UTAR and National Tsing Hua University to collaborate on cultural studies and conservation

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at NTHU in Taiwan on 26 April 2012 to collaborate on cultural studies and conservation.

The MoU was signed by NTHU's Dean of Student Affairs Dr Lyu Ping-Chiang  (吕平江博士) and UTAR Head of Chinese Malaysian and Cultural Studies Unit of UTAR Centre for Chinese Studies Research (CCSR), Dr Wong Wun Bin (黄文斌博士). As part of the understanding, the NTHU International Volunteer Group (國際志工團), which listed Malaysia as a new service destination this year, will cooperate with UTAR's CCSR to run a one-month long Chinese Culture Conservation Programme (文史典藏计划) in Gopeng, Perak.

The NTHU International Volunteer Group has named the one-month long community service programme "Chinese Culture Conservation Program"  (文史典藏计划), while UTAR has named it "Constructive Community Service on Collection of Chinese History in Malaysia" (马来西亚华人社区历史建设工作团).   Despite the difference in programme name, the community service programme has a shared goal of studying the history of old towns through fieldwork and the participation in community service.

Dr Wong suggested the old town of Gopeng for their historical study because the town was part of a pivotal tin mining area in the Kinta Valley and had developed into a bustling town during the 1850s due to the influx of Chinese migrant workers.  As tin mining activities dwindled over years coupled with the lack of other job opportunities, scores of young people started to look for jobs outside Gopeng and thus, turning Gopeng into a deserted town. In order to keep a record of the town's development, the NTHU International Volunteer Group and UTAR students will work together to preserve the community's history through written words. This includes assisting the Gopeng Museum to complete its historical records.

Dr Wong will supervise the Community Service Volunteer Groups, and provide training to the members on how to collect and utilise historical data, on how to collect oral history and conduct fieldworks, and on how to interact with the community. Besides that, he will make arrangements for NTHU students to visit UTAR, nearby Chinese secondary schools, NTHU alumni and other institutions. Dr Wong will make arrangements for all the group members to visit and investigate other historical sites in Perak.

National Tsing Hua University's Dean of Student Affairs Dr Lyu Ping-Chiang (fourth from right) and UTAR Head of Chinese Malaysian and Cultural Studies Unit, Centre for Chinese Studies Research Dr Wong Wun Bin (second from right) showing the signed MoU.