USM PENANG, 11 April 2022 – The Universiti Sains Malaysia International Mobility and Collaboration Centre (IMCC) and USM International (USMi) Student Society came together to organise the second consecutive Ramadhan Football Championship at the university main campus grounds recently.

The aim of the event is to bridge the gap between the local and international students, allowing them to get to know one another better, and also to have fun after years of online learning.

This championship gathered a total of 192 players, from 20 countries, representing 17 schools and being split into 12 teams.

Last year, the teams ‘came’ from different countries but this year, the championship was held in a slightly different manner.

All the teams represented their own schools or centres, and it was compulsory for each school or team to have more than three nationalities.

Director of IMCC, Aizat Hisham said that he was really thankful that the participation was really huge, as the number of players were close to 200, coming from 17 different schools.

“I hope that this would allow a greater understanding of the importance of embracing diversity and of course fulfilling the aim of USM in its internationalisation efforts, which is to bring USM to the world and the world to USM,” he said.

This championship was officiated with the kickoff by USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Institutional Development), Professor Dr. Md. Roslan Hashim.

Also present were the university Senior Assistant Registrar, Fadzilla Bosman, and USMi President, Abdullah Ali Mahfoudh Bameyeir.

The USM International (USMi) is a ‘family’ of international students at USM, coming from more than 80 countries around the globe who strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all USMers.

USMi members are proud of their home countries and want to share their cultures with the USM community, and this platform has certainly provided a safe space for them and the Malaysian students to interact, unleash their creativity, and share their unique cultural identities.

Text: Mohamed Hadri Iman Mohamed Hazli/Photo: Shahnizam Ab Rahim