UM Grand Challenges (GC) are identified through accomplishments, expertise and commitment at UM and aim to:
- Enhance community and research leadership based on principles of social responsibility
- Enhance community and research leadership based on principles of social responsibility
- Foster multi- and trans-disciplinary research
- Propel UM to be a university with a global outlook
Specific challenge-oriented research and innovation focusing on five (5) GCs will be carried out. These GCs are:
- Active Ageing (Wellness Cluster)
- Eco-Resilient Cities (Sustainability Science Cluster)
- Sustainable Resources & Technology (Innovative Technology Cluster)
- World without Conflict (Humanities Cluster)
- Pushing Economic Borders (Equitable Society Cluster)
GC1- Active Ageing
This Grand Challenge promotes the concept of active ageing at both thr individual and population level. It focuses on enabling people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well being throughout their life course and to participate in society according to their needs, desires and capacities.
Themes:
1.Independent living
2.Inclusive technology
3.Psychosocial empowerment
4.Community reorientation, and
5.Protecting the rights of the vulnerable
GC2-World without Conflict
This grand challenge aims to address conflicts that arise from tensions between nations, ideologies, faiths and cultures; suffering that comes from illnesses and diseases in spite of proven prevention and cures; and diminishing quality of life despite technological, medical and other progress.
Projects can be framed as responses to conflict or problem resolution or reduction in the following areas: social cohesion, enhanced quality of life, education and equitable development.
Themes:
1.Indigenous communities
2.Emerging socio-political trends
3.Emotional Well-being and Livability Studies
4.Equitable access to education
5.Inter-faith dialogue/Intercultural Studies
GC3-Eco-Resilient Cities
This Grand Challenge focuses on current and future challenges of Greater Kuala Lumpur in facing rapid urbanization, degradation of environmental quality, limited resources, community integration and infrastructure development.
Themes:
1.Transportation
2.Quality Affordable Housing
3.Food Security
4. Assessment Tools for Eco-Resilient Cities
5.UM Eco-Resilient Campus
GC4: Sustainable Resources & Technology
This Grand Challenge is directed towards the development and application of sustainable resources and technology, with the broader aim of mitigating environmental degradation and climate change. Resources here mean biological and physical resources, and energy.
Themes:
1.Energy
2.Products from bio-resources
3.Energy and resource efficient technology
4.Clean manufacturing/production
GC5-Pushing Economic Borders
This Grand Challenge welcomes research programmes to be carried out in areas such as innovative product and process development, human resources/skills development, business development, creation of high-income jobs and improvement of national competitiveness. Research programmes may relate to the 12 NKEAS identified under the national Economic Transformation Programme formulated to propel Malaysia towards becoming a high-income nation by 2020.
Themes:
1.Labour migration across borders
2.human capital development for a high-income nation
3.wealth creation through entrepreneurship
4.income-enhancing platform technology