In the year 2020, we embarked on yet another chapter of transformation—this time, a change in name and purpose that would redefine our role in championing sustainability at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). Within less than a year, the centre was rebranded as University Sustainability Centre (USC), replacing its former identity as the UNIMAS Community Sustainability Centre. Though our core responsibilities remained, our mission expanded—to become a driving force behind the university’s holistic sustainability agenda, aligned with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our commitment was clear: every community programme we offered, no matter how modest the budget, had to make a meaningful impact. The initiatives introduced by the Vice Chancellor were not only continued but strengthened, with sustainability-focused programmes that echoed UNIMAS’s strategic direction for 2021–2025. We deepened our connections—with local communities, government agencies, and industries—through collaborative efforts that brought real change.

But our story began much earlier.

Back in February 2015, the seeds of this journey were planted with the appointment of the Special Advisor to the Vice Chancellor for Industry and Community Engagement (KIKOM). Two divisions were born: the Industry Engagement Division and the Community Engagement Division, both designed to energize UNIMAS’s mobility agenda with external partners. Just a year later, these divisions merged into the Industry Engagement and Community Transformation Division, which later evolved into UCTC UNIMAS following the launch of the national NBOS programme.

In 2019, during the Vice Chancellor’s Address, this division was elevated to a full-fledged centre—the Community Sustainability Centre. And today, it stands as the University Sustainability Centre (USC), carrying the responsibility of actively strengthening ties with industry and community, in alignment with the United Nations SDGs.

VISION

A leading global university for a sustainable future

MISSION

To enhance the social and economic impacts on the global community through the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and strategic engagement.

Strengthening Collaboration for Future Development

Fosters collaboration between the university, industry, and community to promote prosperity at both national and global levels

Delivers high-impact research and industry-relevant human capital development.

Empowering Communities in Sarawak

Focuses on underserved and rural groups.

Leads transformation programs to improve livelihoods and reshape community landscapes.

Driving Sustainability Aligned with SDGs

Implements initiatives across academics, community programs, and operations.

Ensures meaningful societal impact, especially within Sarawak.

Project Management

To guarantee the community project is executed within the designated timeframe and accomplishes funders’ intended outcomes

Administrative and Financial Management

To ensure that administrative and financial management processes of University Sustainability Centre (USC) are efficient and compliant with UNIMAS and the funder’s governance requirements.

To achieve at least 80% of fund applications processed within 30 working days from the application closing date.

To ensure 100% of information, guidelines, and funding offer conditions disseminated via email/website are accurate, up-to-date, and authentic.

To achieve a customer satisfaction score of at least 80% in the annual satisfaction survey related to fund opening and offering.

To achieve 100% filing of documents related to the project fund opening and grant offering process in a complete, systematic, and procedure-compliant manner within 30 working days after the closing of each application cycle.

To ensure at least 80% of received applications are complete and meet the basic eligibility criteria.