30.11.2021

 Memorandums of Understanding signed to formalise partnership for the University For Society (U4S) Central Zone program which focuses on mental health awareness and improvement in the socioeconomic status for residents of PPR Gombak Setia

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 November 2021 – University of Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Pfizer today inked Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in the University For Society (U4S) programme specifically for the Central Zone. The programme aims to bring a positive impact to society and targets the residents of PPR Gombak Setia, focusing on the mental health awareness of the community and ways to improve their socioeconomic status.

The signing ceremony was officiated by Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Minister of Higher Education (MOHE). Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor, Vice-Chancellor of UM , Prof. Ts. Dr Roziah Mohd Janor, Vice-Chancellor of UiTM and Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Rector of IIUM signed the MOU on behalf of their respective institutions, with Mdm. Luksanawan Thangpaibool, Country Manager of Pfizer Malaysia and Brunei. Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak was represented by Assoc.Prof. Dr Zulkifli Hasan, Deputy Rector (Student Development and Community Engagement), while Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor was represented by Prof. Dr. Yong Zulina Zubairi Associate Vice-Chancellor (Global  Engagement).

“COVID-19 has triggered the urgent need to embrace change and meet the greater demand for connectivity in all aspects of life, including education, business, as well as building and connecting communities. To address this need, MOHE introduced the “University for Society” (U4S) initiative. The keystone of the U4S project is the “Quadruple Helix (QH)” approach which is in line with the Education Blueprint 2015–2025 (for Higher Education). The QH signifies collaboration between key players who promote innovation and these key players are higher education institutions, industries, the government, and the community. The ultimate goal is to create conditions for a more effective interaction that benefit the local communities. This model offers a vast opportunity in innovation and sustainable local development, which require competences to simulate long-run, endogenous economic growth,” said YB Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad.

“The pandemic has affected many lives, and the U4S programme is timely to be implemented at PPR Gombak Setia. With carefully planned programmes by three universities from the Central Zone, it will benef various age groups within the local community. Universities, industries players, government and society, must do this hand-in-hand for community well-being. Good mental health and optimal economic status determine the country’s success towards achieving the SDG goals,” said Prof. Dato' Ir. Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor.

The U4S programme is based on a quadruple helix model laid out in the Malaysian Education Blueprint (Higher Education) 2015-2025 where collaboration between the universities, the government, the private sector and the local community is the ideal sustainable model which would ensure impactful outcomes. The programme is funded by MOHE and the U4S Central Zone programme is particularly unique because all three universities are supported by Pfizer even if each university organises different projects. Overall, the U4S Central Zone has specific programmes for the local community at PPR Gombak Setia involving the respective university lecturers and students as drivers of the initiative.

“Pfizer is pleased to support the U4S Central Zone programme in collaboration with MOHE and its university partners, UM, UiTM and IIUM. We have always been committed to bring healthcare awareness and services to underserved and underprivileged Malaysians and to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Engaging with like-minded partners who share our purpose allows us to collectively deepen the impact of our community initiatives and make a real difference,” said Mdm. Luksanawan Thangpaibool.

The PPR Gombak Setia community was selected for the programme in consultation with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) given the potential of greater impact. With a population of 4,500 people, residents in the PPR will be given the opportunity to develop their knowledge levels, attitudes, skills, and aspirations. The projects under U4S will help improve their living standards and ensure their future well-being, with awareness and resources for mental health resilience, supported by wealth creation opportunities in the form of new product or service creation.

UM will focus on Building Resilience for Society, aimed at enhancing the livelihood of the community through awareness and advocacy on mental health issues. This project focuses on mental health webinars tailored for different segments of the community, and the Construction Skills Training Module for Youth Community in partnership with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) dan Akademi Binaan Malaysia (ABM).

UiTM will run the Financial Independence Strategy for Community Entrepreneur (FISCENT) project to establish a business networking system to pair budding entrepreneurs with successful mentors. The project organises workshops covering a host of relevant topics such as microcredit loans, business account management and e-commerce.

IIUM also has two projects under U4S aimed at empowering creativity among youths in the production of physical and digital creative arts with the Creative Youth project (CR8V Youth) as well as integrated and sustainable knowledge transfer of urban agricultural knowledge in the Integrated and Sustainable Agriculture Farming (InSAF) which targets adults and senior citizens.

UM is the country’s first university. Following the passing of the University of Malaya Act in 1961 by Parliament, UM was recognised as a public university. UM, as it is known today, was officially made a public university in the Federation of Malaya on 1 January 1962. UM is supported by two academies, thirteen faculties, three institutes and three academic centres that encompass medicine, science, technology, social sciences and humanities. The university also houses Malaysia’s first and biggest teaching hospital - UMMC. In addition, the Research Cluster had been formed to drive further breakthroughs in knowledge. The emphasis on research is strengthened by the presence of centres of excellence at several of its learning centres.  UM continues to consolidate and solidify its position in both the national and international arenas. It stands among the world's top universities, ranking 65th in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2022, retaining its place in the global top-100 universities for a fourth consecutive year.

As the largest comprehensive university in Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) has expanded its visibility through collaborations with universities worldwide. It continues to provide access to higher education, playing its role in nation building by UNLEASHING POTENTIALS, SHAPING THE FUTURE. Providing innovative education within reach at its 35 campuses and 26 faculties across Malaysia, UiTM offers over 500 academic programmes at Foundation, PreDiploma, Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD level, as well as Professional Programmes. Today, UiTM is a proven premier higher education institution of choice. Amongst its long lines of accolades, in 2020 UiTM was ranked 119th in the QS Asia University Ranking and placed 301-500 in the QS World University Ranking, won the Gold Award in the public university category of Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand 2019 and 11 of its subjects appeared in the QS World University Ranking 2020. With over 800,000 alumni in science, technology, humanities and entrepreneurship, UiTM offers opportunities to shape leaders at national, industry and global levels and is well poised to become a GLOBALLY RENOWNED UNIVERSITY by 2025.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), a public university officially established on 20 May 1983, under Section 5A (2) of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) [1971] and incorporated in Malaysia [Co. No. 101067-P], a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital by having its business address at International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 53100, Kuala Lumpur. IIUM has several campuses that spread across different states of Malaysia, each providing specific fields of study. IIUM hosted 14 Kulliyyah (Faculty) with more than 27,000 student population, of which international students represent approximately 24 per cent of the total student population. The uniqueness of the IIUM model, with its integrated curriculum and wide-ranging programmes of holistic higher education, strives not merely for excellence in the academic sense, but for balanced and integrated personalities ready to face the challenges of the 21st century. For more information, visit IIUM website at http://www.iium.edu.my and our social media on Facebook, Instagram and twitter @OfficialIIUM

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