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Tag: Malaysia

Sunway University represents Malaysia in a Europe-Southeast Asia consortium

Posted on by Darren Yoong

Cultural heritage is the backbone of every nation and gives people a connection to certain social values, beliefs, religions and customs from the past. Understanding the importance of heritage conservation, Sunway University now represents Malaysia as the official partner of Decolonizing Southeast Asian Sound Archives (DeCoSEAS), a Europe-Southeast Asia consortium.

DeCoSEAS is a three-year research and community engagement project funded by the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) on Cultural Heritage and Global Change supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. It focuses on hearing and listening as dialogical modes of learning and understanding of cultural heritage.

The project proposes the decolonization of heritage curation with three objectives: the improvement of access to heritage, the transfer of agency to stakeholders of their heritage, and the diversification of heritage curation. For this aim, researchers based in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and France work together with academics, curators and NGOs in Southeast Asia in opening the access of three unique sound collections located in Europe to increase accessibility for researchers and cultural originators.

DeCoSEAS strives for the inclusion of voices, stances and interpretations that have previously remained unheard in existing talks about heritage by attending to multiple voices simultaneously (those recorded from the past and those from Southeast Asian partners today). With these goals in mind, DeCoSEAS aims to provide new insights and practices of heritage curation and participation.

Sunway University is the Malaysian higher education institutional partner in collaboration with Malaysian Audio-Visual Archives (MyArchives), with the aim of providing access in the region and discussing the repatriation of material and development of an archive to be housed at the university. This would provide access to materials from recognized institutions and prominent universities in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and France.

“Sunway University is very pleased to participate in this Horizon 2020 European-Southeast collaboration on Cultural Heritage to add to other prominent projects with the University of Cambridge on Infectious Diseases, Harvard University on global Health, MIT on CO2 Capture and utilisation and institutes in Singapore on Microbiomics and nutrition,” said Professor Sibrandes Poppema, President of Sunway University.

Assoc. Prof. Mayco Santaella, Head, Department of Film & Performing Arts, Sunway University and MyArchives Project Coordinator said, “Future plans for MyArchives includes the digitization of Audio and Visual documentation from various collections in Malaysia and overseas. The project aims to establish a
digital archive developed through the joint efforts of scholars, performers and researchers focusing on traditions, past and present. The material is preserved in digital format for the purposes of research, sustainability and viability of the performing arts heritage of the country.”

UiTM drives university-academia discussion on Pharmacy Perspectives on COVID-19 vaccines

Posted on by Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM Editorial Team

Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) held its inaugural international-themed webinar entitled Pharmacy Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccination from the 31st March to 1st April 2021.

Spearheaded by Dr Mathumalar Loganathan, the programme brought the industry and learning institutions together to discuss and share matters surrounding vaccination from Malaysia and the United Kingdom perspectives and the status of infection, prevention control, and vaccination in Thailand and Indonesia.

Given the concern around the increasing number of COVID-19 infection cases globally and the apprehension towards vaccination and its side effects, this webinar was timely and of significant importance to pharmaceutical industries and academia.

Over 700 participants attended the webinar involving Pharmaniaga Berhad (local pharmaceutical company), the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) Malaysia, Boots Pharmacy (UK-based community pharmacist) and two ASEAN education institutions Mahidol University, Thailand and Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia.

The seminar is also one of the activities planned as part of the memorandum of understanding UiTM has with the two education institutions mentioned above.

The virtual seminar served as an excellent platform for sharing knowledge and expertise on the current vaccination-related health policies and its challenges to increase vaccination uptake by the public. The web-based sessions were made interactive and engaging for teaching and learning purposes.

Post-graduate students attending the webinar were introduced to aspects relating to policies, management, operationalisation and sustainability of vaccine-related services and disciplines, including manufacturing and cold-chain management of COVID-19 vaccines.

The two half-day events drew participants from medical and health sciences backgrounds from various countries, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Malaysia.

The presence of all counterparts enabled a meaningful exchange of knowledge between medical and health sciences practitioners from public hospitals, namely Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, Klang General Hospital and academia from universities, such as UiTM, Management and Science University, the National University of Malaysia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada Indonesia, Mahidol University Thailand and Gitam University India.

It is also hoped that the event enabled a significant exchange of knowledge and expertise and fostered closer and strategic ties between all parties involved.



UiTM’s global learning session

Posted on by Padma A Rahman

Center for Occupational Therapy Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) took the initiative to conduct their global learning classroom series by inviting Dr Linda Renton as the guest lecturer. Dr Linda was invited to talk on The Transition to Retirement and Retirement as an Occupational transition for third-year students of Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Hons) and practitioners.

The class was conducted virtually on 24th June 2021 for two hours by using Cisco Webex as the platform. Participants were introduced to the concept of retirement, relevancy with occupational therapy services and the transition to retirement.

The session received overwhelming responses from the participants in which discussion was focused on the differences between Malaysia and the United Kingdom in terms of pension, society’s expectation of the elderly and the preparations of losing worker roles among this population.

Following the success of this webinar, there will be another three global learning classroom projects involving academicians from Indonesia, United Kingdom and Cyprus scheduled in July and August 2021.

Sunway University School of Arts joins Cumulus Association

Posted on by Alyna Yong

Department of Art, Design and Media of the School of Arts (SOA) at Sunway University is pleased to be the third member of Cumulus, the International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media, in Malaysia.

Cumulus is the only global association to serve art and design education and research. It is a forum for partnership and transfer of knowledge and best practices. Cumulus consists currently of 360 members from 63 countries.

As a member, Sunway University is part of an extensive network of design schools, including the Royal College of Art, Aalto University, Parsons School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), and the University of Edinburgh.

By joining Cumulus, Sunway University is placing itself into a role of being part of the international discussion regarding the future of the arts and design in general and, precisely, the role of art programmes in helping to create that future.

School of Arts at Sunway University is also allowed to join with academics and students worldwide in various forums, conferences, and exhibitions to explore issues of how art and design have a greater social significance. Sunway University hopes to offer undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff the opportunities to work with talented people around the world, creating networks for research and exhibition.

Professor Dr Kenneth Feinstein, Head of Department of Art, Design and Media at Sunway University, said, “As members of Cumulus, we will be part of a network of leading art and design schools. Being a member will allow us to create student exchanges with other members. It will allow other schools to know what we are going through the cumulus website and newsletter. Cumulus also has two annual conferences. Being part of the network, we hope to encourage our students and faculty to take a proactive role in exhibition and publication.”

“By increasing our profile internationally, the school will be able to attract more international students and staff.”

Cumulus aims at building and maintaining a dynamic and flexible academic forum that would bring together top-level educational institutions from all parts of the world. Cumulus collaborates not only with institutions and organizations from the field of art, design, and media; the encouragement of co-operation with industry and business is essential.

UiTM organizes international i-Talent 2021

Posted on by ASSOC PROF TS DR MOHD NOR BIN MAMAT

Universiti Teknologi MARA through the Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies (ACIS), has successfully organised their first International Islamic Talent (i-Talent) 2021 on 29th-30th May 2021. The large scaled international event was conducted virtually with an overwhelming response given by the public from all over the world as it reached over 7,000 views on Facebook.

The competition captured the competitive spirit of the youths across the globe with 210 student entries received from diverse institutions including 19 Public and Private Higher Educational Institutions. The event was also well received by all over the country, as well as international students with entries from Al-Azhar University, Egypt and Universitas Islam Nahdlatul Ulama Jepara (UNISNU), Indonesia. Throughout the event, students showcased their amazing talent, skills and charismatic personalities through six categories of the competition which were Al-Quran Recitation, Al-Quran Memorisation, Ikon Al-Fateh Discourse, Contemporary Nasyid Art, Jawi Calligraphy Art and Short Films.

Despite being in the Movement Control Order phase due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, i-Talent Competition 2021 was a success due to the collaborative effort by the Sekretariat Mahasiswa Fakulti (SMF), Muamalat Intellectual Society (MIS) and Halal Industry Management Society (HIMS). This kind of programme is specially designed to expose student’s talents and soft skills, in addition to academic excellence to achieve holistic objective of education. The event was sponsored by PDI Publication, Berjaya Land Berhad, Koperasi Islah Malaysia Berhad (KIMB) and Kelab Suri Berdikari Selangor.

I-Talent 2021 represented an opportunity for the students to shine their potential and a chance for them to be seen at their creative best in a global arena. This is inline with the aims of nurturing a holistic and comprehensive human development skills among the youths as it helps build cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills.

The competition received positive feedbacks from the participants as it boosted their self-confidence and further enhanced their leadership qualities and innovative skills. Indeed, as the future leaders of the country such skills need to be further developed among the young generation as they are the aspiration of the country. Their willingness to participate virtually should be applauded as it has shown their resilience as youths in adapting to the changes brought forward by the pandemic.

Due recognition for the success of the event should also be given to the UiTM executive management, in particular the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation, Profesor Ts Dr Mohd Nazip Suratman, who is acting as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs) as he officiated the Closing Ceremony and I-Talent 2021 virtual Prize Award Ceremony.

FBM-UiTM becomes an affiliate member of the European Foundation for Management Development

Posted on by NURUL SALIZAWATEE MAHPAR & NOOR RITA MOHAMAD KHAN

Faculty of Business and Management (FBM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) has been accepted as an affiliate member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).

EFMD is a global, non-profit, membership-driven organisation that act as an accreditation body for business schools, business school programmes, and corporate universities based in Brussels, Belgium, with offices in Geneva, Hong Kong, Miami and Prague. With the support of more than 900 members across 90 countries, EFMD act as a catalyst to promote and enhance excellence in management
development globally.

As a member of EFMD, FBM has become part of the largest community of management development professionals worldwide, from both the academic and corporate worlds.  This will drive the faculty towards international recognition and be part of the most diverse business education network and stay ahead of the curve in management development.

The drive of getting this recognition from EFMD for FBM was initiated by the former dean of FBM and continued by the current leadership of Professor Dr. Noryati Ahmad. It was supported by the other top management members of the faculty headed by Dr. Nor Lelawati Jamaludin together with a team of dedicated committee members; Dr. Noor Ain Mohd Yunus, Dr. Azimah Daud, Dr. Aida Azlina Mansor, Pn. Norina Ahmad Jamil and Pn. Nurul Salizawatee Mahpar.  Together they made FBM-UiTM more visible globally and credible.

This initiative is aligned with the aspirations of UiTM towards achieving globally renowned university status. The former Vice-Chancellor of UiTM, Emeritus Professor Datuk Ir Dr. Mohd Azraai Kassim once stressed on the importance of visibility in a very crisp way and reminded that: “In this world, you not only need to be good, but people need to know that you are good”.

Thus, the spotlighted membership is a good measure to move UiTM and the Faculty of
Business and Management forward with international recognition and accreditation as well as making it more visible.

UiTM and Elsevier BV sign MoU to establish first SciVal lab in Malaysia

Posted on by Saidatul Akmar Ismail

The Faculty of Information Management (FPM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Elsevier BV recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) via an online ceremony on 1 July 2021.

The MoU aims for smart partnership endeavour through the establishment of the first bibliometrics facility, known as “SciVal Lab”, in Malaysia. The Lab establishment is fundamental to maximize the upskilling of professional librarians and information professionals, to enhance their personal capabilities as well as to become the prominent education and training hub while creating a network of cooperation and communication between the two parties.

The “SciVal Lab” as the first UiTM-based bibliometrics facility, is expected to expedite the establishment of UiTM as a Globally Renowned University of Science, Technology, Humanities and Entrepreneurship. The initiative will be the catalyst to the development of cutting-edge curricular, innovative and impactful research and publication in library and information analytics.

Professor Ts Dr Roziah Mohd Janor, Vice Chancellor of UiTM, applauds the move made by the Faculty of Information Management. She strongly believes that the Information Management students and academic staff are able to benefit the most from the Lab training sessions, add value to their information analytics learning experiences, and increase the graduates’ competitiveness and employability.

The moment cherishes the Elsevier Director of Research Intelligence, Ms Yoshiko Kakita. She states, “Elsevier is thrilled to have entered this partnership with UiTM as we believe that the knowledge and skills gained through the study of bibliometric analyses will benefit libraries, institutions, researchers and society-at-large. We’re privileged to be in the position to transfer this knowledge to UiTM and facilitate the responsible use of research analytics using SciVal.”

Mr Alexander van Servellen, Senior Consultant of Research Intelligence at Elsevier, has similar expectations. He expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to help establish the “SciVal Lab,” and plans to train future librarians and information professionals in the core knowledge and skills of “bibliometric research analytics.”

Dr. Zuraidah Abdul Manaf, a Professor of Information Management and a staunch advocate of bibliometrics, emphasized the expanding roles of librarians in assisting scholars across the country by providing quality analytical services using bibliometrics tools.

The signed MOU commits FPM, UiTM and Elsevier BV to develop a data analysis learning module based on the SciVal database. These modules will be incorporated into the curriculum of the library science programs offered by UiTM.

In addition, advanced training modules for working librarians and information professionals will be made available. The two-year collaboration is expected to produce more bibliometric analysis experts.

COVID-19 low-risk quarantine and treatment center at UiTM Kuala Terengganu campus

Posted on by Ts Dr Rajeswari Raju

Looking at the recent COVID-19 situation in Malaysia, the Malaysia National Crisis Preparedness and Response Center (CPRC) has reactivated the COVID-19 Low-Risk Quarantine and Treatment Center (PKRC) at the UiTM Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu campus( also known as Chendering), one of the East Coast Education Hub. This is a precautionary measure to face the issue of increasing cases following the expansion of screening and increase in cases in Terengganu.

PKRC UiTM Terengganu (Chendering) was opened in phases with a maximum capacity of 1,128 beds after review and site visit by National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). The first phase began when PKRC UiTM Chendering started operating on 21st January 2021 and the second phase took place on 12th May 2021. This PKRC is used to place COVID-19 patients in categories 1 & 2 who are not suitable to undergo home isolation after being screened by the COVID-19 Assessment Center (CAC) team.

This was made possible with the full support from the UiTM Terengganu Staff and students, The Rector, Prof Ts Dr Mazidah Puteh and The Deputy Rector, Assoc Prof Wan Dorishah Wan Abdul Manan. UiTM Terengganu is very proud to be together with the nation to support and fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

UiTM comes to the assistance of the underprivileged through 2021 Qaseh Ramadhan Program

Posted on by Ts Dr Rajeswari Raju

In the month of Ramadan, UiTM Terengganu Branch lecturers of Kuala Terengganu Campus have taken the initiative to organize the Qaseh Ramadhan Program on the last day of school, 6th May of 2021 at two primary schools around Chendering, namely SK Kubang Ikan and SK Chendering. This initiative was taken to alleviate the burden of the needy from these two schools as well as to cheer up their Aidilfitri celebrations. This Qaseh Ramadhan 2021 program is the fifth program held to celebrate the less fortunate around the UiTM Kuala Terengganu campus.

A total of 45 families from SK Kubang Ikan and SK Chendering have received donations in the form of cash and various kitchen items such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, cookies, healthy drinks, juices, wheat flour and others in preparation for the upcoming Aidilfitri through the fund. Contribution of the Qaseh Ramadhan Program was launched at the three campuses
of UiTM Terengganu Branch, namely Kuala Terengganu Campus, Dungun Campus and
Bukit Besi Campus.

An internal contribution fund was launched for two weeks from 18-29 April 2021 to fund this program. A total of RM11,590.00 of donations from academic and non-academic staff was successfully collected. A total of RM6190.00 has been allocated for the purchase of kitchen items while RM5400.00 was distributed in cash to 45 families to enable them to buy raw materials to be cooked on Eid.

It is hoped that this assistance will lessen the burden of recipients who are orphans, single mothers, the disabled and families severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic which has not yet fully recovered as well as bring UiTM closer to the hearts of the local community.

This good deed was a collaboration effort from UiTM Terengganu campus with guidance from Puan Nor Jawanees Ahmad Hanafiahas the Chairman of the Qaseh Ramadhan 2021 Program with her 20 committee members, and support from the UiTM Terengganu Rector, Prof Ts Dr Mazidah Puteh and UiTM Kuala Terengganu Deputy Rector, Assoc Prof Wan Dorishah Wan Abdul Manan.

UiTM Pahang Branch Campus hosts Global Lecture Series 2021

Posted on by Dr Zul Adlan

The Covid-19 pandemic posed significant impacts on mobility and international activities on higher-educational institutions. Nonetheless, despite the growing concerns about the crisis that has left institutions worldwide to shut “physically”, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Pahang Branch, Malaysia capitalized on the opportunity to strengthen the internationalization agenda with university partners from abroad through the virtual platform.

In this “new normal”, UiTM Pahang Branch hosted their first Global Lecture Series 2021 in collaboration with Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) and Halu Oleo University (UHO), Indonesia. The event held on 22nd and 23rd June is one of the strategic activities planned under the MoU signed with both institutions.

This Global Lecture Series was one of the international programs that served as a platform to engage academics and students from the three universities to share their expertise, ideas and experiences on current issues and education. The lecture sessions were made accessible to all UiTM staff and students and other universities in Malaysia and the public. Around 400 participants took the opportunity to attend the two-day
lectures.

The series featured four speakers from UiTM Pahang Branch, two speakers from UNHAS, and two speakers from UHO. Associate Professor Ts. Dr Megat Ahmad Kamal Megat Hanafiah, Associate Professor ChM. Dr Nor Yuziah Mohd Yunus, Dr Nur Fakhzan Marwan, and Dr Nor Hidayatun Abdul Razak represented UiTM Pahang Branch campus while Dr Rina Masadah and Dr Muhammad Junaid represented UNHAS. UHO was represented by Dr Ramadhan Tosepu and Dr Muhammad Arba. The event covered multidisciplinary topics such as building academic careers, industry expectations on graduates, graduate entrepreneurship, cervical cancer, plant-microbe interaction, accelerating drug discovery process targeting Covid-19 and the impact of Covid-19 on climate change, economic
growth and its influence on future job demands.

The Acting Rector of UiTM Pahang Branch, Professor Ts. Dr Mohd Ilham Adenan, emphasized that “The main purpose of this program is to provide opportunities and experiences for lecturers and students to interact, share expertise and knowledge. The program also encourages all students to be rational and open to receiving opinions from university partners. This mindset is the foundation to creating a conducive platform for strategic and comprehensive partnership between students of both countries.”

Echoing the statement, the Deputy Rector of Research and Industrial Linkages, Associate Professor Dr Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Abdul Rahman also hoped that the program could be an ongoing project to promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Malaysia and Indonesia. This effort will also further enhance the quality of students and academics of the institutions involved.

The program is also aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4, which is to implement comprehensive and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities to all levels of society. Emphasis is also given to SDG No. 8, 13 and 17, which is to promote sustainable and comprehensive economic development by providing employment opportunities for all, developing mechanisms for devising efficient climate change-related efforts, and intensifying international cooperation and networking for holistic development.