UTM – USK – PORSEC
Capacity Building on Ocean Remote Sensing towards Climate Resilience

Ocean remote sensing plays a vital role in understanding marine and coastal environments, especially in the face of increasing climate-related challenges. Satellite-based ocean observation provides essential data for monitoring sea surface temperature, ocean currents, coastal dynamics, marine ecosystems, and environmental changes. These technologies are increasingly important for supporting climate resilience, disaster preparedness, fisheries management, and sustainable ocean governance.

The UTM–USK-PORSEC Capacity Building Program is organized as a collaborative initiative between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Pan Ocean Remote Sensing Conference, and partner institutions to enhance regional capacity in ocean remote sensing. The program is also supported by United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UN Ocean Decade). Scheduled for August – September 2026, the program combines Massive Open Online Courses, onsite training at Universitas Syiah Kuala in Banda Aceh, and field-based learning at Weh Island. In addition, the program accommodates an academic credit conversion scheme of up to 10 credits (SKS) for undergraduate students from Indonesia, supporting experiential learning and interdisciplinary academic engagement.

By bringing together international experts and participants from diverse backgrounds, this program aims to promote knowledge exchange, strengthen technical competencies, and encourage collaborative innovation in applying ocean remote sensing for climate resilience. The program is also currently in discussion with International Journal of Remote Sensing/IJRS (https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/tres20) regarding potential special issue publication related to the program themes and collaborative outputs.

1. Final-year undergraduate students (minimum 6th semester), graduates, or professionals in: Marine Science/ Geography / Geospatial Science; Meteorology / Climatology/ Environmental Engineering or related fields

2. Have an interest and/or basic knowledge in: Ocean Remote Sensing and GIS or spatial data analysis (preferred)

3. Able to communicate in English (at least passive proficiency), as the program will be conducted internationally.

4. Willing to participate in all program activities: Online Training (MOOCs); Onsite Training & Field Visit

5. Demonstrate full commitment throughout the program (partial participation is not allowed)

6. Complete the registration form

7. Willing to pay the registration fee (USD 255)

8. Willing to participate in field activities (outdoor/coastal/marine environments)