USM Partnerships with Regional NGOs and Government for SDG Policy Development

Universiti Sains Malaysia continues to strengthen its role as a sustainability-led university by fostering collaborations that connect research, governance, and community practice. These alliances reflect USM’s commitment to relationships with regional NGOs and government for SDG policy — have direct involvement in, or input into, national government or regional non-government organisations SDG policy development, including identifying problems and challenges, developing policies and strategies, modelling likely futures with and without interventions, monitoring and reporting on interventions, and enabling adaptive management.

USM’s approach to sustainability governance is guided by the USM Sustainability Policy (Revised 2024), which clearly emphasises the importance of collective action and institutional leadership. The mission statement in the policy highlights the goal of “engaging communities for sustainability” (p.2), while Section 6.11 on “Networking for Sustainable Development” (p.6) reinforces the university’s responsibility to assist various sectors in developing sustainability strategies through inclusive and collaborative partnerships. These policy commitments are realised through ongoing relationships with government agencies, industries, and NGOs working towards shared sustainability goals.

One example of such collaboration is the partnership between USM and Green Cement Sdn. Bhd., where researchers from the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering and the School of Civil Engineering co-develop low-carbon building materials that support Malaysia’s efforts to reduce industrial carbon emissions. The outcomes of this project contribute to the formulation of national strategies for sustainable industry practices and provide evidence to guide policy frameworks on sustainable infrastructure. This initiative also aligns with the policy’s call to develop policies and strategies, monitor and report on interventions, and enable adaptive management, particularly within the construction and environmental sectors.

USM’s collaboration with Encorp Group demonstrates how academia and industry can work together to embed sustainability principles in property development. Drawing from the USM Sustainability Policy (p.2–5), which stresses community engagement and sustainable practice, this partnership promotes the integration of energy-efficient designs and environmental awareness among developers and stakeholders. Through seminars, workshops, and applied research, USM contributes to the creation of standards and guidelines that support the implementation of sustainable urban development across Malaysia.

At the regional level, the partnership between the School of Housing, Building and Planning and the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) exemplifies how USM contributes to sustainable policy-making for tourism and environmental management. The Island Green Sustainability Concept (IGSC) initiative focuses on adaptive coastal management, incorporating academic research and local knowledge into policymaking and implementation. The project supports data collection, evaluation of interventions, and continuous improvement of local governance strategies to balance economic development with environmental preservation.

These collaborations underline USM’s capacity to act as a trusted advisor and technical partner to both public and private institutions. Through interdisciplinary research and stakeholder engagement, USM supports evidence-based policy design that addresses complex sustainability challenges such as climate change, responsible production, urban resilience, and biodiversity protection. The USM Sustainability Policy (p.1–3) further outlines this direction by committing the university to “mainstream sustainability into the core mission areas of teaching, research, and community engagement” to secure a sustainable future for all.

Beyond project-level engagements, USM also contributes to broader regional dialogues on sustainable development. The university facilitates multi-stakeholder forums and policy roundtables that connect academics, government representatives, industries, and community leaders to align strategies with the national sustainable development agenda. Through its participation in networks such as RCE Penang and other intergovernmental collaborations, USM provides research-based input to regional SDG planning and monitoring mechanisms. These engagements ensure that the university’s work remains both locally grounded and globally connected.

Through these partnerships, USM demonstrates that higher education institutions can act as influential partners in shaping sustainability policy and practice. The integration of academic research, government collaboration, and community engagement ensures that the outcomes are both practical and transformative. Each initiative reinforces USM’s long-term mission to nurture sustainable solutions that benefit people, the environment, and the economy.

USM’s continuing collaboration with NGOs and government agencies represents not only a series of projects but also a sustained institutional effort to translate knowledge into action. As Malaysia advances its sustainability agenda, USM stands ready to provide scientific expertise, policy insights, and collaborative leadership to ensure that sustainability goals are achieved inclusively and effectively.