UTAR Students Develop Soft Skills Through New Village Community Project
The tradition of giving back to society is very much ingrained in UTAR as the
University launched the UTAR New Village Community Project Webpage and the UTAR
Student Services Webpage on 30 August 2010 at UTAR Perak Campus.
Started
in May 2009, the new village project had attracted great participation from
students who volunteer to explore and study the needs, challenges and
opportunities of new villages in Malaysia . So far, students had completed 22
projects and another seven projects were in progress. The completed projects
covered new villages in Johor, Kuala Lumpur , Negeri Sembilan, Penang , Perak,
Perlis and Selangor. With a click of a mouse, the general public could view the
completed projects in UTAR New Village Community Project Webpage and various
student-related information in UTAR Student Services Webpage.
Speaking at
the launching ceremony, UTAR President Ir. Prof. Dato' Dr. Chuah Hean Teik said,
"It is our plan to cover all the 450 new villages in Malaysia . We hope to do
more than just collecting data on the new villages. It is our aim to encourage
students to work with various sectors to initiate creative solutions to the
community's issues and identify business opportunities. We would like to train
our students to be social entrepreneurs."
Prof. Chuah expressed his
appreciation to the partners of UTAR New Village Community Project, namely,
Datuk Ir. Hong Lee Pee, the immediate past Chairman of the Science and
Technology Innovation Committee of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce
and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), who started the New Village website, and Goh
Peng Ooi from Silverlake, an IT service provider, for their kind contribution in
ensuring the success of UTAR New Village Community Project Webpage.
He
also thanked the sponsors of UTAR New Village Community Project, namely, Dr. Hou
Kok Chung, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Dato' Dr. Ir. Gan Thian Leong,
Managing Director of Brunsfield Group of Companies and Mark Chang, CEO of
Jobstreet.com., for their enthusiastic support towards the project.
In
his speech, Guest of Honour Dato' Wira Chor Chee Heung, Minister of Housing and
Local Government said, "The continuous socio-economic transformation of the New
Villages requires concerted efforts and smart partnership among various parties
especially the government, private sectors, local communities and
non-governmental organisations. In this regard, I note with pleasure and
interest the aspiration of UTAR in responding positively and constructively to
the government's efforts to modernise these New Villages into sustainable social
and economic communities with productive rakyat who enjoy good quality
of life."
Dato' Wira Chor also proposed some areas of study that UTAR
may involve in the New Village Master Plan such as the conservation and special
treatment of village heritage, issue of the aging population, development of
cottage industry, one village one specialty, agriculture training programmes and
ways to enhance the aesthetic aspects of places of interest in the villages.
Dato' Wira Chor applauded UTAR for taking the responsibility to produce
graduates who are not only intellectually capable but also socially cooperative,
caring and responsible.
The two-in-one event also witnessed the
presentation of UTAR Soft Skills Development Certificates (USSDC) by Dr. Hou Kok
Chung to 24 UTAR students who have achieved distinction in USSDC. Started in
January 2009, USSDC system recognises students' achievements and efforts in
improving themselves in a wide array of soft skills such as communication and
language; ethics and integrity; emotional intelligence, teamwork and leadership;
creativity and strategic thinking; and entrepreneurship. With this latest batch
of USSDC graduates, a total of 289 students have graduated from USSDC programme
with 65 students obtained distinction, 164 merit and 60 pass.
Among
those present at the event were Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik, Chairman of UTAR
Council; Tan Sri Dato' Hew See Tong, advisor to UTAR Planning and Development
Committee; and heads of new villages and heads of schools in Perak. After the
launching ceremony, the guests toured an exhibition displaying UTAR community
projects done by students.
Later, the heads of new villages and heads of
schools attended a workshop cum dialogue session to discuss ideas and inputs.
The session was chaired by UTAR Vice President (Internationalisation and
Academic Development) Professor Dr. Ewe Hong Tat.
Dato' Wira Chor Chee Heung (second right) launching the UTAR New Village Community Project Webpage and UTAR Student Services Webpage. Looking on are (from left) Dr. Hou Kok Chung, Ir. Prof. Dato' Dr. Chuah Hean Teik and Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik
A group photo with USSDC graduates
Dato' Wira Chor Chee Heung (middle), Dr. Hou Kok Chung and Prof. Chuah looking at the exhibits of new village community projects