ABOUT THE COLLOQUIUM


International Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA), University of Malaya, in collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, will organise a series of colloquium on Managing Universities for the Future. The first of the series focuses on leadership and governance, the two essential features of a goal-driven and dynamic institution of higher learning. The colloquium provides an opportunity for participants to interact with prominent speakers, and to share their own experiences with fellow professionals. However, knowledge sharing and networking among participants are not the only objectives of the programme. It is also hoped that participants engage in intellectual discourse to identify strategies for future directions concurrently seeking solutions to enduring issues in the higher education sector.

THE OBJECTIVES

	To enhance managerial and leadership capacities of senior university officials to seize opportunities in the face of local and global challenges;
	To inspire ethical and visionary leadership amongst senior university officials to initiate vital change for institutional effectiveness;
	To develop an appreciation of the importance of strategic planning in managing a forward looking institution;
	To enhance the knowledge and skills of senior university officials in financial management; and
	To share knowledge on institutional approaches towards achieving educational excellence.

RATIONALE

The pressure to predict and adapt to change in an increasingly volatile world is felt by the Malaysian higher education sector. There is a pressing need for Malaysia’s public universities and colleges to enhance their managerial practices and develop stronger leadership capabilities in order to successfully overcome future obstacles while capitalising on opportunities.

Public universities are expected to keep abreast of changes in technology, market expectations and new demands for flexibility; this is proving to be increasingly difficult through traditional management practices given the scale and scope of change. Therefore, in order to cope with, and adapt to, an increasingly dynamic environment, it is imperative to introduce key institutional changes. The development of visionary leaders complements the formulation and implementation of institutional strategies. Fundamentally, these changes require a revolutionary mindset supported by a new set of skills and positive attitude that promotes a vibrant management culture that redefines existing institutional practices and relationships.

INPUMA takes great pleasure in undertaking the responsibility to organise a programme to empower senior officials in public universities and colleges to manage and lead their respective institutions towards national and global recognition. This colloquium serves as a platform for networking and cross-referencing between senior officials of the various public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia. Such networking would generate exchange of ideas and allow for intellectual discussions pertaining to enduring issues and opportunities in the higher education sector. It is hoped that this will facilitate innovation via strategic collaborations which enhance the competitiveness of these public institutions of higher learning and usher a new era of leadership and governance in higher education.