NIBONG TEBAL, PENANG, September 2015 - All members of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) community are encouraged to apply for grants on social innovation offered by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) in the realisation of products or innovations without research.

This grant would be able to assist in driving technology within society and to develop the country to become a nation of high technology.

That was stated by the Deputy Minister of MOSTI and who was also a former lecturer at USM, Dato' Dr. Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah during the press conference following a special briefing of A Session with Leaders of the Nation with the new students during the student orientation programme (Program Siswa Lestari) at the Engineering Campus here recently.

He added that, the product or innovation must provide an impact on society as well as to ease the daily routine of the local community.

"The Ministry has been suggested to meet with more than 300,000 students face-to-face annually to promote science and technology in order to produce 70 scientists among every 10,000 students," said Abu Bakar.

According to the Campus Director, Professor Dr. Zainal Arifin Mohd Ishak, the presence of Abu Bakar in returning to provide advice and motivation to the students at the campus is of relevance because he was also a former lecturer in the field of Engineering.

"The briefings or lectures were presented to the students in a very relaxed and casual manner, yet filled with messages inserted for the benefit of the new students, as well as being an impetus in the field of education and learning," he said.

A total of 673 new students have enrolled at the USM Engineering Campus, including 47 students selected from the ‘bottom billion’ group for the 2015/2016 session.

Translation: Sharifah Zafirah Syed Nassir/Text: Nor Rafizah Md. Zain