2020 was previously the year where Malaysia was supposed to achieve its vision of becoming a developed country, but it was not meant to be.

Times have changed and it’s now the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 that Malaysia is aiming to achieve, surely by 2030. It would not only ensure prosperity to the different communities, but it would also bring peace to all citizens.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) recently celebrated its 50th year (in 2019), and surely more needs to be done for it to be among the leading research institutions, locally and abroad.

Here at USM, our new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan has also shared his ‘to-do’ list for 2020 – some initiatives that he hoped will bring some changes for the betterment of the university and its community.

The Vice-Chancellor had earlier said that it would be best to embrace the challenges and continuously find a sustainable solution in each emerging issue.

Here are 8 NEW INITIATIVES to look forward to this year:

1.      Work from home – it is a matter of getting the job done, regardless of from where it’s done.

2.      Meeting-free Fridays – Fridays should be focused on wrapping up the week’s unfinished business and do some planning for the coming week.

3.      Smart yet casual work attire – attire to work that is presentable yet comfortable, befitting the need and occasion.

4.      Rediscover USM – there’s more to USM than meets the eye (and other senses too); time to start exploring. Three USM gems that are highly recommended for every USM staff and student to visit at least once when they are with USM:- Centre for Marine & Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Sungai Batu Archaeological Site and River Engineering & Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC).

5.      Sabbatical for administrators – an opportunity for administrators (administrative as well as support staff) to visit new places and seek new ideas for exposure and personal (and also professional) development. A short attachment with a reputable organization would do wonders.

6.      To be resilient (when the going gets tough, the tough get going) – though faced with various issues and challenges, it’s no to saying No!

7.      To put trust and empowerment – The staff should be entrusted and empowered to do their assigned tasks as well as to break new grounds.

8.      To ensure work outcome based on Impact vs Effort – most work done should yield more impact with less effort, to be productive and effective (Referring to Quadrant A: Low Effort, High Impact).

The Vice-Chancellor wanted everyone to be aware of the situation we are in, reminded everyone on the importance of changing the way we operate and the need to work together as a team, should we want to shape a better tomorrow.

A quote from Arthur Ashe, a well-known American tennis, would best sum up the beginning of 2020:

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”

Text: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin