UMPSA leads national sustainability, 20 lecturers recognised as ESG Professionals

PEKAN, 16 December 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) leads the national sustainability excellence model when it successfully created history as the first Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Malaysia to receive the international Eco-Campus Green Flag recognition.

The Green Flag recognition administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Denmark, serves as a global benchmark for environmental excellence in educational institutions.

This proves that the living lab model, carbon data governance, and industry–community collaboration have been successfully translated into a sustainable campus ecosystem.

At the same time, 20 UMPSA lecturers received certificates recognising them as ESG Professionals after completing the Level 1 Certification Training Programme – Empowered for ESG Professional conducted by the Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF) recently.

The presentation of certificates was delivered by the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Dr Mahadzir Ishak@Muhammad.

Also present were the Registrar, Dato’ Saiful Bahri Ahmad Bakarim, and the Director of the Sustainability Development Centre (SDC), Dr Suhaidah Hussain, at the UMPSA Eco-Campus Appreciation and Recognition Ceremony organised by the Sustainability Development Centre (SDC) today.

In his speech, Professor Dr Mahadzir, who read the speech of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Yatimah Alias, said that UMPSA continues to provide continuous commitment to strengthening the sustainability agenda of the university and the nation, while making the campus a leading model of sustainability excellence, in line with UMPSA’s status as the best technology university in Malaysia.

“The Eco-Campus initiative is driven by the University-Driven and Student-Driven concepts.

“Students are not merely recipients of knowledge, but catalysts of change who drive green awareness and practices.

“Sustainability is no longer an option, but a responsibility and a core pillar in developing a holistic and resilient higher education ecosystem,” he said.

According to him, the Eco-Campus concept functions as a living laboratory that demonstrates the integration of engineering and technology knowledge with environmentally friendly practices.

“Most recently, UMPSA rose to the 40th best position worldwide in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings (UIGWUR) 2025.

“UMPSA was crowned the third best university in Malaysia and the No. 1 Best Technology University in Malaysia within the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN).

“More impressively, UMPSA SDG 1: No Poverty is ranked 38th worldwide, SDG 4: Quality Education is within the #101–200 group worldwide, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation is ranked 81st worldwide, and SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy is ranked 18th worldwide,” he said.

Other achievements include SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure within the #201–300 group worldwide, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production also within the #201–300 group worldwide, and SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals at the #201–300 position worldwide.

These achievements are the result of strategic university initiatives including rooftop solar installation and floating solar panels, the use of electric buses and vans, as well as EV charging stations on campus.

In addition, carbon emission reduction initiatives are being implemented with the target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The appreciation ceremony held today celebrated lecturers, staff, students from the UMPSA Eco Nexus Club, and industry partners who have contributed to the university’s success.

By: Mimi Rabita Abd Wahit, Centre for Corporate Communications
Translation by: Ts. Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press