BEACH SPORT DEVELOPS STUDENTS’ LEADERSHIP, ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY TO BE ACTIVE
Monday, 20/11/2023
The monsoon season is officially welcomed when thousands of UMT students and nearby communities are flocking the beach to participate in a beach sport.
The International Monsoon Beach Challenge 2023 has received an incredible response when teams from all states and even Thailand are taking part in the event.
The event aimed at developing students’ leadership skills is held for three days beginning 16 November 2023.
The Monsoon Beach Challenge is in line with the aspiration of the Ministry of Higher Education to produce holistic graduates who are highly skilled and balanced to become the country’s future leaders, said Head of UMT’s Sport and Recreation Centre Siti Noriam Yaakob.
“UMT’s Sport and Recreation Centre takes the opportunity to make the natural phenomena occurring in Malaysia’s East Coast as an attraction, through the organization of a beach event.
“This effort is also to support the government’s aspiration in producing quality graduates who excelled in academics and were active in sport, so they can become the next generation of leaders to govern the country in the future.
Target participants are from all over Malaysia, with special invitations extended to several universities in Thailand and Indonesia, she said.
The beach challenge serves as a platform for students to improve their soft skills related to management, communication skills, and leadership, through the coordination of events that take place.
“We want the students to be exposed to high amount of leadership and other soft skills, and for that we appointed them as coordinators for the events. This exposure is useful that becomes an added value when they enter the work world later.
The International Monsoon Beach Challenge 2023 offers five main sporting events with prizes totalling RM55,000. Among the events are netball, volleyball, soccer, fishing, family sport, and colouring contest.
The event also promotes teamwork among students and contributes towards their physical and emotional health, she said.
“Team sport helps students understand the importance of teamwork and the thrust in each other to achieve the goal. This will help them in their university life and subsequently in their work life.
“Physical activities like sport can improve students’ mental and physical health apart from helping to reduce stress and enhance emotional intelligence,” she said.
The 5th beach sport is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Terengganu Sports Council, and two private companies, MAXIS and XOFI.
UMT ORGANIZES PROGRAMMES FOR SEMAQ BERI COMMUNITY
Sunday, 10/09/2023
Education and health care are important aspects in the development of balanced and progressive society. The challenge in access to education and basic health care by the Orang Asli or the indigenous community is often highlighted and discussed at various levels especially by researchers. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has taken a proactive step by conducting corporate social responsibility programmes to improve the quality of life of the Orang Asli community.
The indigenous community still maintains a tradition and culture based on the natural environment, said Professor Dr. Khatijah Omar, Deputy Director of the Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, UMT.
“Their live revolves around the natural surrounding, with knowledge about plants, traditional medicine, and a lifestyle that meshes with the environment as most fundamental,” she said.
“However, they face various challenges, such as lack of access to education, healthcare, and basic needs.
“We set up Jungle School in collaboration with relevant agencies as part of a humanitarian mission to attract the interest of the children of the Semaq Beri Orang Asli community at Kg. Sungai Berua to attend school.”
In addition, the institute often works together with local and international agencies to conduct programmes relating to the development of Orang Asli’s children.
“We have organized several series of social responsibility programmes. This time we are focusing on the theme of education and health where we are offering free health checkups, an introduction to reading, writing, calculating, colouring activity, and a demonstration on proper personal hygiene such as how to brush teeth correctly,” said Professor Khatijah when met during the USR Programme with Community and Jungle School Students at Kg. Sungai Berua, Kuala Berang.
She added UMT has the expertise to help the Orang Asli community from being left behind.
“The university has academic staff that play an effective role in research and development of society. Through collaborations with the Orang Asli community, the university can successfully conduct research relating to community issues such as agriculture, educational system, and healthcare.
“We have implemented Orang Asli community development programmes since 2015, and although it has taken quite long, significant changes can be observed today. This effort needs to be continued for better outcomes in the future.”
UMT is on the right track in terms of carrying out its responsibility to help the Orang Asli community, Professor Khatijah said.
“This kind of programme can help in the social and economic development of the community,” she said.
“The university can help the community achieve a better life by having continued collaborations and organizing knowledge sharing programmes.”
Library staff participate in sustainable outdoor program
June 22, 2023
Ensuring good health and well-being is a cornerstone of holistic human development and the creation of sustainable societies. The improvement of health and well-being not only diminishes poverty but also bolsters economic productivity while fostering equality and social inclusivity. In line with this commitment to well-being, the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Library has orchestrated three outdoor sustainable initiatives. These programs serve a dual purpose: they promote a healthy lifestyle and afford library staff the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the functions of the locations they visit. These engaging programs, involving a total of 40 library staff, occurred on November 9, 2022, at UMT Bukit Kor Agricultural Campus, June 22, 2023, at Kenyir Natural Research Station, and August 24, 2023, at UMT Setiu Wetland Station.
SIRI MINDA SIHAT
28-3-2023 until 19-12-2023
As an initial step in restoring self-motivation and appreciation of the importance of mental health, the Human Resources Department, UMT Registrar’s Office has organized a series of program that enhance productivity levels and the general health and well-being of the workforce in UMT.
UMT ACTIVATES DISASTER OPERATIONS ROOM
Monday, 20/11/2023
Kuala Nerus – Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has activated its disaster operations room to provide latest updates on floods and assistance to students and staff on campus and at nearby areas.
UMT Vice Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Dr Mazlan Abd Ghaffar said Office of Student Affairs and Alumni (HEPA) and Security Office will be manning the operations room that also provides a 24-hour hotline.
He said a few locations around campus where students are renting houses have been flooded. These areas are Kampung (Kg) Tok Jembal, Kg. Gong Pak Jin, Kg. Pak Tuyu, and Kg. Jati.
“In addition, several locations on campus have been flooded, which prompted UMT’s security division to create a detour to facilitate staff movement in and out of the university,” he said.
He added UMT is concerned with the safety and welfare on its staff in this type of situation.
UMT has also set up a temporary flood evacuation centre at its Sports Centre Hall for students to stay if needed.
“Looking at the rain that is still occurring in Terengganu, UMT community is advised to always be on alert and prepared to face any possibilities.
“Ensure the safety of oneself and adhere to the advice given by the authority to avoid undesirable consequences,” he said.
Prof. Mazlan advised students and staff who need information and assistance to contact the flood operations room at 09-6685059/4118.
UMT, community join forces to fight Aedes
20/08/2023
People have been blaming each other for the rise in dengue fever cases in the country.
Local communities have been accused of not maintaining cleanliness and ensuring that containers filled with standing water were destroyed in an effort to prevent reproduction of the mosquitoes.
”Aedes mosquitoes are around because people lack the knowledge of how to prevent them from breeding,” said Dr Arnie A. Rahim, Director of Health Centre, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), during her speech at UMT Gotong-Royong with Kg. Kubang Badak Community Programme 2023 in Kuala Nerus recently.
Often people do not cooperate when the authority carries out the fogging activities on several reasons, she said.
She said the programme was held to allow everyone to be involved in the effort to prevent dengue, which is dangerous access and can lead to death.
“Dengue prevention programmes such as Fight Aedes every year have helped to prevent dengue epidemic at UMT campus and the surrounding communities in Kuala Nerus.
UMT not only focuses on academic but also the condition of the residential colleges when it comes to its students, she said.
“It is UMT’s responsibility and priority to create awareness of the importance of environmental cleanliness and the causes and danger of dengue to society.”
She added the dengue epidemic can be controlled if all parties work together to prevent the breeding of aedes mosquitoes.
“Thus it is important that all parties play their part in maintaining the cleanliness around their houses and if needed organize a gotong royong more frequently for the effort to succeed.”
Taking part in the programme were 150 participants from Kuala Nerus Office of Health, Kuala Nerus District and Land Office, Kg. Kubang Badak community, and UMT Diploma and STEM Foundation students.
