International Conference On Engaged Learning & ICT In The University Curriculum

As-salamu alaykum  wa rahmatu l-lāhi wa barakātuh

A very good afternoon to you all.

At the end of 3-day Conference and Workshop on ‘Engaged Learning and ICTD in University Curriculum’ held in Shah Alam, Selangor, it is indeed my delightful privilege to address you all.  The Conference which has been organized by Aidcom and Unisel in collaboration with UN-APCICT and Cornell University of USA has come to an end today.  I have been told that the conference ended with successful deliberations and participation from the delegates more than 20 countries.  I have also been informed that the concept of ‘Engaged Learning’ which was initiated and developed by UN as a result of widespread recognition of the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the everyday lives of the people, had since then resulted in three International Conferences which were held earlier in Geneva, Tunis and Madrid.  I feel happy to know that in Asia for the first time the State of Selangor has been chosen to hold the Conference / Workshop as a follow-up activity.  I sincerely thank the organizers for their rightful choice.

The increasing importance of Information and Communication (ICTs) in everyday lives of people has been widely recognized.  More than two decades ago, major industrial nations in the world acknowledged that information and communication technology would be virtually the most potential forces in shaping the 21^st Century.  It was perceived that the impact of ICT would affect  the peoples’ way of life, the way they learn and work.  It would also affect the government when interacting with civil societies.  As we know that the UN organized three major conferences in 2003, 2005 and 2012 in Geneva, Tunis and Madrid respectively underscoring the role of ICT in promoting social change.  This was also perceived that expected social changes would help to meet the Millennium Development Goals – MDGs.  It was a vision to connect the world wherein 800,000 villages across the continents would have digital access by 2015.

Ladies and gentlemen,

With the initiative of UN, the world has taken concrete steps to establish the Information Society.  But whether we have been successful in emphasising the importance of bringing disadvantaged and marginalised people across the “digital divide” – we are not yet sure.  We are also not yet confident that we are able to establish the principle of inclusion:  everyone everywhere should be able to participate in, and no one should be excluded from the benefits of the Global Information Society. 

This is indeed a challenge – not only to the government or the society – it is a challenge to the academic institutions including the universities as well as to the authorities who oversee the higher education system.  It is a challenge because rapid technological development has today made ICT as an indispensable part of the programme towards reaching the target such as Millennium Development Goal.  But it is only a technological development and has not yet touched upon all sectors of development.  ICT is not seen it yet as significant tools to improve food production, to combat environmental hazards or even to improve access to government services!  The importance of ICT in today’s world as underscored by observations, such as that by World Bank, who proclaimed that ‘mobile communication arguably had a bigger impact on humankind in a shorter period of time than any other inventions in human history’.  As I said earlier, such technological development, in fact, has not filtered down to all sectors of development where the common public are the beneficiaries at the grassroot level. It is therefore necessary that every educated person in future would know the use of ICT for development.  Students and young generation of today are leaders of tomorrow.  It is absolutely essential  that they acquire knowledge – not only in theory – but through practice and engagement.  World civilization has now come to a stage where your mind-sets have to be changed as well!  We are talking about a new age – new perception – and a methodology that will bring success and achievement through Engaged Learning.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Over the last two days, you the distinguished delegates from more than 20 countries including experienced speakers and paper presenters have diligently discussed the issues and programme.  I am confident that the output will help the universities of the regions to formulate a new curriculum for a better education system in future.  I would like to thank our overseas participants for visiting Malaysia and Shah Alam - the Green City of Selangor.  I would like to say ‘Sila Datang Lagi’ which mean ‘Please Come Again’.

With this, I would like to declare the conference on “Engaged Learning and ICTD in University Curriculum” closed.

Wassala-mu-alaikom  wa rahmatu l-lāhi wa barakātuh