With the aim to provide an ideal platform to share and exchange knowledge on community engagement projects among the members of the Asia-Pacific University-Community Engagement Network (APUCEN), the 12th APUCEN@Malaysia Meeting was hosted by UTAR on 25 June 2019 at its Kampar Campus. The meeting was attended by a total of 30 members from 20 institutions.

Fifth from left: Prof Tan, Prof Rahman, Prof Choong and Dr Yamuna with the other members of APUCEN

Present at the 12th APUCEN@Malaysia Meeting were the Chairperson of APUCEN@Malaysia Prof Dr Ir Abdul Rahman Mohamed, Executive Director of APUCEN@Malaysia Prof Dato’ Dr Aileen Tan Shau Hwai, CEO of Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS) Muhammad Aiman bin Mohd Zin and his manager Runiy bin Maldud, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Prof Dato’ Dr Ibrahim Che Omar, Director of Universiti Putra Malaysia Prof Dr Mansor Abu Talib, Director of Universiti Malaysia Sabah Prof Coswald Stephen Sipaut and his Deputy Director AP Dr Sivakumar Kumaresan, Director of UMCares from Universiti Malaya (UM) AP Dr Amer Siddiq Amer Hamzah and UM’s Research Officer Nor Azlin Mat Radi, Deputy Director of Universiti Utara Malaysia AP Dr Lily Julienti Abu Bakar, Fellow in Community Engagement of International Medical University Dr Teoh Gaik Kin, Director of Centre for Community Development and ICOE from Universiti Teknikal Melaka AP Dr Mohamad Zoinol, Director of Centre for University Community Transformation from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris AP Dr Norkhalid Salimin, Acting Head of Centre of Social Innovation from Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) AP Dr Wan Fatimah Wan Ahmad, Department Chair Management and Humanities Department from UTP AP Dr Lai Fong Woon, Director of Centre for Community Engagement and Industrial Networking from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia AP Dr Rafidah Hanim binti Mokhtar, Head of Student Affairs of AIMST University Dr Rajasegar Chandra, Deputy Director of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UMP) Dr Hanum Hassan, Assistant Registrar of UMP Sharifah Dara Naqiyah binti Syed Syfaldin, Head of International Relations Office of Politeknik Seberang Perai Mariappen Gopalakrishnan, Director of Academic Services of The University of Nottingham Patrick Joseph, Senior Manager for Malaysia Toray Science Foundation Dato’ Hun Keng Kuan, and Head of Student Affairs from DRB-Hicom Berhad University of Automotive Malaysia Aizuddin Abdul Rahman.

Prof Choong giving a brief introduction on UTAR’s ongoing community engagement projects

The delegates were cordially received by UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology Assoc Prof Dr Yamuna Munusamy and Head of UTAR Department of Soft Skills Competency of Kampar Campus Hee Chwen Yee.

Meeting in progress

Welcoming the delegates to UTAR Kampar Campus, Prof Choong gave a brief introduction on the university’s history, organisation structure, staff expertise, available undergraduates, postgraduate’s programmes, UTAR New Village Community Projects, volunteerism projects as well as UTAR’s community engagement projects. Prof Choong also expressed his keen hopes to see collaborations between UTAR and APUCEN members involving community engagement being carried in the near future.

The meeting was chaired by the President of APUCEN Prof Rahman and his Executive Director Prof Tan.

In their speech, both the President and Executive Director of APUCEN explained that community engagement actually goes beyond outreach and extension or service. They emphasised that APUCEN is committed to the idea that universities should seek for mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships with communities to address communities’ issues and needs.

Among the key issues discussed during the meeting were creating a balance between knowledge and character among the youth through service learning and incorporating volunteerism and service learning as part of the university curriculum. The involvement of students and young lecturers in the university-community engagement needs to be focused because they will be the future champions in community engagement.

Prof Rahman and Prof Tan also encouraged the other members to work closely with APUCEN partners from various fields to mould the communities as well as to co-learn among the members.

APUCEN is a regional network of academic institutions of higher learning concerned with promoting the culture of university-community engagement in a proactive, inclusive, holistic and participatory way. APUCEN is motivated by the belief that institution of higher learning and the community can unite to co-create knowledge to enhance the social, economic and environment of the community in the region of Asia-Pacific.

Prof Choong (left) presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Rahman

Souvenirs exchange between Prof Choong and Prof Tan (left)

UTAR hosts 12th APUCEN@Malaysia Meeting