Asia Pacific Research Intelligence Conference Yonsei University, Seoul Korea June 2018
University and Social Innovation: The University Malaya’s Experience
Noorsaadah Abd. RAHMAN Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation University of Malaya The earliest universities were founded in Asia and Africa, predating the first European medieval universities with the University of Al Quaraouiyine in Morocco which was founded in 859 considered to be the oldest degree- granting university.
The first university in Europe with a form of structure was the University of Bologna (1088), followed by the University of Paris (c.1150) and later, the University of Oxford (1167).
These university’s first purpose was to educate clergy. Then it was to educate citizens. Governments all over Europe then began to create universities to satisfy the thirst for knowledge with the belief that society would benefit from the scholarly expertise generated from these institutions. For decades, universities were tasked to pursue balanced knowledge about virtually everything.
The classical roles “given” to the universities are: 1. To secure and maintain crucial knowledge for the future generations – “repository of knowledge for mankind”. 2. To do research and generate new knowledge. 3. To educate the new generations through transfer of these knowledge. 4. To disseminate the knowledge to the society.
In the 19th century, with the advancement in science and technology, university’s role also expanded to include generating economic development. But, in the new millennium, the role of universities is changing again. Universities’ contributions are expected to be beyond academia and economic.
They are now required to demonstrate a wider role in society and contribution to public benefit. They are expected to play transformational roles in the lives of people through widening access and inspirational learning and teaching. The knowledge they gathered through research are expected to contribute to the social and cultural lives of the communities they serve, help improve the health and wellbeing of people and other community services. (University of Worcester, 2012)
The university’s purpose to educate clergy, and then to educate citizens now has expanded into advancing knowledge through research and transforming society at large through social innovations. The University of Malaya (UM) About UM About UM Research @ UM
To be a leading preferred research university that will actively contribute to the generation and dissemination of new knowledge and the enhancement of the quality of life.
UM Research: Transforming Knowledge, Industries and Lives Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (R&I)
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (R&I & JIM)
Assoc. Vice-Chancellor Assoc. Vice-Chancellor (R&I) (JIM)
UM Centre for Centre of Excellence Institute of Research Innovation and (HICoE, HICoE Management & Services Commercialization Berpotensi, UMCoE) (IPPP) (UMCIC) Research Pusat Penyelidikan Cluster UM Consultancy (Top Down) Unit (UPUM) • ICS Centre for Research • NCPP Grant Management The Community & • NARC (PPGP) Sustainability Centre • PDP (UMCARES) • CEBLAW Centre for Research • Living lab • CARUM Services (PPP) • Outreach unit
HIR The Community & Sustainability Centre The centre signifies UM's commitment to community engagement and engagement for sustainability.
Living Lab (LL) @ UM involves using the University’s research capabilities to solve sustainability issues relating to its infrastructure and practices using the campus to test real‐time sustainability solutions. FOSTERING MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
Research Clusters
Active Ageing Eco-Resilient Cities • Independent living • Transportation • Protecting the rights • Quality affordable of the vulnerable housing • Psychosocial • Food security empowerment • Waste management • Water management
World Without Conflict Sustainable • Indigenous Resources & communities Pushing Economic Borders • Equitable access to Technology education • Human capital • Energy products from • Emerging socio-political development bio-resources trends • Wealth creation • Energy & resource • Intercultural studies through efficient technology entrepreneurship • Clean manufacturing & • Income-enhancing production platform technology 11 UMCares: KNOWLEDGE-TRANSFER PROGRAMS
Empowering Women in Increasing Productivity through Enhanced Communication Skills
Poor and single mothers were involved in the project. Aim of project:
1. Improve communication skills amongst the poor and destitute in Selangor. 2. Express the importance of communicating skills to enhance self- esteem and use it in entrepreneurship. 3. Explain communication strategies in online and conventional marketing. 4. Produce small industrial products to increase household income. UMCares: KNOWLEDGE-TRANSFER PROGRAMS Be Able : Venturing Beyond Disabilities
Students and staff at the Faculty of Engineering, UM worked with physically-challenged youth (OKU) with the aim:
1. To help direct recovery consultation and disclosure with OKU Youth 2. To increase the awareness of the importance of using brackets and false tools among disabled persons 3. To improved access to quality rehabilitation and social basic physical infrastructure for the need for local disabled people.
This program has also become a platform for disabled people for paralympic sports activities.
13 UMCares: KNOWLEDGE-TRANSFER PROGRAMS
AGRO FOR BUSINESS An Aquaponics Vertical Urban Agricultural Project in a narrow space to produce organic vegetables using the aquaponics method. This project helps to optimize the agro-urban supply chain to meet market demands as well as bringing greater impact to the community.
The objectives of the project are: • To carry social entrepreneurship innovation projects which are demand driven to raise B40's economic standard • To identify existing market potentials and resources that can be assimilated to urban farming that provides socio- economic benefits • To help communities have an urban farming project that has the ability to independently use the sales return methodology GRAND CHALLENGE @ UM: ACTIVE AGING
THE MELoR PROJECT MALAYSIAN ELDERS LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH MELoR was set up to assist in developing an effective action plan in preparation for the escalating number of our elderly population.
The research group has already established close working relations with community leaders, resident associations, non-governmental and religious organizations
Impact The data from MELoR are essential tools that provide evidence for the policy makers to reference as they develop strategic policy-making decisions in the battle against the gigantic wave of ageing and its costly implications to our developing nation. GRAND CHALLENGE @ UM: PUSHING ECONOMIC BORDERS
THE PUA KUMBU PROJECT Engagements of Iban community with a researcher to drive their potential cottage industry
Who has been benefited from the research? The women weavers, their family and the Iban community with the transformations of pua kumbu weaving into cottage industry Scholars, students and the public with the Textile Tales of Pua Kumbu Exhibition in 2015
Impacts Improvement of the rural women livelihood by increasing the income and the quantity of sales
Attracted younger weavers. Knowledge of weaving pua kumbu is continued.
Creating market platforms and registered a trademark (rhgareh) for the pua kumbu product. An indigenous knowledge database on visuals, prints and written documentation has been created that includes on pua kumbu weaving for the community reference. as a UM Living Lab ACTION-ORIENTED & TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH to provide sustainable solutions to the campus
From laboratory research To real life solutions
Categorization of research projects according to 8 Core Pillars of UM Eco-Campus Blueprint In line with UI GreenMetric & Sustainable
Landscape Waste Water Energy Transportation Green Educational Change Management, Development Goals management and management governance managemen system procuremen management – participation, & (SDGs) biodiversity t management t Environment & climate communication change
17 LIVING LAB UM
UM Cancer Farm Project: A Lifestyle Lab
Green Car Park at the Faculty of Built Environment
Zero Waste Campaign Program LIVING LAB UM
UM Zero Waste Campaign:
In response to the problem of solid waste management in campus, ZWC started off with a goal of diverting and reducing waste generated from going to the landfills. Zero Waste Campaign (ZWC) aims to spearhead the development of an integrated and sustainable waste management model in UM. LIVING LAB UM
Progressive Success of UM Zero Waste Campaign (2010-2017)
Initially a student-initiated campaign but evolved into a campus-wide project with the ultimate goal of zero waste campus status with corporate sponsorship. LIVING LAB UM
SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENTS OF UM ZWC (2012-2017)
ENVIRONMENT SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT •Total waste diverted •Total revenue/charity •Total waste disposal since inception: >700 sponsordiverted since cost saved: >RM tonne inception: >RM 20,000 100,000 •Total carbon •Total visitor since •Total sale of emission reduction: inception: compost: > 2,000,000 Kg CO – 2 > 10,000 people > RM 12,000 eq. LIVING LAB UM UM ECOUM-CAMPUS Eco-Campus BLUEPRINT Blueprint (UMECB) (UMECB) LANDSCAPE & TRANSPORTATION BIODIVERSITY SYSTEM
University of Malaya WASTE Eco-Campus Blueprint (UMECB) serve as a guideline/ framework that ENERGY gives emphasis to eight Core Areas WATER and sustainability aspects and CHANGE MANAGEMENT: targets of GOVERNANCE, University of PARTICIPATION & Malaya. COMMUNICATION GREEN EDUCATION: PROCUREMENT ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE
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