PENANG, April 2015 – Research is for all and should not be restricted to certain parties. As such, the initiative "Young Strategic Thinkers For USM Future" by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is an excellent platform to generate ideas in order to drive excellence for the future of the university.

This was stated in a special interview with TVUSM by the Director of the USM Research and Creativity Management Office (RCMO), Professor Dr Lee Keat Teong, who is leading the group for the Research category at the workshop for "Young Generation Thinking" at the Institute for Molecular Medical Research (INFORMM), USM Main campus, recently.

Lee was also pleased to be able to fulfill the university's efforts to spur research and innovation, as this proactive initiative is a step in the right direction towards acknowledging the ideas and views of the younger generation of researchers especially since USM is a research university.

“The younger generation is very different from the current generation. A lot of information is accessible at your fingertips nowadays, and everything moves very fast, thus enhancing the research process with flexible access to latest information," added Lee.

In his group’s presentation at the workshop, Lee suggested that efforts be focused on democratisation of research and innovation, and the importance of establishing a universal ecosystem for research and innovation to be implemented in future by the university.

Lecturer in Bioprocess Technology from the School of Industrial Technology (PPTI), Associate Professor Dr. Liong Min Tze in supporting this view added that one of the challenges that needs to be addressed in the current context of research and innovation is how to manage generation Z students who are able to access information at their fingertips.

“The research process has become easier, what with opportunities to access even more information through the various applications and gadgets and as a result, research is now possible for everyone and anyone can become a researcher.

“Our concept is selected based on the ideas of members of the group on tackling the category of research; our target is to plan for the next 25 years to drive excellence for the future of the university.

Meanwhile, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Technology, School of Technology Industry (PPTI) (Category of Finance) Dr. Muhammad Izzuddin Syakir Ishak said that financial sustainability is one of the core areas of focus that must be considered.

Muhammad Izzuddin added that for financial category planning, new talents with potential would also be taken into account besides several other aspects including the university’s savings and income generation in order to achieve the goals of the university.

“I hope that the implementation of these programmes during the specified period will prove beneficial to all parties involved, especially in generating added value for the excellence of the university in general, "said Muhammad Izzuddin, concluding his remarks to TVUSM.

"Young Strategic Thinkers For USM’s Future" is a special programme that has identified around 40 lecturers and administrators at middle management level who will jointly build a framework for USM to drive excellence for the future.

Members of these groups have been identified as young thinkers who will provide input to formulate future planning and direction for USM.

It is hoped that these thinkers will inject youthful ideas for the planning and direction of the university in the future, in line with the Malaysian Education Development Plan. – Translation: Dr. Nurul Farhana Low Abdullah/Text: Siti Naquiah Binti Abdillah