1. Future: the shared future is not about single individuals but about individuals that make up the university as a whole; the future that should be focussing on is sustainability. 2. Unique: To realize/fit into this projected future, we cannot adopt the cut and paste model. Since each of us is a  unique individual, the total sum should lead to a unique community  producing genuinely unique products. 3. Sustainable: We have to focus on this keyword, and attempt to make real the sustainability of three elements, People-Principle-Place. 4. Humane: that there should be a growing concern for those doomed as "undevelopable", the population known as the Bottom Billion. 5. Universal: Only universal ideas can provide universal solutions and that we have to speed up to shed the parochial mentality fast. 6. Change: That we must make the quantum leap in every field. 7. Commitment: Are we ready for this?

Venue: E48A. Time: 0915-1100 Presenter: Dr Norazmawati, "Vision & Rules". Chairman: Dr Syarmila Hany
Studio Master Panel 1. TH Rusli Jamaluddin 2. Dr Azizan Marzuki 3. Dr Abdelnaser Omran Ali	Student Panel 1. Hii Kah Sing 2. Farah Diyana Rozhan 3. Parshan Nazem

Report by
ROSLINDA BT ROSLAN & AHLUS SALAF

Editorial Team: Hii Kah Sing,

(Other participants: Pls make good what you find incorrect in this report, TQ.)

The topic Vision and Rules was introduced by Mdm Chairman. Encik Rusli was invited to present his views on "the vision to become an APEX student”. Encik Rusli started off by diagreeing with the presentation by Dr Norazmawati because he was not in favour of the word "rule" as it seems to be something mandatory and carry with it the connotation of punishment. We will become crazy if we just follow the rule blindly. Using this to train students to agree to lecturers is not something that is
good for development in education. Students need to learn by disagreement, they need to rebel to learn, they must be brave enough to go against something which is not right. Otherwise they will be under pressure and lose concentration in class. Listening and taking everything in, is not good enough. Students must pay attention to everything expressed, including body language in order to understand what the lecturer is trying to deliver. But students do not just have to accept everything their lecturers say. They have to have their own views. The most important thing while we are in USM, he said, is to take this opportunity to challenge ourselves and the lecturers. We need to banish the “yes-man" society.

"What is the uniqueness that you must have to become an APEX student?" Mdm Chairman asked a member of the student panel, Hii Kah Sing. Hii said that students are already unique in their own ways. Since USM is the best university in Malaysia, students have to maintain this uniqueness in their own ways. Uniqueness is about you being part of yourself. He also added his view about vision, that vision is a visual sight that you see. He reminded us not just follow the rules blindly but always remember to become ourselves according to what we see best. Those who do not have vision, do not have aims. And people who do not have aims will only follow what other people do or said. In achieving uniqueness, we need to have vision. According to Bible, he said, “without vision you will become wild” (reference?). A vision will control you, govern you, guide you, motivate you. You also need to be be faithful to your vision.

Mdm Chairman added that students are here not only to score high grades, but to learn. Learn so that you can pass your knowledge to the younger generation. Encik Rusli said that in life, CGPA must not be the only vision. It is a fact that students with low CGPAs can also do better in life than those with higher CGPA. The learning process is important.

Mdm Chairman asked Dr. Azizan for his opinion on sustainability of an APEX university. He said that every vision must have a dream and reminded us to have our own dreams. In 2008, the government talked about how to pump up the qualities of IPTA. From there, the APEX university idea was originated. Students, he said, have different visions compared to lecturers and that each student is different from another because of their different visions, ambitions, aims and dreams. And an ambition is a tool, a catalyst to achieve success. He told us that he wanted to become a soldier once but his uncle was against it. After that he changed his ambition to become a football player. This he managed to achieve when he became a goal keeper. Later he worked with the government. But he was not satisfied with the salary, so he decided to continue his study to achieve his new dream. He said that anyone can dream of anything but they need to know their capabilities in order to achieve their aim. The process of achieveing a vision is called a mission or strategy. To put vision on top of an ambition is easy but it becomes difficult when you work and have a career. Dreams, he said, can be changed due to reality. Students need to know their duties, ambitions, how to achieve their ambitions and their own capabilities. To understand sustainability, we have to know our mission and duty. Students do need rules. He added that students can object or disagree but they need to have the justification. At this moment a student just need to know how to become a student. After that they can manage their own lives.

Encik Rusli said that students need to enjoy themselves and not just achieve good grades. He does not want students to be bookworms without knowing the real world. In life, we need trial and error to improve ourselves. He said that learning through error is the best method of learning. Students also need to work with passion and with their hearts. Linkin Park for example, he said, were street rebels, without vision, but they work with passion and that was why they succeeded. Encik Rusli also said that in life, you do not have to be good, but you need to be good in what you do. Mdm Chairman further added that Thomas “light bulb” Edison also learnt from mistakes. He failed 999 times but he made it in the 1000th trial.

The Chairman asked Farah about humanity. Although her vision is not to be a mini worker, Farah said that no matter what our vision is, we need to be humble. We cannot treat other people badly just to achieve our aim. She said that there is no point having good grades but not sharing our knowledge with other people. Therefore, no matter what your vision is, just share it with everyone.

Dr Abdelnaser was then asked to give his opinion on universality. He said that in order to think globally and discuss locally, we need to have rules. Without rules, people cannot move forward. He also add that it does not mean that we need to follow all the rules but actually we need to follow the rules of reality. We can create problems, we also can create solutions. Encik Rusli then give his point of view that rules are made to be broken. We break rules to be more creative.

Mdm Chairman then ask Parshan, “how does a person become good APEX student?”. Parshan said that he has never heard about the APEX. His dream however is to make a lot of money. Something that money can’rt buy according to him is experience and that is why he is in USM, hungry for challenges. Students must take challenges. Students need to explore and figure out what life is all about. Students need to challenge everything in life. First we need to challenge and then we need
to find out what we want. His motto is “Go for it, why not?”

The audience was asked by Mdm Chairman the kind of changes they would like, so as to turn themselves into good students. Ahlusalaf replied that he wanted to change his personality, from being a quiet student to a more active one, someone who dares to challenge what is presented in the lectures.

Dr Abdelnaser also asked the audience, “how does a person become a successful student?” Lim Gene Harn answered that to be successful, we need to be ourselves. We need to change to be what we want and not compare ourselves to other people. Instead we need to compare ourselves with ourselves and estimate how much we have changed. People, he said, must be motivated and must also be an inspiration to everyone else.

The programme ended at 11.10 am.
 

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