Serdang, January 20, 2026 – The Faculty of Educational Studies (FES), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) organized the PUTRA Education Forum Series with the theme "Empowering Social Impact Thru Educational Studies: Academic, Industry, and Community Synergy" held at the Faculty of Educational Studies Ballroom, UPM.
This scientific forum has featured the Honorable Dato' Dr. Haji Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah, recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Education (Development) from UPM, as the main guest panelist. The purpose of organizing this forum is to empower knowledge discourse and strengthen strategic cooperation networks between academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and the community in an effort to broaden the social impact of the field of education.
The opening ceremony of the forum was officiated by the Dean of the Faculty of Educational Studies, who in his speech emphasized that the PUTRA Education Forum Series is an important platform for bringing together academics, educators, policymakers, and students to discuss strategic issues, current challenges, and the future direction of education. According to him, the synergy between academia, industry, and society is highly significant in ensuring that education remains relevant, inclusive, and competitive at the national and global levels.
In the sharing session, Dato' Dr. Haji Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah has discussed the role of education as a catalyst for balanced human development and the main medium for building leadership values, excellent personality, and social well-being. He also emphasized the importance of mastering soft skills, critical thinking abilities, and emotional intelligence in producing a generation of authoritative educators and community leaders.
This forum also emphasizes the need to strengthen collaborative relationships between universities, industry, and the local community to expand the reach of high-impact social development programs, applied research, and educational innovation. This approach aligns with Universiti Putra Malaysia's aspiration to become a leading educational and research institution that contributes significantly to community well-being and national development.
This program was attended by the faculty management team, academics, agency representatives, industry partners, graduate and undergraduate students, and university staff. The interactive dialog session that took place also opened up space for the exchange of ideas, critical discussions, and the sharing of best practices in empowering the holistic education ecosystem.
The organization of the PUTRA Education Forum Series demonstrates UPM's Faculty of Educational Studies' ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of knowledge, strengthening strategic networks, and supporting education development that is oriented toward social impact, innovation, and sustainability.
This forum was also enlivened by the presence of industry and community representatives, including YBrs. Mr. Aminuddin bin Ab. Rahaman, Director General, Department of Industrial Relations Malaysia, Ministry of Human Resources, and Mr. Ravichandran a/l Vadivellu, Director of the Exhibition Control and Management Section, Enforcement Division, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living. The presence of these stakeholders reflects a shared commitment to strengthening synergy between the academic, industrial, and community sectors toward empowering social impact thru education.