By Syarifah Noormaisarah Tuan Besar, International Centre

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), through its Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (IBTPL), successfully hosted the second World Universities Association for Community Development (WUACD) Student Exchange Programme with Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Indonesia. Held from 26 July to 9 August 2025, the 14-day programme brought together 34 students and two academic staff members from UNAIR for academic, community and cultural engagement.

As part of the mutual exchange, UMT will send 40 students to UNAIR in November 2025. Since the partnership began, 115 students from both universities have benefited.

WUACD, established on 30 November 2018, is a global network of 38 universities from 15 countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Libya, Pakistan, and the United States. In Malaysia, six public and two private universities are members. The association promotes collaboration on global challenges, including poverty, health, inequality, climate change, and social justice, aligning with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UMT programme combined academic learning (three credit hours), community interaction, industry engagement, and University Social Responsibility (USR) initiatives. It was supported by the Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, and the Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology.

IBTPL expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the exchange, noting that such initiatives enrich student perspectives while strengthening UMT’s international visibility. The programme reflects UMT’s commitment to academic excellence, community development and global engagement, while advancing student mobility and sustainable international partnerships.