STRENGTHENING ACADEMIC LINKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN PATTANI THROUGH BERAMBEH SISWA 3.0

PATTANI, THAILAND, 27 February 2025 - The Sustainable Student Peer Mentors (PPSL) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Engineering Campus, under the Division of Student Affairs and Alumni (BHEPA), successfully organised the Berambeh Siswa 3.0 programme in Kampung Panare, Saiburi, Thailand.

Held from 23 to 27 February 2025, the programme involved 50 students from first to fourth year and stood out as one of USM's flagship international initiatives, integrating community service and cross-border knowledge exchange.

Working closely with Fatoni University in Thailand, 15 of its students joined USM participants to deliver a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme at Bang Maruad School, directly supporting the goals of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The programme also served as a platform for both universities to showcase their academic offerings to students, encouraging the continuation of higher education among local youth.

Beyond the academic engagement, participants explored the local community economy by visiting small-scale industries, including a fish cracker factory, a budu (fermented fish sauce) processing plant, and a watermelon farm operated by residents.

As engineering students, they shared relevant technical insights to improve the quality of production and increase the competitiveness of community-based products.

On the social front, the initiative was supported by the Islamic Centre of the USM Engineering Campus, in partnership with Masjid Mubarak.

As part of preparations for the holy month of Ramadan, participants distributed dates to the community, while the Islamic Centre donated Kit Baitul Rahman aid packages to underprivileged families, in line with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) to uplift vulnerable groups.

This initiative is in line with the Ministry of Higher Education's (MOHE) student empowerment agenda, which emphasises the importance of community engagement and real-life exposure to rural life in an international context.

Text/Photos: Courtesy of BHEPA, USM Engineering Campus

Editing: Mohd Hafiz Ali Mohd Anuar