By Fadli Mamat, Student Affairs and Alumni Office

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) is reinforcing its commitment to nurturing principled, resilient, and socially responsible graduates through initiatives that place human values, student wellbeing and sustainability at the centre of campus life.

This commitment was reaffirmed during the Student Affairs and Alumni (HEPA) Commitment Declaration Ceremony 2026 held on 16 February at the Sulaiman Auditorium, Sultanah Nur Zahirah Library.

The ceremony, themed “Meaningful Student Experiences, Celebrating Humanity,” reflects UMT’s aspiration to cultivate a campus ecosystem that supports holistic student development while strengthening values such as integrity, empathy and social responsibility. The initiative also aligns with the aspirations of the Ministry of Higher Education through the Malaysia Higher Education Plan (RPTM) 2026–2035, which emphasises the role of universities in nurturing graduates who contribute meaningfully to society.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Professor Dr. Mohd Izani Mohd Zain, said student development is a strategic national agenda that must be aligned with the broader aspiration of building a MADANI society.

“Universities are arenas of civilisation where knowledge is advanced, values are upheld and future leaders are nurtured with a strong sense of social responsibility and universal humanity,” he said.

He added that student wellbeing should not be viewed solely as a welfare initiative but also as an important indicator of a resilient higher education ecosystem built on empathy, accountability and effective governance.

For 2026, HEPA UMT has outlined ten strategic priorities to strengthen the student development agenda. These include enhancing meaningful student experiences, strengthening the talent development ecosystem, empowering student welfare initiatives, elevating residential colleges as a second learning environment, and strengthening graduate employability and student entrepreneurship.

Other priorities include promoting student wellbeing, nurturing youth leadership in sustainability and the blue economy, revitalising beach sports while promoting local culture, strengthening alumni engagement and enhancing HEPA’s institutional capacity in leading student development initiatives.

The ceremony also witnessed the launch of the Student Information Integration System (SIPA), a digital platform designed to strengthen data-driven governance and improve the efficiency and transparency of student support services.

In line with UMT’s sustainability agenda, the event also marked the launch of Skuad Lasykar Alam@UMT, which aims to mobilise 1,000 students as sustainability-driven change agents through community service activities nationwide.

Student welfare initiatives were also highlighted through the presentation of financial assistance under the Student Development Fund for Asnaf Students, amounting to RM100,000 from the UMT Ihsan Centre and RM570,000 from the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM).

Through these initiatives, UMT continues to strengthen its role in shaping well-rounded graduates who are not only academically accomplished but also guided by strong human values and a deep sense of responsibility towards society and the environment.