PENANG, August 2015 – The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman said, the students involved in the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX) should be well-equipped and outstanding in fulfilling the three stages of the “Pimpin Siswa Lestari” (orientation programme) canvas, namely through Qalbu, Functional and Generic as well as in acquiring various skills, and not just by merely accumulating MyCSD points.

"The Qalbu stage includes programmes that foster humanistic and moral values and also the love for USM, ​​which could also be an example to the public," added the Vice-Chancellor as he spent time in sharing with the Siswa Lestari Advisors Programme (PPSL) for the 2015/2016 academic session recently.

"The Functional aspect focuses more on the field of sustainability and entrepreneurship, while the more Generic skills would be useful in promoting success at the international level," said Omar.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, there are students who have accumulated a lot of MyCSD points, however their involvement in the programmes were only as participants and not as part of the supreme council or being a leader of an organisation or association, making such participations as being ordinary and lacking in significance or excellence.

For the 2015/2016 academic year, a total of more than 4,000 students have enrolled at USM, including more than 1,000 for the distance learning Bachelor’s programme.

All prospective students will be assisted and supervised by the 164 PPSL members at the Main Campus, 35 members at the Engineering Campus, as well as 27 at the Health Campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor also presented plans by the university to support the Malaysia Education Development Plan (Higher Education) 2013-2025 by the Ministry of Education.

"The student development programme is not just the duty and responsibility of the Division of Student Affairs and Alumni, but it also relies on the lecturers and students, whom have the potentials to be chosen by being multi-skilled, to contribute to the development of the country," said the Vice-Chancellor in concluding the sharing session.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Text: Nor Rafizah Md Zain/Photo: Zamani Abdul Rahim