Written and translated by: Husna Shafiyah binti Hishamuddin

Edited by: Suziana binti Che Wil

SERDANG, 30th June – The prize presentation ceremony for the PUTRA Alumni VPRO Challenge 2026 was successfully held in conjunction with the closing ceremony of Bulan Sinergi Putra 2026 at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Stadium. The event was further enlivened by the PUTRASihat 10,000 Steps UPM programme, which brought together members of the UPM community, led by the Vice-Chancellor of UPM, YBhg. Dato' Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd. Sadullah, FASc, in promoting a healthy lifestyle and strengthening community engagement across the University.

The prizes were presented by YBhg. Dato' Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd. Sadullah, FASc, Vice-Chancellor of UPM, accompanied by Mr. Fahmi Azar Mistar, Director of the UPM Alumni Relations Centre, and Mr. Noor Mohamad Shakil Hameed, Deputy Director (Corporate Communications), Centre for Strategy and Corporate Relations (PSPK), UPM.

Organised by the UPM Alumni Relations Centre in collaboration with the Centre for Strategy and Corporate Relations (PSPK), the PUTRA Alumni VPRO Challenge 2026 was themed "Food Security" and attracted creative submissions from students, alumni, UPM staff, and members of the public. The competition encouraged participants to produce impactful video content that highlights the importance of food security while showcasing creativity, innovation, and effective storytelling.

The competition was organised not only as part of the Bulan Sinergi Putra 2026 celebrations but also in conjunction with UPM Alumni Day, commemorated annually on 21 May, reflecting the University's continued commitment to strengthening alumni engagement while fostering creativity and public awareness on issues of national significance.

In the Student Category, Nurul Qamaria Shamshuddin from the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication emerged as the Champion, receiving a cash prize of RM3,000. The First Runner-up title went to Nor Arisya Sofea Mohd. Ariff from the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, who received RM2,000, while Shah Mikhail Iqbal Zamri and Mohammad Ilman Wafey Mat Din, both from the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, secured Third Place with a cash prize of RM1,000. The Judges' Choice Award, accompanied by RM500, was presented to Fazirah Samah from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

In the Public, Alumni and UPM Staff Category, Mohamad As Syafie, a UPM alumnus (Class of 2022), was crowned Champion and received RM3,000. The First Runner-up award was presented to Nur Sahira Faghira Tahrir Adli, a UPM alumna (Classes of 2016 and 2022), who received RM2,000. Muhammad 'Amal Mohamad Kasim secured Third Place, while Ahmad Amirul Alias received the Judges' Choice Award, with cash prizes of RM1,000 and RM500, respectively.

The organising committee extends its heartfelt congratulations to all winners for their outstanding creativity, dedication, and commitment in producing high-quality video productions that effectively raise public awareness of the importance of food security. Their innovative works demonstrated not only technical excellence but also the ability to communicate meaningful messages that resonate with society.

Appreciation is also extended to all participants for their enthusiastic involvement and valuable contributions to the success of the competition. The encouraging response to the PUTRA Alumni VPRO Challenge 2026 reflects the potential of creative media as an effective platform for strengthening connections between alumni, students, staff, and the wider community while inspiring meaningful conversations on issues that matter.

Universiti Putra Malaysia remains committed to supporting initiatives that encourage creativity, innovation, and knowledge sharing. It is hoped that the PUTRA Alumni VPRO Challenge will continue to serve as a platform for nurturing creative talent, strengthening alumni engagement, and promoting public awareness through impactful digital storytelling that contributes to the development of society.

Date of Input: 22/07/2026 | Updated: 22/07/2026 | suziana.wil