Student Partnership Agreement in action at our Malaysia Campus
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While in Malaysia to launch the new strategy. I spent time with Abdul Mubin Mohd Hanafiah, President Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Student Association (HWUMSA). I wanted to hear first-hand from Mubin what’s important to our students and what difference the new Student Partnership Agreement is making to the student experience. The three key priority areas of work are – academic, wellbeing and community – which includes enhancements to assessment and feedback and student voice; delivering a university-wide wellbeing strategy and more opportunities for volunteering and participation in community activities.
Key to developing new initiatives has been learning from other campus student presidents about what works locally and bringing these ideas to Malaysia. As a result, the inaugural Learning and Teaching Oscars will take place in Malaysia on 4 April, as it is in other campuses, with a completely student-led approach to recognise those who inspire them most. Further events are planned, including Kopitiam Talks and Skills Workshops, to help students develop professional skills that they can take to the workplace when they graduate. Indeed, Mubin explained that one of their key aims is to encourage more student-led events to help students develop professional skills, which is why the campus’s very first TedX event will be entirely student-led.
Plans are also in place to further develop HWUMSA and the student representation system with a review of the current system to improve the structure and training for class reps. The Assocationhave championed the creation of new group study areas based on feedback from students, with ambitions to create more. They also worked together with staff to make it easier for students to host events and lead activities on campus.
Mubin and his team want to not only challenge student minds but also their bodies! HWUMSA is organising a ‘virtual Watt run’ using Strava, a popular running app. Once launched, students will be able to sign up to run 42km over 30 days by using the app and being rewarded with a medal for their efforts. Should this be successful then the Association have big ambitions to grow this event into a real (not virtual) marathon!
It was wonderful to hear Mubin talk about the difference that the Student Partnership Agreement is making for students in Malaysia. Along with clubs and societies on campus, he tells me that HWUMSA has seen a tremendous improvement in the facilitation of student activities and a general feeling that both staff and students are working together to build a better community. There’s no doubt there’s more to be done but as a University I feel that the we are heading in the right direction.
Let me know what you think about the Student Partnership Agreement and the difference its making to our global community.
