SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 2019-2020 SIP Report
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COMMUNITY
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Access to Higher Education for Refugees
PRME Ambassador , Priya Sharma collaborated with humanitarian groups and academics from six private institutions to draft and submit the Whitepaper titled “ Towards Inclusion of Refugees in Higher Education in Malaysia ” which proposes the Malaysian government to recognise the UNHCR Refugee Card as valid proof of identifi cation to facilitate enrolment into these private tertiary institutions . The proposal was sent to the Education and Foreign Ministries , as well as the Prime Minister ’ s Offi ce in December 2019 . It was presented to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugee Policy in November 2019 and at the Global Refugee Forum held in Geneva in December 2019 .
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Presentation of Executive Summary of Whitepaper to All-Party Parliamentary Group for Refugee Policy in Malaysia on 9th November 2019
Covid-19 Community Fund
In May 2020 , the School of Business raised RM15,350.00 in pledges from the academics and professional staff to support vulnerable and refugee communities in Malaysia that were adversely aff ected by the Covid-19 and the Movement Control Order . The funds were used to purchase groceries for low household income families and partial contribution to the Fugee School ( to support refugee families ).
Collaboration with : School of Business Staff & Fugee School
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Refugee Youth Education Bridge Course
The School continued to host the Connecting and Equipping Refugees for Tertiary Education ( CERTE ) bridge course in 2019 with the support of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ). This program supported 16 young adult refugees in accessing tertiary education opportunities through knowledge and resource sharing , a bridge course , school readiness preparation , and mentorship . As at 2020 , 19 refugee youth have gained access into private higher education institutions through CERTE .
Collaboration with : UNHCR Malaysia , private tertiary institutions and NGOs
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Craft Workshops for the Mah Meri community
Professor Andrew Walker presented a handmade craft to Thomas Albrecht , UNHCR Malaysia Representative
The School ’ s researchers and professional staff members organized several craft making workshops as a means to explore the possibility of providing a continuous stream of income to the Mah Meri women ( an indigenous ethnic group in Malaysia ). Engaging in craft making activities not only promote social bonds between these womenfolk but bring happiness and empowerment to the women living in urban poverty . Craft-making has been proven to provide signifi cant economic benefi ts in developing the urban poor . Twenty indigenous women benefi ted from the sessions . Additionally , a community bazaar was held at the 2019 World Humanitarian Day ( WHD ) celebrations at our university to help sell some of the handicrafts that were created from this engagement and a total of RM500 was raised for the community .
School of Business staff : Dr Sharon Koh , Dr Audrey Siah , Revathi Anamalay , Cheah Fuh Yuen and Vijayamalar Sivasegaran