USM, PENANG, 30 April 2016 – The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman has outlined four measures for the university to implement in its operations, in order to face the challenges and constraints as it moves forward into the future.

“In view of the current funding and financial limitations, the university is urging everyone to face the economic effects and reduced funding by pooling the resources together and practicing prudent undertakings, and to optimise the resources of the university," said Omar.

According to him, everyone needs to fully leverage the available technology and every network for cooperation, collaboration and resources creatively and effectively to overcome the existing challenges in order to continue moving ahead.

“The university also is always urging and encouraging its academicians to raise their efforts in high-level research work, conducting collaborations with various reputable and respectable partners globally and internationally.”

“Furthermore, the university too would continue its efforts in product commercialisation by tapping into the world and international markets in the fields of advanced cross-technology such as nano LED, biomass, bioplastics, herbal and supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) conductivity through cooperation and continuous collaborations with various partners,” he said.

USM would also intensify its internationalisation programme to establish the platform in increasing the number of international students of quality coming from different parts of the world. At the same time, USM would also establish an offshore higher education hub as well as in offering twinning or joint programmes with various world-renowned institutions especially at the postgraduate levels, as how it has been successfully done with institutions in France and Germany.

Added Omar, the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX) conducted at USM since 2008 has resulted in USM showing steady improvement in its world ranking. For example in the QS World University Rankings 2015 for the subject of Environmental Science, USM has garnered First Place in Malaysia and was at number 31 in the world. Also in the QS World University Rankings 2015, in the category of universities which are 50 years or younger, USM was placed first in Malaysia and at number 26 in the world.

He said this in his address during the first session of the 53rd USM Convocation Ceremony here recently.

1,160 graduands received their degrees at the 53rd USM Convocation Ceremony, including 259 candidates for Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Public Health, Doctor of Education and Doctor in Business Administration, along with 492 graduands for the Master’s degrees and 408 graduands for undergraduate degrees. USM has succeeded in producing 153,000 graduates, which include postgraduate and undergraduate degrees since the university was first established.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Nur ‘Izzah ‘Atira bt Muhamad Nazmi (USM Internship Student)