GSB ADVANCES SDG GOALS THROUGH SCHOOL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME 2025

USM PENANG, 9 December 2025 - The 2025 School Assistance Programme, organised by the Graduate School of Business (GSB) community comprising alumni, staff, and students, was successfully held at the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

This annual initiative aims to support students from underprivileged families while nurturing long-term educational aspirations.

A total of 30 primary school students from several schools across Penang participated in this year's programme.

According to Project Director and GSB alumnus, Associate Professor Dr. Yuvaraj Ganesan, with the 2025 implementation, the total number of students who have benefited from the School Assistance Programme since its inception has increased to 240.

"Students received various school necessities including uniforms, school bags, books and stationery. They also enjoyed interactive learning sessions through financial literacy games, which helped them understand basic money management concepts in a fun and accessible way.

"This engagement also serves as a platform for us to share and translate our research outcomes into meaningful community impact," he added.

Accompanying teachers expressed their appreciation to the GSB community for this meaningful effort.

They noted that the programme greatly motivates students to strive for academic excellence and aspire to pursue education at the university level.

They also highlighted that the assistance provided brings significant relief to low-income families and should be continued in the future.

The School Assistance Programme is one of GSB's key community service initiatives supporting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as outlined in the programme's working paper:

• SDG 1 - No Poverty: Educational assistance helps reduce the financial burden faced by B40 families while supporting access to education.
• SDG 4 - Quality Education: The programme enhances access to educational support, strengthens learning motivation and encourages students to aspire toward higher education.
• SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities: Provides more equitable educational opportunities for underprivileged students to prevent them from falling behind.
• SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthens collaboration between USM, schools, the community, alumni, and donors in line with community engagement and social partnership values.

According to Yuvaraj, the 2025 programme once again demonstrates GSB's commitment to upholding its social responsibility as a university entity while fostering strong relationships between USM and the surrounding community.

"GSB will continue to advance this meaningful initiative to ensure more students gain access to better and more equitable educational opportunities."

The success of the 2025 School Assistance Programme was further strengthened through the dedicated guidance of Project Advisor, Associate Professor Dr. Teoh Ai Ping and the continuous support of Associate Professor Dr. Fathyah Hashim, Dean of the Graduate School of Business, whose leadership played a pivotal role in driving this meaningful community initiative forward.

Text & Photos: GSB USM/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe