Sharing the spirit of volunteerism
VOLUNTEERING is a great way to boost one’s skills and give back to the community. With this thought in mind, nearly 100 participants from the Asean region took part in the Regional Conference on Student Activism (RECONSA) 2018.
The event was organised by Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) in collaboration with the Students Volunteer Foundation, a wholly-owned entity of the Higher Education Ministry, and Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisation.
Participating institutions included Indonesia’s Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Myanmar’s Yangon University of Education and International Islamic University Malaysia.
First held in 2012, RECONSA is an annual event that provides opportunities for students and volunteers to share their ideas, views and experiences on volunteerism as an effective way of making a difference in the world.
RECONSA 2018 featured two notable speakers in volunteerism, Tony Tay and Mohd Hakim Mohd Nor. Tay, a Singaporean, was the winner of the 2017 Philippines Ramon Magsaysay award. He is also the founder of Willing Hearts, a volunteer group providing hot meals to the poor.
UTP alumnus Mohd Hakim graduated with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2009. He is the secretary general of Serantau Muslim Welfare Organisation and the recipient of Hang Tuah Award at the Malay and Islamic World Convention in Medan, Indonesia.
Themed “Student Activism: Going Beyond Future”, RECONSA focuses on mobilising volunteerism using sustainable futuristic strategies to deliver the voices of global activist networks that emphasise three critical elements: technology, efficient governance and maximisation of resources.
UTP acting vice-chancellor Professor Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib said the university aspired to develop graduates who were not only creative and innovative, but also responsible global citizens involved in improving the lives of the surrounding community, especially those closer to the university.
“The university is proud to witness the tremendous impact that RECONSA has made since its establishment, as more and more students from diverse background have become more involved in volunteering and are making a difference in people’s lives.”
Participants presented papers on various areas, including health and environment, consumerism, social, humanitarian, religion, gender, science and technology.
They also went on a tour around the campus and selected locations in Perak, and took part in a corporate social responsibility programme at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Parit.