KPKT grant fuels UTAR’s innovation for new village SMEs

In a significant stride towards community empowerment and sustainable development, UTAR has successfully secured a socio-economic development grant of RM299,880 from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) through its Chinese New Village Division (BKBC).

The grant, awarded to Ts Dr Wong Whee Yen, Principal Investigator and Deputy Head of UTAR’s Unovate Centre as well as an academic staff member of the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES), reflects UTAR’s sustained commitment to uplifting new village communities through education, research, and industry collaboration.

Formally signed on 10 April 2025, the grant supports the expansion of UTAR’s long-running “Program Transformasi Digital: E-Dagang”, a flagship initiative under the UTAR New Village Community Project (UNVCP), which has been actively engaging more than 600 Chinese new villages nationwide since its inception in 2009. The programme integrates academic expertise, student participation, and community engagement to promote digital transformation and sustainable economic growth.

Running from April to December 2025, the project delivers structured, hands-on training designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in new villages transition into the digital economy. To date, seven training sessions have been conducted across Selangor, Perak, Johor, Penang, and Pahang, benefiting 199 community participants, of whom 189 completed programme verification requirements, and 158 successfully fulfilled at least 80 per cent of the training and received e-certificates.

Each workshop adopts a highly practical approach, equipping participants with essential digital business competencies such as online marketplace registration, product listing, digital marketing strategies, content creation, and basic photo and video editing for e-commerce platforms. Participants also receive exposure to social media management and live-streaming techniques, enabling them to promote their products more effectively in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

Beyond technical skills, the programme has generated meaningful socio-economic outcomes at both individual and community levels. Many participants reported improved confidence in managing online businesses, enhanced product presentation and branding, and greater market reach beyond their local communities. The adoption of digital tools has reduced reliance on traditional physical sales channels, opened new income opportunities, and strengthened collaboration among local entrepreneurs, contributing to broader community-level economic resilience.

The multidisciplinary project team comprises academic and administrative staff from multiple UTAR faculties and centres. In addition to Ts Dr Wong as Principal Investigator, the core team includes Dr Pok Wei Fong, Dean of the Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM); Ts Dr Lee Jer Vui of LKC FES; Puan Ezatul Emilia binti Muhammad Arif of FAM; and Ms Chin Yoon Mei of the Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance. Senior leadership support is provided by Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations, alongside institutional coordinators from UTAR’s Department of Soft Skills Competency across both Kampar and Sungai Long campuses.

The programme is further strengthened through collaboration with industry partners, including Kicap Bentong Sdn Bhd, Canton Recipe Sdn Bhd, Chop Guan Kee Sdn Bhd, Kopi 3 Enterprise, Swee Len Food Industries, Tat Lian Confectionery Sdn Bhd, and Wave Rest House and Café. These partners contribute real-world insights, case studies, and mentoring support that bridge academic knowledge with practical business application.