PENANG, 21 September 2020 – A briefing was held recently at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) University Conference Hall (DPU) to ensure that the USM community will stay on track regarding sustainability.

The briefing, organised by the USM Division of Sustainability and Institutional Development, was meant to update, coordinate and align the efforts of the university community in fulfilling the requirements of external ranking bodies, as well as in the assessment of other sustainability-related activities.

The session began with an introductory speech by the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Sustainability and Institutional Development, Professor Dr.Md Roslan Hashim.

He reminded everyone to continue to embrace and strengthen institution-wide efforts relating to sustainability. At the same time, it would also further improve the sustainability standing of the university globally, to emphasise that USM, the nation’s sole APEX-status institution, supports the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.

The Director of Centre for Global Sustainability Studies (CGSS), Associate Professor Dr. Saidatulakmal Mohd then continued the session by emphasising to everyone the need to record and report sustainability-related activities in every department.

“Outcomes from Research, Stewardship, Outreach and Teaching relating to sustainability in which USM is involved need to be identified, reported and shared.

“Aside from updating the data banks on such activities, it could also facilitate cross-referencing of said information at various levels,” she said.

The progress for each SDG will be monitored and reported by an appointed Head. The top three evidences with all elements available (statement, proof and impact) will be used in the evaluation of fulfilment of each SDG.

USM Heads of Department are reminded that the data for sustainability-related activities which their respective departments are involved in, and which need to be included into the report for the Times Higher Education-Global Impact Rankings (THE-GIR) 2021 need to be scrutinised and compiled by 30 November 2020.

The data that needed to be compiled will be of those from 2019, and to be reported for 2021 rankings.

Data from all the departments can be uploaded into a Google form which CGSS has prepared, with a set of criteria to be filled in.

In the last two ranking exercises, USM has remained among the top universities globally with fairly high scores.

However, it has been indicated that the criteria for assessment would change from time to time. At the same time, more institutions will be involved in the ranking exercise.

Close to 70 individuals were present at the briefing, which include the USM Ombudsman, Professor Dato’ Seri Dr. Md Salleh Yaapar, along with the respective Heads and representatives of departments.

Text: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin