By Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo by Muhammad Nur Zairi Mohd Nazari
TANJONG KARANG, 13 December – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), through its University Community Transformation Centre (UCTC), organised the Putra Carnival @ Sawah Sempadan in Tanjong Karang as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen university-community engagement while advancing knowledge-driven development.
UPM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Relations), Professor Ir. Dr. B.T. Hang Tuah Baharudin, said the programme reflects the university’s continuous commitment in empowering communities through the dissemination and transformation of knowledge.
“This programme aims to elevate the potential of the local community through the active involvement of students and university staff, while bringing together various collaborative initiatives involving faculties, students, agencies and rural communities for mutual benefit,” he said.
Kuala Selangor District Officer Mohd Raiz Radzuan described UPM’s involvement in the programme as a clear demonstration of higher education institutions’ role as strategic partners in community development.
“I appreciate the university’s efforts in engaging directly with the community to ensure local well-being, and I welcome sustained strategic collaboration to further empower community development,” he further added.
For second-year student Siti Khairunisya Kamaruzzaman, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Education (Guidance and Counselling) with Honours at UPM’s Faculty of Educational Studies, the programme was a meaningful experience marking her first involvement in an off-campus, community-based initiative.
“Previously, I was only involved in programmes within the university. This programme gave me the opportunity to engage closely with the community and better understand the real needs of society,” she reasoned.
Meanwhile, Muhamad Muqhairi Jeffizain, a first-year Bachelor of Arts in Malay Language and Linguistics with Honours student at the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, shared that the programme provided valuable learning beyond the classroom.
“I gained new knowledge and a deeper understanding of the culture and traditions of the local village community through the various activities. I hope programmes like this will continue in the future,” he remarked.
The Putra Carnival @ Sawah Sempadan was implemented in line with the Program Angkat MADANI initiative introduced under Budget 2024, which aims to holistically empower rural communities. Through this approach, universities serve as long-term strategic partners in developing sustainable and internationally competitive models of rural development.
