By : Mrs. Ayna Marliana binti Mohamad Sari

UPM SERDANG, 11 March – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) strengthened its commitment to student and alumni development through the Student and Alumni Affairs Seminar 2026 (SEHEPA 2026), held from 11–12 March 2026 at Auditorium 2, Faculty of Educational Studies, UPM. Carrying the theme “Driving Student and Alumni Empowerment through Jiwa Putra Values, Strategy and Impact,” the seminar highlighted integrated and impact-driven approaches in enhancing the Higher Education Student and Alumni Affairs (HEPA) ecosystem.

Designed as a platform for sharing best practices, the seminar featured concise 15-minute presentations covering seven key HEPA functions, including student empowerment, welfare and wellbeing, alumni engagement, governance and digitalisation, food security, funding and income generation, as well as planetary health and sustainability.

One notable presentation, “Student Mental Well-Being: DASS-21 Screening Analysis Towards Holistic Intervention,” by Wan Azurani Wan Ahmad, shared findings from a mental health screening involving 3,200 new students. Results revealed anxiety as the most significant concern, highlighting the need for early, structured interventions.

Another presentation by Mohamad Ashaari Awab emphasised the role of Peer Support Teams in strengthening psychosocial support systems within residential colleges. Meanwhile, Dr. Ansarul Haq Tahrir Adli highlighted residential colleges as key ecosystems in nurturing Jiwa Putra values, supported by the rise of the Jiwa Putra Index from 86.31% in 2024 to 89.11% in 2025.

The seminar also featured the development of a structured university career module by Syarifah Sheril Azlin Syed Baharin, designed to enhance graduate employability and career readiness progressively.

Overall, SEHEPA 2026 successfully fostered knowledge sharing, strengthened collaboration across university entities, and reinforced continuous improvement in holistic student and alumni services.

Date of Input: 31/03/2026 | Updated: 31/03/2026 | ayna