SINTOK, 10 October 2025: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) consistently demonstrates its unwavering commitment to community development, as evidenced by the awarding of research and innovation grants to 23 community projects during the Festival of Ideas (FOI) @ Kedah 2025, held at Dewan Mu’adzam Shah, UUM Sintok.
The ceremony was organised by the Research Management Centre (RMC) in collaboration with the Department of Research, Development and Innovation Affairs (JHEPPI).
The grant presentation ceremony was officiated by UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan.
In his speech, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad emphasised that the allocation of these community grants reflects UUM’s steadfast commitment to strengthening the university’s role as an agent of social transformation through high-impact, community-driven research.
He further emphasised that a university’s success should not only be measured by academic publications but also by its researchers’ ability to contribute meaningfully to the well-being and socio-economic advancement of local communities.
“I hope this initiative will continue to inspire generation of new ideas and innovations that yield tangible benefits for the society and nation,” he said.
Three major projects were awarded grants under the UNIMADANI Fund (Ministry of Finance (MOF) Malaysia) namely:
- Community Empowerment through Mushroom Cultivation Project by Dr Nur Shuhamin Binti Nazuri (SEFB) – RM200,000.
- Community Aquaponic Economy Development 2 (PEKA2) by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr Mohamad Farizal Bin Rajemi (STML) – RM200,000.
- Ecosystem Rehabilitation Project: Vertical Farming (VF) as a Tool for Community Empowerment by Dr Noranida Binti Mokthsim (SOG) – RM200,000.
Additionally, three rural community projects were awarded grants under SEJATI MADANI @ KPT and ICU JPM, including:
- “Para” Mini Eggplant Fertigation and Pumpkin Project in Kampung Genting Palas, Padang Terap by Dr Juhaida Binti Abu Bakar (SEFB) – RM110,000.
- Tilapia Fish Farming Project in Kampung Cheh Seberang by Dr Ziad Esa Bin Yazid (SEFB) – RM110,000
- Sewing workshop and Training Programme by Dr Wan Roshidah Binti Fadzim (SEFB) – RM110,000.
Meanwhile, 17 internal UUM projects received fundings under the Social Initiative Grant Scheme (SIGS) worth RM 15,000 respectively. Among them are:
- IMAM: Mosque Management Innovation Towards Ethical and Digital Literate Community by Dr Dzarfan bin Abdul Kadir (TISSA).
- Suri Anggun: Social Innovation Driver to Enhance Young Women’s Economic Competitiveness through Shariah Compliant Hairdressing Skills by Dr Hanis Hazwani Binti Ahmad (SEFB).
- Building Confident Voices Among Digital Natives: A Community Initiative in Changlun by Assoc. Prof. Dr Sabrina binti Mohd Rashid (SMMTC).
According to the organisers, the community grant initiative is part of UUM’s effort to strengthen university and community engagement through implementation of socially and economically impactful projects.
This initiative also aligns with the University for Society (U4S) aspiration which underscores strategic collaboration between researchers and communities in addressing local development challenges and advancing inclusive growth.
