By Asmahanim Amir
Pix by Abdul Raai Osman

BANGI, 18 August 2016 – The UKM-Global Mobility Partnership Programme (UKM-GSMP) has produced 363 alumni, which includes 229 international students and 134 local students, since its inception eight years ago.

UKM Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and International Affairs, Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Riza Atiq Abdullah OK Rahmat said that the three-week program encompasses two courses, namely Sustainability of tropical Heritage (STH) and Indigenous Community of Malaysia (ICM), which saw the participants nourishing their knowledge on the diversity of cultures and the richness of Malaysia’s tropical heritage.

“The interactive experiential learning, exclusively designed for the programme, ensure that participants are equipped with the relevant theoretical and background knowledge during the first week lectures at UKM.

“Then they embark on a two-week study trip and site visits to UKM’s Living Laboratories and other interesting sites in Malaysia.

“The total number of hours spent on the course is equivalent to four credits and I hope some of you will be transferring this hard-earned credits towards your degree in your home universities,” he said while delivering his speech at the Closing Ceremony UKM-GSMP (Inbound) 2016, here, recently.

Meanwhile, participant from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Wong Sing Yu, 21, said the programme allowed participants to see the beautiful of landscapes and enabled them to enjoy the biodiversity, especially in Langkawi, Sabah and Danum Valley.

“We learnt a lot from each other, especially at the places which has no internet coverage, as we spoke and shared our knowledge on culture, religion and traditions.

“I would like to thank UKM for building bridges in an effort to enhance international understanding and friendship,” he said.

Muhammad Amerhakim Mohamad Zaki from UKM said the best moment for him are staying at the indigenous community in Royal Belum.

“The experience we had there was definitely one of a kind and I honestly do not mind going there again.

“We bonded with the communities there and it opened our eyes on how there is a different side of society living among us,” he said.

He said that this is not the end of the journey but instead, is the beginning of their everlasting friendship.