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Month: January 2022

TMU’s international service club launched online services in 2021

Posted on by Taipei Medical University

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Taipei Medical University shows its presence in international pandemic prevention. The TMU FLYoung International Service Club has launched online services in place of its annual healthcare services to the Kingdom of Cambodia. It will continue to assist with improving local health care and water resources in order to fulfill the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of eliminating inequalities in health and education.

Due to the shrinking of medical resources around the world as a result of the pandemic, the situations in disadvantaged and remote villages have worsened. In 2021, TMU FLYoung have successively accumulated masks, forehead thermometers and other supplies to donate to Cambodia to help with pandemic prevention. Since the team is unable to provide medical and health education activities in person, it has instead adopted online courses on “the respiratory system”, “pandemic prevention” and other important pandemic related topics urgently needed by the locals.

Huang Shao-Hua, a fourth-year student of the TMU College of Medicine, is the leader of this service team. He indicated that 2021 summer service is mainly divided into two major targets: the Cambodia-Taiwan Education Program (CTEP) and the Sunshine Classroom. The CTEP mainly trains local seed teachers in English and computer information. As with previous years, the Sunshine Classroom teaches topics such as trauma care and understanding of the digestive system. However, this year, it will also focus on the respiratory system and share Taiwan’s experience in pandemic prevention. It will also include the concept of “isolation”, emphasize not eating or being together with those who are symptomatic, and observing social distancing. These are essential pandemic prevention measures for Cambodia, where the pandemic is worsening.

With 109 student clubs, TMU has one of the most diverse student activity landscape among universities in Taiwan. 15 of these clubs provide services such as free clinics and medical and health education activities in remote villages at home and abroad. Although many clubs are unable to dispatch their service teams because of the pandemic, the students’ passion for service has not diminished. Some clubs have adopted online operations in the hope of doing their part in global pandemic prevention and medical education.

ScII signs partnership with Kyushu University

Posted on by bajinderscii

Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (ScII) has signed two partnerships with the School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation (ISI), Kyushu University. The two agreements were inked on December 14, 2021 by Professor Masahiko Kaburagi, Dean, ISI, and Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Executive Director, ScII. Associate Professor. Dr. Natcha Thawesaengskulthai, Vice President for Strategic Planning, Innovation, and Global Engagement, and Dr. Kang IkJoon, Associate Professor, ISI, attended as witnesses at the signing event.

These partnership agreements aim to promote short-term exchanges of undergraduate students, promote collaborations between faculty, staff, and students, and initiate joint research programs. Under a second agreement, up to five students will be able to enroll each year as non-degree students at the partner university for a maximum of one academic year.

“Today marks a crucial step in the cooperation fostered by Kyushu University and Chulalongkorn University and our recently established School of Integrated Innovation,” Assoc Prof Dr. Natcha remarked, adding that the agreement places a strong emphasis on global innovations and scaling-up technology entrepreneurship between Japan and Thailand.

Professor Worsak highlighted the achievements of ScII, stating that the School has already received ISO 56002:2019 certification, which ensures continuous improvement of innovation management. “ScII has deployed numerous strategies to achieve its innovation management system: creating market-ready innovations, focusing on digital technology and entrepreneurship as the core areas of its curriculum, equipping students with 21st-century and global-citizenry skills, and creating an open-innovation platform ecosystem for academic and industry collaborations,” Professor Worsak added.

Professor Masahiko Kaburagi stated that Chulalongkorn University and Kyushu University have been partners since 1994, and share similar goals and concepts. He expressed his happiness at the partnership between the two schools and expressed his wish for a long-lasting success.

Professor Johan Lauwereyns of ISI said that both schools might consider offering joint courses to their students.

The School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation (ISI) was established by Kyushu University in April 2018. By fostering collaboration among individuals from a broad range of backgrounds, ISI seeks to nurture talented individuals adept at creating innovative solutions. By blending diverse perspectives and academic knowledge, the School takes a non-silo approach to generating new ideas.

Professor Worsak also discussed the possibility of ScII and ISI working together as sister programs. Speaking about the League of Global Entrepreneurship programs of which ScII is a founding institution, Professor Worsak proposed that ISI might consider joining the network. ScII students who are interested in applying for an exchange program at ISI spoke on the occasion, expressing their excitement at the opportunity. ScII’s Deputy Executive Director for Industrial and Global Alliance, Dr. Pietro Borsano, moderated the event.

UNAIR Rector emphasizes importance of inter-sectoral collaboration in handling problems

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Closing 2021, UNAIR has inaugurated another four new professors. The ceremony was held on Wednesday, December 12, in Garuda Mukti Hall, Campus C UNAIR.

The newly inaugurated professors are Dr. Budi Suprapti, Dra., M.Si., Apt in Pharmacokinetics – Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy; Dr. Nyoman Anita Damayanti, drg., MS in Health Administration and Policy, Faculty of Public Health; Dr. Rini Devijanti Ridwan, drg., M.Kes in Oral Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine; and Prof. Dr. Sutinah, Dra., MS in the field of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.

In his speech, UNAIR Rector Prof. Nasih said that professorship is a mandate, duty, and title which is oriented for the benefit and welfare of mankind. The addition of four new professors will add new energy.

“Hopefully, the professors will give their best contribution,” he said.

From several of their ideas presented, he continued, the point is to participate in glorifying and prospering the people in their respective fields. However, collaboration is needed to produce more efficient and effective handling.

According to him, there will be no effectiveness without good collaboration between various sectors. The collaboration will produce synergy, therefore, the urge to work systematically is the key in dealing with the problems faced together.

“We hope that this collaboration process can be continued so that the problems faced are quickly resolved,” he said.

In the end, according to Prof. Nasih, UNAIR’s strategy to achieve future glory is to contribute significantly both locally, nationally, and globally. So there is a need for movement and collaboration of all components and elements of UNAIR to be able to give meaning to the lives of others.

“I hope the professors who are currently inaugurated will contribute even more in the future and, of course, based on encouragement from all parties,” he hoped.

Four new professors

Four new professors delivered their scientific orations. First, Dr. Budi Suprapti, Dra., M.Si., Apt delivered her scientific oration on “The Challenges of Clinical Pharmacy in Individualizing Therapy.” It was explained that pharmaceutical services are still often perceived by many parties as services that only focus on fulfilling quality and affordable medicines. Globally, the pharmaceutical profession has experienced significant growth and development over the past few decades, going through three major periods of pharmacy in the 20th century: traditional (preparing and distributing drugs), transitional, and patient-oriented development stages.

Second, Dr. Nyoman Anita Damayanti, drg., MS delivered an oration on “The Power of Collaboration for Maximum Value of Public Health Programs”. She offered the concept of the importance of collaboration in implementing health programs and efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality in understanding the broad field of public health science.

Third, Dr. Rini Devijanti Ridwan, drg., M.Kes delivered an oration “Oral Microbiology Before, Now, and Later.” Oral microbiology, also known as dental microbiology, is the science of diseases in the oral cavity, especially those caused by microorganisms. Prof. Rini said that oral conditions or dental microbiology were the initial discovery of microbes in the oral cavity.

The basic form of oral microorganisms will be obtained through oral or dental microbiology.

Lastly, Prof. Dr. Sutinah, Dra., MS delivered the oration “Capitalism and the Threat of Exploitation: Efforts to Fulfill the Rights and Protection of Outsourcing Workers in Indonesia.” According to her, in the era of increasingly competitive business competition, companies focus on their core business work. Meanwhile, other supporting work is delegated to other parties (outsourced, ed). It becomes the company’s strategy to increase profits and develop investment. (*)

EdUHK scholars among world’s top 2% most-cited

Posted on by eduhk

Twenty-nine scholars of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) were among the top 2% in the Stanford list of the world’s most-cited scientists in 2020*.

This year, 18 have once again found a place on the prestigious list, while 11 scientists from the University have been included for the first time.

Their publications cover 12 different disciplines, including education, social psychology, environmental sciences, general mathematics, geriatrics, energy, general chemistry, marine biology and hydrobiology, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, urban and regional planning, and building and construction.

Prepared by a team of experts at Stanford University, the list ranks academics by the number of times their research has been cited against other authors in the subfield in which they work. The selection is based on the top 100,000 by C-score (with and without self-citations) or a percentile rank of 2% or better.

Along with the results of the 2020 Research Assessment Exercise, this list reflects the significant advances the University and its scholars are making. Apart from education, the broadening range of research areas cover the core field of education, as well as other related disciplines, through EdUHK’s Education-plus approach.

UiTM steers dialogue on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Posted on by fspppeditorialteam

University Teknologi MARA’s (UiTM) Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies (FSPPP) students, majoring in Master of International Relation and Diplomacy (MIRAD), organized a webinar on themes related to diplomacy, security, and cooperation in ASEAN. The program conducted by the postgraduate students took the initiative to invite two spokespersons to share their knowledge and experiences related to the program’s theme. The spokespersons come from different backgrounds, Ms Wan Wardina Wan Abdul Wahab from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), and Professor. Dr Shankari Sundararaman from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India.

This dialogue session aims to provide an avenue for postgraduate students under the Master of International Relations and Diplomacy (MIRAD) program to share their thoughts with the invited panel to refine contemporary issues around the Southeast Asian region.

The first seminar was held on 7 June 2021, focusing on the ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement’ featuring Ms Wan Wardina Wan Abdul Wahab. The webinar focused on how the RCEP arrangement would benefit ASEAN Regional Integration. Ms Wardina highlighted several issues concerning the element of integration toward RCEP. She further explained ASEAN’s structure, its role in international integration and the challenges in regional integration.

MIRAD students also had the opportunity to learn more about the ASEAN-INDIA relations from a lecturer from India, Prof Shankari Sundararaman, who spoke at the event. The discussion focused on India’s quest for more interaction with East Asian countries, which was previously known as “Look East Policy” but is now known as “Act East Policy.” The example of ASEAN-INDIA Dialogue, the ASEAN India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA), is the initial effort to strengthen the ties between the two parties. Besides that, Prof Shankari also provided a thorough explanation of India’s exit from the RCEP, which she believed would help to strengthen the linkages between India and ASEAN. In this regard, Prof Shankari believes that India favours bilateral connections with ASEAN countries and aims to increase India’s influence in the region to counterbalance the Asia Pacific’s impact.

Thammasat and Sustainable Development Goals

Posted on by Thammasat University

In the past year, Thammasat University became more aware of sustainable development goals (SDGs) because the Time Higher Education University Impact Ranking which used SDGs as a main work framework caused many universities to coordinate with SDG Move for consultation and workshop meetings. The aforementioned trend is a good opportunity to push for this impact ranking to be more than a ranking game and lead to a true transformation/reinvention of the university.

Assoc. Prof. Chon Bunnak, Director of SDG Move and a professor at the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, said that academic institutions can use and apply SDGs and related principles in the following four areas:

  1. Research – Issues under SDGs are related to most research questions of professors in the faculty. However, if research is to be transformed to answer SDG questions, the research would have to shift from academic work solely aimed at expanding academic borders to increasing benefits in driving SDGs or solving sustainability problems. For the most transformation, a transdisciplinary approach should be used in research by having academics from multiple fields of science and knowledge user groups co-produce knowledge to push academic borders and create change.
  2. Education – The subjects of many faculties are linked to issues under SDGs. Connecting course subjects to SDGs is an easy way to tell us that we’ve achieved SDGs. To really transform, however, subject content should be added to the global or national crisis issues such as inequality, climate change, biodiversity or waste management, etc. And if the university is to full transform, subjects should include competencies in sustainable development that will support students to change the world with sustainability.
  3. Internal Management – Many universities have taken action concerning environmental sustainability at universities and campuses. However, transformation toward SDGs requires consideration of social welfare for vulnerable people in the university, rights, freedom and equality of people of every group, gender, religion and political opinion by making clear policies that give importance to human rights.
  4. Participation with Social Movements – The university cannot stay only in the university’s world. The university should participate in driving society toward sustainable development. The university is currently involved in local movements or solving problems consistent with government policies and strategies. If the university is to move toward transformation, the university should be more than a “government agency” that follows the government’s policy and strategy. The university has to function as “society’s intelligence”. The university can and does well at following the government’s policies. At the same time, however, the university must be the “intelligence” of those movements while having academic ethics to make criticisms based on academic principles if the university finds the government’s actions to be incorrect.

“If every university, every faculty and every professor studies the end goal of SDGs, including our roles, duties and capacity, to drive and support movements along with taking action by communicating to connect and empower, the university will become a significant driving force in sustainable development goals at every level as the main force of the academic sector”, Assoc. Prof. Chon Bunnak concluded.

Chinese Culture University devoted to promotion of digital transformation and innovation

Posted on by Chinese Culture University

Digital transformation and internationalization provide a great opportunity for businesses in Taiwan and Asia to grow and sustain global competition. In response to the government’s action plan and policies to improve the performance of domestic, overseas corporations and businesses sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Chinese Culture University established the Institute for Innovation Economy with an aim to offer cutting-edge research and business solutions on industry innovation and sustainable system development. Led by Prof. Min-Ren Yan with the forward-looking insights on the global economy from United Nations Development Program and Asian Productivity Organization, MIT’s System Dynamics affiliate, the institute has periodically published research paper series and books on sustainable system development (SSD) and applications of cloud computing supported management science in an attempt to provide suggestions and recommendations for new or innovative business models. The institute has leading expertise in (1) promoting global brands and business innovation (market development), (2) management system for startups and digital transformation (operational excellence), (3) enterprise asset management and human capital development (talent development).

ASEAN’s effort in achieving SDG through Environmental Agenda

Posted on by fspppeditorialteam

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) under the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies (FSPPP) was honoured to have Dr Suziannah Nhazzla Ismail from the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) deliver a talk to postgraduate students titled, ‘ASEAN’s effort in combating environmental issues: Efforts and Challenges”. Her deep interest in environmental ethics and animal politics is evident through her efforts in educating the nation by publishing numerous articles in mainstream newspapers in Malaysia, namely BERNAMA, The Star, The Strait Times, The Malay Mail and many more.

The MIRAD Dialogue 2 was held on 21st June 2021 and was participated by students and lecturers from the faculty and other universities. The panel was paired with Ms Nusrat Hassan as the moderator, who is also a student with broad experience in humanitarian and development programmes. The speaker discussed the efforts and challenges encountered in fulfilling aspirations toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Given the region’s extreme vulnerabilities in the increasing number of climate-related natural disasters including flooding of coastal areas, typhoons and cyclones, according to Dr Suziannah, ASEAN has identified one of its most urgent tasks which is to be strengthening capacities in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through mechanisms such as the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). Dr Suziannah further explained that the current ASEAN institutional framework on environment and climate change is constituted under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) pillar. However, it has become increasingly clear that climate change issues are not the sole domain of environmental ministries.

At the international level, climate change is integrated and handled in different for a. Given that the issues become more cross-cutting and complex, a revolutionary rethink of its current institutional framework is needed on how best to coordinate and synthesise climate change issues across the different sectors in order to produce a coherent response to climate change.

All in all, the dialogue was a success and an eye-opener for the students. MIRAD students also had the opportunity to learn more about the ASEAN’s effort in combating environmental issues. The students realized that at this juncture of the collective efforts to address climate change is only possible through ASEAN’s willingness and ability to engage with other stakeholders, moving beyond the realm of governments and policymakers.

Professors from the Thammasat Faculty of Science ranked

Posted on by Thammasat University

The Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, would like to congratulate faculty members for being ranked as researchers with capacity in fields of natural science at the university and national levels by the AD Scientific Index 2021: World Scientist and University Rankings 2021.

  1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wutipon Sintunawarat, Assistant Dean of Research, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, No. 1 of Thammasat University and No. 96 of Thailand.
  2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanatip Samat, Department of Chemistry, No. 9 of Thammasat University and No. 308 of Thailand.
  3. Assoc. Prof. Sarut Ammatyotin, Department of Material Technology and Textiles, No. 12 of Thammasat University and No. 365 of Thailand.

TSoM receives Languages Canada accreditation

Posted on by Global University Systems

Toronto School of Management (TSoM) has been officially recognised and certified by Languages Canada, the premier language training organisation in Canada.

The certification has been awarded to TSoM’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programme, designed for students who wish to improve their language level, integrating reading, writing, listening and speaking skills with an academic focus. This accredited programme is taught by experienced Languages Canada certified instructors.

Languages Canada (LC) is an organisation representing the two official languages in the country, English and French. Recognised by the Canadian government and internationally, LC membership is limited to programmes from the public and private sectors.

Ehsan Safdari, President at TSoM, commented: “We are incredibly pleased at receiving our certification for our EAP programme. This is a rewarding indication of the industry’s confidence in our institution. Our students and partners can be confident that TSoM meets the very highest standards of Canadian post-secondary education.”

With this certification, TSoM joins over 200 member organisations who have met LC’s rigorous standards for quality, student admission and services, academic staff and curriculum among others.

“We worked hard to be able to meet these criteria and help us achieve this prestigious designation, and we are confident this would greatly benefit our students as well as our academic partners,” added Mr Safdari.