REGIONAL CONFERENCE ONH IGHER EDUCATION-COMMUNITY- INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT: FORGING

MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS ASEAN & ASIA

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 7-9 May 2012

THE IMPACT OF ASIA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION’S (UCTI) CONTINUOUS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF 

STUDENTS’ GENERIC SOFT SKILLS

Datuk Prof. Mohd Yusof Kasim, Farahida Binti Abdul Jaafar, 

Zainalabidin Hambali, and Bahrulmazi EdrakAsia Pacific University College of Technology and Innovation (UCTI), Malaysia

INTRODUCTION

30 students from 13 countries

At Felda Mempaga 1, Bentong, Pahang

19 – 22 March 2010 & 25 – 28 March 2011

No of families = 20 households

Framework= My3S; 

INTRODUCTION

Asia Pacific University College of Technologyand Innovation (UCTI) has designedCommunity Engagement Programmes (UCEP)to inculcate the 7 soft skills among thestudents and community.

Previously implemented UCEP Programmesby UCTI:

1. Homestay Programme at Batu Laut, Selangor2. Homestay Programme at Kg. Makmur, Pahang3. Homestay Programme at Mukim Relau, Penang

MY3S

Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), indicated 7generic soft skills (OR MY3S; Malaysian Soft SkillsScale).Source: www.mohe.gov.my

What are the 7 soft skills?

MALAYSIAN SOFT SKILLS SCALE

1. Communication skills

2. Critical Thinking and

Problem Solving Skills

3. Teamworking Skills

4. Continuous Learning and

Information Management Skills

5. Entrepreneurship Skills

6. Moral and Professional

Ethic Skills

7. Leadership Skills

DEVELOPMENT OF GENERICSOFT SKILLS IN UCEP

Communication Skills

DEVELOPMENT OF GENERICSOFT SKILLS IN UCEP

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills

DEVELOPMENT OF GENERICSOFT SKILLS IN UCEP

Teamworking Skills

DEVELOPMENT OF GENERICSOFT SKILLS IN UCEP

Continuous Learning & Information Management Skills

DEVELOPMENT OF GENERICSOFT SKILLS IN UCEP

Entrepreneurship Skills

DEVELOPMENT OF GENERICSOFT SKILLS IN UCEP

Moral & Professional Ethic Skills

DEVELOPMENT OF GENERICSOFT SKILLS IN UCEP

Leadership Skills

METHODOLOGY

• 30 students who participated in both programs(2010 & 2011) at Felda Mempaga, Pahang wereselected for interview.

• 21 students attended the interview session

• 7 thrust of soft skills from My3S were asked

• Semi‐structured interview and all commentswere written down

• 3 lecturers who were involved in the programsanalysed their inputs

SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW

DISCUSSION: COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Issues Challenges

Need moreparticipants fromvillagers

One waycommunicationapproach

Interaction betweenparticipants ‐ villagers

Meeting with differentbackground/cultures andnationalities

Activities based oncommunication skills

Fun & true learningexperience

Sharing thoughts

DISCUSSION: CRITICALTHINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING

Issues Challenges

Small no. ofparticipation fromcommunity

Too much fun

Didn’t realise theobjective of task

Comprehensive Programcontents/activities

Teamwork

Unplanned situationneeding immediatesolution

Different background,culture & nationalities

Issues Challenges

Selfishness among fewparticipants

Less focus in taskcompletion

Comprehensive Programcontents/activities

Eliminate shyness andpromote new idea andcreativity

Teams with differentcultural background &nationalities

Good lecturer‐studentrelationship

Able to relate to whatthey learnt in class

DISCUSSION: TEAMWORKING SKILLS

Issues Challenges

The students could notcomprehend theconcept of informationmanagement

No training oninformationmanagement weregiven before theprogram

New learning experiencesuch as new culture,family and community

Sharing of informationamong the participants

Sharing of experience andthought with thecommunity

Continuous evaluation ofsame family for 2 years

Able to attend continuousprogram at same place

DISCUSSION: CONTINUOUSLEARNING & INFORMATION

MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Issues Challenges

Time limitation

Initial perception ofstudents: the programwas related to culture,leisure and communityservice

Generated new ideas totheir family members

The participants able torelate the success story

Social networking Participants were able to

understand the differentperspectives of success.

Conducted businessworkshop

DISCUSSION: ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS

Issues Challenges

Diverse nationalities ofparticipants

No specific ethicprograms embedded

New perspective oncultures, practices andreligions

Respect to others, age andstatus

Good guidance fromlecturers

Multi‐interaction betweenvarious people in thecommunity

DISCUSSION: MORAL & PROFESSIONAL ETHIC

Issues Challenges

Intervention oflecturers

Less involvement fromcommunity

Emergence of leader fromgroup work

Appointment of groupleader

Given responsibilities andtasks to be completed

Immediate decisionmaking to solve problem

DISCUSSION: LEADERSHIP SKILLS

CONCLUSION

UCTI’s continuous Community EngagementProgramme can be used as a platform to developstudents’ generic soft skills.

THANK YOU

Q & A