SUMMARY

Enhancing Community Engagement Through Knowledge Transfer Programmes at UTM

Community Engagement (CE) is an integral part of the university’s responsibility towards society. At Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), CE is categorized into two main approaches: University Social Responsibility (USR) and the Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP). While both aim to benefit the community, KTP is distinct in that it involves direct knowledge or technology transfer with measurable outcomes and long-term sustainability.

The CE ecosystem at UTM is carefully structured to ensure that programs are conducted ethically and effectively. Activities must not involve any consultancy fees to the staff or participation fees from the community. The university focuses on several key areas of engagement: community-based participatory research (CBPR), community-based learning (CBL), service learning (SL), and community services. These areas are designed to foster meaningful interaction between the university and the wider community, enhancing both teaching and research with real-world relevance.

KTP initiatives at UTM are further classified into three categories: One-off, Continuous, and Multiple Programme projects. One-off projects are short-term engagements, typically lasting between 1 to 10 days, with limited follow-up. Continuous projects are conducted in stages, with ongoing monitoring to ensure that the community gains sustainable benefits. Meanwhile, Multiple Programme projects involve a variety of knowledge scopes delivered to a specific community group over time, often aiming for long-term transformation.

It is crucial to distinguish between KTP and USR. KTP focuses exclusively on external communities such as industries, government agencies, or civil society, and strives to create high-impact results, often documented through formal reporting and evaluation. In contrast, USR activities may also involve internal stakeholders like students and staff and usually yield minimal impact, with simpler documentation.

A vital aspect of measuring the success of CE projects at UTM is the Star Rating System, which ranges from 1 to 5 stars. This system evaluates the project’s impact on the community:

• 1 Star is awarded for basic participation.
• 2 Stars reflect recognition of the programme’s relevance by the community.
• 3 Stars indicate positive changes in participants’ knowledge, attitude, or skills.
• 4 Stars show that the community has adopted the practices shared.
• 5 Stars signify full empowerment, where the community continues the practices independently and sustainably.

Achieving high star ratings brings substantial benefits to researchers. These include contributions to national assessment tools such as MyRA, SETARA, and MyMOHES, eligibility for institutional awards like Anugerah Citra Karisma, and added value in academic promotion systems (ELPPT). Projects that are rated 3 stars and above also contribute to research output quality and leadership performance indices.

Each star level requires specific supporting documentation. This includes attendance lists, surveys, collaboration letters, monitoring reports, and in the case of higher ratings, evidence of long-term adoption and sustainability. These are crucial in ensuring transparency and accountability.

To streamline the process, UTM uses the ICESys system for project registration, impact tracking, and star rating applications. Staff must input detailed project information including objectives, stakeholders, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and planned activities. Only projects that are registered and approved in ICESys, led by UTM academic staff, and actively running in the current year are eligible to apply for star rating.

In conclusion, UTM’s structured approach to community engagement through KTP and USR initiatives ensures that its role as a research university is meaningfully extended to the wider community. With a clear system of classification, measurement, and recognition, UTM continues to empower communities while simultaneously enriching the academic and professional development of its researchers.

Dr. Huszalina Binti Hussin

Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, UTM