'SEJAHTERA IPT' MAINTAINS THE MOMENTUM OF EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

UUM ONLINE: To maintain the momentum of excellence in higher education in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) launched the Higher Education Prosperity Blueprint (Rangka Tindakan Kesejahteraan Pendidikan Tinggi) or Sejahtera IPT.

The Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, stated that the blueprint focuses on three thrusts: strengthening the higher education ecosystem, strengthening TVET, and empowering private education as an industry, in an effort to contribute to the country’s economic recovery.

According to her, Sejahtera IPT consists of seven primary strategies that serve as the MOHE's medium-term plan for confronting the challenges of 2022 with more robust measures through careful planning and action.

The first strategy is to bolster the campus ecosystem's safety by stepping up the campus ecosystem strengthening programme as a means of fostering a conducive and secure environment. Second, enhance graduates' marketability by implementing the National Employment Council's (NEC) agenda for 2022.

Third, bolster the digitization agenda by developing a Higher Education Digitization Plan that will be launched by mid-2022, while also ensuring that the planned programmes are implemented effectively. Fourth, strengthen the network of strategic collaborations established through previously approved MTVET initiatives.

Fifth, promote community well-being by leveraging HEI expertise to develop the local community through social innovation initiatives such as University for Society@Keluarga Malaysia or UNiTY. Sixth, to highlight institutional excellence, including the sustainability of the public university (UA) and the empowerment of its 26 and 86 subsidiaries, and to ensure the sustainability of private HEIs, which account for a sizable portion of the national economic sector.

Seventh, to revitalise the spirit of #KPTPRIHATIN through the establishment of a special programme such as the "First in Family" programme in the United States and Australia, as well as the "First-Generation College Student" programme in the United States and several other foreign countries, in addition to conducting extensive research on service schemes for schemes with a head of service at the MOHE, obsolete allowances, scholarship facilities for further studies, and other facilities provided for MOHE families.

Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini expressed hope that the top management of MOHE and the departments and agencies involved would be able to translate all expressed aspirations into action.

“Additionally, I want everyone to take something away from the flood disaster. This is why, when confronted with a crisis situation, it is critical for us to organise efficient, effective, and rapid work. However, if one party fails to carry out its responsibilities properly, the mission will fail. In times of crisis, life must take precedence.

"I believe that if we are all united, willing to tear down the wall of isolation and embrace the commitment entrusted with complete trust, we can intensify strategies aimed at rebranding MOHE and reviving the momentum of excellence in higher education," she said recently at the Minister of Higher Education's 2022 New Year Address, aptly themed "Intensifying Strategy, Soaring Excellence”.

She also discussed the #KPTPrihatin Family: Mission to Compassion for Flood Victims at the event, as well as the Malaysian Universities Volunteer Council (MASKUM), which successfully mobilised 23,745 volunteers and donated aid boxes and cash to flood victims.

Additionally, Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini shared a reflection on MOHE's accomplishments in 2021, including the impact of standard operating procedures (SOP) and movement control orders (MCO) on MOHE, the success of initiatives under the auspices of the 100 Days of Malaysian Family Aspirations (MFA), and the achievement of MOHE's six strategic focuses in 2021.

Meanwhile, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah, who is also Vice-Chancellor, welcomed the implementation of seven key strategies in Sejahtera IPT as part of the MOHE's efforts to strengthen the country's institutions of higher learning.

According to him, despite constraints and challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, UUM will collaborate with MOHE to implement the plan.

He, who was also in attendance at the Minister of Higher Education's 2022 New Year Address said that he will ensure that UUM not only excels academically on national and international level, but also serves the community through various community and volunteer activities.

Prof. Dr. Haim Hilman and Mr. Rodzi Lebai Karim, Chief Executive Officer of UMHSB Group, presented a MYR40,000 contribution to the MOHE Flood Relief Fund to the Minister of Higher Education during the ceremony, which was witnessed by Secretary General, Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar.