Kuala lumpur: Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) has earned a place in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) through the 'First Youth Research Presentation on SDG' programme, which saw 500 students simultaneously presenting their research on campus today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the programme was organised by the Faculty of Business and Accountancy and became the largest of its kind, showcasing research ideas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while promoting communication skills, creativity, and an ethical and responsible youth ethos.

UPTM vice-chancellor Assoc Prof Dr Sharifah Syahirah Sy Sheikh stated that the recognition further motivates the university to strengthen its research and innovation ecosystem, with the SDG framework providing wide and relevant areas for exploration. She emphasized the importance of focusing on the SDGs as global goals and the university's commitment to contributing its expertise and energy toward improving all 17 SDG goals.

During the programme, the MBR certificate was presented by Record Consultant Megat Faris Hussein Megat Muzaffar Shah to Sharifah Syahirah at the closing ceremony, attended by all 500 participating students. The programme was conducted in 21 parallel sessions on the UPTM campus, with each student given three minutes to present a research idea using a single slide.

The event's transparency and accuracy were ensured through moderated sessions that were video-recorded and linked to a digital registration and attendance system via QR code scanning. Additionally, the event produced 500 research e-posters as official documentation.

Sharifah Syahirah further added that UPTM is ready to explore more specialized fields to set additional MBR records and plans to expand international collaborations. She mentioned that there are plans for more joint presentations with other universities, with UPTM having over 30 strategic partners, including recent collaborations with six universities in New Zealand and three in Mexico.

In line with SDG 17, which emphasizes global partnerships, she noted that broader international cooperation would help maximize the impact of UPTM's initiatives.