 Campus Info UMP embarks on 6R Campaign for sustainable green campus
By: MOHD MARZUKI MOHAMED, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH MANAGEMENT OFFICE Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) has recently embarked on its Green Policy, and launched the “Let’s Break Up with Single-Use Plastic” campaign on February 19, 2019, at its Sports Complex, Gambang Campus, to encourage students and faculty members alike to reduce the usage of plastics. The Policy is the result of an initiative by the UMP Sustainability Committee, which falls under the purview of the Waste Management Cluster, to inculcate greater awareness on the need to reduce and eventually abandon single-use plastics on university ground. Dubbed 6R, the Policy focuses on six principles – namely, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot and Re-Think – in the aspect of waste management, which forms part of the university’s healthy living environment initiative. The campaign was launched by UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim, during his 2019 Annual Mandate event, as a proactive move by the university in response to the Government’s call for Malaysia’s Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030 – which was unveiled by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change (MESTECC) on October 17 last year. According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Dato’ Dr. Mashitah Mohd Yusoff, who also chairs the Campus Sustainability Committee, among the main objectives of the campaign is to encourage the use of recycled materials for straws, grocery bags, and food and drink containers.
“These three categories of plastic items contribute 30 to 40 percent of the total waste generated at the university,” she said. “Due their non-biodegradable nature, these categories of waste could not be recycled by the appointed vendors, and ultimately, will continue to pollute the environment,” she stressed. Sustainable waste management should be empowered, in line with the development and operation of the Composite & Recycle Centre on campus. On that same breadth, this campaign also aims to create an increased awareness of the importance and responsibility of UMP residents to cut down the generation of domestic household solid waste – which will subsequently lessen the waste tonnage sent the disposal site and consequently, will reduce pollution to the environment and green-house effects, both of which have had irreversible negative impacts on the global climate. In this regard, several programmes have been and will continue to be implemented by the Occupational Safety & Health Management Office (OSHMO) to create a greater awareness of this Green Policy initiative in a sustainable manner. Among them is 'MYTAPAU', wherein UMP residents are given incentives if they bring along their own containers to pack the take-away food. In another programme, UMP is collaborating with the Kuantan Community Rehabilitation Centre (PPDK) to recycle printed materials, such as advertisement banners, into reusable grocery bags. Such ranking has translated UMP to be the 29th best in Asia and 16th in Southeast Asia. The assessments were based on seven main criteria – Acreage and Infrastructure; Energy and Climate Change; Waste Disposal; Water; Transportation; Education; and Healthy Lifestyle. Academic and International UMP prepares graduates of management and technical knowledge in business engineering
Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) is a well-known, world-class and five-star technology university that offers quality and accredited engineering and technology-based programmes. It is the University of Choice of school leavers and working adults to pursue their studies in diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate degree. One of the programmes that have received international accreditation is its dual-degree programme, which is a result of collaborations with two universities from Germany, Hochscule Karlsruhe Und Wirtschaft (HsKA) and Reutlingen University (HsR). The dual-degree programme between UMP and HsKA is the bachelor’s degree in mechatronic engineering and the dual-degree programme between UMP and HsR is the bachelor’s degree in business engineering. According to Business Engineering Programme Head at Faculty of Industrial Management (FIM), Dr. Lee Khai Loon, executives equipped with the technical skills and knowledge in business management were said to be the most sought after workers, especially in meeting demands and challenges expected in the Industrial Revolution 4.0. “As such, FIM offers the Business Engineering programme, introduced four years ago. It provides the opportunity for those who wish to have basic engineering skills and are interested to learn about business management, the basis to launch their careers. “Students will complete their first two years in UMP and for those who fulfilled the academic qualifications required, they can continue their remaining study years in Reutlingen University. “The advantage is that students will obtain two degrees – Bachelor’s Degree in Business Engineering with Honours from UMP and Bachelor’s Degree in Operational Management and International Logistics from HsR. “They will also get to learn the German language, the culture and gain experience from the industrial sector in the country itself. To date, the first five students from this programme have graduated last year,” he said. Dr. Lee said the programme was expected to fulfill objectives outlined in the 11th Malaysian Plan which was to create more engineering-based entrepreneurs and spur growth in the small and medium industries (SMIs).
It was pertinent to form a strong synergy between the needs of industries and sound business knowledge and as such, graduates produced must be able to meet and understand the significant essentials required by the industries. It was also the university’s aspiration to produce more skilled workers in the business and engineering industry to cater to the demands of industrial areas such as in Pekan, Gebeng and Temerloh in Pahang and Kerteh and Kemaman in Terengganu. Graduates from this programme would be valuable workers for they would have practical industrial knowledge as well as being multi-lingual. As for UMP and HsR, both universities are set to be the hub for international education and promote applied and innovative research collaborations at the international level. German companies operating in Malaysia such as Mercedes Benz, Bosch, Infineon, BASF and Siemens would gain benefits too for they would be able to hire competent people. As for Malaysia and Germany, both countries would get to further intensify their human capital development and economic growth. Students’ Activities UMP volunteers draw up mission to assist Kota Palu victims
By: NOR FATIN NABILAH MOHD TAHIR, AWANI RANGERS & UMP MASS MEDIA CLUB Stirred by the plight of victims suffering from the double natural disasters of earthquake and tsunami, which hit Kota Palu, Sulawesi, Indonesia, last September 28, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) volunteers – comprising Students Movement (GPS) in collaboration with the Chemical Engineering Students Association (CHEST) – have drawn up a programmed called Palu Humanitarian Mission to help lighten the former’s burden. The Mission, planned for May 11 to 16 during the fasting month of Ramadan, has received endorsement and cooperation from Malaysian Muslims Welfare Fund Foundation (YDKMM) and Indonesia’s philanthropic board Rumah Zakat (RZ). The two non-governmental bodies are well-experienced in handling and managing victims suffering and recovering from serial disasters, like earthquake, tsunami and soil liquidation. According to UMP Department of Student Affairs & Alumni Senior Executive, Abdul Rahman Ahmad, who is also the Programme Advisor, among the main agenda drawn up for the Mission will be temporary relocation of housings, schools and lavatories. “What distinguishes this coming Mission from the rest, is that it will be carried out during the fasting month of Ramadan. Hence, UMP volunteers will get to share the experience of fasting with post-calamity victims there,” he said.
“We hope such programme will help produce students who not only excel in academic, but also outstanding in the spirit of humanity and charity, and positively trained to communicate and interact well with the real world,” he emphasized. Meanwhile, Programme Director Ezwan Shah Nordin, said to date, the Mission has collected some RM20,000 of cash contribution, and is targeting to rally up a fund of RM100,000, to help build more temporary shelters to house the victims before the approaching festive celebration of Aidil Fitri. “During the mission, we also hope to carry out a number of communal activities, like breaking of fast, community service as well as an academic motivational workshop, to help the children who have been missing schools cope with their education,” said Ezwan, who is also the Executive Committee of Volunteers & Community Service of UMP Students Council, On February 19, UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim officially launched the Palu Humanitarian Mission Fund. Aside from getting corporate sponsorships, the Mission has also organized other donation drives, like the Palu Charity Run and Food Festival, which went well-received by the general public. For those who wish to donate to the Palu Humanitarian Mission Fund, they may channel their cash and cheque contributions, under the name of 'Bendahari Universiti Malaysia Pahang', directly into the Mission’s official account at Maybank: 5561 3530 4242. For proper accounting and documentation, contributors are advised to notify the Mission’s Treasurer, NoorIlmiah Datu Moksan of UMP Bursary, at her mobile number +60145641887, once deposits have been made. Campus Info Public university administrators reminded on the importance of trustworthiness in advanced management
Public university administrators must quickly adapt to changes consistent with the landscape of their organisations that are currently facing a string of transformations following the trend in Industrial Revolution 4.0. A university also needs to have knowledgeable and skilled human capital in order to further enhance its competitiveness. An administrator is the backbone of a university’s operation and needs to have the exposure on means to realise one’s capability in tackling demands in advanced management. To date, there are more than 8,000 public university administrators in the management and administrative group of various service schemes, working hard in managing their respective universities. Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Chief Operation Officer and Registrar, Abd. Hamid Majid said if the elements in IR 4.0 and advanced management were not handled accordingly, it would create stress that would eventually affect the quality of work and life.
“It will be more worrying if this problem is seen contributing towards the decline in competitiveness that will have impacts particularly on the organisation’s productivity and the education sector, in general. “As such, associations, in particular MASTI, is expected to come up with strategies to implement transformation that will give weight and high impact when applying advanced management practices in an organisation,” he said. He said this in his speech delivered at the Administrator Colloquium Programme: Advanced Management that was organised by the Association of UMP Administrative and Professional Officers (PPTI), in conjunction with the 27th Malaysia Public University Administrator Association Council Executive Meeting (MASTI). It was held at UMP Pekan Campus on February 21, 2019. Also present were MASTI Deputy President (Strategic Alliance), Wan Mohd Wazir Wan Abdul Wahab and MASTI Deputy President (Internationalisation), Mohd Raizalhilmy Mohd Rais, who is also PPTI President. Wan Mohd Wazir lauded efforts taken to organise the programme that was aimed at sharing experiences and viewpoints of the administrators who came from various backgrounds and expertise. He added that UMP was the second destination of MASTI tour series after Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), allowing the executives to meet members and highlighting the focus of the association’s mission and vision.
Mohd Raizalhilmy also said the topics discussed were very relevant and through the data highway, administrator could analyse and make fast and accurate decision. He added that the challenge now was to explore and refine their potentials so they would become more competent and ensure that first-class work culture became synonymous with the image of an administrator. Several panellists spoke on various issues including Muhammad Azli Shukri, UMP Publisher Senior Publication Officer who spoke on ‘Administrator in the IR 4.0 Era: The Shock and The Wave’, Emma Melati Burhanuddin, Senior Executive with the Faculty of Civil and Natural Resource Engineering (FKASA) on the topic titled, ‘Advanced Management Culture in University in the USA’ and Haji Abdullah Fairuzullah Ahmad Tajudin, Information Technology Senior Executive with the Centre of Information Communication and Technology (PTMK) and his topic was ‘The Implementation of Analytical Data Highway in Advanced Management.’ Department of Socio-Economy and UMP Advanced Special Project General Manager, Zainal Haji Bahari acted as the moderator for the colloquium, attended by some 60 MASTI executives and members. Knowledge Management UMP Librarians conduct Information Cataloguing Workshop in Pekan
By: ISWAN AKIM ISMAIL, UMP LIBRARY In its continuous efforts to maintain harmonious interactions between Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and the community of Pekan, the former’s Library took on the innovative social responsibility role by conducting an “Integrated Cataloguing of Information for Resource Centres” workshop (SKBPSS) on February 13, 2019, involving several secondary schools within the district. Held at the university’s Library Auditorium and Computer Laboratory at its Pekan Campus, the workshop saw participation of 78 individuals, comprising Resource Centre supervisors (PPS) and, six Library & Media teachers (GPM) from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato’ Mahmud Mat, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Abdullah and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ahmad. According to UMP Senior Deputy Head of Library, Dzull Zabarrod Ahmad, the workshop was conducted to enhance information cataloguing skills among students, especially those of PPS’, at the respective participating schools. “The workshop is an opportunity for participants to experience online information cataloguing first-hand, while simultaneously gain the much-needed exposure to the various roles that information play in today’s information technology (IT) era,” he said. “For an effective and productive experience, the students who attended the workshop were divided into two groups – one group was seated at the Library Auditorium to listen to the theory of information cataloguing, while the other at the Computer Lab for a practical online cataloguing session,” Dzull explained. He hoped such workshop can be repeatedly conducted at many more schools across Pahang so that the processes of cataloguing and classifying information are standardized for an easier online search. On hand to train the participants at the SKBPSS were Senior Librarian, Iswan Akim Ismail, and Librarian, Wan Nurul Huda Wan Zakaria, who spoke on topics related to the Fundamentals of Cataloguing and the Introduction to Online Search of Information. They also briefed the PPS and GPM on the Online Information Cataloguing System. Sports and Recreational 500 participants took part in UMP Charity Run for Palu Humanitarian Mission fund
By: SITI NURAZWIN ZULKAPRI, CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION The Department of Student Affairs & Alumni (JHEPA), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) organised a charity run in a move to raise funds for the Palu Humanitarian Mission in Indonesia which was badly hit by natural disaster. It was an initiative organised together with UMP Consumer Student Movement (GPS) and Association of Chemical Engineering Students (CHEST) led by Ezwan Shah Mohd Nordin, who is also the Student Representative Council for Volunteerism and Community Service exco member.
The run was held on February 23, 2019 and started at 7am. The run began at the Sports Complex, Gambang Campus and was flagged off by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin. The run, which was opened to the public, was also aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and produced students of healthy mind and body. Programme Director, Nur Amira Shafiqa Ismail said the programme not only help to encourage public live a healthy lifestyle but also a means for participants to contribute to a good cause. “We also get to introduce the university and its campus to outsiders as some runners are from different institutes such as from Pahang Matriculation College,” she said.
Ezwan said they managed to raise RM4,000 and the amount was channelled to the Palu Humanitarian Fund, recently launched by UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim. To date, the fund has raised RM20,000 and the target is set at RM100,000. The amount is expected to be used to build houses for the victims so they can celebrate this year’s Hari Raya in new homes. The mission is expected to commence from May 11 until May 16, the time when Muslims will be observing the fasting month. The programme also received cooperation from Malaysia Muslim Welfare Fund Foundation (YDKMM) and Rumah Zakat (RZ), a non-governmental organisation from Indonesia which has the experience in dealing with victims of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami and soil liquefaction. Student Activity UMP student oden food business gained popularity and good income for him
Lady Luck was indeed smiling on Mohd Nazarni Che Isa whose oden food business has become a viral sensation. The chemical engineering master’s degree student said he did not expect his food business to take off that good and had now become a source of income for him. He started out his business with a capital of RM300 to buy raw material and utensils and now he earned between RM1,300 to RM1,500 daily. “The steamboat style food, oden, has become popular and has gone viral in the social media. This idea came about after a convenience store from Japan starts its operation in the country and introduced the steamboat style food. “When people began searching for the food on social media, it made me curious and I went to several restaurants that serve oden. From there, I tried creating my own version of oden sauce,” he said. He then set up a kiosk that was provided by the Entrepreneur Unit at UMP Amphitheatre in Gambang Campus, under the name, UMP Bamsis Oden. “On the first day, I took up the courage to sell 600 sticks of various types of fish balls and was grateful that they were well-received.
“The good response from customers motivated me to continue with the business. Most of them like the sauce and said that the hot, sour and thick sauce will surely make oden lovers sweat. The aroma itself will make one drools,’’ he said, laughing. “It is sold at only RM1 per stick and there are various flavours. The price is very cheap as compared to other places. “UMP Bamsis Oden is opened from Monday to Thursday from 9.30am-5.15pm,” he said. In order to attract more customers, Mohd Nazarni also sold fresh milk, ready-to-eat food such as cut fruits, yogurt, kek batek and doughnuts. On the success of his business, Mohd Nazarni said one must have patience and resilience and quality was of utmost importance. However, he admitted that it was a challenging task in dividing his time between studies and business but he had now hired two part-time workers who were also UMP students, which also helped them to earn some extra money. Mohd Nazarni said he would like to express his gratitude to UMP for providing the opportunities for students to become entrepreneurs and hoped that other students would take up the same opportunity because the experience gained would be useful once they joined the workforce. Selected Article/Commentary UMP committed to continuous upgrading of community socioeconomic status
By: ZAINAL HAJI BAHARI, GENERAL MANAGER, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOECONOMY & SPECIAL PROJECTS, UMP ADVANCED Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Advanced Education continues to play its pivotal role as the agent of change in bringing about a consistent upgrade of the socioeconomic status of the surrounding community, by offering various short-term programmes, including competency-building courses, in collaboration with both governmental bodies and the private sector. Originally established as the Centre for Continuing Education & Professional Development (CENFED), the revamped UMP Advanced sees its role paralleled to the commitment of the university at large, to maximize the potential and competency of short-term programmes, in respond to the Government’s call to make available adequate pool of skilled and semi-skilled human capital. This particular call is part and parcel of the country’s education blueprint – Malaysia Education Development Plan 2013-2025 (PPPM) and National Higher Education Strategic Plan (PSPTN) – which also lends focus on empowering training courses under the Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) concept is thereby applied for each and every cooperation with external stakeholders to ensure that every programme is conducted to the highest standard and meets market demand. One such programme having a significant impact on the local community is “Empower ECER Mahkota”. Implemented in 2011, the programme has successfully trained 13,081 participants from outside Kuantan. ECER Mahkota outlines educational courses, covering underprivileged (B40) and indigenous students, who are either weak or moderate in their academic achievements. The programme was eventually well-received by the State and District Education Departments, District Officers and all local leaders, when it became obvious that underprivileged students were given the rare opportunities to participate in various activities conducted within the school compound, field trips to UMP, boot camps and education & career counseling, including a special programme for parents and teachers. Among the most notable success of the programme was when indigenous students got accepted into boarding schools (SBP) and Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) across the country, and some even went farther and enrolled into institutions of higher learning. As for unemployed youth and single mothers, they were never sidelined, but were also given the opening to undergo an Entrepreneur & Skill-building Programme – where they took courses to become budding entrepreneurs, many of whom can now afford to conduct businesses from the comfort of their own homes, and trade commerce online. The modules developed for these entrepreneurs do not only focus on certain subject matter or practical application, but also took into consideration additional exposures to digital marketing, financial management and entrepreneurial motivation courses. These modules have been duly certified by the university’s Senate and Council of Lifelong Learning, which allowed for participants who completed their studies and fulfilled the prerequisites to be conferred the accredited Professional Certificate from UMP Advanced. To help budding entrepreneurs expand their business potentials, UMP Advanced has collaborated with the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) to provide commercial spaces for these newly established enterprises to promote, market and sell their products. One good example is the construction of a complex and processing centre of sea produce called D’ Kuala. The complex boasts of 12 commercial lots comprising four units of factory processing sea produce; four restaurants and four convenience stores. To date, all 12 commercial lots are fully operational. Last, but not least, focus is also given to retirees and the elderlies, when in 2018, UMP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Perbadanan Hal Ehwal Veteran Angkatan Tentera – a corporation which looks after the welfare of retired armed forces personnel – to facilitate the running of a Veterans’ SocioEconomic Development Programme (PPSEV). Sealed on December 23, 2018, the MoU signed in conjunction with the PERHEBAT 52nd Convocation Ceremony, in the presence of the Minister of Defence Mohamad Sabu, who represented the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. In his speech text read out by the Minister of Defence, Tun Dr. Mahathir called upon the private sector to inspire more collaborations within their industries to help alleviate the current pitiable socioeconomic status of the veterans and retired armed forces personnel – who generally had to leave full-time employment at such a young age. On these notes, it is obligatory for UMP Advanced to ensure that the programmes and courses conducted are relevant and reflective of the fields of expertise, to ensure that experience and skills-set learnt are utilized to generate income and elevate the socioeconomic status of a particular focused group.          |
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