The initiative taken by Office of Student Affairs and Alumni, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), to establish foster villages around Terengganu is part of the effort to help communities improve their socioeconomic status, knowledge, leadership elements, awareness of the importance of environmental conservation, and sailing skills, as well as to introduce cultural programmes to communities involved.

According to Professor Dr. Mohd Izani Mohd Zain, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), HEPA Foster Village Community Programme also aims to fulfil several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including among them No Poverty, Quality Education, and Life on Land.

This year, the programme has been implemented at five villages around Terengganu, each assigned to a specific department within HEPA Office. Pulau Duyung, Kuala Terengganu, was placed under UMT Sailing Centre, with the focus being the sailing programme. Kampung Matang, Hulu Terengganu, was placed under the administration of the Student Counselling and Wellbeing Centre, with the focus being the leadership programme. Kampung Mangkuk, Setiu, was placed under the Office of Student Affairs, where the focus was on the green conservation. Kampung Mengabang Lekor, Kuala Nerus, was put under the Centre for Student Development, with the focus being the socioeconomic programme. Meanwhile, Kampung Tok Jembal became a foster village of the Cultural and Art Centre, and the focus was on the cultural programe.  

According to Professor Dr. Mohd Izani, among the main objectives of the programme were to develop the communities, create a close relationship between the university and the communities, and strengthen the collaborations through community-based programmes.

The programme is in line with the aspiration of Higher Education Minister, who insists that learning institutions should not isolate themselves from the surrounding communities. The programme focuses on helping the communities solve socioeconomic issues, increase their knowledge, strengthen their leadership elements, become more aware of the importance of environmental conservation and its effect on the communities, improve their sailing skills, and cultivate an appreciation for cultural programmes.

To help improve the relationship between UMT and the communities, HEPA through its Sailing Training Centre, Student Counselling and Wellbeing Centre, Office of Student Affairs, Student Development Centre, and Cultural and Arts Centre will become the medium for the university to provide benefits to the communities involved.

Some of the examples include a workshop on sail boat construction for Kampung Pulau Duyung community, a knowledge transfer programme involving counselling theories for school students, a knowledge transfer programme regarding Gelam tree ecosystem from planting to extracting of Gelam oil, a knowledge transfer programme involving capturing fish using the latest technology, and a knowledge transfer regarding the cutural significance of Gamelan for school students.

All the activities carried out fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will be holistically emphasized so that the programmes’ impacts are long-term and provide continuous benefits to the communities involved.

Continuous knowledge exposure and transfer will help the communities develop their talents and assist them in improving their standard of living.

UMT’s efforts in helping the local communities change their standard of living for the better are in line with its slogan “University for community”.

Prepared by:

Rozita binti Alias @ Abdul Latiff

Published by:

Corporate Communications Office

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu