Taylor’s University

1. Taylor’s University

2. AUKU: Implications and Challenges in the Context of Student DevelopmentProfessor Malachi Edwin Vethamani

3. Introduction AUKU was set up with a purpose of managing student activity on campuses of institutions of tertiary education Primary focus was to set parameters on student activities, especially in relation to politics Over the years the Act has been amended and has been become more liberalised

4. Implications of the Act Can students be managed? Should students be managed? Quote: "Our young people in Burma have not had this freedom for the last few decades. University life has been shattered because of a perceived need to keep students in order. That’s not possible: everybody knows that students can’t be kept in order! So we shouldn’t spend our time on such a futile and really undesirable mission. I would like to see university life restored to Burma in all its glory.” Aung Saan Suu Kyi Too controversial a view for Malaysia?

5. Managing students Students as citizens and their rights Students’ age is generally 18 years and onwards Majority of university students are NOT minors and want the rights of Malaysian adults This will include involvement in political activity – here lies the problem

6. AUKU and the Public HEI students AUKU was implemented to ensure students focus on their studies and their academic performance was not negatively affected by political activism Generally, public HEI students seem to have interest in political activism Many students in public HEI are also government scholars or receive some form of government aid As such, the government has a vested interest in them

7. AUKU and Private HEI Students Generally, there seems to be a distinct difference between students in private and public HEIs Students in private HEIs seem less involved in political activism This could be because the students have different priorities

8. AUKU and Private HEI Students Possible reasons for less student political activism • More self-paying students • High fees for studies • More focused on academic achievement less politically active • Student composition in terms of ethnicity

9. Does AUKU impede student development? Need to see student development in a broader context: Political activism is one form of student growth and development There seems to be an over-emphasis on this aspect of student activity Student development can be seen through various other student activities that are carried out in HEIs

10. How do universities prepare their students for life after the university Taylor’s University’s Core Purpose To educate the youth of the world to take their productive place as leaders in the global community.

11. Student Development in terms of Graduate Capabilities What capabilities do HEIs want in their students at the end of their studies and does AUKU impede these capabilities? Many universities both local and international explicitly state what they would provide in terms of student development

12. Taylor’s Graduate Capabilities • Discipline Specific Knowledge • Life-long learning • Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills • Communication Skills • Inter-personal Skills • Intra-personal Skills • Citizenship and Global Perspectives • Digital Literacy

13. “Un-demonizing” AUKU AUKU has been implemented for a purpose The process of liberalization has begun Need to focus on student development in a broader and more holistic manner Student development in HEI should focus more on social aspects less on political through service learning programmes, community engagement projects and community service

14. THANK YOU