Port Dickson, 12 July 2025 – The International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (I-AQUAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), welcomed seven students from Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Philippines, to participate in the 2025 Short-Term Mobility Programme held from 28 June to 12 July 2025. The programme was the result of a strategic collaboration under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UPM and CLSU.

The participants comprised representatives from the CLSU College of Fisheries and the College of Environmental Science and Meteorology. They were assigned according to their field of specialisation: two students were placed at the Faculty of Forestry and Environment, UPM Serdang, while five students joined the programme at I-AQUAS, UPM Port Dickson.

Throughout the programme, students engaged in various high-impact learning modules, including aquaculture hatchery operations, microalgae and aquatic microbiology studies, water quality and microplastic analysis, as well as coastal biodiversity research. Practical sessions included crab sex identification and larval cycle studies, microalgae sampling, pure culture isolation, and the use of scientific equipment such as the YSI multiparameter.

Field trips to Pulau Burung, Batu Putih, and the Port Dickson Ornamental Fish Centre provided exposure to coastal ecosystems, marine species, and herbarium specimen preparation techniques. The participants also visited UPM’s main campus and explored cultural sites in Kuala Lumpur, including a city tour aboard the “Hop-on Hop-off Bus.”

The programme concluded with a presentation session, where participants shared their reports and experiences. This initiative reflects UPM’s commitment to strengthening international networks and providing a sustainable, inclusive platform for global learning.

Date of Input: 28/07/2025 | Updated: 06/11/2025 | nurulainramli