saran kaur gill national university of malaysia: institutionalisation of & capacity for regional...

Regional Universities Conference Gold Coast Campus, Southern Cross University, Coolangatta

INSTITUTIONALISATION OF & CAPACITY FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND

COLLABORATION: ASEAN & AUSTRALIA

Prof. Dr. Saran Kaur GillDeputy Vice Chancellor (Industry & Community Partnerships),

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia &Executive Director, AsiaEngage (ATNEU, AUN-USRS & AYVP)

14th – 15th November 2013

2012/UKM/HEJIM/Saran

Main Campus in

Bangi:

1,100 hectares

Kuala Lumpur

Campus:

20 hectares

Cheras Campus:

22 hectares


Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change

SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGYSOCIAL SCIENCES

& HUMANITIESENGINEERING &

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Fuel CellSolar Energy

(SERI)

Disaster Prevention

(SEADPRI)

Systems Biology

INBIOSIS

Environment &

Sustainable Development

(LESTARI)

Climate Change Studies

(IKP)

Faculties

Research

Institutes


Living Labs

Fraser Hill Research Centre

Pusat Penyelidikan Tasik ChiniUniversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Marine Biology Research Centre Langkawi Research Centre

Tasik Chini Research Centre


Ranked 23rd under the

category of Young Universities

(below 50 years)

Among the Top 300

Universities in the world

Ranked 8th under the Top 10

Universities in Asia

Achievements


“a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. It is

influenced by the importance of „place‟ in regional

development and the distinctive nature of regional higher

education settings. It is realised through the universities‟

core learning and teaching and research functions, and

through a commitment to service, knowledge exchange

and community capacity building.”

(RUN, 2013:8)

Definition of Regional Engagement

University – Community Engagement


7

Engagement Australia‟s Visiting Scholars &

Experts Programme

Leading Community

Engagement at an

Institutional Level

ASEAN Perspectives on

Engagement:

Highlighting Models and

Best Practice

Group discussions –

Voice of academics in

facing challenges in

mainstreaming

community engagement


There is a need for a clear Governance system and management

structure for integrating university and community engagement

across research, education and service, both at institutional (internal

as well as external) and at the Ministry levels.

There is a need to clearly define „engagement” (and in this case

expanding on regional development and how it is linked with so many

of the other definitions related to community engagement) so that the

area of community and industry engagement is not regarded as

merely the third mission of service but instead is integrated across

research, education and service to maximise its potential and enrich

the core missions of the university.

Key Recommendations in the face of challenges of

mainstreaming community engagement


There is a need for a national policy on regional / community

engagement so that there can be recognition at the governmental

level and provision of sustainable funding support for Community &

Industry Engagement.

There is a need to include community engagement in promotional

systems for academic staff and credits worked out for students

involved in community and industry engagement initiatives. This will

require recognition and support from the top management of the

universities.

There is a need for sharing of skills, knowledge and good

practices for capacity building to develop industry & community

engagement champions amongst staff and students, and to develop

the Scholarship of Engagement




It was clear after the group discussions that many of the challenges

faced by universities in Australia and those across ASEAN are similar.

But until and unless senior level higher education committees chaired

by Vice-Chancellors and the Govt. Ministries that govern them, work at

institutionalising and clearly supporting this field, we will always be faced

with struggles to fulfill our convictions of the value of meaningful regional

development.



http://www.asiaengage.org/


A Powerful Collaboration to Engage ASEAN & Asia

The Asia-Talloires

Network of Engaged

Universities (ATNEU)

was formed in January

2011 as a regional

partner of the Talloires

Network, a global

association of over 200

institutions in 59

countries committed to

strengthening the civic

roles and social

responsibilities of

higher education

globally.

The ASEAN University

Network‟s thematic

network for University

Social Responsibility &

Sustainability was

endorsed in July 2011,

as an enabling

mechanism to achieve

greater regional

cooperation amongst

the higher education

institutions in ASEAN,

to contribute to the

social, economic and

environmental

development of the

region.

The proposal to establish the ASEAN Youth Volunteers Programme (AYVP) was presented during the

ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Youth (SOMY) in Hanoi, Vietnam on 18 October 2011,

endorsed by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dato‟ Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek during the Seventh

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY VII) on 20 October 2011 and approved by the Malaysian

Cabinet on 20 April 2012


ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP)

Endorsed by all 10 ASEAN member states on 20 October

2011 at the Seventh ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth

(AMMY VII)

Approved by the Malaysian Cabinet on 20 April 2012


Design and Development Principles for AYVP

Foundational knowledge

(content and cross-disciplinary knowledge)

Professional knowledge

(practitioner skills and content)

Socially responsive knowledge


Educate for a Socially Responsible Life

“We don‟t only live a vocational life but we live a civic life

and we have to be educated for it.”

(Bringle et. Al.: 3)

first, to educate students in the problems of society

second, have them experience and understand first-hand

social issues in the community; and

third, and most important, give students the experiences

and skills to act on social problems.”

(Altman, 1996, pp. 375-376)

Socially Responsive Knowledge


What Is AYVP?

AYVP is an instrument that would create opportunities for youth

across the ASEAN region to apply knowledge-driven multi-

disciplinary volunteerism to collaboratively solve communities’

problems; and as they do this, they exchange knowledge, learn

about each other and strengthen intercultural relationships. All of

this would contribute to the development of a strong ASEAN

identity – a younger generation who not only volunteer but also

develop leadership qualities, coloured with the strength of

humility, kindness and compassion.


The development of ASEAN Eco-Leaders

through Volunteerism and

Community Engagement15th August – 20th Sept 2013

They will become Eco-Leaders with competencies and skills in

leadership and environmental conservation and be empowered

with ASEAN values as well as a love for community engagement

16


Received 850 applications from the 10 ASEAN

countries for 100 places

AYVP‟s main goal is to drive youth volunteerism

and community development that involve young

people with a targeted demographic age of

between 18 and 30 from higher education,

colleges, youth organisations, NGOs and

working professionals across ASEAN.

RESPONSE TO AYVP


Duration and Location

Week one: held at UKM - the only university in this

region that is located in about 100 hectares of forest

reserve – ASEAN History, Development and Identity


19

Kampong Dew,

Firefly Sanctuary,

Perak

Setiu Wetlands,

Terengganu

Mersing

Coastal

Communities,

Johor

Kuala Selangor

Nature Park

Selangor

Three weeks at 4

biodiversity sites in

Malaysia


MERSING COASTAL COMMUNITIES, JOHOR

UKM has established the Marine Ecosystem Research Centre

(EKOMAR), a field station to conduct research related to the marine

ecosystem and resources.

The centre aims at bringing about economic development to the

area and act as a catalyst to improve the quality of life for local

population by providing business and job opportunities while

conserving the natural ecosystem.

Solid waste management is an area that has to be worked on with

the community – the aim is to work to build up awareness and know-

how so that the community is willing to take responsibility of their

environmental surroundings.


21

Mersing, Johor“Enhance environmental awareness and minimizing pollution in coastal

communities by promoting the practice of community based recycling”

Clear Your Coast, Cash Your Trash


The volunteers worked together with the local community in

building a concrete recycling collection centre by the beach. This

is for the local community to segregate their trash and collect the

recyclable materials. The centre will also generate data on trash

disposal and recycling rates, which can be used by the local

community, district office and future volunteers to track trends and

success rates.

Collaboratively built a concrete recycling

collection center


“We loved the process of working with a team of talented people and

engaging with the local community because of the warm fellowship.

However, the local people still use the burning method to solve the

rubbish issues. We believe they should know more about proper waste

segregation and recycling.

We developed educational awareness of segregation and recycling of

waste. We built recycling centres and community-based buy-back

centres.

To ensure that the knowledge is carried forward, we organized

environmental education programs for primary school students, visited

the homes of the local community. We also participated in craft making

using recyclable materials, and helped to create a market for the craft

products among tourists in order to create a viable business for the

local crafters.”

Voices of the Volunteers


24

Kampong Dew : “Firefly Habitat Conservation &

Community-based Ecotourism”

Nature‟s Light


Site 2 Kampung Dew, Perak

Theme Firefly Habitat Conservation & Community Based

Ecotourism

The Eco-Leaders here supported existing local community

initiatives on forest firefly habitat conservation and community

based eco-tourism.

Among the activities the volunteers engaged in were firefly-

surveying, host plant tagging, and tree planting along the river

banks.


Intercultural Exchange

Unique to this group is their

experience of home-staying

with local families during their

time at Kpg Dew.

Village Culture

Regional Culture


They worked collaboratively to enhance

the natural surroundings of the jetty area

which is the starting point of firefly tours,

as well as to train local tour guides with

basic English language lessons and the

production of information, education and

communication (IEC) materials.

They developed a website, a

pamphlet design and a script for the

eco-tourism campaign. In addition,

they also organised a community

exhibition and a series of school talks

for raising awareness on the need for

environmental conservation.


This is a week of

sharing of knowledge

and critically reflecting

on their experiences

gained at the various

biodiversity sites. The

volunteers worked on

reports, writing their

reflective journals, and

plans for the replication

of similar projects in

their home countries.

The Last Week at UKM

The culmination of the five weeks ended with a Grand Celebration to bring

together volunteers and other stakeholders to showcase the learning, the

culture, the song and dances of various countries and communities across

ASEAN.


Forging the ASEAN – Australia Collaboration


"If you want to establish partnerships and relationships with people, there is

nothing like having to work together to make sure that the knowledge you

have in some way benefits the communities that you work with, communities

that perhaps are not as advantaged as those you come from.

The 21st century is a century in which we have to expose and develop our

youth, not only as youth who have professional skills through internship

competency and experience, but also the heart and feeling of wanting to give

back to communities as well. That will really enrich the relationship and

cultural know-how between the youth of Australia and the youth of ASEAN.''

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