Azeem was undergoing a research and development internship at Polytech Dijon, Université Bourgogne Europe, Le Creusot Campus, France, a recognised centre for engineering and industrial innovation,” it said.

UTP also mentioned that Azeem’s work focused on developing artificial intelligence-enabled applications using a collaborative robotic system, including building an open-source, Python-based interface and computer vision tools for industrial manipulation tasks.

“While his internship centred on technical innovation, the summit provided a broader perspective on the role of engineering in addressing societal challenges,” it added.

Meanwhile, Azeem was quoted in the same statement as saying that it was a truly humbling experience to be surrounded by so many global changemakers. 

“As a Malaysian student, I saw how our diverse perspectives can come together with a shared purpose to contribute to a more peaceful world,” he said.

Over four days at the summit, Azzem also participated in discussions on diplomacy, conflict resolution, climate action, humanitarian response, and human rights.

He also attended expert-led sessions, including ‘Peace in the Age of Displacement’, as well as discussions on advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through youth-led initiatives.

Reflecting on his journey, Azeem acknowledged the support of his former lecturer, Assoc Prof Dr Mohamad Naufal Mohamad Saad, and his supervisors at Le Creusot - Prof David Fofi, Raphael Duverne, and Fabio Riberio - whose guidance was instrumental throughout his internship. 

He also expressed his appreciation to his sponsor, Yayasan UTP; his internship colleague, Muhammad Uwais Hadri Mohd Sofian; and his family for their continued support.

Azeem said that as he completes his internship in France and prepares to return to UTP, he also hopes that his experience will inspire other students to pursue opportunities beyond their comfort zones.

“Stepping into a completely new environment is daunting, but it pushes you to grow in ways you never expected and changes your perspective entirely,” he said.

He said the experience reinforced that engineering is not only about advancing technology, but also about addressing real-world challenges and contributing meaningfully to society.

The statement added that Azeem’s achievement reflects UTP’s commitment to developing graduates who are not only technically competent but also globally aware and socially responsible.

“The university emphasises interdisciplinary learning and industry collaboration to equip students with the skills to address complex, real-world challenges,” it said.

-- BERNAMA