JOHOR BAHRU, 14 July – Zakat UTM, in collaboration with the Islamic Centre of Masjid Sultan Ismail, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), successfully launched Asnaf Pro, a skills development initiative aimed at empowering zakat recipient students (asnaf) through structured, hands-on training.
Designed to enhance employability and improve long-term socio-economic resilience, the inaugural module focused on basic barbering skills, involving seven UTM students from diverse academic backgrounds. The programme provided participants with practical exposure in haircutting techniques, equipment handling, and customer service fundamentals.
The training was led by Mohd Fadzly Khyreen Hj. Azhar, entrepreneur and staff member at the Student Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship Centre (UTM XCITE), with support from three experienced student trainers actively involved in the barbering industry through Lot 5 Barbershop. Their mentorship enabled participants to build both technical competence and confidence to pursue income-generating opportunities.
The impact of the programme is already evident. One of the participants has secured employment at Lot 5 Barbershop beginning 1 January 2026. He is currently working alongside Hazbullah Hazman, CEO of Lot 5 Barbershop and a Year 4 Mechanical Engineering student at UTM, who is also a participant of the UTM Young Accelerator Entrepreneurs (UTM YES) Programme. In total, two participants from Asnaf Pro 1.0 have successfully transitioned into employment, either within UTM or externally as professional barbers.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants received certificates of completion and a basic barbering kit, including a hair clipper, thinning scissors, and essential tools to support their continued practice.
Asnaf Pro reflects UTM’s commitment to transforming zakat assistance beyond financial aid by integrating structured capacity-building initiatives that generate sustainable impact. The programme is expected to expand with additional skill-based modules, further strengthening social entrepreneurship efforts within the university community.
