DOHA, QATAR, 4 March 2014 - Despite the excitement of higher education institutions in developing countries striving to achieve good positions in the world university ranking, a country's education sector should not ignore the nation building agenda.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman, said this while delivering a lecture on “Transformation Education: The Malaysian Experience” at Ahamed Bin Mohamed Military College, Qatar.

The Vice-Chancellor delivered a lecture at the invitation of the college management.

According to Omar, the survival of a country's development is closely related to the quality of education at all levels, including the opportunity to receive higher education.

“To ensure the development of a country basing on the value system and culture of a country, then it is obvious that the country's education plan must have elements of nation building agenda within.

“In these cases, we should take into account the history and the direction of the country in planning the education system, including higher education in a country. The element of nation building will help foster love for the country and this will impact individual students and communities in the country,” said Omar.

Omar also shared his experience in USM’s transformation from a teaching-based university to a research-based university including changes in structure, systems and processes that have been made involving students, the faculty and the administration of the university.

Earlier, the college’s Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Khalid Al-Khater, paid tribute to Omar in his welcoming speech on his willingness to accept an invitation to deliver a lecture at the college. He also hoped to establish cooperation with USM especially in academic programmes and human resource management.

Also present were the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Dr. Muhamad Jantan; USM School of Computer Sciences Dean Professor Dr. Ahamad Tajudin Khader; Centre for Innovation and Productivity in Public Administration (PIPPA) Director Dr. Musa Ali; the college’s Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs Professor Dr. Abdel Malek Boularas and the college’s academic staff.

Earlier the USM delegation was brought on a guided tour of the college teaching facilities such as lecture rooms, libraries, auditoriums, conference rooms, and multipurpose halls. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon/Photos: Tan Ewe Hoe