Flagship Community Outreach Areas

1. Education & Lifelong Learning (SDG 4 – Quality Education)

Inspiring Minds, Transforming Futures

UMS delivers educational support to schools, youth groups, and rural communities through initiatives such as:

1. - Professor@School – empowering students with STEM, environmental literacy, and digital skills.
   
2. - MENITI Second-Chance Education Programme – supporting B40 students in accessing university pathways.
   
3. - STEM Outreach Programmes – inspiring interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through interactive workshops, innovation challenges, robotics exposure, and hands-on activities delivered by UMS faculties and research centres.
   
4. - SciMaTech Programme – a specialised initiative combining Science, Mathematics, and Technology enrichment activities, providing school students with project-based learning, laboratory exposure, and real scientific inquiry experiences guided by UMS educators and researchers.
   
5. - Literacy, numeracy, and digital upskilling short-term trainings and courses - delivered through the Centre for the Faculties, Research Institute and Leadership and Talent Development Division.
   
6. - Program SULAM (Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society) – embedding real community engagement into academic coursework, where UMS students apply classroom knowledge to solve real-world community challenges. Through SULAM, students conduct service-based projects in schools, villages, and local organisations—strengthening civic responsibility, communication skills, and social awareness while contributing meaningful impact to society.

These programmes collectively reduce learning gaps, support rural and marginalised communities, accelerate STEM readiness, and create pathways for upward socio-economic mobility—ensuring that no learner is left behind.

2. Community Well-being & Social Support (SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 10)

Caring for Communities, Uplifting Lives.

UMS works closely with communities to improve health, food security, and overall well-being through:

1. - UMS Mobile Clinics – Bringing Healthcare to the Community – delivering essential health services, screenings, consultations, and health education directly to rural and underserved populations, ensuring equitable access to healthcare.
   
2. - PuPUK UMS – Caring for Communities, Sustaining Wellness – medical students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences “adopt” rural families, conduct periodic home visits, provide free health checks, and act as health liaisons for the community. This model strengthens community trust while offering students real-world exposure and cultural empathy.
   
3. - Food Bank UMS & Infaq Dapur Rahmah – empowering students with STEM, environmental literacy, and digital skills.
   
4. - One Health Community Outreach – integrating medical, veterinary, and environmental health for rural and indigenous communities..
   - Prospek Program – supporting B40 medicine students in accessing university pathways.
   
5. - Women empowerment and family resilience programmes led by the Faculty of Psychology and Social Work.
   

These collective efforts uplift livelihoods, support vulnerable populations, and strengthen social inclusion—ensuring no community is left behind as UMS advances the Sustainable Development Goals.

3. Environmental Stewardship & Climate Action (SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 15)

Protecting Nature, Empowering Tomorrow.

UMS champions community-based conservation and environmental awareness across Sabah through collaborative, science-driven, and community-empowering initiatives. Key efforts include:

1. - Coral Reef Restoration & Marine Conservation – – led by BMRI and coastal communities to rehabilitate damaged reefs, protect marine biodiversity, and support sustainable livelihoods through education and ecological restoration.
   
2. - Mangrove Restoration & Blue Carbon Awareness Programmes – spearheaded by the Faculty of Tropical Forestry and Institute Tropical Biology and Conservation, these initiatives restore critical mangrove ecosystems, enhance coastal resilience, and highlight the role of blue carbon in mitigating climate change.
   
3. - Clean Water & Sanitation Projects – – providing water filtration systems, rainwater harvesting solutions, and river restoration activities for rural and indigenous villages to ensure access to safe, clean, and sustainable water sources.
   
4. - World Ocean Day @ UMS – celebrated annually to promote ocean literacy, coastal protection, and marine sustainability. Activities include public awareness campaigns, beach clean-ups, marine research exhibitions, youth workshops, and collaborative actions with NGOs, schools, divers, and coastal communities. World Ocean Day at UMS reinforces the message that protecting our oceans is a shared responsibility and an essential pillar of climate action.
   

Students and researchers work alongside local communities to preserve natural ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and champion the protection of Sabah’s rich terrestrial and marine biodiversity.

4. Indigenous Knowledge, Heritage & Cultural Preservation (SDG 11)

Honouring Heritage, Preserving Identity

UMS collaborates with indigenous groups to protect cultural heritage through:

1. - Borneo Cultural Knowledge Archive – – documenting oral traditions, rituals, music, and craftsmanship.
   
2. - Indigenous Language Revitalisation Projects – with BorIIS and Faculty of Humanities, Arts & Heritage
   
3. - Community heritage mapping – –in collaboration with cultural bodies and local leaders.
   

These initiatives safeguard Sabah’s rich cultural diversity and ensure intergenerational knowledge continuity.

5. Sustainable Livelihoods & Community Entrepreneurship (SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12)

Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Innovation

UMS empowers rural and coastal communities to build economic resilience through:

1. - Inkubator Aquapreneur Siswa UMS– – training youth in sustainable aquaculture and digital entrepreneurship.
   
2. - Agropreneur & Food Security Projects – through the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture.
   
3. -Social enterprise development and financial literacy training– –for local communities.
   

These programmes create new income streams, strengthen local economies, and promote responsible production.

6. Student Volunteerism & Youth Leadership (SDG 17)

Youth in Action, Change in Motion

UMS cultivates a strong culture of volunteerism, leadership, and civic responsibility by empowering students to take active roles in community development and sustainability initiatives. Key programmes include:

1. - KESUWA (Student Volunteer Corps)– – mobilising thousands of student volunteers for community outreach, disaster response, environmental campaigns, and social support initiatives across Sabah.
   
2. - UMS Student Club and Association– nurturing student champions who lead sustainability advocacy, awareness activities, green campus initiatives, and SDG engagement within the campus and surrounding communities.
   
3. -Campus Sustainability Campaigns & Community Service Events– –including tree planting, recycling drives, eco-awareness programmes, health outreach, and collaborative projects with local schools and NGOs.
   
4. -iFuture – Inspiring Future Leaders of Sabah– –a youth leadership development platform that equips students with 21st-century skills, innovation mindset, and community engagement values. Through workshops, mentorship, SDG bootcamps, and social innovation challenges, iFuture empowers UMS students to become proactive changemakers who design solutions for real-world community issues.
   

Students learn leadership, empathy, teamwork, and collaborative problem-solving while contributing to meaningful social and environmental impact—strengthening UMS’s role as a university that empowers youth to shape a sustainable future.

Together, We Uplift Communities and Shape a Sustainable Future

UMS’s community outreach initiatives reflect the university’s deep commitment to creating meaningful, lasting impact across Sabah. By connecting academic expertise with real community needs—whether in education, health, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, or socio-economic empowerment—UMS stands as a catalyst for transformation and inclusive growth.

Through strong partnerships, student volunteerism, indigenous engagement, and science-driven solutions, UMS ensures that every programme enriches lives, strengthens resilience, and contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These efforts not only uplift communities but also nurture compassionate, responsible, and future-ready graduates who are equipped to lead with purpose.

As The Brain of Borneo, UMS will continue to champion collaborative action, empower underserved populations, and advance sustainable development—building a future where no community is left behind and every voice is valued. Together with our partners and the people of Sabah, we move forward with hope, commitment, and shared responsibility towards a greener, healthier, and more equitable tomorrow.