Aeu 4Th Convocation Book
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1 University 33 Countries asiaAe(OuniversityU � Accelerating • C a pa CI tysuilding Across Borders y 4 th Convocation •SUNDAY• 21 5T SEPTEMBER 2014 • KUALA LUMPUR ACCELERATING CAPACITY BUILDING ACROSS BORDERS 3 AeU is on a journey that will aid Malaysia and the region to transform into a more prosperous and inclusive Asian canvas-of-society through e-education. 4 ASIA e UNIVERSITY 4TH CONVOCATION 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Convocation Messages University Traditions Convocation Paraphernalia 00 Message from the Chairman 06 The Mace 00 Message from the ACD Representative 10 The Ceremonial Chair 00 Message from the President/CEO 12 The Academic Regalia 00 The School Hood Colour 00 About Asia e University The 4th Convocation Ceremony Programme 00 Vision, Mission, Objectives 00 University Awards 00 Rationale and Objectives 00 September 2014 Graduands 00 Core Values 00 University Background 00 In the words of AeU Community 00 University Profile 00 Media Highlights 00 Seven ‘E’s of the University 00 Revolutionising Learning 00 Learning Centres in Malaysia 00 International Collaborative Learning Centres 00 International Memberships 00 Schools and Programmes 00 Governance and Accountability Framework 00 Key Milestones 00 List of Past Honorary Degree Recipients 00 Notable Achievements 00 ACCELERATING CAPACITY BUILDING ACROSS BORDERS 5 Convocation MESSAGES 6 ASIA e UNIVERSITY 4TH CONVOCATION 2014 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN AeU has opened the door to higher education, giving working adults the chance to continue learning and to upgrade their skills and knowledge, thus improving not only themselves, but also their families, professions and, ultimately, their country ACCELERATING CAPACITY BUILDING ACROSS BORDERS 7 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dear Graduands, It is with great pleasure that I am able today to congratulate the graduands of 2014. The drive and aspirations of each graduating class in our tertiary institutions is always inspiring but in AeU, it is more than just a convocation ceremony. It is an achievement because it takes real commitment to have pursued and completed a degree programme whilst having to balance work and family commitments. It involves grit, determination and talent. Each of you have shown that you have it, and it’s now a new phase of a journey. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all those graduating from AeU today more because you have made a vision of the future and taken this remarkable step to upskill and upgrade your credentials. Your achievement lies not merely in the degree you are bestowed with today but in the perseverance and hard work that you have put in, more so as working adults. Shaping Education Landscape Looking back, the university has certainly come a long way. In just being over seven years, AeU is still relatively young, To date, AeU has enrolled over 16,000 learners, with more especially when compared to other open universities. Having than 5,000 having successfully graduated. This, in itself, is said that, AeU is proud of its progress and anticipates more an achievement in lifelong learning. By focusing heavily on milestones in the future.To this end, we are pleased to technology, AeU has opened the door to higher education, be acknowledged by the Right Honourable Deputy Prime giving working adults the chance to continue learning and Minister of Malaysia, who announced at the ACD Annual to upgrade their skills and knowledge, thus improving not Meeting in Kuwait that the most successful project of the only themselves, but also their families, professions and, ACD is the Asia e University. ultimately, their country. Built on the philosophy that education should be democratised, AeU has focused on creating an affordable and accessible pathway to higher education, while placing importance on flexible entry requirements, a learner-friendly academic system, and a blended pedagogy that combines different modes of learning. Each of these components is designed to fulfil the diverse needs of its learners and to create learning environments in which responses to the challenges of the 21st century. For working adults, who make up the majority of AeU’s learners, the motives for pursuing higher or continued education are usually associated with personal development and career advancement. Moreover, in today’s globalised economy, the knowledge capital of a country’s labour force is considered vital for national growth. Without continuous betterment of the people’s education, a country will certainly find it difficult to compete on the global stage. Thus, providing the means for these working adults to partake in education has great implications for both lifelong learning and national economic development. 8 ASIA e UNIVERSITY 4TH CONVOCATION 2014 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Lifelong Learning Learn, Unlearn and Relearn Lifelong learning covers all types of learning activities Today the world has changed and knowledge is multiplying which are undertaken on an ongoing basis with the aim of at a rapid pace. Over 20 years ago, Alvin Toffler famously improving knowledge, skills and competence. It could be predicted: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be formal, nonformal and informal, and includes those types of those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learning which earn you a diploma or degree as well as those learn, unlearn, and relearn.” earn you no paper qualifications whatsoever but provide you with new knowledge or capabilities. Lifelong learning is also What we learnt one or two decades ago is just not not time-bound. It is about acquiring and upgrading one’s enough even for survival, let alone for success, in a highly knowledge and skills at various stages in life, starting from competitive global market. Research indicates that you the pre-school to post-retirement years. could have two to four careers in a lifetime, something that is already happening in Asia. So even if you have graduated, Where AeU is concerned, lifelong learning is also about you will still need to continue to learn, unlearn and re-learn providing second chances for people. The ultimate goal many different things during the course of your life. In short is to help the workforce progress in terms of capabilities you will need to be lifelong learners if you wish to succeed. and competencies. There are many people who could not You will have to be prepared for making multiple career continue their education at the same time as their peers due choices in the ever-changing global economy. to various obstacles. This is their chance to do during their productive years without jeopardising their existing routine. This indicates the need for courses and programmes which Conclusion suit their requirements and interest. The provision of such courses and programmes neccessitates the use of an open To all graduating students, while I extend my congratulations and flexible mode such as that adopted at AeU. once again, I wish to add that learning never stops. It is my hope that you would continue to evolve and persist in your enthusiasm to improve, and to acquire new knowledge and skills. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed towards making today’s event a memorable one. In particular, my deep appreciation to the Ministry of Education, Wisma Putra, Ministry of Finance and the ACD for their continuous support. I also wish to thank members of the AeU Management and Staff for their hard work and keen efforts. Once again, my congratulations to the graduands of 2014. I wish you a bright and exciting future. Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim Chairman Board of Directors Asia e University ACCELERATING CAPACITY BUILDING ACROSS BORDERS 9 10 ASIA e UNIVERSITY 4TH CONVOCATION 2014 MESSAGE FROM THE ACD REPRESENTATIVE Asia e University contributes to strengthening the human resources foundation of ACD and society at large ACCELERATING CAPACITY BUILDING ACROSS BORDERS 11 MESSAGE FROM THE ACD REPRESENTATIVE Dear Graduands, On behalf of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), I wish to extend our heartiest congratulations to AeU on staging its 4th Convocation Ceremony. As we celebrate hard work and success today, I feel heartened on behalf of the ACD, to extend our heartiest congratulations to AeU’s graduating class. As Asia grows in this new era globalization and trade into a It is in this context that Malaysia’s Asia e University initiative world leader, the continent will require a variety of skills and is so laudable. It is one that truly contributes to strengthening you can be assured that your talent, responsiveness and the human resources foundation of ACD and society at large. conscientiousness will hold you in good stead to face the In the years to come, its graduates will surely contribute to needs and challenges of the future. the forward progress of the ACD Community and the global community at large. It is an honour for Thailand, as Coordinator of the ACD, and I in my professional capacity, to be associated with the AeU’s The onset of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 4th Convocation Ceremony. Since the historic 1st ACD is something that we should look forward to with great Heads of States Summit in the State of Kuwait in October vigor as it presents a multitude of opportunities for people 2012, the ACD process has been revitalized. There are like you who will lead the next generation to progress and numerous important activities and initiatives in the pipeline. cooperation. In 2013, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of As much as borders are breaking down, we see the onset Bahrain hosted the 11th and 12th ACD Ministerial Meetings. of a more diverse yet united AEC. This presents a great We also welcome the generous offers of the Kingdom of opportunity for you to continue learning and growing for the Saudi Arabia to host the 13th Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh in good of your country and the people of Asia.