PENANG, 22 April 2013 – The campus community has been urged to be more concerned and committed to carry out the activities that can help to empower the bottom billion, as what the billion of the poorest of the world population is known as, in line with the vision of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) “Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.

Professor Dato’ See Ching Mey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Industry and Community Network Division, said during the opening of the USM Bottom Billion Week programme here today. A total of 150 USM students and staff participated in the programme which was initiated by Adwave 2013 from USM's School of Communication in collaboration with USM Hamzah Sendut Library.

He said that this programme is one of the efforts in the process of branding USM as a APEX university that focused on two important elements - sustainability and the bottom billion - aimed at educating and increasing the understanding and awareness among the university community about the bottom billion concept.

“I really hope that with understanding and awareness, USM staff and students will be able to produce ideas and engage actively and continuously in activities that can strengthen the bottom billion so they can live comfortably and independently and do not expect help from other people.

“Not only is the idea of helping the bottom billion important but intentions coming from the heart to empower are far more important,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the School of Communication, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jamilah Hj Ahmad, said that the university is responsible to educate and nurture students so that they can contribute to the community in the future, including those belonging to the bottom billion.

“Each Centre of Responsibility (CoR) has the expertise and resources such as expert academic staff, technical staff, infrastructure and equipment as well as graduates and undergraduate students who can be leveraged to produce innovations that can be transformed into something useful for empowering the bottom billion for the well-being of all,” he said.

The three-day programme at USM Hamzah Sendut Library also helped to introduce studies that have been done by USM lecturers related to the bottom billion through a research exhibition held.

Various activities that are meaningful and interesting have been prepared to encourage the audience to participate in this programme such as exhibitions, lectures, quizzes and film screenings.

Also present at the opening ceremony were En. Mohd Pisol Ghadzali, Chief Librarian USM; Pn. Kamaliah Hj Siarap, Adwave 2013 Advisor; Koh May Rui, Adwave 2013 Director; Muhammad ‘Ammar bin Mohd Aziz, USM Student Representative Council President; and principal officers of the university. - Text: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa/Translation: Yong Check Yoon