 Info Campus Resolution towards fulfilling UMP’s vision as a leading technology university
By: ROHANA OTHMAN, CORPORATE & QUALITY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT (JHKK) For the very first time, all 80 members of the University Board of Directors (UBD) and the university management including the deans, directors, heads of department and senior officers got together in a programme called UMP Team Excellence. The objective was to gather and collect ideas and recommendations that would fulfil UMP’s vision to be the leading technology university, one with a global status and financially sustainable. The comprehensive programme was organised by Corporate & Quality Affairs Department (JHKK) and Registry and was held at Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on December 2, 2018. It was officially opened by UBD Chairman, Dato’ Sri Ibrahim Ahmad who was also one of the moderators in the programme. Dato’ Sri Ibrahim said all participants got the chance to give their opinions, suggestions and comments relating to many topics that centred on future excellence, financial sustainability, producing holistic and marketable graduates, strategic investment, advanced management as well as the MyGift programme. “The programme helps to foster closer ties, share of information, find means to further develop the university and set a well-defined path on UMP’s direction as a public university and as one of the technology universities (MTUN) that will meet the objectives set in the Malaysia Education Development Plan (Higher Education),” he said. UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim who was also one of the moderators said the implementation of UMP Team Excellence programme was in line with UMP Strategic Plan 2016-2020. “We are nearing the year 2019 and there are two more years to go for us to fulfil the aspirations outlined in the Strategic Plan with its theme - Generating Glory. “The involvement of almost all of the members of UBD shows their strong support in making the vision a reality,” he said. One of the members of UBD, Haji Ahmad Zakie Haji Ahmad Shariff, who was also one of the moderators said that there were a lot of strategic suggestions and out-of-the-box recommendations that could be turned into resolutions and immediately implemented so UMP would continue to create glory. UBD Chairman himself contributed many ideas during discussions with the university management to ensure that the programme’s objective and outcome were achieved. The programme also gave the opportunity for the UBD members and university’s top management to have direct interactions and discussions as part of the efforts taken to further enhance UMP’s quality. At the same time, UBD got to know more about the university’s current situation, development and operations. Collaboration UMP, BASF PETRONAS Chemicals signed MoU on sharing of technology and knowledge and talent development
Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and BASF PETRONAS Chemicals Sdn. Bhd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that combined innovative strengths and capabilities of a well-established university and a leading chemical company on December, 18, 2018 at Banquet Hall, Canseleri Tun Abdul Razak, UMP Pekan.
The objectives outlined in the strategic plan would be fulfilled through high-impact and sustainable programmes involving the industry and community, and to be carried out in a large scale.
Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir said with the scientific and technology expertise it had, the university would be able to play a bigger role in matters involving exchange of experts, research development, training and industrial relation. “This mutually beneficial partnership will catalyse more active, win-win collaborations between BASF PETRONAS Chemicals and UMP.” The award is given to a selected student who graduated with outstanding achievement and results and presented during the university’s convocation ceremony. MyGift UMP, Sime Darby Foundation contributed ‘Back-to-School’ packs under its Huluran Kasih Programme
It was an exciting day for 300 students from 60 primary and secondary schools as they received a set of new school uniforms and school packs under the ‘Back-to-School’ programme organised by Universiti Malaysia Pahang, together with Sime Darby Foundation (SDF). It was held in UMP Pekan Campus on December 12, 2018. The children, who were from low-income families (B40) in Kuantan and Pekan, were selected under the Huluran Kasih programme, part of a social engagement programme brought by UMP and SDF. They received a set of uniform, shoes, stockings, school bags and stationaries.
The initiative was born out of the desire to reduce the parents’ burden in preparations for the new school year. Among the guests present to give away the school packs were UMP Board of Director member, Dato’ Aishah Shaikh Ahmad, SDF Chief Executive Officer, Hajah Yatela Zainal Abidin, UMP Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Industrial and Community Relations), Professor Dr. Jamil Ismail and UMP Chief Operation Officer/Registrar, Abd Hamid Majid. According to Professor Dr. Jamil, the programme was a result of close cooperation enjoyed between UMP and SDF that would continue to further strengthen their already established strategic partnership. “UMP is always open and willing to explore a wider strategic collaboration with SDF. This includes sharing of the university’s scientific and technical expertise with blend it with the foundation’s focus and core activity, be it in the academic or corporate social innovation (CSI). “In line with UMP’s Strategic Plan 2016-2020, the management is committed to communitise the university through two main mediums – sharing of technology and volunteer works.
“There were various initiatives that were being carried out and being planned to ensure that the people especially in Pahang would benefit from these social engagement activities. “As such, in order to make its Community University agenda a success, the management welcomed any form of collaboration with departments, agencies, government-linked companies, private companies, organisations and even individuals interested to do their part that would benefit the public at large,” he said. Participants of this programme did not only distribute the school packs but also got together for a gotong-royong to repair 12 houses whose owners were listed in the UMP Facelift programme.
To date, 114 homes have been repaired and upgraded under this programme. Their houses were given new coat paint, cleaned and installed with solar panels that would provide new comforts to the owners. The foundation’s volunteers also visited some homes as well as the Kuala Pahang House which was a one-stop centre where activities were carried out with the objective of enhancing interactions between UMP and the locals especially the younger generation. The Kuala Pahang Facelift 2.0 initiative now focuses on activities that will provide motivation, increase knowledge and instil interest in the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and English. Feature Campus Sustainability - one of UMP’s Agendas for Excellence
By: HAZLINA FAIZAL, CORPORATE & QUALITY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT (JHKK) Among the priorities that Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) has always placed upon was the campus greening agenda, a programme which has its place in the planning of the university’s annual budget. The university’s main campus that is located in Kuala Pahang is developed on swampland that has been strengthened and reinforced with sand and this has been the main challenge to ensure that trees planted on the land survived.
The soil structure does not hold moisture and water and this is among the challenges that UMP has to face especially during the monsoon season. However, it is not a reason for UMP to set aside its focus to create a green and sustainable campus for its community. Nowadays, there are many studies that showed organic fertilisers, derived from animal matter or plant matter can help enrich soil and the physical aspect of the soil. This is the approach that UMP has been using to enrich the nutrients in the sand soil at its Pekan campus.
Sand soil must be fertilised more often as compared to soil from a different structure because nutrients cannot be held together at the surface and the root area of a tree for a long time. By adding the organic material, it will enhance the structure’s capacity to hold together water and nutrients. Sand soil also has poor physical support for a tree to grow well especially a wood tree. As such, trees planted require good, strong support for the first few seasons of growing to prevent from falling due to strong wind. This clear-cut measure and direction under the leadership of UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Daing Nasir Ibrahim has successfully transform the barren campus into a green setting. As a technical university, UMP cannot afford not to do anything about the soil structure and as such, a comprehensive effort has been mobilised, one that is personally supervised by the Vice-Chancellor himself.
The result can be seen today when UMP is listed at the 97th position in the world and the sixth in Malaysia by the UI Green Metrics World University Ranking 2018 that was announced on December 19, 2017 at Balai Sidang, Universitas Indonesia in Indonesia. The achievement registered in the UI Green Metrics World University Ranking 2018 resulted in UMP jumping up 10 spots from the 107th standing registered in 2017 assessment. The assessment was made based on six main criteria - Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation and Education which helped improve the university’s overall score. Congratulations to everyone in UMP.          |
