About Us

Universiti Sains Malaysia, USM


Established as the second university in the country in 1969, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was first known as the University of Penang, before the University’s Act came into effect on 4th October 1971.
The university has been developing and expanding since its inception, which started with the enrolment of 57 science based students. Now, USM offers courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels to approximately 20,000 students. USM has also become a well-known university locally and internationally.

USM was founded after an agreement made on a resolution approved by the Penang State Legislative Council in 1962, which suggested that a university college be established in the state. An area in Sungai Ara was identified and later the foundation stone was placed by the then Prime Minister, Y.T.M Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj on the 7th of August 1967.

In 1969, the University of Penang was established in response to the need for a larger campus with a more conducive environment, appropriate to the needs of the future of the country.

In April 1969, Professor Hamzah Sendut was elected the Vice-Chancellor. Two months later, a group of 57 students was accepted to begin their studies. Since the area of Sungai Ara could not be developed as fast as required, the group was placed at the Malayan Teachers’ Training College at Bukit Gelugor on loan from the Education Ministry. In 1971, the campus, which was originally planned to be situated in Sungai Ara, moved to its present site, Minden, a beautiful location with an area measuring 500 acres. The green and hilly scenery facing the sea is truly captivating.

Since its beginning, USM has implemented a school system, as opposed to the traditional faculty system. What is unique about this system is that each school could fulfil the needs of a more focused degree in the chosen area of study and at the same time, students could have the opportunity to explore other areas of study offered by another school. The interdisciplinary approach ensures that USM, the first in the country to adopt this system, would produce trained, multi-skilled graduates.
USM is one of the three research-intensive universities in Malaysia. It has four campuses. The Main Campus which is the venue of the INGRAW 2013 located on the island of Penang, northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. USM main campus is located within a tropical island of Penang, Malaysia with a land area of 591.72 acres (240.13 hectares). There are two USM branch campuses, one at Kubang Kerian in Kelantan (approximately 300km from the main campus) known as Health Campus and the other at Nibong Tebal (approximately 50km from the main campus), known as Engineering Campus. The former houses the School of Medical Sciences, School of Health Sciences and School of Dental Sciences, while the latter houses the six Engineering Schools. To date, the total enrolment is more than 30,000 students.


ISDEV, USM


The Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies, or ISDEV, was founded in 1995 at the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. Initially known as the International Project for Islamic Political Economy (IPIPE), the name then evolved into Islamic Development Management Project (IDMP) in 1997, and finally, to its present name, Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) in September 2005. 

As a research and educational centre, ISDEV gathers its academic members from various disciplines and schools within the University. It aims at pioneering a move to bring the field of Islamic development management beyond the confines of development and management boundaries per se. It adopts a trans-disciplinary approach to development and management, integrating social, economic and political tools of analysis to understand development management in an integrative and holistic manner based on Islamic doctrines.

ISDEV proposes to scrutinise and construct a conceptual and practical framework for managing development from an Islamic perspective. Development is seen as embracing all aspects of life, from spiritual to material and physical, from the individual level to that of society, from the state context to that of the global framework, ISDEV intends to cover a comprehensive horizon of human life, thus formulating and pioneering a new integrated discipline, called Islamic Development Management. it goes beyond the conventional management that limits itself to organisational, human resource and business management. Instead, Islamic development management covers all human activities, either for themselves, their family and their career of which social organisations, at village, district,state, national and international levels are also included.





Penang, Malaysia



Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the eighth most populous. It is composed of two parts – Penang Island, where the seat of government is, and Seberang Perai (formerlyProvince Wellesley in English) on the Malay Peninsula. Highly urbanised and industrialised Penang is one of the most developed and economically important states in the country, as well as a thriving tourist destination.


For centuries, The multi-faceted personality of Penang are famously known for her multiple places of attraction, exotic heritage, mysterious temples & lots of palm-shrouded beaches - that makes it truly a special & cozy travel destination. Penang Island are bless with the warmth of their multi racial society comprising of Malays, Chinese, Indians & others. It's amazing to know that the community there are able to live together for so long in harmony & respected of each others religion despite the differences in their races. So, if you're a westerner & happen to be with community, don't worry! - I can bet that you'll be treated & accepted like a friend or a family and not like some weird and funny people.

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