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Month: October 2022

The coolest kid on the block

Posted on by Afifah Darke

How the coolest kid on the block became a Tech Baddie: An exclusive interview with Reboot Representation’s CEO, Dwana Franklin-Davis. By Afifah Darke.

It was only during her grandmother’s funeral in 2011 that Dwana Franklin-Davis found out that the 91-year-old woman was a dissertation away from accomplishing her doctorate degree.

“She never [told me] what to study. But she said, Dwana you must study because once you have your education, they can’t take it away from you,” says Franklin-Davis. “She had a master’s degree and for a Black woman, to be born in 1920, and have a master’s degree…” she trails off as the facts speak for themselves.

Franklin-Davis is undoubtedly championing her grandmother’s philosophy and pride in education within her own life story. Today, the 44-year-old is the inaugural CEO of Reboot Representation, a coalition of tech companies dedicated to doubling the number of Black, Latina and Native American (BLNA) women receiving computing degrees by 2025.

With 13 years at Mastercard in leadership roles, a Masters of Information Management from Washington University, and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Purdue University, it is clear that Franklin-Davis does not shy away from trying hard, learning continuously, and aiming high.

Easy peasy computer squeezy

It is 10am on a sweltering New York morning. After dropping her children off at camp, Franklin-Davis is escaping the Big Apple heat with an iced coffee in her air-conditioned office. Speaking to QS-GEN on Zoom, the self-professed “cool nerd” wears a bright golden yellow T-shirt that reads: <TECHBADDIE/>.

“I’m not really the stereotypical nerdy person. I’m kind of nerdy still, as nerds are smart. And I love that about me,” she says. As a child, with her father working in Atari, a company known for its video game systems, Franklin-Davis thought that every other kid was also surrounded by computers, motherboards and testing consoles as everyday toys in their homes.

“We had PacMan everything. It was fun and exciting and exhilarating. I mean, what kind of what kid doesn’t like a video game?

“We were essentially the coolest kids on the block.”

Tech ran in her family’s blood and it only seemed natural for Franklin-Davis to also log in to the world of tech as she started thinking about her career path. “My mom did it. My dad did it. Their friends did it. My uncles did it … This is what everybody did. So, I had this weird perception that everybody did tech. My family does tech, doesn’t your family do tech?”

But tech wasn’t the only thing on Franklin-Davis’ mind. Watching her father frequently help with Boy Scouts in the community, when it was time for her to enter university, she dabbled with the thought of majoring in Social Work. “I really like to help people, that’s something which is a passion of mine,” she says. Although eventually she chose a different path in studies, Franklin-Davis’ desire to help and uplift people did not disappear.

During her time in MasterCard, Franklin-Davis became a founding member of the financial company’s Leveraging Employees of African Decent (LEAD) Business Resource Group. For two years, she also served as President of the St. Louis chapter for the Black Data Processing Associates, which focuses on enabling the upward mobility of African Americans and other underrepresented groups in tech and STEM fields.

In an article published on Evoke, a community website hosted by philanthropist Melinda French Gates, Franklin-Davis wrote: “Throughout my career as a woman of colour in corporate, technical environments, I’ve experienced first-hand the power and strength that comes from gathering those who share a common purpose… I know that we can change the outcomes for underrepresented groups when we join forces.”

Fail fast

She has told this story countless times in many interviews, but Franklin-Davis good-naturedly recounts her journey of switching from Computing Science to Business during her junior year of university. “Computer science is hard, regardless of what school you went to. It’s meant to challenge and stretch you out, and I was still very passionate about it. But it was isolating, and it was lonely. That’s ultimately why I changed my major.”

The only Black female student in her class, she clearly remembers how unhappy she felt at the beginning of university life. Engineering school, which can sometimes be individualistic for assignments and studying, can be very lonely, she recalls. “We’re there to learn, but we also should be having a good time. And I was not having a good time.”

Franklin-Davis says the turning point was when she decided to walk out of a Java Programming class. “I already had two internships under my belt, I had already learned in the previous summer how to program in Java … I’m the only Black person.

“I’m just like, I don’t want to do this anymore. And I walked out of class … three weeks into the semester, went over to the guidance counsellor and changed my major.” The decision wasn’t without any consequences. Franklin-Davis took an additional year to complete her university degree, but she cites the commonly-used philosophy in business: Fail fast. “I didn’t know how I was going to pay for it. But I knew that I didn’t want to be miserable for the rest of my life,” she says. Eventually, to cover the costs of her final two years of schooling, she became a Resident Advisor.

For her, the decision to change majors is a matter of perception, and she says it wasn’t an act of giving up. “I found it more of a relief, than, oh, I failed at that… The weight that was lifted from my shoulders was immense. I knew there was a freedom for me, choosing for myself, what my future could look like, and not being sad because I’m stuck.”

Used to being “the only”

As a young girl growing up in Naperville, Illinois, which is 45 minutes west of Chicago, Franklin-Davis has always been “the only”, in her words. In second grade, there were only two African American kids, including herself. “We never had classes together, they separated us so that each class could have a black kid… and an Asian kid. They divided all the minorities up so each class would be diverse.”

She says matter-of-factly: “I’m used to being the only. I’ve been the only my entire life. I have never been in a position where I thought that I couldn’t, because I was Black, or because I was a woman. It’s already been instilled in me that I can do whatever I want to do.”

Black, Latina and Native American women make up only four percent of the computing workforce according to Reboot Representation. Where many might feel intimidated being “the only” in a male-dominated degree, or “the only” in majority white companies, Franklin-Davis says she developed a thick skin earlier in life than most people. “It wasn’t something that I had to learn when I went to college or something that I had to learn how to deal with when I went into corporate America. That was my life.”

She wholeheartedly credits her parents for inculcating the enormous sense of confidence she and her brother have when they were children. Today, as a mother, she also believes in trying to emulate the same philosophy with her little ones. “I look at my children and I’m also trying to raise them as very confident children.”

No sugar coating

Woman in Tech, Creator of technologist, Wife, Mom X2, change agent, force for good, teller of truth. Rarely do people describe themselves so boldly on their Twitter profiles, but then again, Franklin-Davis has proven again and again that she is unlike any other. “I am one that is not afraid to shake things up,” she says, as she explains her bio on the social networking site. “I think that sometimes you have to shake things up for things to be different.

“I am leveraging myself, my lived experience, my voice, my platform to give others a different thought perspective, and hopefully, that will make some kind of change for good.” She smiles as she also acknowledges that she is “a candid person”. “I say the things that are necessary and not sugar coat, and not meant to harm or intimidate. It’s just meant to enlighten and spark conversation.”

Franklin-Davis’ candour draws people in. YouTube videos of her leave many listeners, especially young women, inspired and more confident of themselves. QS-GEN’s time with her is no exception. Sitting there, a world apart with only screens to connect us, our time comes as goes in the blink of an eye.

When asked how she overcomes feelings of insecurity or self-doubt, she says simply: “I didn’t have doubt in my abilities as a woman or as a Black woman.” She continues: “For those that are entering into a place for the very first time, and they are the only or one of few, that can be very scary and you could have imposter syndrome. Do I actually belong here?”

The question, however, Franklin Davis says, should be, do I choose to be here?

“What I tell young people is, you absolutely can and should be in the place that you aspire to be. My advice is that your differences are your superpower. And that’s what’s going to add value to that team, that organisation, that project, and if they’re biased, their perception is their problem, and not yours.”

This article was from the QS Global Education News Issue 09. Download the full edition.

Sunway University hosts forum on Hungary, Hungarian Culture; marking start of collaboration with Hungarian universities

Posted on by Darren Yoong

The ‘Brief Introduction to Hungary and Hungarians’ forum held in Sunway University is part of an intercultural communication learning and research project between Sunway University and three Hungarian universities, University of Debrecen, University of Miskolc, and University of Nyíregyháza.

Sunway University is broadening its collaboration with European universities, including those from Central and Eastern Europe, to increase its presence in the region as a key research partner and education provider. The university will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with these three Hungarian universities to enable research and teaching collaborations, staff and student exchange in the next three years.

Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies Stephen J Hall commented that “applying globally relevant skills depends on building cross-cultural competencies. In an increasingly digital world such competencies need to be built through cross cultural education such as we are developing in collaboration with select Hungarian universities. Today is the beginning of collaboration between Sunway University and three Hungarian universities, with students’ cross-cultural communication skills in mind”.

The Hungarian partners are equally committed to broadening their international relations, said Dr Magda Ajtay-Horvath Head of Department, University of Nyiregyhaza, which was echoed by Dr Agnes Magnucz-Godo from the University of Miskolc. She said that the cooperation provided “a framework to organise joint projects with our students and share experience and expertise concerning good practices in the two institutions”. Dr Balazs Venkovits from Debrecen University also applauded the joint projects as “excellent opportunities for students to improve their intercultural and communication skills, and to acquire an international experience”.

The forum introduced students and staff of Sunway University to the nation of Hungary, Hungarian culture and educational collaborations between the two countries. Hungary’s Ambassador to Malaysia, her excellency Dr Petra Ponevács-Pana was part of the panel and talked about scholarships the Hungarian government offers for Malaysian students in the framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum scheme. She said: “In Hungary the internationalization of higher education has reached outstanding achievements. The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship program- established in 2014- is the flagship state project of the student mobility platform of Hungary, including 60 countries and 12,000 students around the world. As part of this programme, the Hungarian government offers 40 full time educational scholarships for Malaysian students at undergraduate, masters, and doctorate levels”.

Professor Elizabeth Lee, CEO of Sunway Education Group, said “this event marks the beginning of exciting collaborations between Sunway University and Hungarian Higher Education Institutions. I believe that such endeavours will greatly contribute to the development of joint teaching, learning and research projects that benefit both countries.”

The Language Gallery unveils new certificate to help students access university in collaboration with St Mary’s University Twickenham London

Posted on by Global University Systems

Award-winning language school, The Language Gallery, announces the launch of a Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) in partnership with St Mary’s University Twickenham London, allowing students to gain a wide range of professional and transferable skills and progress directly into year 2 of an undergraduate degree.

The Language Gallery is dedicated to helping students achieve their goals and access higher education in the UK. The Cert HE will allow students who do not quite meet the entry criteria for a degree, to gain confidence and skills in the specific subject area and gain a recognised qualification which can be used as the first step of several degree levels or career progression.

The Cert HE is currently available in Business and Management and is made up of the following modules and is equal to a total of 120 credits: Introduction to Management, Organisational Behaviour, Digital Business, Professional Skills, Contemporary Marketing Practice, and Financial Management. Students who successfully complete these topics will receive a Certificate of Higher Education awarded by St Mary’s University.

Commenting on this new initiative, Pranav Brahmbhatt, Managing Director at The Language Gallery, says: “The Language Gallery is committed to diversifying its offering and adapting to each student’s needs. We want to promote UK teaching excellence by levelling up our students’ potentials so that they feel confident studying in our prestigious partner universities. As such, The Language Gallery is particularly proud to extend this offer to St Mary’s University”.

St Mary’s University is based in Strawberry Hill, Twickenham and has been named as one of the top 5 universities for student experience in The Times’s Good University Guide 2022. Additionally, 96% of graduates are in employment, vocation or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA 2021).

St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor Anthony McClaran said, “We are pleased to partner with The Language Gallery to help students access higher education through non-traditional pathways. Our Department of Business, Law and Society is home to dedicated academics and practitioners, and I’m sure students at The Language Gallery will benefit strongly from the curriculum they have designed.”

For more information about The Language Gallery’s pathway programmes, please click here or enquiry by completing the form on the website.

HKAPA co-presents Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Greater Bay Area International Music Festival

Posted on by Communications Office

The Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Greater Bay Area International Music Festival was officially launched in September. The Academy joined hands with conservatories, orchestras and universities in the Greater Bay Area to present a variety of music performances online.

The HKSAR 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert presented by the Academy was the first programme of the Festival. Other performances included the Concerto Feast from the Academy’s School of Music faculty members and students, and the School of Dance Summer Performances 2021.

Recorded versions of the HKSAR 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert and School of Dance Summer Performances 2021 are available online. The celebration concert will also be broadcast on RTHK Radio 4 programme “Youth in Harmony” on October 31.

Watch the HKSAR 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFNcYy0fkT4&t=7s

Watch the School of Dance Summer Performances 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTYfyTrxPxs&t=3s

New nanocomposite films boost heat dissipation in thin electronics

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Heat dissipation is essential for maintaining the performance of electronic devices. However, efficient heat dissipation is a major concern for thin-film electronics since conventional heat sinks are bulky. Researchers from Japan found a solution to this problem in sea squirts or ascidians. They prepared flexible nanocomposite films using an ascidian-derived cellulose nanofiber matrix and carbon fiber fillers. The prepared films demonstrate excellent anisotropic in-plane heat conduction and the carbon fiber fillers inside are reusable.

The last few decades have witnessed a tremendous advance in electronics technology, with the development of devices that are thinner, lightweight, flexible, and robust. However, as the devices get thinner so does the space for accommodating the internal working components. This has created an issue of improper heat dissipation in thin-film devices, since conventional heat sink materials are bulky and cannot be integrated into them. Thus, there is a need for thermal diffusion materials that are thin and flexible and can be implemented in thin-film devices for efficient heat dissipation.

Currently, several substrate materials can act as heat diffusers as thin films, but most diffuse heat in the in-plane direction isotropically. This, in turn, could create thermal interference with neighboring components of a device. “For a substrate on which multiple devices are mounted in high density, it is necessary to control the direction of thermal diffusion and find an effective heat removal path while thermally insulating between the devices. The development of substrate films with high anisotropy in in-plane thermal conductivity is, therefore, an important target,” explains Junior Associate Professor Kojiro Uetani from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) in Japan, who researches advanced materials for thermal conductivity and formerly belonged to SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University.

In a recent study available online on 20 July 2022 and published in Volume 14, Issue 29 of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces on 27 July 2022, Dr. Uetani and his team, comprising Assistant Professor Shota Tsuneyasu from National Institute of Technology, Oita College, and Prof. Toshifumi Satoh from Tokyo Polytechnic University, both in Japan, reported a newly developed nanocomposite film made of cellulose nanofibers and carbon fiber-fillers that demonstrated excellent in-plane anisotropic thermal conductivity.

Many polymer composites with thermally conductive fillers have been proposed to enhance thermal conductivity. However, there are few reports on materials with particulate or plate-like fillers that exhibit thermal conductivity anisotropy, which is important to prevent thermal interference between adjacent devices. Fibrous fillers such as carbon fibers (CF), on the other hand, can provide in-plane anisotropy in two-dimensional materials due to their structural anisotropy.

It is also important to select matrix with high thermal conductivity. Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) extracted from the mantle of ascidians has been reported to exhibit higher thermal conductivity (about 2.5 W/mK) than conventional polymers, making it suitable for use as a heat-dissipating material. As indicated by the ability to write with a pencil on paper, cellulose has a high affinity for carbon materials and is easy to combine with CF fillers. For example, hydrophobic CF cannot be dispersed in water by itself, but in the presence of CNF, it is easily dispersed in water. Accordingly, the team chose bio-based ascidian—sea squirt—derived CNFs as the matrix.

For material synthesis, the team prepared an aqueous suspension of CFs and CNFs and then used a technique called liquid 3D patterning. The process resulted in a nanocomposite consisting of a cellulose matrix with uniaxially aligned carbon fibers. To test the thermal conductivity of the films, the team used laser-spot periodic heating radiation thermometry method.

They found that the material showed a high in-plane thermal conductivity anisotropy of 433% along with conductivity of 7.8 W/mK in the aligned direction and 1.8 W/mK in the in-plane orthogonal direction. They also installed a powder electroluminescent (EL) device on a CF/CNF film to demonstrate the effective heat dissipation. In addition, the nanocomposite film could cool two closely placed pseudo heat sources without any thermal interference.

Apart from the excellent thermal properties, another major advantage of the CF/CNF films is their recyclability. The researchers were able to extract the CFs by burning the cellulose matrix, allowing to be reused. Overall, these findings can not only act as a framework for designing 2D films with novel heat dissipating patterns but also encourage sustainability in the process. “The waste that we humans generate has a huge environmental impact. Heat transfer fillers, in particular, are often specialized and expensive materials. As a result, we wanted to create a material that does not go to waste after usage but can be recovered and reused for further applications,” concludes Dr. Uetani.

Indeed, with cooler smartphones and lower waste, it’s a win-win for everyone!

***

Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c09332

Title of original paper: Thermal Diffusion Films with In-Plane Anisotropy by Aligning Carbon Fibers in a Cellulose Nanofiber Matrix

Journal: Applied Materials & Interfaces

Authors: Kojiro Uetani1, Kosuke Takahashi2, Rikuya Watanabe3, Shota Tsuneyasu4, and Toshifumi Satoh3

UiTM’s CPC holds talk on diabetes and periodontal diseases

Posted on by Fara Azwin Adam

Continuous professional development and awareness have always been one of the efforts to provide information and allow two-way communication between various fields of medicine and healthcare professionals. Amidst the pandemic, the past two years have been a challenging battle for conferences and talks to be done face to face. However, as we enter the endemic phase in Malaysia, the Clinical Pathological Conference (CPC) Team of Universiti Teknologi MARA has taken the step to conduct the CPC session via a hybrid method, physical and online.

On the 21st of September 2022, the Faculty of Dentistry Universiti Teknologi MARA, represented by the Centre of Periodontology Studies, was invited to present a talk. It was held at the newly launched state-of-the-art Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah in Puncak Alam, Selangor. The CPC talk was held at its auditorium, which allows social distancing whenever necessary. There were close to 120 participants who attended the talk physically and online from all backgrounds, such as medical students, dental students, medical, pharmacy and dental specialists in various fields of specialities, and other supporting medical healthcare professionals.

The topic highlighted during the CPD talk was Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and its Relation to Periodontal Disease, with a presentation entitled: “Gum and Glucose: The gloomy truth”. The topic was chosen to be showcased during the CPC talk to create awareness and encourage healthcare professionals at various levels regarding the existence of the bidirectional relationship between these two “silent diseases” that was also one of the causes of the current global economic burden in healthcare.

Centre for Periodontology Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA was represented by the Head of Department, Dr Mohd Faizal Hafez Hidayat, and two other senior members; Dr Farha Ariffin and Dr Muhammad Hilmi Zainal Ariffin; who firstly provided the information on what is the periodontology speciality, that involves in the care of the gum and its supporting structure, the information regarding stages of periodontal disease development, how it occurs in an individual, followed by the sharing of two clinical cases that presented with both diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease.

The presenters also highlighted the input on the latest Clinical Practise Guideline 2020 by the Ministry of Health Malaysia on managing DM. The evidence that dental and periodontal problems are common in patients with DM with a long-established bi-directional influence was also shared. Thus, paying attention to addressing one disease may produce a benefit to the other. The session summarises an important point regarding the value of referral from medical peers for DM patients seen, as well as the advice to have regular oral examinations.

LCCM announces ‘Music Industry Mondays’ guest line-up for 2022 series

Posted on by Global University Systems

Higher education music college LCCM has announced a string of high-profile industry guests and organisations for its 2022 weekly Music Industry Mondays talk and networking series.

After successfully launching last year, the night will return every Monday during term time between 6-8PM at the college’s Music Box venue near London’s Southbank, with the addition of an open mic performance hour after the weekly topic-based discussion.

Partnering with industry trade body UK Music, LCCM kickstarted the free-to-attend Music Industry Mondays series in September 2021, determined to help the London music community bounce back from the disruptions of the pandemic. Each Monday at 6PM the college will open up its 120-capacity venue, with a 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, artist Carmody and platinum-selling songwriter Rob Davis.

This year, the programming has expanded to include multiple industry sectors, giving attendees a bird’s eye view of the modern music economy, as well as an open mic performance opportunity. Get ready to mark those diaries – the confirmed line up is as follows:

The first of the Music Industry Mondays will be on September 26 with Jo Howarth, artist manager at Attention Management.

Over the next weeks up until December 12, there will be a range of guests including Mark Murdoch, Mahogany Records & Sessions; Nick Oakes, Sony Music Publishing; Gemma Farrington, Sentric Music; Melanie Shark, Utopia; and Graham Davies from Ivors Academy.

“We host these weekly discussions to give young musicians, students and anyone who is passionate about music, real insights from top executives, artists, songwriters and decision makers,” says LCCM Principal Anthony Hamer-Hodges. “It’s always a lively discussion with questions from the audience and a chance to network at the bar afterwards. Once we are done talking about music, obviously nothing beats actually listening to talented singers showcasing their talent. The addition of the live open mic element will give anyone in attendance a chance to wow their peers and our industry guests.”

The latest line-up of industry guests and organisations is another sign of LCCM’s position at the crossroads of talent development and higher education, while the college’s new visiting lecturer, legendary music executive Mathew Knowles arrives for his first sessions with students at the end of the September.

Independent student exchange program inspires Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia students

Posted on by UNIVERSITAS PENDIDIKAN INDONESIA

The independent student exchange program (PMM) of the Directorate General of Higher Education (Ditjen Dikti) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has been successful and has successfully inspired Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia students as well as students in Indonesia. Through this program, the Ministry of Education and Culture and universities in various parts of Indonesia have succeeded in increasing students’ insight into Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, as well as strengthening cross-cultural and ethnic brotherhood.

In addition, this program is also successful and successful in building student friendships between regions, ethnicities, cultures, and religions, thereby increasing the spirit of national unity and integrity. This program also succeeded in forming students’ attitudes in respecting the diversity of cultures, views, religions, and beliefs, as well as opinions, working together and having social sensitivity and concern for society and the environment.

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia participates and participates in taking an important part in realizing the independent learning campus policy (MBKM). Through this program, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia seeks to realize the National Policy Direction and Strategy of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in the Mental Revolution Development Agenda and Pancasila Ideology Development to Strengthen National Cultural Resilience and Form an Advanced, Modern, and Character Mentality of the Nation.

Through this independent student exchange program, as a concrete form of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia in realizing a mental revolution as an academic and cultural movement in affirming Indonesia as a pluralistic nation-state, having a diversity of ethnicities, customs, cultures, languages, and religions, which form a unity in diversity : Bhinneka Tunggal Ika in the education system in higher education, especially at the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.

In this 2022 independent student exchange program, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia participated in and succeeded in two types of independent student exchanges in the form of inbound as host or recipient which was attended by 92 students from 30 universities in Indonesia and in the form of outbound as participants by sending 45 students to take part in the program. held in 22 other universities in Indonesia.

The independent student exchange program is coordinated by Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia through the Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Affairs and the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Directorate of Education. Director of Education Dr. rer.nat Asep Supriatna, M.Si explained that the mechanism for the independent student exchange carried out by UPI was by compiling or adjusting a curriculum that facilitated students to take courses, determining and offering courses that students could take, setting a quota of participants taking the offered courses., and set the number of credits that can be taken. Learning activities are carried out face-to-face and online (online).

The Coordinator of the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia MBKM Team as well as the Head of the Financial and Resource Administration Section at the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Directorate of Education, Agus Sutiawan, SE said that Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia role as a sending university as well as a destination or recipient university, seeks to make independent student exchanges run well and establish cooperation between universities to organize credit transfers that students can participate in and allocate quotas for inbound and outbound students. In addition, UPI strives to provide the best service for students in implementing this program, monitoring the implementation of student exchanges, assessing and evaluating student exchange results for later recognition of student credits, and reporting the results of learning activities to the Directorate General of Higher Education Kemendikbudristek.

Agus Sutiawan, SE explained that students participating in the Independent Student Exchange Program (PMM) must participate in and complete the Nusantara Module program which contains providing a comprehensive understanding of diversity, national insight and love for the homeland which includes four types of activities, namely cultural exchange, inspiration , reflection, and social contribution. In the implementation of the Nusantara Module, the PMM participant students are guided by the Nusantara Module Supervisor who is responsible for making materials and carrying out the Nusantara Module activities based on the guidelines for the preparation of the Nusantara Module.

Guiding and facilitating PMM Participating Students in accordance with the activities specified in the Nusantara Module to be able to take part in the Nusantara Module properly. Conduct an assessment of participant engagement, dynamics, and progress. Compile and submit monthly reports based on activities carried out in the Nusantara Module on the page provided. Approved the monthly report of PMM students. Provide final assessment to PMM Participating Students. Following up on the feedback provided by the Directorate General of Higher Education regarding the implementation of the Nusantara Module and Managing the funding of the Nusantara Module activities.

Campus with a conscience hosts week-long SDG festival

Posted on by Alyna Yong

Innovation, inspiration, dedication and entertainment were just some of the key factors that brought a city together in a united effort to drive interest and action toward the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In a wonderful display of unity, corporate leaders, non-governmental organisations, local school children, special society groups, influencers and over 20,000 students from all across the Klang Valley gathered at Sunway University, Sunway City for a week-long festival of events and activations in support of the United Nations 17 SDGs and its worldwide initiative of Local Action for Global Goals 2022, celebrated from Monday 19th of September through to Friday 23rd of September.

This unique festival and the first of its kind in Asia featured talks, performances, interactive workshops, corporate displays on sustainability from Volvo, Uniqlo, The Body Shop and Huawei, daily flag parades, on-stage demonstrations, a sustainable marketplace and a space to connect with leaders, changemakers, activists, private sector as well as a live musical performance, including a heartwarming rendition by the children from the Spastic Children’s Association of Selangor and Federal Territory which captured the hearts of those who are lucky enough to catch the concert.

A splendid and memorable adaptive fashion show by Dawn Adaptive also ensured the occasion was a truly inclusive event at Sunway University.

Joining the excited visitors on campus were a host of international dignitaries including HE Dr Joachim Bergström, Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia who officially opened the event, HE Sami Leino, Ambassador of Finland to Malaysia and Brunei, HE Dr Peter Blomeyer, German Ambassador to Malaysia and Anikó Farkas, Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy of Hungary Ambassador in Malaysia.

Representing the local community was YB Michelle Ng, ADUN Subang Jaya who added, “Slowing climate change requires behavioural change – and it is the duty of governments to facilitate this for its citizens.”

During the event, there was an e-waste collection where staff and students were able to environmentally dispose their unwanted electrical items. Since the start of the initiative, over 34,000kg electrical waste has been collected.

The noteworthy occasion also received royal approval as Selangor Princess Y.A.M Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah who delighted crowds with her passionate address on the planet. The environment advocate Selangor Princess mentioned, “It is truly important, how we treat planet earth, other fellow citizens of this planet and every living being here. With the recent climate change we have been experiencing, we must be very concerned about the state of our planet.”

Younger participants enjoyed an interactive “Treasure Our Planet Trail” across the campus, learning new 17 SDG facts every step of their journey of enlightenment, ensuring the next generation will continue to carry the message of influence and action.

Daily on-stage demonstrations included soap making from used cooking oil by Pusat Wanita Berdaya, cooking demonstration of edible vegetable scraps by Professional Culinaire Association Malaysia and a creative upcycling demonstration by Maslisa Zainuddin from Sunway University.

The week-long event was an overwhelming success and a great advert for Malaysia in the global world of sustainability. Professor Elizabeth Lee, Chief Executive Officer of the Sunway Education Group said, “This is our aim with the Local Action Global Goals 2022 – to educate and re-educate and also to remind everyone that we need to work collectively to bring about sustainable and meaningful change.”

Whilst President of Sunway University Professor Sibrandes Poppema added he was very pleased the event was hosted at Sunway University as the institution works tirelessly to merit its growing reputation as A Campus With A Conscience.

The Local Action for Global Goals 2022 emphasised the need for the world to work together to deliver the Global Goals by 2030 through a range of special events and inspiring activations for all ages and interests. It brought together world leaders, policy-makers, decision-makers, business leaders, partners, academics, scientists, stakeholders, activists, and advocates from around the world to connect, examine solutions, identify a path forward, and work collectively in achieving the Global Goals at a critical time.

Malaysia can be rightly proud of its exceptional contribution towards this global goal.

#CampusWithAConscience is an underlying principle that embraces everything students will experience during their time at Sunway College and Sunway University. This is the fundamental spirit at the heart of Sunway Campus Life; educating, encouraging, and engaging students in all aspects of a diverse and inclusive community to support them in adopting a lifestyle and lifestyle habits that truly reflect a society determined to create a better living environment for this generation and generations to come.

President Jokowi named UNAIR-made COVID-19 Vaccine Inavac

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

The Merah Putih vaccine developed by Universitas Airlangga research team has been officially named Inavac by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo. The vaccine was developed under collaboration between UNAIR and PT Biotis Pharmaceutical Indonesia.

The final stage of human clinical trials is currently at phase 3 and has been ongoing since June 27. Phase 3 clinical trials were carried out after obtaining permission from the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, S.E., M.T., Ak. revealed that in phase 3 clinical trials, the Inavac vaccine was injected to 5,000 volunteer subjects. Prof. Nasih also confirmed that it is still ongoing. In the near future, vaccine clinical trials for boosters will be conducted.

“The process for phase three is still ongoing. Alhamdulillah, indeed. We are very grateful for the outstanding support from BPOM in the development of this vaccine,” he said on Saturday, August 27, 2022.

Multi-Parties Support

The process of Inavac vaccine development, which has reached the final stage of clinical trials, brought pride to the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa. She said she was proud of UNAIR for making a significant contribution to protect the health of the Indonesian people, and even the world.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo is targeting the Inavac vaccine to be ready for mass production and distribution in East Java after September 2022. The East Java Provincial Government targets that by the end of the month the Inavac vaccine would have completed trials and received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) following the international standards by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Previously, the Inavac vaccine had gone through phase 1 clinical trials on February 8, 2022 with 90 volunteer subjects. Then. Phase 2 clinical trials on March 27, 2022, with 405 volunteer subjects.

The president has named two Indonesian-made COVID-19 vaccines. The Merah Putih vaccine was named Inavac, while the vaccine made by State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) was named Indovac.

“I am proud of Indonesia. Indovac, the first vaccine, is for the BUMN vaccine. And the second, Merah Putih vaccine with an inactivated virus platform, is called Inavac. The President has also approved it,” said the Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM RI), Penny K Lukito in Jakarta, Friday, on August 26, 2022. (*)