USM collaborated with NGOs to tackle the SDGs through various approaches including student volunteering programmes, research programmes, and the development of educational resources.

Student Volunteering Programmes 

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), through the International Mobility and Collaboration Center (IMCC), coordinated 46 students and 2 lecturers in the participation of student volunteering programmes during the 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Middle East and North Africa Climate Week 2023 (MENA CW 2023)' in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This international program lasted for 5 days, from 8-12 October 2023, and was attended by representatives from all corners of the world to collaborate and discuss climate change issues which are now increasingly worrying. MENA CW 2023 has provided an opportunity for young people, especially USM students, as well as individuals representing multiple sectors and fields such as policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, and many others from around the world, to exchange opinions and share ideas about climate change problems and issues of improving global temperature. Read More..

Research Programmes

A team of researchers, led by Dr. Goh Choon Fu at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, USM, has recently made significant progress in the development of hydrogels using leftover waste from the oil palm industry as part of their research programmes. Traditionally, cellulose hydrogels have been sourced from commercial cellulose derivatives extracted from bleached wood, which has raised environmental concerns due to deforestation and the use of harmful bleaching agents. However, the team achieved a breakthrough by creating non-woody cellulose hydrogels using unbleached cellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunches. These hydrogels have been demonstrated to be biodegradable and hold great potential for delivering drugs to the skin. Read More..

Development of Educational Resources

GAME ON: How to be a Super Hero and Save the World through SDGs

Ainsley Tiew Lee Sin, Artivo – School of Creativity, Associate Professor Dr. Garry Kuan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and William See, together created the comic book titled “GAME ON: How to be a Super Hero and Save the World through SDGs.” Their mission is to help 1 million children worldwide through the development of educational resources. The book introduces the SDGs and showcases how sustainable heroes can integrate these goals into their daily lives, empowering children to make a difference in the world and create a brighter future for all. On September 15, 2023, they won the Sustainable Development Award for No. 4 Quality Education (SDG#4), organized by JCI Malaysia Sustainable Development Award held in Johor Bahru. Read More..

POPSIG-MPOC Northern Region University Roadshow at USM 2023

POPSIG-MPOC Palm Oil Educational Roadshow @ USM 2023 was organised by USM-Chemical Engineering Student Society (ChESS). The event was co-organised by Palm Oil Processing Special Interest Group (POPSIG), in conjunction with Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC). The objectives of this program focus on educating students about the palm oil industry’s sustainable practices, technological advancements, and contributions to the UN SDGs. It provides interactive events, fosters dialogue between students and professionals, and includes industry visits to apply learned knowledge. Additionally, the program aims to address environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges, and explore opportunities within the Malaysian palm oil sector, focusing on understanding sustainable processing and innovations in the field through the development of educational resources.