Our visit to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) began with a warm reception from the Dean and other faculty, who welcomed our group before guiding us into a meeting room for an introductory briefing.
The session provided valuable insight into the university’s history, national significance, research identity, and academic vision. The university was established in 1969, USM is Malaysia’s second university and has since grown into a leading research institution. A major milestone was achieved in 2008, when it became the first Malaysian university selected for the Accelerated Program for Excellence (APEX), a national initiative aimed at advancing institutional performance and global competitiveness. This recognition reflects USM’s strategic role in national development and academic advancement.
USM operates across 13 locations nationwide, forming a network for education and research collaboration. Its main campus on Penang Island hosts 17 academic schools and delivers 74 undergraduate and 278 master’s programs, all taught in English. With 41,176 enrolled students and 2,146 academic staff, USM maintains a diverse academic community rooted in research-led learning.
The main campus houses six schools of engineering and three research and service centers. The School of Civil Engineering, established in 1989, currently supports approximately 739 students across undergraduate and postgraduate studies. USM’s civil engineering department is supported by six specialized laboratories, including highway and environmental engineering facilities. We also learned that the faculty adopts the EN 1992 Eurocode standard for concrete design, differing from the ACI 318 standard used at UIUC, offering a point of technical comparison between design approaches. Highway and transportation engineering currently holds the largest student concentration, followed by materials and structural engineering. Three niche areas of study that the university offers are: sustainable materials and advanced construction, forensic engineering, and disaster risk reduction with an emphasis on urban resilience. These fields align closely with Malaysia’s infrastructural and environmental priorities. The faculty also shared plans to introduce a Digital Construction master’s program within the next two years, showing their commitment to the future of engineering education.
Additionally, the faculty provided an overview of Malaysia’s construction material compliance process. Contractors must perform independent material testing in accredited laboratories and cannot rely solely on supplier-issued certificates. Structural materials must meet or exceed design requirements. For example, concrete rebar is required to achieve a minimum yield strength of 500 N/mm².
Following the briefing, we toured the campus facilities and observed students conducting material testing linked to live industry and government supported projects. The visit concluded with refreshments and meaningful conversation alongside USM university students, offering a rewarding opportunity for academic exchange. It was nice to see how education in Malaysia compares to that at UIUC. We were able to ask questions and get to know one another while enjoying Malaysian food together. The conversations with the USM students provided insight into what it’s like to study at USM and led to reflection on the differences in education and way of life.
Overall, the visit was a great reminder that while engineering education may look a little different depending on where you are, the foundation, integrity, and impact, remains the same everywhere.
Blog by Hristo Toshev