Tag: Universiti Teknologi MARA

To study the impact of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) on the surrounding localities and population, a 20-year study was conducted to evaluate its significance as a university since its declared change of status in 1999.

“It is a worthwhile return of investment for the community’s development and sustainability. The past (legacy of our forefathers) is the key to the future. Education empowers the community” says, Professor Ts. Dr. Roziah Mohd Janor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) / Acting Vice-Chancellor, who is also the Co-lead Researcher, in her preamble.

Dato’ Prof. Dr. Rahmat Mohamad who the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry, Community and Alumni Network) and the Co-lead Researcher of the project added, “ It is undeniable that the original policy and goals of  UiTM’s establishment are still relevant in today’s context, as they have proven successful in balancing equity distribution for the Bumiputeras as well as improving their position in the country”.

He added, “UiTM has also had a positive impact in increasing socio-economic development, education and unity of races in Malaysia.”

Perspective outlines 10 vital facts comprising the study of land and its physical development, the increase in land value, graduate and alumni mobility, community feedback, and graduate employability.  To date, students’ enrolment has reached 189,008 and a recorded 890,334 have graduated with an employability rate ranging between 82 per cent to 83 per cent.

This 20-year UiTM impact study is a follow-up of a similar 2007-2008 study that focused on the economic impact of UiTM on the communities surrounding UiTM campuses. Both study summaries reveal the major impact that UiTM has had on the regeneration of socio-economic development of the surrounding communities.

It is hoped that these two consecutive 20-year studies are proof that UiTM should forge ahead in strengthening the education of the Malays and the Bumiputera through continuous engagement with the community and industry in its goals and efforts to advance national education development.

In line with the direction of universities to actively move to achieve sustainability missions, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch organized a virtual convention known as Low Carbon Campus Convention (LCCC) 2021 for five days from 15th to 19th March 2021. The program was organized by the Green Campus Committee led by Sr. Dr Nur Azfahani Ahmad. It was programmed to visible UiTM Perak Branch has mobilized various green practices and initiatives for the campus residents.

The program successfully gathered about 1,386 participants from various local and international universities and industries from the public and private sectors. The convention included multi-series programs such as a terrarium workshop, green-safe cities seminar, and green talk series comprising 12 speakers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Germany.

The green talk series discussed ideas, knowledge, and the country’s experience related to green practices, green procurement, green building design, agricultural efforts, and recycling practices (3R). One of the talk series highlights was a session by the famous Malaysian fashion designer Mr. Hatta Dolmat who shared his aspirations in addressing sustainable fashion using recycled products.

Another attention-grabbing session was from Ar. Shyuan Kuee, an award-winning architect from the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), shared her experience handling international and local projects on green building design. The convention was also attended by researchers and postgraduate students from Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Nigeria.

Up to this date, the UiTM Perak’s Green Campus committee has launched various green programs, including solar panels and rainwater harvest installation to schools and mosques, energy efficiency projects, recycle campaign, green talk series, and community seminars on green education.

The LCCC program has benefited the academics and staff of various universities and hopefully inspire more green project initiatives to lower carbon emissions within universities. It has also successfully formed a research nexus and collaborations between academia, industries, and communities to enhance green technology and green practices.

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.

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.

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.

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.