Rizwana Kausar
"In the peak of pandemic, USM approved my application and offered me admission in Ph.D. microbiology, that was itself a blessing. I am not afraid about new things, but the uncertainty that COVID brought us, I was not much optimistic yet I was excited to get new experiences, and USM offered me to experience altogether a new country, a new domain in my study, a new society to live in and to be among the bunch of international students. The USM concept of internalisation is so enthralling that it provides you a chance to learn about a lot of countries staying within Malaysia. I found USM very fascinating with whispering trees, humming birds, a calm lake and lush green lawns. It is a very liveable and safe place with best laboratory and research infrastructure as well as having sports complex, gymnasium and swimming pool. It provides you 24 hour reading area to highly developed libraries.
On school level, each school has their student organisations and clubs. I am also working as secretary in Bio-Postgraduate Society. Similarly, I am also one of the Green Ambassadors (GA) in USM, our mission is to educate, promote environmental protection and establish sustainable lifestyles among USM students and staff. Moreover, USM achieved the rank 4 in the recent Times Higher Education (THE-GIR) 2022 global sustainability rankings. Being a Ph.D. student, in the beginning I was a bit confused about my choices regarding social verses research commitments, I wanted to experience university life, with all its socio-cultural aspects and also wanted to excel in my research.
Here comes USMi, the USM international society, which provided me to have ample exposure and experience of social life yet made me to priorities my research first. USMi offers a best platform for international students as well as for local student to mingle together and learn about the cultural diversity, personal growth, exploring Malaysia, fun games, humanitarian activities, managing crisis and much more.
USM has already a well-developed system, IMCC (international mobility control centre), to deal with matters pertaining to traveling, visa and stay for international students. However, USMi takes student support to ground level, as it consists of students thus immersing well into the student’s life at university. Being a part of USMi I engage in dealing with student affairs, especially new students and generally on campus students, we worked with Nerve Centre to spread awareness regarding USM lockdown circumstances to help and ease the students, we organise Ramadan Championship to let student to have fun after a long COVID restrictions. From USMi platform we meet with EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Service) officials. We also took part in organising a charity event with USM alumni association.
USMi gather us all and took us on a wonderful trip for team building that was a great experience with fun games, ocean swim, fishing and seeing aquatic life at CEMAS. Following a couple of weeks USMi organises another thrilling and adventurous trip to Pulau Songsong, Kehdah. With the support of USMi we also took part and represent our respective country’s culture along with Exchange student (the students coming from different countries to study a semester in USM).
All in all, USMi is providing us opportunities to use our capabilities to work voluntarily for others, empowering and boosting our personal growth, promoting volunteerism, polishing our leadership skills and letting us experience the Malaysia. So far, I have best experience with USM and USMi, and hoping it will be better with a lot more experiences to come."
Rizwana Kausar,
PhD Microbiology.
