Prof. Mastura Jaafar | Smart Industry | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Mastura Jaafar, University of Science, Malaysia

Professor Sr. Dr. Mastura Jaafar @ Mustapha is a distinguished academic and researcher currently serving as a Professor in the Quantity Surveying Department at the School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). With a Ph.D. in Strategic Management, an MSc in Project Management, and a BSc in Building Economics and Management, all from USM, she brings extensive academic and industry expertise in construction project estimation, costing, finance, and management. Her research interests span strategic management in construction, housing, and tourism, as well as entrepreneurship and procurement management. A prolific scholar, she has published widely in international journals and conferences and has received accolades such as the Emerald Literati Network Highly Commended Awards (2007, 2015) and the Outstanding Paper Award (2023). In addition to supervising numerous postgraduate students, she is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Construction in Developing Countries. Her leadership roles at USM include serving as a Senate Member, Coordinator for academic career development, and Deputy Director of the Research Creativity and Management Office (RCMO).

Professional Profile:

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

ORCID

SCOPUS

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Professor Sr. Dr. Mastura Jaafar is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award, given her extensive contributions to research, teaching, and academic leadership. Her impactful publications in top-tier journals, particularly in tourism, strategic management, and community development, have garnered significant global citations. With decades of academic service, international recognition through awards, and editorial leadership, she exemplifies research excellence and innovation. Her dedication to mentoring postgraduate students further highlights her role in shaping future scholars and advancing the academic community.

🎓 Education

🧠 Ph.D. in Strategic Management
Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2004
🏗️ M.Sc. in Project Management
Universiti Sains Malaysia, 1995
🏢 B.Sc. in Building Economics and Management
Universiti Sains Malaysia, 1994

💼 Work Experience

👩‍🏫 Professor
School of Housing, Building and Planning, USM (2014–present)
🎓 Associate Professor
USM (2009–2014)
📘 Senior Lecturer
USM (2007–2009)
📚 Lecturer
USM (2004–2007)
🏗️ Quantity Surveyor / Project Manager
(1995–2000)

🏢 Administrative Roles

👥 Deputy Dean (Research, Postgraduate & Network)
School of Housing, Building and Planning, USM (2012–2018)
🎓 USM Senate Member
(2021–2026)
🧭 Coordinator for Academic Career Path & HCMS System
(2024–2026)
🧪 Deputy Director, Research Creativity and Management Office (RCMO), USM
(2025–2027)

🏆 Achievements, Awards & Honors

📝 Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Construction in Developing Countries
📚 Prolific Author & Researcher
Published widely in international journals, books, and conference proceedings
🎓 Supervision Excellence
Supervises numerous Master’s and Ph.D. students
🏅 Emerald Literati Network Awards:
- Highly Commended Award – 2007 & 2015
- Outstanding Paper Award – 2023 🎉

Publication Top Notes:

Urban vs. rural destinations: Residents’ perceptions, community participation and support for tourism development

CITED:639

A revised framework of social exchange theory to investigate the factors influencing residents’ perceptions

CITED:491

Community participation in World Heritage Site conservation and tourism development

CITED:322

Perception of young local residents toward sustainable conservation programmes: A case study of the Lenggong World Cultural Heritage Site

CITED:320

Factors influencing residents’ perceptions toward tourism development: Differences across rural and urban world heritage sites

CITED:304

Associate professor at Hubei University of Technology,China

Publication Profile

📚 Early Academic Pursuits

Xixing Li demonstrated an early aptitude for mechanical engineering, completing his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Automation in 2011 from the University of Jinan. He pursued advanced studies at Wuhan University of Technology, earning an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2013. His dissertation focused on the transformation of customer need information into actionable models for textile machinery enterprises, showcasing his interest in integrating customer-centric processes with mechanical engineering principles. Continuing at Wuhan University, he completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2017, under the supervision of Prof. Shunsheng Guo. His dissertation tackled the challenges of production scheduling and optimization in textile machinery manufacturing, laying the foundation for his future research.

👨‍🏫 Professional Endeavors

Xixing Li embarked on his teaching career as a Lecturer at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, in 2017. His dedication and expertise earned him a promotion to Associate Professor in 2020, marking a significant milestone. In 2023, he expanded his professional reach by joining Ningbo University and Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd., as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where he continues to blend academic research with industrial applications.

🧠 Contributions and Research Focus

Li’s research spans optimization algorithms, production scheduling, and supply chain management, with applications in flexible job shop scheduling, green manufacturing, and fault diagnosis. He has authored over 35 high-impact journal articles in fields ranging from manufacturing systems to intelligent fault diagnosis. Notable works include innovative methods in multi-objective optimization, artificial intelligence applications in manufacturing, and fault detection using YOLOv5s-GC for surface defects. His studies bridge theoretical advancements with practical industrial solutions, driving progress in modern manufacturing.

🏆 Accolades and Recognition

Xixing Li’s publications in leading journals such as the Journal of Manufacturing Systems, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Tsinghua Science and Technology have earned widespread acclaim. His innovative approaches in manufacturing scheduling and optimization algorithms have not only advanced academic discourse but also provided actionable solutions for industrial challenges. His ongoing postdoctoral work continues to attract recognition in the research community.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Li’s contributions have had a transformative impact on the fields of industrial engineering and manufacturing systems. His focus on integrating green scheduling and intelligent fault diagnosis reflects his commitment to sustainable and efficient production methods. By bridging academia and industry, he has influenced both educational practices and industrial processes, inspiring peers and students alike.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions Highlight

As a dedicated educator, researcher, and innovator, Xixing Li is set to leave a lasting legacy in mechanical engineering. His work continues to inspire advancements in smart manufacturing, sustainable practices, and fault-tolerant systems. With his expanding collaborations and ongoing postdoctoral research, his future contributions are poised to further shape the global manufacturing landscape.

📚 Publications Top Notes

Li, X., Wu, C., Wu, R., & Tang, H. (2024). Multi-objective fuzzy green scheduling optimization method of special vehicle body-in-white prototype shop considering equipment preventive maintenance.
Li, X., Zhao, Q., Tang, H., et al. (2024). Flexible Job Shop Composite Dispatching Rule Mining Approach Based on An Improved Genetic Programming Algorithm.
Li, X., Zhao, Q., Tang, H., Yang, S., Lei, D., & Wang, X.V. (2024). Joint Scheduling Optimization Method for the Machining and Heat-treatment of Hydraulic Cylinders Based on Improved Multi-objective Migrating Birds Optimization.
Yang, R., Li, X., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Automated grasp labeling and detection framework with pixel-level precision.
Li, X., Yang, R., & Zhou, H. (2024). YOLOv5s-GC-Based Surface Defect Detection Method of Strip Steel.
Li, X., Guo, X., Tang, H., et al. (2023). An improved cuckoo search algorithm for the hybrid flow-shop scheduling problem in sand casting enterprises considering batch processing.
Li, X., Guo, X., Tang, H., et al. (2023). Survey of integrated flexible job shop scheduling problems.
Wang, J., Lei, D., Li, D., Li, X., & Tang, H. (2025). A dynamic artificial bee colony for fuzzy distributed energy-efficient hybrid flow shop scheduling with batch processing machines.
Tao, T., Zhang, W., Li, X., & Wei, S. (2024). A discrete group teaching optimization algorithm for solving many-objective sand casting whole process production scheduling problem.
Zhou, H., Zhu, L., & Li, X. (2022). Fault Diagnosis Method for Rolling Bearing Based on Sparse Principal Subspace Discriminant Analysis.