USM PENANG, 11 January 2017 - The Asia Leadership Conference (ALC) 2017, a one-day programme that is held today in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), gathers Asia Leadership Trekkers with 16 scholars from Harvard University, Northwestern, Tufts Fletcher School and National University of Singapore conducting a series of sessions on leadership.

According to USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal representing the Vice-Chancellor of USM, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail, the conference themed “Becoming Asia’s Change Makers: Tools for Solving Problems and Overcoming Challenges” is significant for USM because the world is changing rapidly and it is getting smaller by the minute, and everyone here is standing at a pivotal moment in their lives where it has become a necessity to understand each other and build bridges to support the global leadership agenda.

"We need to deepen our understanding of how leadership impacts our values and rethink how and why we need to have quality leadership and our values to represent our guiding principles, our broadest motivations, influencing the attitudes we hold and how we act."

"I am confident that this conference will further strengthen the Asian spirit working closely with top institutions in the world, towards achieving harmonious relationships and to deepen the sense of oneness in having a global mentality and mind-set amidst differences in our cultures, languages and background," he said during the opening ceremony.

He added, this programme would allow everyone in attendance the chance to expand their horizon and increase the appreciation of respect and understanding on leadership traits and values from the Asian perspectives and it is a significant journey in preparing a brighter future for students, youths and the rest of society.

Meanwhile, President of the Center for Asia Leadership Samuel Kim said, ALC is important because it not only involves learning in classrooms, but also outside environments in different countries.

"This also serves as a platform for participants to obtain experiential learning through engagement with each other during the session, and leadership is an exercise because to create a leader, we need to work together to achieve it," he said.

Key benefits of this conference involves the practice of using tools for public speaking, conflict resolution, negotiation, or consensus-building; to engage in interactive learning experience that promotes problem solving and design thinking; and to be exposed to stories, mindsets, and lessons on personal leadership.

Various workshops and breakout sessions also have been organised in today's programme which includes a Roundtable Discussion for Senior Leadership and Industry Players.

Also present were Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Musa Ahmad; USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dato' Dr. Muhamad Jantan; USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Development Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato' Dr. Adnan Hussein; Director, USM Office of Community and Industry Collaboration, Syed Yusof Syed Kechik representing the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry & Community Network), Professor Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed; Senior Executive Director, Sunway Education Group, Dr. Elizabeth Lee; and Campus Principal, Tenby Schools Penang, Mr. Iain Sallis.

The partners involved in organising this event are The Sunway Education Group supported by Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and Asian Leadership Institute (ALI) and USM International Mobility and Career Centre (IMCC).

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah / Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa