USM PENANG, 13 September 2025 – A total of 20 staff members from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have embarked on a targeted professional development initiative through the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) programme.

This initiative is part of a strategic collaboration between USM and USAINS Holding Sdn. Bhd., aimed at strengthening English language proficiency among university personnel.

This cohort of 20 participants comprises 12 men and 8 women, including 15 middle-level officers, 3 research officers, 1 cultural officer, and 1 security officer.

They represent a broad cross-section of USM’s schools, departments, and research centres, including specialised institutes such as IPPT (a medical facility), REDAC, and INOR.

This diverse representation highlights USM’s ongoing commitment to inclusive and interdisciplinary staff development.

The programme officially began on 9 September 2025 at the EUREKA Building, USM, where Associate Professor Dr. Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed Ismail, the Programme Head, welcomed the participants.

He encouraged them to adopt self-directed learning, engage in regular English communication, and immerse themselves in English-language content through various mediums.

He also urged participants to follow the programme diligently, take full advantage of the guidance provided by the instructors, and commit to consistent practice beyond the classroom.

Dr. Shaik highlighted the programme’s emphasis on receptive skills, particularly listening and reading, and noted the TOEIC’s maximum attainable score of 990.

He expressed confidence in the participants’ potential to make meaningful progress.

Acknowledging their commitment in attending sessions beyond regular working hours, he described their participation as a strong reflection of both professional dedication and personal initiative.

For the record, according to global data from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), Malaysia’s average TOEIC score is 741, exceeding the global mean of 703.

While countries such as the Philippines (826) and Germany (860) currently lead, Malaysia is steadily catching up. These figures highlight the ongoing importance of investing in workplace English proficiency to enhance international competitiveness.

The Vice-Chancellor of USM, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, highlighted the strategic significance of this initiative in advancing the university’s internationalisation goals.

He stated, “This initiative represents a key component of USM’s ongoing internationalisation efforts. Following the success of a similar programme delivered to an industrial client in the Batu Kawan industrial corridor, we are proud to extend this opportunity within the university."

As the first public university in Malaysia to be licensed by the Educational Testing Service USA as an official TOEFL test centre since February 2021, USM continues to lead by expanding into the TOEIC framework.

"This move reinforces our commitment to language excellence, and we want both our staff and students to fully benefit from these opportunities to enhance their English proficiency,” he added. 

His remarks reflect USM’s dedication to equipping its community with the language skills necessary to succeed on a global stage.

From the perspective of USAINS, the programme also reflects a strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) ethos in its partnership with USM.

USAINS Group Managing Director, Farid Wajidi Mat Yusoff, highlighted that the programme is delivered at a fraction of its actual market cost for USM staff members, with the university subsidising only 25 percent, while USAINS covers the remainder through the use of its existing infrastructure and HRDF-claimable model.

In other contexts, this same model has attracted reputable clients such as Malaysia National Corporation (MNC), commercial airlines, and private individuals at standard commercial rates. The initiative continues to gain traction across a broad range of sectors.

Farid further expressed his sincere appreciation to the TOEFL and TOEIC team members at USAINS, along with the TOEIC-certified instructors, for their dedication and professionalism throughout the programme.

He also revealed plans to extend similar initiatives to USM’s SULUNG students, first-generation university students from B40 households registered under e-Kasih, as well as members of the USM Student Representative Council (MPP).

By providing these groups with access to internationally recognised TOEIC certification, USM is not only enhancing their English proficiency but also significantly boosting their employability and professional credentials.

This strategic investment in human capital demonstrates the joint commitment of USM and USAINS to empowering underrepresented communities and preparing students for competitive global careers.

The current USM staff programme consists of 40 hours of face-to-face instruction, conducted after office hours from 5.15 p.m. to 7.15 p.m., delivered by certified instructors.

This is complemented by asynchronous learning activities and ongoing instructor engagement to support continuous progress.

The programme is scheduled to run until 6 November 2025, after which participants will undertake the official TOEIC assessment in mid-November 2025 to evaluate their language proficiency.

Text & Photos: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed Ismail, Head of Education at USAINS