USM Vice Chancellor's Speech

Professor Dato' Dr. Faisal Rafiq Bin Mahamd Adikan

Vice Chancellor, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Assalamualaikum and a very good morning to all. Mr Lim Hyun Mook, Asia Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding, Seoul Korea, Professor dr. Hairul Nizam Ismail, Dean School of Educational Studies & Associate Professor Dr. Rohizani Yaakub, Director of GCC@USM.

First and foremost, I am honoured to be given the opportunity to be involved in the launching of the Global Citizenship Education Co-operation Centre at Universiti Sains Malaysia (GCC@USM). On behalf of the University, we greatly honour this opportunity and the trust that APCEIU has given in appointing us to become its regional hub for Global Citizenship Education (GCED) in Malaysia.

USM is one of Malaysia’s leading university situated in one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2008), in the state of Penang. Being one of the oldest and prestigious universities in South East Asia, we have a total of 21 research, institutes, centres and units that focus on various fields and studies. All the activities carried out by these research institutes provide multifaceted learning experience for students, staffs and all the university community members at-large. USM also has 17 service centres to facilitate various learning activities. The establishment of GCC@USM is timely as it can work hand-in-hand with other research institutes and service centres on campus.

USM is aware that UNESCO has been promoting Global Citizenship Education since the launch of the UN Secretary-General’s Global Education First Initiative (GEFI) in 2012, and fostering global citizenship is one of its priorities. Since 2012, there is a growing interest in global citizenship which resulted in increased attention in the global dimension in citizenship education as well. Global citizenship education has various implications in policy, curricula, teaching and learning and as such it should be emphasized throughout the education system involving policy, curriculum, teacher education, student assessment, and etc.

I believe the MOU that USM and APCEIU have signed is a proof of our seriousness in upholding the UNESCO agenda in promoting Global Citizenship Education. With GCC@USM placed under the rightful wing of the School of Educational Studies, I am confident that it is very fitting as the school trains the teachers of tomorrow. USM strongly believes that the exposure given to the participating teachers at the international level will equip them with the necessary education skills to infuse their new knowledge into different local social settings. When teachers see things in the broader perspective, it will spearhead their way of thinking and enhance their engagement with the society. Programs such as Global Citizenship Education is a valuable catalyst in propelling education professionals in becoming borderless. This way, teachers and educators are not only exposed to their local teaching environment instead they are made aware of the ups and downs of teachings in other parts of the world.

Hence, with open arms, we welcome the collaboration with APCEIU in setting up the Global Citizenship Education Co-operation Centre (GCC@USM) here in USM and with Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby officially launch the GCC@USM Centre! Thank you.