USM, PENANG, 11 January 2017 - The Asia Leadership Conference (ALC) 2017 rounded off its programme firstly with a short presentation by a Harvard Kennedy School of Government scholar and MPA candidate, Rahul Srinivasan at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Dewan Budaya.

Rahul, who hails from Mumbai, India presented on ‘Finding Your True Self’ and the need to reinvent one’s self. He stated that the Asian culture is one that promotes a protective environment, is averse to risk, under control of the family, allowing limited exposure and having the fear to speak one’s mind and be judged.

He then proposed solutions in the form of Four Ts – Talk to family, friends, peers, superiors; Travel whenever opportunity is around; Teach and mentor others; and Try something new and that is challenging.

The solutions are meant to build and nurture intelligence, confidence, become inspirational, broaden the mind and thinking, care for and bring happiness to others and to keep reinventing oneself with new interests, to step out of the comfort zone and to overcome one’s fears.

Next, the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal presented his closing remarks for the programme. He emphasised on the idea of sustainability being the underlying principle of USM, as the sole APEX university in the country.

He stated that the youth of today plays an important role in ensuring that the future is more sustainable.

“The youth needs to focus on unity and also in putting values on the preservation of local knowledge,” said Ahmad Shukri.

He also stressed on the need to maintain positive values and traits in shaping leaders of the future.

The programme was organised by the USM International Mobility and Career Centre (IMCC) together with the Sunway Education Group. Scholars from Harvard University, Northwestern, Tufts Fletcher School and the National University of Singapore were present and delivered TED-Style Talks on various topics relating to leadership and being leaders.

Text: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin / Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa