Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir urges public universities to run community programmes continuously so students learn from real-life experience.
MELAKA: Community service programmes involving public university students must be carried out as an ongoing activity by higher education institutions, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
He said such initiatives provide undergraduates with direct exposure to life outside the campus, while helping them understand the challenges faced by local communities.
“These community programmes have their seasons, particularly after examinations or during the early stages of study. This is part of our mission in higher education.
“We do not want our students to remain confined to campus and interact only among themselves. We want them to go out, engage with the public, stay informed about community affairs, and understand the people’s problems,” he said when officiating the closing ceremony of the KPT SISWA UTeM Prihatin @ Melaka 2026 programme at Masjid Al Wathoni Bukit Pegoh, Telok Mas, here yesterday.
Also present were Telok Mas assemblyman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Massila Kamalrudin.
Zambry said undergraduates must be given opportunities to engage directly with grassroots communities so that the experience complements their academic learning.
Being immersed in the community allows students to appreciate the daily realities of residents, including values such as solidarity, gotong-royong (communal work), and the spirit of neighbourliness that underpin Malaysian society, he said.
“This is where they learn humility and remain ready to listen to differing perspectives, especially when confronting societal issues.
“This quality is essential to nurture leaders who understand the people’s needs and can devise solutions to their challenges, ultimately producing mature graduates who understand real-world dynamics and can contribute towards national development,” he added.
Earlier, 120 UTeM students took part in the one-day volunteer programme alongside more than 300 villagers, conducting activities including health screenings, gotong-royong, and communal cooking (rewang).
