A student’s journey is not measured solely by academic achievements, but also by the ability to utilise knowledge, experiences and opportunities to create meaningful contributions for the well-being of society. Upholding this principle, Lailatul Akmal Awiss Juharin, a student from the Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has proven that life challenges can become a catalyst for success when she was named the recipient of the Student Figure Award 2026 at the recent UPM Vice Chancellor’s Award (ANC) Ceremony. The prestigious recognition represents the university’s highest accolade for students who excel in various aspects, including leadership, academics, co-curricular activities, entrepreneurship, character development, as well as contributions to the university and society. The achievement reflects appreciation for her dedication and commitment in empowering the student community through various initiatives that have created positive impacts. According to Lailatul Akmal, she never expected to receive the recognition as she believes that many other students have also made significant contributions to the community. She shared that the award is not merely an appreciation for herself, but also a tribute to her family, lecturers, the university, friends and the entire Warung Yamal team who have continuously supported her throughout her journey. More significantly, her experience as an asnaf assistance recipient during her university years became a turning point in her life. The experience inspired her to give back to the community through the establishment of Warung Yamal, an entrepreneurial initiative that not only generates income but also provides employment opportunities for students and carries out various welfare activities. In recognition of her efforts, she was also awarded the Putra Entrepreneur Award for her achievements in the field of entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, UPM Vice Chancellor, Datuk Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Farhan Mohd. Sadullah, expressed hope that recipients of the Vice Chancellor’s Award would continue to inspire other students by balancing

The Student Affairs Division (BHEP), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), welcomed a delegation of seven representatives from the Administration and Human Resources Division, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Selangor Branch, Puncak Alam Campus, for a Working and Benchmarking Visit on Vehicle Management. The delegation, led by Deputy Registrar Mr. Roslimi Ariffin, attended a briefing conducted by the Vehicle Management Section of BHEP UPM on the university's vehicle operations, transportation service coordination, and best practices implemented to ensure efficient, systematic, and effective service delivery. The visit aimed to strengthen the exchange of knowledge, experience, and expertise between the two higher education institutions while identifying new approaches that could enhance the efficiency of vehicle management and support the digitalisation of university transportation services. During the programme, UPM introduced its UPM Online Vehicle Service Booking System (PUTRALINER), a platform designed to facilitate vehicle booking through a more systematic, transparent, and efficient process. In return, the UiTM delegation shared their Monitoring Vehicle@UCS (MV@UCS) innovation, which was developed to enhance operational monitoring and vehicle asset management within their institution. The programme continued with a bilateral discussion session, providing both institutions with the opportunity to exchange views on challenges, continuous improvements, and innovations in university vehicle management. The delegation was also given a tour of UPM's campus bus operations to gain first-hand insight into the implementation and delivery of transportation services for the university community. This benchmarking visit is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between UPM and UiTM while creating opportunities for sustained collaboration in advancing more innovative, efficient, and sustainable university transportation management practices.