@ green | July-August , 2022

Local software # SoftwareTheses helps students to brainstorm topics of research and expand their studies

Assoc . Prof Dr Ahmad Humaizi

BY FATIHAH MANAF

Whilst the core of ESG might be similar , how it is addressed can differ between industries . In identifying the ESG needs of a particular organisation , the research in the area needs to be intensified .

To encourage individuals , especially students , to explore research in ESG , the Malaysian Association of Public Advocacy for Nature ( MAPAN ), in collaboration with the Malaysia Institute of Transport ( Mitrans ), held a seminar entitled “ SoftwareTheses : A faster way to find research gap ”.

The seminar took place at Mitrans Seminar Room , Universiti Teknologi Mara ( UiTM ) Shah Alam , and was also streamed virtually through Zoom . It had a total attendance of more than 300 participants .

SoftwareTheses is a software that can analyse thousands of journals to help people find research gaps and content ideas for their theses . SoftwareTheses and its associated techniques will help individuals write their theses faster .

During the MAPAN seminar , Assoc . Prof Dr Ahmad Humaizi , the co-creator of SoftwareThese , shared with the participants a faster way to find the gaps in their research . Humaizi is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Technology , Universiti Malaysia Perlis ( UniMAP ).

The idea behind Software These development

Having 20 years of teaching experience at UniMAP , Humaizi found out that his students faced difficulties finding research gaps in their studies .

“ I wanted to help them . I discovered that the usual methods taught in research methodology classes require students to read many materials ,” he highlighted .

“ We must remember that there is an unlimited number of articles we can search on the Internet now . However , we cannot afford to read every single article . Therefore , we need automated software to help us sort all these reading materials . It is why I came up with SoftwareTheses , with assistance from my brother , Ahmad Zaim Hilmi . I came up with the methodology , but he was the one who programmed it .”

He explained that Ahmad Zaim contributed to the method ’ s programming , allowing the software to give the intended results . The software uses basic commands on Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel to operate . He opined that the manual method of doing research was time-consuming and required people to read research articles and analyses individually .

“ It helps . It eases students in looking for a research gap . It is now up to the students to choose the method they want to use . It also helps students in writing their thesis , as the collection of the articles is there .

“ For example , if we want to look for the topic on machining , thousands of results and sentences will be there on the software . We only have to elaborate on them according to our own words .”

Keep improving the system

Humaizi said coming up with the software took him almost six years . He started his research on SoftwareTheses with the manual method and has been improving the system .

“ Even after my brother came up with the software , we still improved the method . This SoftwareTheses combines manual and automatic processes . Some parts are automated , but there are parts where the students need to do it independently .”

Elaborating on students ’ understanding of the research subject whilst using the software , Humaizi explained that he took the approach where students could write their papers and understand them later .

“ The duration of their study might take three or more years . So , they will eventually understand the subject while preparing and writing their theses .”

Developing an application

Since SoftwareTheses is semi-automated , requiring users to send emails to developers and key in some items manually , Humaizi revealed that he and his brother planned to develop an application for the software .

“ We have the plan to develop it as an application , but it requires a huge amount of funding . Besides , we only charge a minimum amount to those who want to use SoftwareTheses . I have been a lecturer for years ; not all students can afford it , whether undergraduates or postgraduates . So , we decided only to charge RM50 for 50 emails .”

He said they were not focusing on doing business but helping the students in their research .

When asked if the software would be able to find the gap in ESG research , Humaizi answered : “ Yes , SoftwareTheses can also be used for ESG topics . People might take months to find research gaps in the topics , but they can get them fast using this software .”

He acknowledged that Software Theses had much potential . Aside from being utilised in academia , the software can also be used by corporates in their research and technical reports . — @ Green

Ahmad Humaizi with some participants of the seminar . Seated 2nd from right is @ green Publisher , Kay Mathy .

Assoc . Prof Dr Ahmad Humaizi ( left ) with Ben Ong ( right ), the leading founder of Malaysian Association of Public Advocacy for Nature ( MAPAN ).