
PROFESSOR DATUK IR DR WAHID BIN OMAR
VICE CHANCELLOR
Community engagement involves the active collaboration of all stakeholders in visualising and implementing a collective vision for the the common good. Involving all stakeholders in the decision-making process will not only empower them, but will also create a sense of ownership. This will create a synergy, resulting in inspired actions and outcomes.
The benefits of such an empowered community engagement are overarching, ranging from higher quality solutions, increased conflict management, and a stronger sense of belonging, This would ultimately result in the communities taking a greater responsibility for enhancing their quality of life.
At UTM, we strive to actively involve all stakeholders in any community engagement initiatives. We believe that each stakeholder group has its own unique lens of the world. Having several perspectives of an issue or a problem would ultimately lead to better solutions.
I commend all stakeholders for their commitment and effort. It is through such an engagement that community development projects become effective and sustainable. Well done!

PROF DATUK DR AHMAD FAUZI BIN ISMAIL
DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR (RESEARCH & INNOVATION)
Community engagement (CE) has been conducted to enrich students’ educational experiences and empower staff, providing opportunities to not only contribute to the community, but also build camaraderie and teamwork. The purpose of this book is to share UTMs experiences and activities for the past few years in community engagement across UTMs research teams, teaching and learning intiatives and outreach services.
The Centre for Community and Industry network (CCIN) in UTM in responsible for the overall strategies of the University in “socializing the University”. The University applies academic and research based instructions to service projects that address significant community issues. It is our privileged to share snapshots of our community engagement initiatives. UTM recognizes that students, staff and research projects undertaken contribute to the well-being of the communities, enhancing the society, economy, education landscape and the community at large.
By Harnessing the University’s diverse academic resources, our deep connection to the region, and our spirit of innovation, we seek to address complex social problems and prepare students to make significant contributions to the well-being of the community through dynamic, collaborative, innovative, entrepreneurial, multidisciplinary teaching, research, and outreach programmes. By breaking down boundaries between academic disciplines within the university, as well as between the university and the communities. UTM can forge a new model of the engaged university, one that supports the concept of ‘education for citizenship’ as aspired by the Minister of Education towards nurturing a caring society.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR JOHARI SURIF
DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY NETWORK
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is committed to making real and positive differences not only to the campus community, but also to the community at large. In engaging with the community, UTM place emphasis on the community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, teaching and learning approach and outreach services in reaching out to communities.
This is achieved through formation of collaborative partnership based on mutual recognition of needs, shared problem definition, and a joint search for solutions involving multiple stakeholders across communities. Recent social movement and an increasing dependence on the public purse for their operations is now compelling universities to display a stronger commitment to the welfare and transformation of the society in which they exist. While teaching and research remains the core mission, universities are expected to harness their resources, both human and physical, for mutually beneficial relationships with their communities through addressing communal issues and needs. and providing solutions toward transformation. This would result in an effective and sustainable engagement which would benefit everyone.