GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA, November 2015 – The Asia Pacific University-Engagement Network (APUCEN) is very keen to implement ‘low cost technology’ with high impact results from expertise available in Malaysian universities to benefit the underprivileged community at large.

This statement was made by the President of APUCEN who is also the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman at the 7th Regional APUCEN Council meeting held at the Mantra on the View Hotel here recently, attended by 11 of its 13 Council Members.

Omar, who chaired the meeting said, for 2016 we will focus more on community engagement capacity building programmes as well as youth and women empowerment training activities.

At the start of the meeting, the President welcomed two new members to APUCEN, namely MMICARE Association and Naseran University of Thailand, which brings APUCEN membership to 78 members from 18 countries.

In the meeting, all council members presented their reports on the progress made in their community engagement projects and matters related to APUCEN in their respective country as well as the various activities they have carried out that have impacted the targeted communities.

Among the important matters that was raised to the council members was the launching of the APUCEN Trust Fund which currently has RM20,000 in it, and they hope to increase the amount in the near future by approaching third parties donors.

Omar added, on behalf of USM, he would like to record his sincerest thanks to the College of Applied Psychology, Australia for successfully co-organising the 4th University-Community Engagement Conference (UCEC) 2015 held from November 1 – 3.

“I would also like to thank His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei for giving his full support to Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan, Brunei (KUPUSB) for being a member institution of APUCEN since 2012,” Omar said.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe