By Munirah Mansor
In line with its commitment to nurturing students who are not only academically excellent but also equipped with leadership capabilities, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) organized the ESG Global Young Leaders Summit 2026 from 5 to 10 August.
The international summit served as a platform for developing young leaders, translating knowledge into action, and championing justice and the sustainability of marine ecosystems.
The concept of Blue Justice was at the heart of the summit, emphasising the balance between marine ecosystem conservation, the well-being of coastal communities and the development of a fair, inclusive and sustainable blue economy.
Themed Mobilizing Young Leaders as Catalysts for Blue Justice, the event brought together 130 local and international student leaders to explore the role of young people as catalysts for change in addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges at the global level.
Participants took part in various activities, including forums, ESG leadership sessions, industry presentations, ESG poster and video competitions, and field activities at Setiu Wetlands.
They gained a closer understanding of the realities faced by local communities and sustainability challenges through modules such as A Day as a Fisherman, Adopt-A-Tree, Sustainable Fisherman Lab, Community Culture Class and mangrove ecosystem exploration.
Director General of Higher Education, Datuk Professor Dr Azlinda Azman, said in her closing speech that universities must move beyond their traditional role as institutions for knowledge delivery and become solution hubs for national and global challenges.
“Universities are not merely centres for knowledge delivery, but also solution hubs for national and global challenges,” she said. “Universities must produce problem-solvers, not merely job seekers, and build leaders, not simply produce graduates.”
The summit’s resolution was presented to Datuk Professor Dr. Azlinda by Rasyidah Mohamed Farrook from Sultan Idris Education University.
The recipient of the ESG Icon Award 2026 said in her speech that major change does not necessarily begin with power, but with the courage to act.
“If the younger generation fails to lead change today, history will judge us as a generation that inherited crises without striving to create solutions,” she said.
Several major awards were presented, including the Best ESG Poster Award, Best ESG Presentation Award and ESG Icon Award 2026.
The ceremony also featured the launch of a Malay-language book, Memaknai Pengalaman Mahasiswa Memperagakan Kemanusiaan (Making Meaning of Students’ Experiences in Demonstrating Humanity)
The summit became successful through strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Yayasan Perkasa Siswa, and RHB Bank, as well as cooperation with the Wetland School of Setiu, Astro AWANI, industry partners, and community organisations.
