Kuala Nerus, 18 August – Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) continues to strengthen its reputation as the nation’s niche university in marine and aquatic resources by expanding its foundation-level programmes and intensifying its environmental sustainability agenda.

UMT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohd Zamri Ibrahim said that the university will introduce a new Foundation in Management and Business programme starting with the 2026 intake.

“This initiative is not only aimed at producing quality graduates in the fields of management and entrepreneurship, but also at ensuring the continuity of knowledge development that supports the blue economy agenda and global sustainability.

He explained that the new foundation programme will complement the existing Foundation in STEM programme, which currently records an enrolment of 500 students.

“UMT has grown positively in various aspects, including rankings and global recognition. It is now the right time for us to offer a new programme such as the Foundation in Management and Business, with a target of 1,000 new students enrolling in foundation studies at UMT,” he said during the UMT Assembly 2025 held at Dewan Sultan Mizan.

He stressed that the entire university community must work together to further elevate UMT’s reputation in line with the UMT Strategic Plan, which emphasizes a balance between academic excellence, innovation, and sustainability.

UMT is now at its strongest position since its establishment, being ranked among the world’s top 800–850 universities by the QS World University Rankings. More impressively, UMT is listed among the world’s top 100 universities in marine science and freshwater biology, making it Malaysia’s pioneer in these disciplines.

In addition to academic excellence, UMT is also advancing environmental sustainability initiatives.

Among the ongoing efforts are the use of electric vehicles (EVs) within the campus to reduce carbon emissions.

In addition, Prof. Zamri said that the development of eco-friendly buildings with energy-saving features, such as smart lighting systems, natural ventilation, and the use of sustainable building materials, is being implemented in several buildings according to planned phases.

“Today, we are also upgrading the solar panel installation project on campus buildings and central parking areas as part of efforts to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.

“These initiatives clearly reflect UMT’s commitment to supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We want this campus to be a model green university that not only champions expertise in marine and aquatic sciences but also carries responsibility towards the environment and the community,” he said.

He added that UMT’s future direction is to continue serving as a key reference point in the blue economy, aquatic resource sustainability, and green campus initiatives, while further strengthening strategic networks with industry, communities, and international research partners.