UKM News Official Portal

By Abdul Razak Hussin

Pix by Abdul Razak Hussin

BANGI, 1 Oct. 2011 - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and National Council of Women’s Organisation (NCWO) today launched the  Program Teman 1 AZAM to assist the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development uplift the status of women especially in economic aspect.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Wira Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin, said as a university which had various expertise, UKM should continue to be relevant by using its knowledge and expertise, be sensitive of the society’s problems and create models capable of changing the people’s life.

Prof Tan Sri Sharifah, who is also  President of NCWO said this at the opening of a Workshop on Strategic Management of Micro-Business, organised by the Centre for Women’s Leadership and Faculty of Economy and Management.  The two-day week-end workshop was attended by 50 participants from the Klang Valley areas, for 1 Oct.  2011. 

Prof Tan Sri Sharifah said UKM was developing a Model for the Development of Women Entreprenuers through its Faculty of Economy and Management and Institute for Women’s Leadership, NCWO with the assistance of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

Seed capital for the programme is being provided by The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development,  while UKM provides continous guidance and expertise until the participants could be self-relient. If successful, the model would be extended to other areas throughout the country.

Deputy President of NCWO, Dato’ Faridah Khalid, Program Teman 1 AZAM was in line with one of the objectives of NCWO  which was set up in 1963, ie. to uplift the economic status of women.

As a pioneering group, she hoped the participants would be successful and so that others would emulate them. She also hoped that problems faced by women should spur them to be more successful in improving their status.

Present at the opening ceremony were the Dean of the Faculty of Economy and Management Prof Dr Nor Ghani Md Nor, Director of UKM-CESMED, Prof Dr Mohd Fauzi Jani, and Director of the Centre for Women’s Leadership, Assoc. Prof Dr Madeline Berma.  

Translated by Mohd Safar Hasim