UMPSA receives ASEAN’s first EcoCampus Green Flag recognition

GAMBANG, 13 February 2026 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has been recognised as the first higher education institution in ASEAN to receive the international EcoCampus Green Flag recognition.
With this recognition, UMPSA is now at the forefront as a technical university grounded in green TVET and sustainable innovation recognised at the global level.

The recognition was presented by the Executive Director of Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF), Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Mahadi Mohamad, to the Vice-Chancellor of UMPSA, Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah Alias, in conjunction with the UMPSA Vice-Chancellor’s 2026 Mandate Ceremony held recently.

Present to witness this historic occasion were the Chairman of the UMPSA Board of Directors, Dato’ Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar, Chief Executive Officer of GGAF, Dr. Balamurugan Ratha Krishnan, and Director of the Sustainability Development Centre, Dr. Suhaidah Hussain.

The recognition demonstrates UMPSA’s commitment to making sustainability the core of university development in line with the Malaysia Higher Education Plan (RPTM) 2026–2035.

According to Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah, UMPSA is committed to implementing sustainability research and innovation in the fields of renewable energy, waste management, and biodiversity, developing green microcredential modules with industry to produce graduates skilled in green jobs, and providing expert advisory services in SDG and ESG.

“UMPSA has proven that the living lab approach, carbon data governance, and industry collaboration can be translated into a comprehensive campus ecosystem.

“This success serves as a benchmark for all higher education institutions in the country.

“UMPSA has also established strategic collaboration with Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF), focusing on research and development (R&D) related to solid waste treatment studies, environmentally friendly materials, community waste management research, and the implementation of the EcoCampus programme at UMPSA,” she said during the UMPSA Vice-Chancellor’s 2026 Mandate Ceremony held at UMPSA Gambang Campus.

She added that the recognition will open broader avenues for collaboration in green TVET, ESG research, and flexible and lifelong learning in line with the UMPSA30 Strategic Plan and the aspirations of the Greening Education Partnership (UNESCO).

In addition, it supports the implementation of low-carbon campus projects through the living lab concept, as well as academic and expertise exchange programmes with partner universities under the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) from more than 40 countries.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of GGAF, Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Mahadi Mohamad, congratulated UMPSA on the recognition, noting the university’s clear leadership in environmental education through student leadership, industry-focused modules, and measurable sustainability outcomes.

GGAF focuses on sustainability education, green innovation, and sustainable development while empowering youth and communities through initiatives such as Eco-Schools, EcoCampus, and Young Reporters for the Environment, alongside training, certification, and capacity-building programmes for educational institutions, local authorities, and the private sector.

UMPSA is also proud that its Pekan campus was recently recognised with 4 Diamond under the Zone Category in the Low Carbon City 2030 Challenge (LCC2030C) Year 2025.

LCC2030C is a programme aimed at reducing carbon footprints in cities, implemented by the Malaysian Green Technology & Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), an agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES).

By: Naqiah Puaad, Centre for Corporate Communications
Translation by: Ts. Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press