By Norul Hanizan Hazin, Alumni Centre

To further strengthen ties with its alumni, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) recently hosted a special homecoming event that brought together many of its past graduates under one roof.

Through its Student Affairs and Alumni Division (HEPA), UMT organized the Grand Alumni Homecoming 2025: Golden Threads of Yesterday in July at the Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. 

Over 300 alumni from across the country gathered in a nostalgic atmosphere to celebrate the reunion. 

One of the highlights of this inaugural event was the launch of a major initiative with lasting impact on the education system. The initiative was the Special Waqf Knowledge Project: UM Alumni Education and Welfare Home. 

UMT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohd Zamri Ibrahim in his speech said that the establishment of the home symbolises the alumni’s love for the university and their support for the sustainability of higher education.

“The home will be built in Kampung Tok Jembal, near the UMT campus, at an estimated cost of RM500,000,” he said. “It aims to support underprivileged students (asnaf and B40), unemployed young alumni, and temporary staff who need transit accommodation.”

“This effort not only expresses appreciation for our alumni but also nurtures compassion and social responsibility towards inclusive and sustainable education,” he added.

The initiative is part of the Alumni Welfare Fund, established two years ago and has since benefited over 130 alumni through various forms of assistance, including medical treatment, bereavement, tuition fees, and property loss.

Prof. Zamri also mentioned another initiative launched earlier, called Alumni Kasih. Introduced by UMT in 2025 through HEPA, the support scheme offers a one-off financial aid to alumni’s children who pursue their studies at UMT.

In addition, the special dinner featured a Letter of Intent exchange between HEPA and UMT SEA Sdn. Bhd., opening opportunities for alumni to enroll in UMT SEA short courses with special registration discounts.

The same evening also saw the pre-launch of the alumni magazine ‘SAUH’, which will serve as an official communication platform sharing inspiring alumni stories and university updates.

Prof. Zamri also took the opportunity to share some encouraging news. For the first time, UMT has been ranked among the world’s top 801–850 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026, listed among the top 100 universities globally, and ranked 20th in Asia in the field of Marine and Freshwater Biology. He said this achievement underscores UMT’s position as a university that produces globally competitive, high-caliber graduates across various fields.

Among the distinguished guests present were UMT Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Mohd Zuki Ali, Chairman of the UMT Board of Directors Prof. Dr. Mohamad Salmi Sohod, and Deputy Vice-Chancellors.