Taylor’s University
Jan 20, 2016
Taylor’s University
AUKU: Implications and Challenges in the Context of Student Development
Professor Malachi Edwin Vethamani
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Taylor’s Graduate Capabilities
1. Discipline Specific Knowledge
2. Life-long learning
3. Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
4. Communication Skills
5. Inter-personal Skills
6. Intra-personal Skills
7. Citizenship and Global Perspectives
8. Digital Literacy
“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
THANK YOU