SDG 4 : QUALITY EDUCATION

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) is deeply committed to advancing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education, research, innovation, and community engagement. As an entrepreneurial university, UMK embraces sustainability as a core principle that guides its policies, academic programmes, and campus culture. The university strives to create positive social, environmental, and economic impact by nurturing responsible leaders, promoting inclusive growth, and fostering solutions that benefit society and the planet.

As a center of knowledge and innovation, UMK ensures inclusive and equitable quality education for all. The university emphasizes lifelong learning, creativity, and digital literacy while nurturing values of integrity, responsibility, and sustainability. Education at UMK empowers individuals to drive positive change in society.

ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY

a) UMK’s Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)

UMK provides free access to educational resources for individuals who are not formally enrolled at the university. Through UMK’s Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform, the public can access a range of online courses, lectures, and learning materials covering various disciplines. This initiative reflects UMK’s commitment to lifelong learning and ensuring that knowledge and educational opportunities are accessible to everyone, regardless of their affiliation with the university.

Link : https://mooc.umk.edu.my/

b) UMK Kawoh

KAWOH (Knowledge, Access, Wide, Open, Hub) uses VuFind®, a discovery system designed and developed by libraries for libraries. The system is also flexible enough to build search interfaces for all kinds of content beyond the traditional library environment.

The goal of VuFind® is to enable users to search and browse all available resources through a single, consistent, and user-friendly interface. The types of content accessible through the system include:

Library catalog records
Institutional repository content
Open access journal articles
Digitized library materials
Relevant websites
Items available through interlibrary loan
Licensed content (where supported by providers)
Other collections and resources — simply add the metadata

Through this approach, KAWOH allows users to access a wide range of knowledge resources in one organized and easy-to-use platform.

https://kawoh.umk.edu.my/home/

c) Teroka OPAC

UMK proudly introduces Teroka OPAC, an innovative online public access catalog that enhances the discovery of library resources across all UMK campuses. This platform allows users to easily search, access, and manage academic materials anytime, anywhere. Through Teroka OPAC, UMK strengthens its commitment to digital transformation in education, promoting a culture of knowledge sharing and lifelong learning among students, researchers, and staff.

d) Digital Special Collection (UMK Repository)

The Digital Special Collection (UMK Repository) serves as a central platform for preserving and showcasing Universiti Malaysia Kelantan’s intellectual and creative works. It provides open access to theses, research papers, publications, and other scholarly materials produced by the UMK community. This initiative supports knowledge sharing, increases research visibility, and strengthens UMK’s role as a hub for academic excellence and innovation.

e) Expanding Learning Opportunities Beyond Campus

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) provides free access to educational resources for the wider community, including those not formally enrolled at the university. Initiatives such as the “Enhancing Course Delivery Using Moodle Book and H5P Interactive Book” webinar and GEMINI and NotebookKLM programmes are organised by the Centre for Academic Excellence and Development, allowing public participation and learning.

PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND LECTURES

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) hosts events that are open to the general public, including public lectures and community educational activities. Notable programmes include the World Heritage Volunteers Action Camp: Ekostrategik Rimba, Hari Sukan Negara Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, and the “Ekspedisi Aku Boleh!” programme with the Orang Asli community at UMK Trace, fostering community engagement and lifelong learning

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE PUBLIC

a) Engagement Session with the Entrepreneur Community

UMK, as an educational institution, offers short-term training programmes open to the public, in line with the requirement for executive education and vocational programmes. One example is the engagement session with the SME Entrepreneur Community (Pusat Usahawan IKS Kelantan) under the PUNB X UMK Uni-Challenge 2024 initiative.

Organised in collaboration with PUNB, CEED, UMKEI and Ignite Venture Lab, the programme provides entrepreneurship development opportunities for both UMK students and the local community. The engagement session at SK Changgai, Pasir Puteh involved 15 local entrepreneurs, offering knowledge sharing, business development guidance and practical exposure.

This initiative demonstrates UMK’s commitment to providing community-focused learning and capacity-building programmes beyond formal academic courses.

b) Agrofood Technology Course Series 2

UMK, as an educational institution, conducts short-term and vocational training programmes that are open to the general public. For example, during the second day of the Agrofood Technology Course Series 2, a knowledge-sharing session on Tilapia Fish Farming was delivered by Associate Professor Dr. Lee Seong Wei to participants from the community. The programme was organised in collaboration with Kolej RISDA (UCAM) under the JELITA Programme, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW). This initiative demonstrates UMK’s commitment to providing accessible executive and vocational training opportunities for the wider community beyond enrolled university students.

d) Community Mapping Programme in Pulau Pangkor

UMK actively hosts community-focused programmes and training sessions open to the public, aligned with the requirement for executive and vocational education for non-university participants. One such initiative is the Community Mapping Programme in Pulau Pangkor, Perak, organised by InsPeK and IFSSA through the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation).

This programme aimed to identify the potential, issues and challenges faced by the local community in their micro-enterprise activities and explore practical solutions for business improvement and livelihood enhancement. The initiative involved direct engagement with the community and provided guidance, knowledge sharing and support to strengthen local economic activities.

This reflects UMK’s commitment to delivering accessible knowledge transfer and capacity-building initiatives for communities beyond its enrolled students.

e) Public Vocational Training and Executive Education Outreach by UMK

UMK actively hosts short-term educational programmes and vocational training that are open to the public, in line with the requirement for community-accessible executive education. On 6 July 2024, SNH Cosmetic Lab Sdn. Bhd., UMK’s first downstream cosmetic company, welcomed a group of 50 participants from the Tawang Single Mothers Association, Bachok, to the Innovation Incubator at UMK Jeli Campus.

During the visit, the participants were introduced to Clasiti Skincare, a research-based skincare product developed by UMK. They also received exposure to business opportunities through social enterprise models and participated in a hands-on demonstration on homemade balm production.

This initiative reflects UMK’s commitment to providing practical skills training and entrepreneurship learning opportunities to the wider community, particularly supporting women and single mothers in developing economic and self-sufficiency skills.

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH BEYOND CAMPUS

a) Field Visit Session Under The PROBEST Youth Agropreneur Development Programme

UMK actively conducts educational outreach activities beyond its campus, including tailored training and engagement sessions with the community and educational institutions. An example is the field visit session under the PROBEST Youth Agropreneur Development Programme held on 11 August 2024, involving UMK’s chilli plantation and Dopper sheep farming project, as well as the Pasir Puteh Vocational College’s melon and Napier plantation site.

The programme brought together representatives from Agrobank Centre of Excellence (ACE), the Shariah Committee, and Agrobank staff from the Kelantan/Terengganu region. A total of 35 participants received entrepreneurship exposure and technical guidance from ACE and selected industry partners.

This initiative demonstrates UMK’s commitment to providing community-focused agricultural education and technical support, inspiring participants to pursue agropreneurship and fostering student and community engagement beyond the university campus.

Manufacturing Technology Hands-on Workshop

UMK actively carries out educational outreach activities beyond its formal academic programmes, providing tailored training and demonstrations to community groups. On 2 July 2024, a Food Manufacturing Technology Hands-on Workshop was conducted by Dr. Nurhanan and Dr. Karimah for participants of PERHEBAT Series 2/2024 at the Food Technology Pilot Plant, UMK Jeli Campus.

The session introduced participants to food processing techniques using vegetable and fruit fibres, offering practical skills and industry-relevant knowledge. This initiative demonstrates UMK’s commitment to empowering the community through applied learning, capacity building, and knowledge transfer in the field of food technology.

b) Geoscience@School 2024 programme

UMK actively undertakes educational outreach activities beyond its campus, providing tailored lectures and demonstrations to schools and community groups. For example, the Geoscience@School 2024 programme, organised by the Faculty of Earth Sciences through the Department of Geosciences, was held at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jeli.

The programme aimed to introduce students to the field of Geoscience and was attended by Form 4 students, with the session officiated by the Senior Assistant of Student Affairs (HEM) at SMK Jeli. This initiative reflects UMK’s commitment to engaging young learners and promoting awareness of scientific disciplines in the community.

POLICY ON INCLUSIVE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

UMK has a policy that ensures access to all its educational and community activities is inclusive and equitable, regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, immigration status, or gender. This is reflected in UMK’s Lifelong Learning Policy, which promotes continuous learning opportunities for all members of society, including students, alumni, and the wider community. The policy emphasizes equal access to short courses, vocational training, workshops, and community engagement programmes, ensuring that barriers related to social or demographic factors are removed.