ULASAN BUKU (NOVEMBER 2014)

Judul

: The Power of Engagement: A Selection of

Inspiring Community Engaged Initiatives

Pengarang : Saran Kaur Gill

Prabha Sundram
Kamelia Shamsuddin
Tahun

: 2012

Penerbit

: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

INTRODUCTION
This book is a collection of various programmes or projects of Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia (UKM) which creatively integrated elements of research, education and
service, and encompassed diverse themes such as health, environment, social
enterprise, education, youth and volunteerism. UKM believe that engagement begins
by bringing knowledge to life for communities in the nation through the universitys
research, education and service initiatives. UKM have taken this seriously by setting
up of the post of a Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Industry and Community Partnerships
which later established HEJIM (which is the Malay acronym for Hal Ehwal Jaringan
Industri Masyarakat).
HEJIM is dedicated to initiating and coordinating multidisciplinary initiatives and acts
as the central contact point for community and industry partnerships.

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The Green ROSE School Programme

Engagement between Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Primary
Schools, The Pintar Foundation of UEM Group and CIMB Foundations to raise
awareness on environmental responsibility through ROSE method (Reduce,
Offset, Substitute and Enhance).

UKM-MNS Inaugural Environmental Awareness Programme

Engagement between Faculty of Science and Technology, Malaysian Nature
Society (MNS) and The Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI
UKM) to educate younger generation on persevering the environment.

Rainforest Discovery Journey Programme: Nurturing Eco-Volunteers

Engagement between The Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI
UKM), Ibu Zain International Student House (IZISH) and Yayasan Anak Warisan
Alam (YAWA) in Rainforest Discovery Programme.

UKMs Tasik Chini Research Centre

Establish in 2004, the centre was set up to conserve, rehabilitate and protect
Tasik Chini and its surrounding area in maintaining its eco system as one of
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The centre was highly anticipated by the local
community which is the indigenous Jakun tribe who live around the lake.

HEALTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Improving Balance and Agility Through Virtual Reality Games

Engagement between Center of rehabilitation Sciences under its Faculty of
Health Sciences, Pantai Integrated Rehab Services and Singapore Nanyang
Polutechnic embarked on a six-week programme using Nintendo WiiTM gaming
console to improve the balance and agility of older women.

Vision Screening Programme to Reduce Visual Impairment Among

Preschool Children in Malaysia
Engagement between Faculty of Health Sciences and Jabatan Kemajuan
Masyarakat or KEMAS organizing Optometry and Vision Science Programme to
detect vision problems at an early age using self-developed KieVision Preschool
Vision Screening Kit.

A Hulu Langat Initiative: Beyond Being Healthy and Fit

Engagement between UKM Medical Centre through its Community Health
Department and Hulu Langat Senior Citizens Society to establish a learning,
teaching and service module which lead to a healthy and productive lifestyle.

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Harnessing the Nations Best Brains:PERMATApintar

The programme launched in 2009, funded by the Prime Ministers Department
with objectives to nurture intellectually gifted children (ages of nine to 15 years
old) from across the nation who not only have the high potential to succeed
academically, but are also able to think logically, critically and creatively.

An Educationbased University Community Engagement Initiative:

Kampung Kundang Ulu
UKM adopted Kampung Kundang Ulu, Johor after it was struck with devastating
floods in 2006. UKM have taken a few initiatives in order to provide a
comprehensive developmental plan for the village such as Program
Kecemerlangan Akademik Pelajar Sekolah (PKAPS or School Academic
Excellence Programme) and The Fun with English Module.

Micro Controller School Mentoring Programme: CRYsTaL

Engagement between Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment in
partnership with the Faculty of Technology and Information Science and UEM
Group in Creative Youths Through Innovative Learning (CRYsTAL) where faculty
members train a cohort of UKM undergraduates to be mentor for secondary
school students to develop innovative projects base on microcontroller concepts.

UKM Autism Learning Laboratory: Empowering Children and Care-givers

towards Meaningful Lives
Established in 2009 with funding from the University Research Grant and
operated by Faculty of Education. The Lab now function as in house teaching lab
as well as providing consultation to parents whose raising children with autism.

PERKASA@remaja Empowering Youth, Transforming Communities

UKM collaborate with PERMATA centre has developed the PERKASA@remaja
(Youth Empowerment Programme to enable youth who have been identified as
AT-Risk to realise their full potential by empowering them with necessary skills
that could turn channel them to contribute positively to their families and
communities.

Legal Aid Clininc and The Provision of Access to Justice for The
Community in Need
Established in 2011, Legal Aid Clinic (LAC) is a place where public would have an
access to sustainable and free legal advice if they could not afford it. Law
students may participate at LAC as their training platform.

The AIESEC Red Project

The Red Project run by AIESEC-UKM in collaboration with Standard Chartered
Bank and also Malaysian AIDS Council and Pink Triangle Foundation, intends to
deliver HIV/AIDS education to youth (ages 16 24 years old) through peer
educators while increasing their awareness of HIV/AIDS, reduce stigma and
misconception towards those who have the virus.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Teman 1Azam NCWO-UKM: Empowering Women Through Business

The programme aims to build competencies of women from low-income families
in the Klang Valley targets to increase the number of women in business in the
country. Led by Faculty of Economics and Management the engagement was
made with Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and National
Council of Women Organisation (NCWO).

SIFE UKM: Hold My Hand

This is a project developed by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) which involving
students from various faculties, UKM towards creating a sustainable avenue for
skill building and revenue generation for orphans and orphanages around Bandar
Baru Bangi.

SUMMARY
This book is simple and easy to read yet inspiring. It shows that an organization
should venture to look further beyond its natural state of establishment where a lot of
opportunities to enhance organizations contribution. Thus, it only possible if we may,
with open mind to collaborate through various means of engagement.