Appointment Of Students Into Senate Set To Help Develop The University

In response to the Minister of Education's aspiration of strengthening student engagement in university management, UUM has appointed two students from the Student Representative Council (SRC) as members of the Senate Meetings.

The presentation of appointment letters to Deputy President 1, Mr Mohd Anwar Seeni Abd. Kathar and Vice-President 1, Mr Mohd Khairil Abdul Karim was officiated by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani at the Visitors’ Lounge recently.

Prof Dr Ahmad Bashawir said that in accordance with subsection 20 (2) of the UUM Constitution, two MPPs were elected as members who will attend the Senate which in one fell swoop making it history for UUM as the university had never appointed any students to become members of the University Senate.

According to him, the University Senate being the highest authority at a university is responsible for determining the general direction of the said university.

He said that if all the while the Senate had been discussing academic issues, with the appointment of students as members of the Senate, issues related to students would now be thoroughly discussed and given more attention to during Senate Meetings.

"As such, the Senate serves as a place for the sharing of ideas and views to help develop the university, and now with universities moving towards becoming digital campuses, their role as young people is needed to make it easier for universities to move in tandem with the digital age.

"These appointments will indirectly afford the students with the opportunity and space to become more involved in university management or to be part of the governing body," he said at the ceremony where appointment letters as members of the Senate Meeting were presented to students from the SRC.

He also reminded the students not to misuse the opportunity for political purposes but instead focus should be directed towards the development of the university as he wanted to lay the groundwork for UUM to become the Eminent Management University.

In this regard, he urged the students who will be attending the Senate to collaborate with other members of the university Senate to think about the direction of the university and to help students better manage their financial predicament in nation’s current state of economy.

"The appointment of these two SRC members in the Senate comes into effect on 15 August until their term of office in the SRC ends.

"I hope that with the appointment, they will be able to commit and contribute ideas to the development of the university, and their involvement will bring the university to a higher level," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mohd Anwar said he would do his best to assist the university by sharing all his thoughts and ideas to further strengthen the academic system, especially in the university.