USM PENANG, 26 November 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) achieved a significant milestone on 25 November 2025.

At the USM 63rd Convocation Ceremony, the MSc in Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction (MSc GeoDRR) academic programme celebrated the graduation of its pioneering student, Zhou Ao Jie from China.

The MSc GeoDRR programme was developed through the Erasmus+ Project funded by the European Commission to strengthen the capacity of academic, administrative, and professional experts in Partner Country Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

This initiative aimed to develop and effectively deliver a specialised postgraduate programme that prepares young scientists to address pressing disaster challenges through advanced geospatial technologies.

The project brought together ten (10) institutions from Poland, Spain, Greece, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, along with a consulting firm based in Luxembourg.

Launched in March 2024, the MSc GeoDRR programme was designed to nurture graduates who possess strong ethical values, advanced technical competencies, and the ability to apply geomatics and geospatial technologies to real-world disaster risk reduction scenarios.

 

The programme responds to the growing global need for experts capable of supporting climate resilience, community safety, and evidence-based disaster preparedness.

Since its introduction, 12 students have enrolled in the programme, reflecting increasing recognition of geospatial technologies as a key component of national and regional resilience strategies.

Full-time students complete the programme in 3 semesters (minimum 1.5 years), while part-time students complete it in 4 semesters (minimum 2 years).

Using English as the medium of instruction, the 100% coursework programme would need a candidate to complete 54 units of coursework, comprising of 7 core courses (21 credits), 3 electives (18 credits) and 1 research project (15 credits), covering disasters such as floods, landslides, forest fires, droughts, and other climate-driven hazards.

Graduates who have undergone the MSc GeoDDR programme would be able to become leaders in disaster risk reduction management utilising Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) and remote sensing technology.

The graduation of its first alumnus marks an important beginning for the MSc GeoDRR programme and reinforces the commitment by USM towards developing future-ready professionals.

They will have work prospects as experts in research and geomatic technicalities and are knowledgeable in disaster risk management, resilience and readiness, and will be able to contribute meaningfully to organisations, governments, and communities in a rapidly changing and climate-vulnerable world.

As a continuation of these efforts, the USM team has successfully secured the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE) titled “Digital Transformation for Natural Hazards (DigiHAZ)” which supports capacity building and the offering of the Ph.D. programme in Geomatics for Disaster Risk Management.

The programme aimed at strengthening research capacities across six higher education institutions in Spain, Greece, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

DigiHAZ focuses on enhancing regional expertise to address the growing risks posed by natural hazards while promoting digital innovation and transformative geospatial solutions.

Text & Photos: GeoInformatic Unit (GIU), School of Humanities, USM