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Month: January 2022

Ed Vaizey, Natalie Shay and PRS among first guests for LCCM series

Posted on by Global University Systems

Higher education music college LCCM has announced a number of high-profile guests for its weekly Music Industry Mondays talk and networking series.

On Monday 24th January, the Central London college will welcome Ed Vaizey. The former UK government minister for Culture and Digital Economy, now Baron Vaizey of Didcot, will be sharing his views on the music industry. Lord Vaizey, often mentioned in the media as a potential new chair of UK media regulator Ofcom, is widely viewed as a popular advocate of the music and creative industries. Writing passionately in The Times, Vaizey pointed out that the music industry “is not an industry defined only by the big-name artists and labels we all know. It is a rich, deep and highly competitive ecosystem that must be better understood.”

Fast-rising independent singer-songwriter Natalie Shay will join LCCM on 7th February for a special Q&A and live performance involving college students. Natalie has established an ever-growing presence and loyal fanbase through her explosive live performances and unforgettable anthems – selling out Camden Assembly on release of her last single. Her collaborations with major trance artists Kryder (Black Hole Recordings) and Grum (Anjunabeats) have racked up over 4 million streams.

Partnering with industry trade body UK Music, LCCM kick started the free-to-attend Music Industry Mondays series in September 2021, determined to bounce back from the disruptions of the last two academic years. Each Monday during term time at 6PM, the college opens its 120-capacity Music Box venue and fully licensed bar for an evening of music industry discussion and networking. For those who can’t attend on the day, the talks are filmed and edited into full-length episodes to watch back via LCCM’s student cloud portal and UK Music’s MAP network of other higher education providers. Previous guests have included Nadia Khan, Good Soldier Records, The Music Federation, Mute Song, singer-songwriter Carmody and PPL.

The first talk of the new year was from David Martin, CEO at Featured Artist Coalition, followed in the second week of term by Claire Rose, Outreach Manager at PRS for Music, who discussed the PRS Foundation and funding programmes available for artists and musicians. A highly relevant conversation, given unsettling times for live music and the rise in artists choosing to forgo a record deal and release music independently.

LCCM Principal and host of Music Industry Mondays, Anthony Hamer-Hodges says: “We host these weekly discussions to give our students and anyone else who is passionate about making a living in the modern music industry, real insights from top executives, artists, songwriters and decision makers. It’s always a lively discussion with questions from the audience and a chance to network at the bar afterwards. It certainly makes a nice change from all the Zoom lessons during lockdown. We are determined to give our students and the wider London music community the full benefit of the Music Box, our creative and educational hub in the heart of cultural SE1.”

The latest high-profile guests are another indication of LCCM’s position at the crossroads of talent development and higher education. LCCM graduates include BRIT Award winner Tom Walker, and fellow artists and writers Rhys Lewis and Chiara Hunter. Other former students making waves include Marie Dahlstrom, JOY (ANONYMOUS), Sans Soucis and Nathan Challinor, known for his co-writes with BBC Sound of 2022 finalist Baby Queen.

LCCM’s custom-built teaching and artist development facility the Music Box in Central London features a 120-cap entertainment venue and multiple recording studios. Major artists including Kojey Radical, Moses Boyd, Amber Run, Novelist and Kara Marni have spent time rehearsing or recording at the Music Box in recent months, as well as meeting with LCCM students.

EdUHK’s 3Es helps children’s emotional growth

Posted on by eduhk

A vital part of a child’s development is learning to regulate emotions and build relationships: often called ‘socioemotional competence’. To encourage this life-long learning, The Education University of Hong Kong, with the support of the Simon K. Y. Lee Foundation, has created the 3Es project. The project is in its sixth year and its name represents the goals of early prevention, early identification and early intervention, where local children encounter difficulties in reading and arithmetic (hard skills), and in managing emotions and behaviour (soft skills).

The University launched this evidence-based intervention programme in 2015 and it was initially operated in 24 kindergartens, benefiting some 1,400 children and their parents and teachers. Professor Kevin Chung Kien-hoa, Dr Ian Lam Chun-bun at the Department of Early Childhood Education and the 3Es team conducted a study during the programme’s four-year term to measure its effectiveness.

Based on both qualitative and quantitative data collected from the children, results showed that 3Es helped the children’s cognitive control, emotional understanding, emotional expressiveness, empathy and other behaviours intended to help others. These are skills which experts consider crucial for subsistence and success in the 21st century.

The study was published in one top-five% and six top-10-15% ranked academic journals, and the team further expanded the reach of its outcomes by developing several in-service teacher-training programmes. The scholars also shared their work in the form of newsletters, teaching aids and learning activities for parents and children. The learning materials can be downloaded through the 3Es website and social media platforms.

Following on from this success, the 3Es programme was extended in 2019 to reach kindergartens located in economically disadvantaged areas. The Education Bureau has since invited all kindergartens in Hong Kong to participate, using two formats. The first is school-based teacher training, provided by educational psychologists and school development officers. The second format comprises joint school workshops and sharing sessions, enabling kindergartens to learn from each other’s experiences. Both will begin in September 2021 and will run for two years.

“With the right support, children from any background can have a better future,” said project leader, Professor Chung. “We want to provide such support in the early years, together with parents and teachers,” he added.

TU opens “Joint Replacement Center” in early 2022

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat University Hospital strive to reinforce the vision of “Thammasat Hospital 4.0 towards the organization of the future for the people” by preparing to open “Knee and Hip Center” and introduced robotic arm technology to assist in knee replacement for the first time in a government hospital.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pharuehas Tor-Udom, Director of Thammasat University Hospital, revealed that according to the statistics, it was found that there were patients with knee arthritis, hip dysplasia up to 6 million people and the country’s population structure is shifting toward the “Hyper-Aged Society” in the next 10 years, with an aging population that will increase to 1 in 3 of the country’s population.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that causes severe suffering for patients and make the patient unable to help themselves. At present, Thammasat University Hospital provides approximately 1,000 knee and hip replacement per year. It is estimated that after opening the center, it is expected to support up to 4,000 high-quality hip replacements per year.

Thammasat University Hospital recognizes the problems of rheumatic patients and has been committed to the development of orthopedic treatment since the hospital’s early establishment in 1987, and has developed personnel, technologies, and innovations to help relieve pain and make patients experience replacement without suffering and are abble to recover quickly and return home within 3 days.

Thammasat University Hospital have an idea to develop “Thammasat University Hospital Joint Replacement Center” to upgrade treatment and services as a regional leader. There is a team of personnel who are specialized in patients’ caregiving throughout the treatment stages; from diagnosis, treatment, physical therapy, medication, injections, including surgery to provide patients with a better treatment experience and receive a quality replacement that can be used for a long time; to provide services and medical treatment with state-of-the-art technologies in which the surgical robotic arm technology will be used for a more accurate replacement positioning in order to reduce injury to surrounding tissues, helping patients recover well,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pharuehas concluded.

In this regard, “Thammasat University Hospital Joint Replacement Center” will be one of the new special service forms of Thammasat Hospital as one-stop service to provide convenience in receiving the best service and quality of treatment by expertize medical professors which will be ready in early 2022.

HKAPA School of Dance Dean’s Special Artist Series

Posted on by Communications Office
How could technology play a role in dance creation? With the theme “The Future of the Dancing Body in Virtual Space”, the School of Dance Dean’s Special Artist Series will present its first programme this semester via Zoom on Jan 12, 2022 (Wednesday). Dean of Dance Professor Anna CY Chan, along with choreographer Alexander Whitley and Digital Artist Neal Coghlan, will discuss their work with motion capture and 3D animation software in the creation of digital dance productions. They will also share more on their experiments connecting dancers from remote locations in a shared virtual space using motion capture streaming technology.
Join them & explore the possibilities these technologies present for the future of dance performance: https://bit.ly/3HqHv0G　

UiTM Pahang collaborates with KLPK towards quality education

Posted on by Nurulatika Minhad

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pahang Branch Campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kumpulan Ladang-Ladang Perbadanan Kedah Sdn. Bhd (KLPK).

The signatories were the Acting Rector of UiTM Pahang, Professor Ts. Dr Mohd Ilham Adenan, and the Managing Director of KLPK, Mr Azizi bin Haji Ahmad. The ceremony was held in UiTM Pahang and witnessed by UiTM Pahang Branch’s Deputy Directors, lecturers from the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology and the Faculty of Applied Science, along with KLPK’s staff members.

KLPK is a private plantation farm that is committed to delivering high-quality plantation management which involves rubber and oil palm plantation management, cultivation, rubber processing and downstream activities, agricultural and livestock businesses, as well as organic fertilizer production. Apart from being environmentally conscious, its concern on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is also reflected through its active involvement in social activities by establishing positive relationships with the local communities. Thus, UiTM’s approach to reinforce its cooperation with KLPK clearly shows its commitment to achieving university goals and strengthening relationships among academicians and KLPK’s administrative members. In addition, UiTM also benefits from the collaboration by being able to produce various high impact projects and contribute to the industry and the community.

Throughout this MoU, UiTM Pahang Branch Campus and KLPK have agreed to enhance the collaboration in terms of consultancy and research, sharing of expertise and resources and organizing symposia, conferences, short courses or meetings that will profit both parties. Additionally, the MoU also seeks to enhance students’ employability by extending internship opportunities for UiTM students and giving them the experience required by the industry. This collaboration also aims to establish and reinforce knowledge transfer between both parties through University Social Responsibility (USR) programmes.

The objectives of signing the MoU is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 4, which ensures inclusive and equitable quality education whilst promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. It is hoped that the cooperation between UiTM Pahang Branch Campus with KLPK could bring great impact in both academic and research areas. This effort can also strengthen the network between UiTM and KLPK, particularly in efforts toward developing and enhancing knowledge within the industry as well as increasing the visibility of UiTM Pahang Branch Campus.

Thammasat University collaboration with the Lampang Provincial agencies

Posted on by Thammasat University

Asst. Prof. Pimchat Rossutham, Assistant Rector for Student Affairs and Corporate Communications, Lampang Center, delivered the opening remarks at the Memorandum of Collaboration Signing Ceremony along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sasitorn Theptrakanporn, Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Academic Collaboration entitled “Collaboration in Academic Development, Research and Academic Services” with Dr. Prasert Kitsuwanrat, a Public Health Doctor, Lampang Province, and Mr. Rapeesak Malairungsakul, Director of the Office of the Environment Region 2, Lampang Province and Mr. Sittichai Mungdee, Director of Environmental Management Promotion Division Office of the Environment Region 2, Lampang Province.

The objective of this collaboration agreement is to integrate and promote collaboration in the development of knowledge, class management and joint research studies, personnel development by cooperating in training, internships, study visits, exchange of academic information support to build and develop a network and quality standards for academic service operations, promotion and support in class management, curriculum development as well as the development of sustainable environmental management and public health work. Develop the potential of academic personnel and academic support to upgrade and increase the potential of creating a body of knowledge, creating academic works, research and innovation towards academic excellence to produce personnel, researchers, academics, students in the field of public health who have knowledge and ability to solve public health problems and develop to foster sustainability.

TPU Festival of Russian Language and Culture

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

The XVII Ten-Day Festival of Russian Language and Culture has finished at Tomsk Polytechnic University. Russian and international students of Tomsk universities, TPU academic and administrative staff, school students and overseas participants from all over the world took part in the ten-day Festival. In total, there were over 800 participants.

This year’s Festival was devoted to the university’s passing the selection for the Priority 2030 program. The participants were able to try their hand in one or several events, among which there was a recitation contest, poem contest, literary saloon, punctuation olympiad and workshops.
All these events were held in a hybrid mode.

“It was the first time when all six Tomsk universities, as well as Volgograd State University, Moscow State University of Technology STANKIN and the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute joined the traditional recitation contest. It proves that our event is progressing to the all-Russian level. Moreover, it was the first time when we held an online punctuation olympiad for students and staff of our university. Everyone liked the idea to check their Russian literacy that not only members of the TPU community but also Tomsk citizens joined us,” says Marina Bokhonnaya, associate professor of the TPU Division for Russian Language.

According to the results of the contests, the organizers selected winners. Francisco Simon Fernando Dala, a TPU student. became the first among attendees of the TPU Pre-University Department in the My Priorities recitation contest. Cui Yuchuan, a student of academic exchange, became the best among international students in the same contest. Simatupang Priscila Lisa Monica, an attendee of the TPU Pre-University Department, won the first place among international students in the 20 30 online poem contest. While, Simatupang Priscila Lisa Monica, a TPU postgraduate, won the Priority 2021 – World Reads Dostoevsky reading prose contest.

“The contest for staff of the TPU Division for Russian Language was held for the first time this year. It was arranged in the format of the famous ‘Open Your Mouth’ championships. The actor of Tomsk Drama Theatre Anton Antonov, the TV presenter Alesya Kurnosova and the museum guide Vadim Lobanov assessed the participants. It was quite interesting to watch colleagues in their new roles,” Marina Bokhonnaya adds.

Marina Nebera, head of the TPU Pre-University Department, became a winner of the My Priorities contest among colleagues. Meanwhile, Elena Ryabchikova, director of the TPU Center for Education Quality Assurance, was the best in the Set Priorities online punctuation olympiad.

Reference:
The Festival of Russian Language and Culture is an annual event arranged by the TPU Division for Russian Language. The Festival aims at the identification and support of talented Russian and international students, school students, demonstration of their achievements in learning Russian, literacy improvement and motivation to learn Russian, as well as promotion of the Russian language and Russian culture.

Annually the organizers do their best to make the event program diverse. Russian and international students studying at TPU and other Tomsk universities, school students, as well as TPU staff and all interested people are encouraged to take part in the following events.

UiTM Kedah Branch strengthens international collaboration

Posted on by Syazliyati Ibrahim

Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Branch strengthens its internationalisation agenda by organising an academic event in collaboration with the Language Centre, University Brunei Darussalam. The event was International Innovation in Teaching and Learning & Language Education Conference or i-InTeLEC 2021, which provided an academic platform comprising an innovation competition, a conference, a research workshop on publishing in high-impact journals, and a digital content competition for students.

i-InTeLEC 2021 commenced its work as early as February 2020 when both institutions met for their first meeting for the event on 11 February 2020 in University Brunei Darussalam. The Covid-19 pandemic did not deter the preparations for the event and it was finally held on 9 & 10 November 2021 via Google Meet and APB Kedah FB live. The event as a whole managed to garner more than 127 submissions for all its programmes. On 9 November & 10 November 2021, i-InTeLEC was joined by more than 150 participants both on Google Meet and also APB Kedah FB Live.

i-InTeLEC 2021 also featured Associate Professor Dr. Andrew Littlejohn from UBD as the keynote speaker. Other speakers who are experts in their fields included Dr. Noor Azam Haji Othman, Dr. Juliana Shak, Dr. Ishamina Atirah Muntassir-Gardiner from UBD, and also Professor Dr. Ahmad Mazli bin Muhammad, the former Dean of Academy of Language Studies, UiTM, were also invited to share their perspectives on the future of teaching in the digital age forum.

This event has succeeded in proving that international collaboration is still possible despite the travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. Both universities are also looking forward to fostering more academic activities for the benefit of the students and lecturers in the near future.

Chula students win first prize in Asian British Parliament Debating Championship 2021

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Congratulations to Chanakan Wittayasakpan and Chayaton Subchavaroj, 4th year students from the Faculty of Arts and the Chulalongkorn Business School, for winning the English debating competition during the Asian British Parliament Debating Championship 2021, on 22-31 October 2021.

Organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), the competition was one of the largest English online debating championships in history, combining two Asian English debating competitions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s competition drew 192 teams from 179 academic institutions in China and other Asian countries.

Chanakan and Chayaton revealed that the debate topics were diverse: politics, foreign, economic, social, feminists, minorities, and gender equality. During the debate, each team got 15 minutes to prepare before taking turns speaking for 7 minutes. For the final round, the team performing as the proposition received the topic on “Technology to erase sadness should be allowed to use”. They added that compared to things that already exist in today’s world, the topic was rather abstract and it became difficult to create ideas clearly. Fortunately, extra reading got them better prepared and more ready to speak on the topic.

Both Chanakan and Chayaton primarily studied by listening to lectures and watching debating competitions on YouTube. Moreover, they prepared for a variety of topics, practiced and tried to collected as much knowledge as possible, including the one-year experience they gained from other matches, under the supervision of Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang.

The two students regularly practiced at the Chulalongkorn University English Debate Society under great support from the Office of Student Affairs, Chulalongkorn University. At the same time, whenever they noticed that they were inferior at any point, they practiced more. To de-stress, as needed, their strategy was to switch into listeners rather than debaters.

Both agreed that teamwork was the key to success, as they have been practicing together for a long time, starting from the freshman year. Each knew how and what the other was thinking, and what needs to be added. This was significant for their progress towards the most crucial component of the debate.

Chanakan and Chayaton reflected that the debating competition has definitely broadened their views. Because of the numerous societal topics, it is vital to understand the world from various perspectives. The competition has made them feel exceptional, since they could surpass their own standards from the previous debates and could stand at a point they have never been. “It’s a fantastic experience”, they said.

The main challenge was on the debate topics, because some of the topics were unfamiliar. Another problem was with using English. Many teams were from countries with English as a primary language, but this forced them to improve themselves to compete better. Also, since the competition was online and in order to communicate more clearly, Chanakan and Chayaton had to adjust the way they spoke, knowing that it would affect how the judges heard their points and decide.

Two great debaters addressed the students, who aspire to be English debaters, and one said that, “I’d like you to continue practicing debating in English. The most important thing is to devote a significant amount of time to the debating competition, not to give up, and get into the essence of the debate. The use of English is not a barrier because thinking is the heart of the debate. If you can think analytically, you will be able to respond to the questions posed by your opponent, and that is deemed successful.”

Thammasat collaboration to develop hand-woven loincloth products

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat University by Assoc. Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University, together with the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning and the School of Global Studies participated the opening ceremony of the Pakaoma Torjai Fair of the year 2021 and the signing ceremony of a memorandum of collaboration in the Creative Young Designer Project (Season 2) with 13 institutions in the EISA project network that support loincloth products design for the community.

The Creative Young Designer project is a collaboration between the local loincloth project, Thai handicrafts, by Pracharath Rak Samakkee Social Enterprise (Thailand) Company Limited and the EISA project (Education Institute Support Activity) by Thai Beverage Public Company Limited to develop hand-woven loincloth products and promote the development of students’ potential in learning about hand-woven loincloth through the exchange of knowledge and ways of harmornious living together among the knowledgeable and expertize producer communities, yet lack of ideas and new innovations, and as an extension for students to have the opportunity to widen their perspectives and initiate designs and processing for the hand-woven loincloth community in order to sustainably maximize income to the community.

For Creative Young Designers 2021, there are 15 communities participating in the project to develop clothing products, appliances, souvenirs from hand-woven loincloths by 13 universities, 3 football clubs, and in which Thammasat University will be involved in the development of “NatradaCotton, Huai Sai Village Weaving Group, Ban Pae Sub-District, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province” by the Fashion Design Program, the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, the Industrial Craft Design Program, the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Lampang Campus, the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, and the Design, Business & Technology Management (DBTM) Program, the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning.

“Amphan Cotton, Amber Cotton Occupational Group, Na Kor Ruea Sub-District, Hot District, Chiang Mai Province” by the Fashion Design Program, by Fashion Design Program, the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, the Industrial Craft Design Program, the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Lampang Campus, the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, and the Design, Business & Technology Management (DBTM) Program, the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning and “Lom Mut Village Weaving Group, Plai Sub-District, Thepha District, Songkhla Province” by the Textile Design Program, the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts in collaboration with the School of Global Studies.