Assoc. Prof. Ir. Irfan Bahiuddin, S.T., M.Phil., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng., a lecturer and Secretary of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vocational College, Universitas Gadjah Mada, participated in a series of international academic activities at Oguz Han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan from 8 to 13 June 2026. The activities were organized as part of The Hybrid International Scientific and Practical Conference “Oguz Han University: Talent, Innovations, Development.”
On 10 June 2026, Irfan delivered a presentation at the main plenary session entitled *“Machine Learning-Driven Prediction of Magnetorheological Materials: Toward Optimization and Explainable Models.”* The presentation discussed the application of machine learning to predict the characteristics of magnetorheological materials, optimize prediction models, and improve the transparency of model decision-making through explainable artificial intelligence approaches.
The conference provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge and establish networks with researchers from different parts of the world. Participants and speakers came from Türkiye, Malaysia, Japan, China, Australia, Iceland, Sweden, Russia, Uzbekistan, and several other countries. Academic interactions during the conference led to several initial opportunities for research collaboration, particularly in smart materials, engineering modelling, and artificial intelligence applications.
In addition to participating in the conference, Irfan delivered a guest lecture and knowledge-sharing session for students of Oguz Han Engineering and Technology University. The lecture covered the fundamentals of rheology, smart materials, and modelling methods for examining the behaviour of materials and engineering systems. The session was conducted interactively through presentations, discussions, and questions from the students.
The guest lecture also provided an opportunity to introduce Universitas Gadjah Mada, particularly its vocational education system, academic activities, and research areas developed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vocational College UGM. This introduction was intended to broaden the students’ understanding of higher education and research in Indonesia and to support stronger academic relations between the two institutions.
Participation in these activities reflects the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s commitment to strengthening the internationalization of education, expanding research networks, and encouraging knowledge exchange between Indonesian higher education institutions and international partners. The opportunities identified during the visit may be followed up through academic communication, joint research, scientific publications, and lecturer or student exchange activities.
The activities contributed to *SDG 4: Quality Education* through international learning and knowledge exchange; *SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure* through the development of artificial intelligence-based models and smart materials; and *SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals* through international networking and the exploration of research collaboration with academics from various countries.