UMP launches ‘Kembara UMP 21’ Programme to engage with communities within and outside the country

PEKAN, 7 June 2023 - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, who is also the Chairman of UMP Foundation, launched ‘Kembara UMP 21’ (exploration programme) to provide exposure and empower students while enhancing their personal development by immersing themselves in the cultures of communities within and outside the country.

The ceremony witnessed Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Abdul Aziz handing over the UMP Flag to the President of the Student Representative Council (MPP) UMP, Agha Khilfi Suarno, as a symbolic launch of the programme.

Also present were UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, and Registrar, Saiful Bahri Ahmad Bakarim.

At the same time, he presented a placard to the 21 Programme Directors of UMP Kembara, consisting of UMP students who will embark on their missions from June to December 2023.

He also congratulated the students who dared to take up the challenge in successfully carrying out the mission with the objective of gaining experience and developing student leadership through the upcoming programmes conducted within and outside the country.

"This programme provides students with the opportunity to engage with communities by establishing community service networks, providing contributions and volunteer services strategically and purposefully at a global level," he said.

Furthermore, it fosters the spirit of volunteerism that needs to be instilled in students, in order to cultivate caring and responsible individuals.

Additionally, this program will approach the community to disseminate information on higher education, opportunities for further studies, and the benefits towards branding UMP.

In conjunction with UMP's 21st Anniversary, a total of 21 UMP Kembara Programmes will be implemented, including adventure and mobility activities within and outside the country, such as in Pahang, Johor, Sabah, Thailand, and Indonesia.

For UMP student and mobility programme director, Kavitha Sitaraman, 23, she is delighted to have the opportunity to carry out the mobility programme at Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI), Makassar, Indonesia.

She stated that the programme, scheduled from July 18 to 24, 2023, is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme in collaboration with the local residents in Makassar, including experiencing the beauty and cultural life of people from other countries.

Other programmes include the International Summer Course spanning six days and involving participation from various countries.

Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to learn new skills in their respective fields as an additional value to the knowledge gained throughout the programme.

Moreover, participants will develop intercultural skills such as the ability to communicate with people from different cultures, understanding norms and values, and becoming more open to religious and cultural diversity.

By: Nor  Salwana  Mohammad  Idris,  Corporate   Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMP Career Centre (UMPCC)