To contribute towards and lead in the sustainability of the social and economic development, advancement and transformation of the nation
To engage closely with the industry and the community, especially of the north and north eastern regions of peninsular Malaysia, in as many areas as possible so as to achieve the vision
To macth the knowledge / expertise, facilities and resources of the University to the needs, aspirations and expectations of the industry and the community to result in a win-win situation
As a Research University and more recently as the first university in Malaysia to be awarded the APEX status in 2008, USM has focused its agenda on the realization that the social responsibility of a university needs to go beyond its core mission of human resource development. In order to serve and protect the public good, universities must play a strong leadership role in their country’s development policy and a proactive role in catalyzing the participation of all stakeholders in the development process, hence the need for engagement with society at large. Engagement implies working together with shared understanding, evolving shared solutions, shared governance, shared assets and shared advantages in mind. The setting up, in 2007, of the Division of Industry and Community network or batter known by Malay acronym of BJIM (Bahagian Jaringan Industri dan Masyarakat), has reinforced USM’s commitment to engage with both industries and communities and to create an environment that is conductive for this engagement to take place and to flourish. In tandem with the APEX agenda, USM’s focus has extended beyond active collaboration and engagement with industry to community-engaged and sustainable projects.
To cultivate closer and more meaningful relations with the world outside and to be in line with the goals and objectives of USM’s transformation plans under the APEX agenda, BJIM has encouraged the various Schools and Centres in USM to conduct community projects at different levels i.e. from service to outreach to engagement types. Since 2007, programmes and activities undertaken by BJIM have greatly expanded the network of university-community partnerships and collaborations. From 2008 to 2009, approximately 60 community projects were funded by BJIM. These projects cover issues such as drug and tobacco abuse, family health, culture & heritage, environmental conservation, efficient utilisation of resources, and community empowerment.
The Medical Campus has conducted a tremendous amount of medical services and community projects for communities in Kelantan. Prominent among them are the SAHABAT YOKUK and the S.O.S-OKU. Conducted jointly by the School of Medical Sciences and the School of Health Sciences, both projects target people with special needs in Kelantan.
On the international front, medical teams from USM Health Campus have also participated in international disaster relief efforts to various countries suffering from catastrophic natural disasters (such as in Indonesia, India, Iran and Pakistan) as well as performing medical services for cleft palate correction surgery in Indonesia and Bangladesh. Students from the Health Campus are also encouraged to be more involved with the concerns of the local communities. They are increasingly more engaged with the community through coursework requirements and extra-curricular activities. Since 1980, the Community and Family Case Study (CFCS) Programme (a compulsory community-based curriculum under the School of Medical Sciences and the School of Dental Sciences) has provided opportunities for students to learn from the community and in turn the community has benefitted from services provided by the students.
USM plays an important role as a provider of research and expertise in gender, social development and community empowerment issues. These specialised research capacities and expert roles are sought by government agencies as well as NGOs. They have led to the implementation of concrete programmes towards policy formulations. Research projects and campaigns on Crime Prevention Programmes conducted by School of Health Sciences and those by the School of Social Sciences, in collaboration with Royal Malaysian Police Department, will eventually establish USM as an independent centre to collect, analyse and disseminate information on research related to crime and policing in Malaysia.