Changing the Narrative: Taylor’s Education & Social Change Townhall of 2024 | By Brendan Ooi Tze Wen
Illustrated by Clarissa De Souza @_.dumpling.gram._
Instead of spending the weekend relaxing at one’s leisure or chasing assignments, a select group of individuals would dedicate their Saturday to pursuing social justice. Challenging the status quo, they stepped into the realm of dialogue and action, hoping to bring about change in higher education.
Photo by Yeoh Jia Chi
Photo by Yeoh Jia Chi
On 24 February, student leaders and youth advocates from various universities within Klang Valley attended the Education and Social Change Townhall at Taylor’s University.
The event was organised by Taylor’s Speaker’s Corner (TSC) as their first signature event of the year. Collaborating with Taylor’s Lakeside Model United Nations (TLMUN) and the Higher Education Malaysia Association (HEYA) alongside Taylor’s Etc. Magazine Club as a media partner, it raises societal issues while driving change within the platform of higher education, providing a stage for students to bring their opinions and perspectives to light.
Photo by Yeoh Jia ChiLed by Adrianna Haris Lee from TLMUN as the emcee, she welcomed Dr Thian Lok Boon, the Pro Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at Taylor’s University, on stage to deliver the welcoming speech. Stressing the role of students as leaders in social transformation, Dr Thian encouraged the youth to bridge the link between education and social justice.
Photo by Yeoh Jia Chi
Following her speech, Professor Barry Winn, the Vice Chancellor and President of Taylor’s University, gave the opening speech of the townhall. He highlighted the necessity of talents from other countries for Malaysia's development and emphasised the significance of diversity in education before concluding his speech.
Photo by Alicia Lo Yann Wei
The hall erupted into thunderous applause as Professor Barry passed the spotlight to the keynote speaker, Prof. Dr Ong Kian Ming. The excitement in the hall peaked as Dr Ong was a former Member of Parliament and current director of the Philosophy, Politics and Economics Programme at Taylor’s University.
Photo by Yeoh Jia Chi
As the applause faded away, Dr Ong dived into his personal experience with the ‘River of Life’ initiative, which involves the cleaning and beautifying of the Klang River. Taking an interest in the project, he personally took action to ensure the program’s success while initiating other similar projects in his community.
Dr Ong also recalled his experience with Amira Sariyathul, a former student from University of Malaya (UM) who was a victim of academic theft and abuse. Suffering from lupus and kidney failure, Amira received support from him in many ways including raising funds for her medical bills and sponsoring the publication of her book, Tanpa Label, which shares her life story.
“So at the end of the day, this is what I'm going to politics for. It's not for the glamour, but the positive impact we can have on individuals,” said Dr Ong.
Photo by Yeoh Jia Chi
Continuing with the townhall session now facilitated by Fardin Mushfirat Zaima from TLMUN, she shared a personal story. The atmosphere in the room shifted as she recalled her grandmother, who passed away from emergency services being unavailable due to her city’s frequent floods. With that, she brings attention to climate change and its effects on the planet.
Tackling issues as large as climate change goes beyond simply having the technology. Rather, the integration of the community among educators, engineers, children and more is needed to address social challenges effectively.
Photo by Yeoh Jia Chi
After the speeches, the townhall was now open for anyone to take the stage and voice their thoughts. Pravin Periasamy, a member of the Malaysian Philosophy Society, brought up recent events such as the use of deep fakes to exploit celebrities like Taylor Swift on social media platforms. With technology being widely available for misuse, it is a must for individuals and organisations alike to hold others accountable for their actions to produce a meaningful change in society.
“It shows that if we don't stand against the fact that technology is now steadily being in the hands of those who are evil, then we are no longer in a position to create impact,” said Pravin.
Photo by Yeoh Jia Chi
Another student, Rahaditya Raisuli, shed light on mental health and his work in a student initiative called Hands for Education, where he mentors underprivileged students in Kota Damansara. Noticing the stigma surrounding mental health with anecdotes from his friends and family, Raisuli highlighted their challenges of isolation and misunderstandings from others. Now, he fights to normalise mental health by planning workshops throughout all levels of education.
Raisuli also shared about a struggle often met by university students wanting to contribute but uncertain of where to start. He urged universities to bridge the gap between ideation and action by providing students with proper tools and resources, such as directing students to quality charities, allowing them to fully contribute to a cause.
Sanjeev K. Pranesh, a student representative of Taylor's College Student Council, wants university student organisations to be active in social change as well. Clubs and societies are full of opportunities for students to engage in and should be used for social change initiatives through volunteering and leadership activities. Sanjeev wants Gen Zs to avoid repeating the mistakes of past generations by building their leadership and critical thinking skills for the future.
Photo by Alicia Lo Yann Wei
Amid the discussion, one student raised a common wall faced by clubs and societies alike: a lack of funds to make their projects a reality. Student leaders clapped and cheered in support of the statement, drawing attention for higher institutions to better finance student initiatives in their universities.
After an hour of sharing, the townhall came to a close with Fardin extending her gratitude to all attendees. Promoting the upcoming Taylor’s Teaching and Learning Conference (TTLC) 2024 on 1-2 March, it involves academic leaders worldwide gathering in Taylor’s University to discuss the future of higher education with student leaders.
During this interactive session on Day 1 of the TTLC, student facilitators will be presenting a summary of the discussions from the ESC Townhall, followed by a forum discussion with four of the most vocal participants selected from the townhall. Delegates from the townhall are also given an exclusive invitation to participate in Day 1 of TTLC, to support their fellow students and chime in during the Q&A session that will follow the panel discussion. To know more about TTLC, find out more here.
Photo by Yeoh Jia Chi
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