Established as the second university in the country in 1969, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was first known as Universiti Pulau Pinang. In 1971, USM moved from its temporary premises at the Malayan Teachers’ Training College, Bukit Gelugor to the present 416.6 hectare site at Minden, approximately 9.7 km from Georgetown.
USM offers courses ranging from Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences to Building Science and Technology, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education. These are available at undergraduate and postgraduate levels to approximately 30,000 students at its 17 Academic Schools on the main campus in the island of Penang; 6 Schools at the Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal (approximately 50km from the main campus); and 3 at the Health Campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan (approximately 300km from the main campus).
The USM main campus is a mere 20 minutes’ drive away from Georgetown, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012 and a thriving tourist destination rich in heritage and culture. Penang is also known as food heaven for foodies, from peranakan to Chinese style food to satisfy your gastronomic cravings.
The easiest way to travel to Penang is by air. Since Penang is a popular destination, flights are available daily. We recommend travelling from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport; commonly known as Subang Airport because it is the nearest airport to the city centre. There are two airlines to choose from if delegates are travelling from Subang Airport; Firefly and Malindo Air. The easiest way to get to Subang Airport is via Grab car.
For delegates who are on the hunt for more affordable flight tickets, AirAsia might be for you. Please be informed that this airline is only available in Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA 2), located about an hour away from the city centre. Delegates are advised to schedule your flight accordingly.
The Campus Tour will only be done at the USM Main Campus. USM will provide shuttle buses from Penang International Airport to delegates’ respective hotels. The shuttle service operates until 11:00 PM; therefore, we suggest taking a flight with a departure time between 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM to match our shuttle schedule. However, if delegates cannot meet the suggested time, airport taxis and Grab service are readily available at the airport. Travelling on the 29th of March 2019 is possible, take a flight with departure time between 6:00 to 7:00 AM, delegates should arrive just in time for the Post-conference Campus Tour at 9:00 by taking a Grab Car or Taxi to the meeting point that will be confirmed later at USM Main Campus. Because we are working with difficult timing, we recommend doing online flight check-in just to be sure that delegates can make it on time to board the flight.
Another common way of travelling to Penang is by Electric Train Service (ETS). This is the most affordable way of travelling however it will take 4 hours to reach Penang. Check ticket availability and book online at www.ktmb.com.my for tickets from Kuala Lumpur Sentral to Butterworth. From Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), take the Light Rail Transit (LRT) from KLCC to KL Sentral. Once arrived at Butterworth station, take the ferry to Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal in Georgetown. From there, take a Grab car to delegates’ respective hotels.
Please find the schedule for ground transportation service provided to all delegates and update your travel arrangement at the link provided below.
| 1 | Pickup from Airport to Accommodation – Arrival at Penang International Airport | |||
| Date | Pickup Session | Pickup Time | Note | |
| Thursday, 28 March 2019 | 1 | Between 5 PM to 7 PM | Transportation will depart every 1 hour | |
| 2 | Between 7 PM to 9 PM | |||
| 3 | Between 9 PM to 11 PM | |||
| 2 | Pickup from Airport to USM – Arrival at Penang International Airport & Campus Tour Session | |||
| Date | Pickup Session | Pickup Time | Note | |
| Friday, 29 March 2019 | 1 | Between 7 AM to 9 AM | Transportation will depart every 1 hour | |
| 3 | Pickup from Hotel to USM – Campus Tour Session | |||
| Date | Hotel | Pickup Time | Note | |
| Friday, 29 March 2019 | U | 8:00 AM | Meeting point is at the lobby | |
| Vistana | 8:00 AM | |||
| Olive Tree | 8:00 AM | |||
| Equatorial | 8:00 AM | |||
| 4 | Pickup from USM to Accommodation – Rest | |||
| Date | Hotel | Pickup Time | Note | |
| Friday, 29 March 2019 | U | 5:00 PM | Meeting point is at the lobby | |
| Vistana | 5:00 PM | |||
| Olive Tree | 5:00 PM | |||
| Equatorial | 5:00 PM | |||
| 5 | Pickup from Accommodation to USM (Evening) – Chillin’ and Grillin’ Session (Dinner) | |||
| Date | Hotel | Pickup Time | Note | |
| Friday, 29 March 2019 | U | 8:00 PM | Meeting point is at the lobby | |
| Vistana | 8:00 PM | |||
| Olive Tree | 8:00 PM | |||
| Equatorial | 8:00 PM | |||
| 6 | Pickup from USM to Accommodation (Evening) – End of Session | |||
| Date | Hotel | Pickup Time | Note | |
| Friday, 29 March 2019 | U | 11:00 PM | Meeting point will be determined later | |
| Vistana | 11:00 PM | |||
| Olive Tree | 11:00 PM | |||
| Equatorial | 11:00 PM | |||
We suggest U Hotel, Vistana Penang Bukit Jambul, Olive Tree Hotel or Hotel Equatorial for delegates to choose from. The nearest hotel from USM is U Hotel, located 5 minutes away from the campus. Vistana Penang Bukit Jambul and Olive Tree Hotel are about 15 minutes drive away from USM. Visit respective hotel’s website for bookings. USM shall provide shuttle service for pickup at the respective accommodation. Due to late travelling time, delegates are advised to inform the hotel about late check in as some hotel may cancel your reservation in case of late turn-ups. Hotel details and rates are as follows:
Note: Special code for bookings will be provided in March. Stay tuned and check this page from time to time.
Established as the second university in the country in 1969, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was first known as Universiti Pulau Pinang. In 1971, USM moved from its temporary premises at the Malayan Teachers’ Training College, Bukit Gelugor to the present 416.6-hectare site at Minden, approximately 9.7 km from Georgetown.
USM offers courses ranging from Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences to Building Science and Technology, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education. These are available at undergraduate and postgraduate levels to approximately 30,000 students at its 17 Academic Schools on the main campus in the island of Penang; 6 Schools at the Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal (approximately 50km from the main campus); and 3 at the Health Campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan (approximately 300km from the main campus).
USM also has 17 dedicated research centres for a wide range of specialisations which include archaeology, medicine and dentistry, molecular medicine, science and technology, Islamic development and management studies, and policy research and international studies. It also provides consultancy, testing, and advisory services to the industry under the ambit of USAINS Holdings Sdn Bhd, the University’s commercial arm.
Since the beginning, USM has adopted the School system rather than the traditional Faculty system to ensure that its students are multi-disciplined from their exposure to other areas of study by other Schools. It also encourages students to be active in extra-curricular activities given the myriad of clubs and societies available.
As a Research Intensive University recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE) in 2007, USM offers educational and research opportunities to students and staff. In 2008, USM also became the first university in the country to be selected by the Malaysian government to participate in the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX), a fast-track programme that helps tertiary institutions achieve world-class status.
| Time | Programme |
|---|---|
|
09:00 AM - 09:30 AM |
Arrival of participants from the respective Hotel or Airport Welcoming Refreshments (Snacks with Tea or Coffee) Venue: Kompleks Cahaya Siswa (KOMCA) |
|
09:30 AM - 09:40 AM |
Arrival of VIP Venue: Kompleks Cahaya Siswa (KOMCA) |
|
09:50 AM - 10:00 AM |
Opening Ceremony Venue: Kompleks Cahaya Siswa (KOMCA) |
|
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM |
Speech from Presentation by USM International Students (USMi) Venue: Kompleks Cahaya Siswa (KOMCA) |
|
10:20 AM - 11:00 AM |
Presentation by Student Buddies: Venue: Kompleks Cahaya Siswa (KOMCA) |
|
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
1.Cultural Exposure Venue: Kompleks Cahaya Siswa (KOMCA) |
|
12:00 PM - 03:00 PM |
Friday Prayer Lunch Break Cultural activity - Batik Canting Venue: Kompleks Cahaya Foyer (Outdoor) |
|
03:00 PM - 05:00 PM |
Campus Tour Participants will be divided into 3 groups and will experience all trails |
|
05:00 PM - 07:30 PM |
Break Return to Respective Hotels |
|
07:30 PM |
Depart to USM for Dinner |
|
07:45 PM - 11:00 PM |
Chillin n Grillin (BBQ Session) Venue: International Mobility and Collaboration Centre (IMCC) |