On 26 March 2021, a team of lecturers from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kedah Branch Campus initiated to provide visibility to social innovation and social entrepreneurship projects at SILKEN 2021. The UiTM team has been involved in these projects via a university community transformation centre grant by the Ministry of Higher Education since 2016
This conference was an initiative by a partnership between the British Council and a consortium led by Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Northampton.
The theme of the conference which was Shaping Futures and Making Connections Conference, managed to garner participation from HEIs and other organisations from across Asia, the UK, and also other parts of the world. SILKEN has over 250 registered social innovators, leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem players from all over the globe.
The UiTM Kedah team which consists of Syazliyati Ibrahim (senior lecturer, Academy of Language Studies), Dr. Marzlin Marzuki (senior lecturer, Faculty of Accounting), Asrol Hasan (senior lecturer, Faculty of Art and Design) and Professor Dr. Maznah Wan Omar (Honorary Professor, UiTM Kedah Branch Campus) presented their plans to help promote and gain recognition for a group of social entrepreneurs at Kampung Hilir, a village which has been active in social innovation and social entrepreneurship projects for quite a number of years.
The initiatives discussed by UiTM Kedah and the villagers of Kampung Hilir were presented at SILKEN and thoughtful comments, as well as discussions, ensued for further enhancement of the visibility agenda.
UiTM Kedah is committed to promoting more social innovation and social entrepreneurship projects for the local people befitting the university’s blueprint of encouraging community service among its staff.