UMPSA Sustainable Mobility Expedition spreads goodwill in Songkhla

SONGKHLA, THAILAND, 18 February 2024 - A total of 85 volunteer staff and students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) extended assistance to orphaned and underprivileged students at the Bumrungsuksa Islamic Boarding School (BIS), Hatyai Songkhla, Thailand recently.

The programme was also attended by 22 motorcycle convoy participants who set off from the UMPSA Gambang Campus to fulfil the UMPSA Sustainable Mobility Expedition mission 'Songkhla Global Exploration' in celebration of UMPSA's 22nd anniversary on 16 February 2024.

The arrival of UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, along with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim Mohamed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman, and convoy participants was welcomed by the Owner and Manager of BIS, Suraiya Heemman, as well as teachers and students.

According to Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie, the UMPSA Sustainable Mobility Expedition programme is an effort to realize the university's aspiration to broaden its reach and engage with communities within and outside the country.

"This programme is implemented by bringing university management to the ground to sow goodwill through an approach involving education, technology, community, sustainability, spirituality, and aid.

"Moreover, this community-based programme can empower students to provide exposure and idea enrichment to students with cultural experiences from within and outside the country, while enhancing the development of students' personalities.

"Furthermore, it can foster the spirit of volunteerism that needs to be instilled in students to produce caring and responsible students," he said.

Prior to this, he flagged off the UMPSA Sustainable Mobility Expedition Programme Convoy - 'Songkhla Global Exploration' which ran from 16 to 22 February 2024, starting from UMPSA, stopping at the Industrial Training Institute (ILP) Ipoh, Songkhla, Thailand, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), and returning to UMPSA covering a distance of 1,622 km.

The convoy was led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Ruslim Mohamed.

UMPSA volunteers participating in this expedition programme also conducted activities such as painting dormitory and classroom buildings.

Other activities carried out by volunteers included installing bookshelves, futsal clinics, group activities, cleaning, and planting fruit trees around the school as a symbol of cooperation and in response to green sustainability initiatives and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The contributions from UMPSA encompassed the needs of the SDGs with indicators agreed upon at the United Nations (UN) level to be achieved by 2030.

Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie also handed over contributions from the UMPSA Foundation for the benefit of students.

This mobility programme also included academic visits to Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RUTS), Thailand, recreational programems, and friendly sports matches with the Thaksin University futsal team, which saw UMPSA's victory with a score of 5-2, as well as community service.

The 20 students involved in this programme are preparing for the 2024 IPT Futsal League Championship - Super League scheduled to begin in April 2024.

By: Siti Nur Azwin Zulkapri, Centre For Corporate Communications

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMPSA Career Centre (UMPSACC)