MEDAN, INDONESIA, 16 January 2026 – Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Penang Branch strengthened its international academic engagement through participation in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on “Reduce Plastics in the Environment”, hosted by Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) at Hotel Grandhika, Medan. The event, funded by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) through the USU Equity Fund, formed part of USU’s ongoing initiatives on plastic waste reduction.
Organised by the Faculty of Forestry, USU, the FGD was chaired by Dr. Arif Nuryawan, PhD, who highlighted emerging scientific findings on microplastics in rainwater and underscored the urgency for universities to drive public awareness and international collaboration. Expert speakers shared insights on the persistence of plastic waste across terrestrial, aquatic, and urban ecosystems, focusing on its long decomposition period and ecological impacts.
UiTM Penang’s delegation, led by Dr. Nor Khadijah Mohd Azhari, actively contributed to the discussion by sharing perspectives on regional cooperation and the role of higher education institutions in promoting sustainable practices. The team, which included Dr. Muhammad Arif Aizat Bashir, Mr. Sperico Michael Alden Kirap, and six students from the Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, emphasized the importance of cross-border academic partnerships in addressing shared environmental challenges.
Aligned with SDG 12, SDG 13, and SDG 17, participants reaffirmed the relevance of the 4R principles—Reduce, Repair, Reuse, and Recycle—as practical strategies for minimising plastic waste. The organisers also announced that the FGD findings will be disseminated through official university channels and further developed into academic publications to support wider awareness, policy dialogue, and community engagement.