PENANG, August 2015 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is stepping ahead in strengthening the leadership capacity of its postgraduate students through the Asia Pacific Alliance of Postgraduate Student Association (APA-PSA) for Leadership and Community Work for the second time, attracting participation of students from countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Dato' Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal said, having such a programme is truly welcomed as it provides a session for sharing of ideas and networking among students from the Asia-Pacific nations under one platform to discuss matters related to the future of nations from the aspects of leadership and community projects.

"The roles and contributions of the youths from the countries involved are essential in each session throughout the programme to strengthen the development in academics, research and other matters of concern through the interactions held in order to achieve the desired outcomes", he said in his speech while officiating the programme.

Added Ahmad Shukri, leaders of tomorrow are moulded from the youths of today and in the existing rapidly-changing communications technology era, they would be the ones to decide on the directions where their countries are heading to in the near future.

Director of International Office USM, Associate Professor Dr. Anees Janee Ali then said, this programme was unique in its organisation, as it was coordinated by the international students who combined the elements of their home countries to bring more colour to the programme.

"This programme serves as a stepping stone in providing the best opportunities from the aspects of leadership, entrepreneurship and providing a networking platform for students from the Asia-Pacific region, while enhancing the community leadership for the young leaders to communicate with students from the Asia-Pacific nations, which is hoped to be a sustainable component in promoting solidarity and commitment towards achieving the desired goals", he stressed.

Added Anees, this programme involves more than 60 participants from the Asia-Pacific nations, with the theme 'Global Future Emerging Leadership' aims to widen the strategic network globally among the postgraduate students and at the same time, strengthening the leadership capabilities and providing experience in organising a programme involving different nationalities.

This programme was held from the 24 to 28 August 2015 at USM and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) with activities such as talks, forum, visits, team-building session and so forth were conducted. Also present during the officiating ceremony were the Dean of Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS), Professor Dr. Othman Sulaiman, Honorary Consul-General of Pakistan, His Excellency Dato' Hj. Abdul Rafique Abdul Karim; Consul-General of Indonesia, His Excellency Ronald Josef Pariaman Malik; Deputy Consul-General of Japan, His Excellency Hiroko Taniguchi and the Honorary Advisory Panel of CityU Postgraduate Association (CUPA) HKSAR.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah /Photo: Zamani Abd. Rahim