KARNATAKA, INDIA, 18 November 2016 - Transforming the Malaysian educational landscape to prepare for future generations of Malaysians would need to be by design and no longer by chance.

This was said by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail during the Centenary Celebration of Karnataka-Lingayat Education (KLE) Society held at the Lingaraj College grounds in Belagavi, and also the inauguration of the Blood Bank, Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC.

In her talk entitled 'Overseas Opportunities for Higher Education', Asma mentioned that USM as being a purpose-driven university, and which she would move USM ahead with a quantum leap to a new level by design, and not by chance, along with being a global player in achieving 3R (Relevant, Referred, Respected).

"Towards achieving this, future students of the university need to be value-driven, multi-disciplinary, multi-lingual, learned, entrepreneurial and job creators," she said.

She added that, those at USM are passionate in producing graduates who are critical thinkers, problem-solvers and with high employability, yet being balanced in knowledge and character.

Meanwhile, from the feedback given by an English teacher of KLE, Asma's speech and presentation have led to a change in the mindset, with the different perspective and innovation needed in the teaching and learning concepts in facing globalisation and the realisation of the importance to succeed.

"We were delighted and awed with the presentation and we felt the need to update our knowledge to face the current challenges and truly looking forward to the next talk by the USM Vice-Chancellor," he said.

Furthermore, another teacher said that, as USM is one of the top well-known universities in the world, the talk presented by the USM Vice-Chancellor was truly interesting, in highlighting what Malaysian universities are doing and why education is so important in society.

"Students need to give emphasis on academic achievement, with the Vice-Chancellor giving the motivation for the need to Learn, Un-Learn, Re-Learn and Co-Learn in order to achieve excellence," she said.

USM currently has students from India enrolled, with 50 PhDs in 19 of its schools, 14 Master students in 10 schools and 5 undergraduates in 3 schools.

More than six thousand people attended the Centenary Celebration.

Also present were the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, K. R. Ramesh Kumar; Chairman of USM-KLE, Dr. Prabhakar Kore; President and KLE Society Management Board Member, Dr. V.S. Sadhunavar; Member of USM Board of Governors, Professor Datuk Dr. Omar Shawkataly; Director of USM AMDI, Dr. Norehan binti Mokhtar; Principal Assistant Registrar, Vice-Chancellor's Office, Mohd. Rashid Abdul Rejab and students from the USM Representative Council, Mohamad Hazim bin Abdul Manaf, Farah Annis Azeera binti Azeman and Mohamad Afhzan bin Amanah.

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah / Photo: Mohd Rashid Abdul Rejab