Marfiah Ab Wahid
Published on 22 June 2026
SHAH ALAM, June 19, 2026 – The Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (IBSD) at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam recently hosted an official research delegation from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Indonesia. Led by Prof. Ir. Rahmawaty, the six-member delegation visited to reinforce and expand long-standing academic ties, focusing on high-impact publications and transformative community development programs.
USU is highly respected internationally for its strong research and community-focused initiatives. Welcoming the delegation, the Director of IBSD, Associate Professor Sr. Dr. Siti Aekbal Salleh, formally invited USU to serve as a key strategic partner for future joint research efforts. By combining the unique strengths of both universities, this partnership aims to promote a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to regional sustainability challenges.
Key Pillars of the Shared Collaboration
The proposed strategic alliance will focus heavily on bridging academia and real-world applications across several cutting-edge fields:
· Joint Publications: Elevating global research visibility through the co-authorship of high-impact journals and academic books.
· Interdisciplinary Research: Integrating expertise across specialized sectors, specifically agrotechnology, business, forestry, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and mangrove ecosystem conservation.
· Community Empowerment: Developing joint grassroots programs designed to translate scientific findings into sustainable economic practices for local populations.
Bridging Theory and Practice: Community Garden Showcase
A central highlight of the engagement was an experiential site visit. The USU delegation toured a community garden currently managed by IBSD research fellows and the local community. This showcase offered first-hand insights into how academic research directly fuels sustainable agriculture, demonstrating the tangible benefits of collaboration between local communities and higher education institutions.
"Integrating expertise across diverse ecological and entrepreneurial fields is vital to elevating global research quality. This partnership ensures our scientific endeavors remain holistic, practical, and fundamentally sustainable for the ASEAN region."
Through this strategic alignment, both UiTM and USU continue to strengthen their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), setting a powerful template for cross-border academic cooperation in Southeast Asia.
