USM, PENANG, 10 November 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) made a strong and meaningful presence at the Festival of Ideas (FOI) Putrajaya 2025, reaffirming its leadership in innovation, sustainability and student empowerment within Malaysia’s higher education landscape.

A total of 329 students and academic staff from USM’s three campuses; the Main Campus in Penang, the Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal and the Health Campus in Kubang Kerian participated in this national event held from 3 to 8 November 2025 in Putrajaya.

Organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), FOI 2025 attracted over two million visitors, showcasing the scale and impact of this premier national platform for creative ideas, innovation and research excellence.

USM extends its deep appreciation to MOHE for spearheading such a visionary initiative that strengthens collaboration between universities, industries and communities.

USM’s participation reflected a strong synergy between academic expertise and student leadership, with diverse research outputs, social innovation projects and entrepreneurial ideas presented throughout the festival.

Students also took part in idea exchanges, workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions that enhanced their learning and professional development.

The experience offered students valuable opportunities to hone communication, teamwork and leadership skills, while building meaningful connections with innovators and experts from various sectors.

For academics, FOI served as an important avenue to showcase impactful research, exchange knowledge and form new partnerships that align with national and global sustainability goals.

USM is deeply proud of the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by all participants, reflecting the collective strength of its community in advancing human capital development that is creative, responsible and future-oriented.

Participation in FOI 2025 proved to be a valuable and transformative experience, accentuating USM’s role as a forward-looking institution that nurtures innovation, inspires excellence and contributes meaningfully to the progress of society and the nation.

The Way Forward

Following the success of FOI 2025, USM aims to continue this momentum through enhanced participation in Festival of Ideas 2026 and other national and international platforms that promote innovation, sustainability and academic excellence.

Planned follow-up initiatives include student innovation and leadership development programmes, campus-level research and innovation showcases and cross-faculty collaborations with industry and government partners to further expand the ideas introduced during FOI.

USM also plans to strengthen campus-wide engagement through post-event workshops and discourse sessions, enabling students and academics to refine their projects and share lessons learned for broader community impact.

Looking ahead, USM remains committed in transforming the knowledge, experience and inspiration gained from FOI 2025 into sustainable research, impactful innovation and continued collaboration that affirm its position as Malaysia’s 'Sustainability-Driven University' and a global leader in transformative higher education.