Minister of Higher Education meets UMP students and lecturers to discuss Post-Covid-19 T&L

Kuantan, 14 June 2020 – A visit from the Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Dr. Noraini Ahmad together with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) delegation to Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) recently gave UMP students an opportunity to relay their ideas and suggestions directly, and to receive feedback on current issues related to post-COVID-19, especially in teaching and learning (T&L). 

The visit was an effort to improve the MOHE’s aspirations and ambitions, especially when our country is still facing the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the same time, Dato’ Dr. Noraini also met with UMP academics to assess the situation of T&L online and lecturers’ preparations to face the new norm during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period.

Also present were the Deputy Chief Secretary of Management and Development, Rosli Yaakub and Head Director of Higher Education, Professor Dato’ Seri Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Ishak.

The delegation was given a warm welcome by the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff, UMP Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Ts. Dr. Rosli Hainin and UMP top management along with students.

According to Dato’ Dr. Noraini, they appreciate UMP’s commitment as the coordinator for the eastern zone that not only managed students in Pahang but also involved students in Terengganu and Kelantan.

“With the cooperation of every higher education institutions (IPT), MOHE has succeeded in managing almost 60,000 students go back to their home towns. 

“Meanwhile 10,300 students were sent home by UMP.

“Also, while we face the COVID-19 pandemic, whether we are prepared for it or not, digitalisation or online learning must be carried out swiftly in a short time frame,” she said.

She added, there is a need for improvement in IPT infrastructure, especially internet connection, wifi coverage, mobile devices and many more.

“MOHE has cooperated with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and other parties in the effort to get help for student facilities for carrying out online T&L.

“These efforts and works are underway,” she said.

For  UMP Students’ Representative Council Vice President (Student Development) 2019/2020, Nik Atirah Nik Mahdi who had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Higher Education believed the program was an excellent medium seeing that the program was done casually.

Meanwhile, her friend Muhammad Aizat Azed who is a Civil Engineering master student from the Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology (FTKA) believed this program is a golden opportunity for students to meet with the Minister of Higher Education who came down to hear out the students’ grievances throughout the Movement Control Order.

He was enthralled by the attitude of Dato’ Dr. Noraini who entertained the students casually during breakfast.

“This approach is amiable and helps to get closer to the students,” he said.

According to a UMP lecturer acting as Deputy President of the Academic Association (PAKAD), Mohd Hairul Ab Rahim, this meeting discussed a lot of the situations and feedback for the teaching and learning (T&L) operations throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO).

By: Nor Salwana Mohd Idris, Public Relations Unit, Office of The Vice-Chancellor
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, College of Engineering/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology