500 M'SIAN AND THAI STUDENTS, STAFF ATTEND REGIONAL CONVENTION

PHUKET, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- About 500 Malaysian and Thai students and staff of institutions of higher education attended a regional convention on student development here.

Dr Nordin Kardi, Vice-Chancellor of University Utara Malaysia (UUM), said
the purpose of the convention themed 'Enhancing Student Development' was to
provide the different stakeholders in student development a tertiary
context.

He said it provided an opportunity to establish or renew ties, and engaged
one another in an open forum to exchange news, views and ideas.

"Participants will be able to generate new ideas in managing and enhancing
student development in institutions of higher learning, especially in the
Southeast Asia Region.

"This convention is most timely as it seeks to address issues of concern
about student development in tertiary institutions which has to respond to new
challenges and opportunities of internationalisation in an increasingly
borderless world," he said at the convention here Wednesday night.

Dr Nordin said the convention was an effort towards creating an opportunity
to collaborate and network amongst participants from the various tertiary
institutions of the region.

Participants are from Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Thailand, UUM,
University Sains Malaysia, University Malaya, University Technology Mara,
University Malaysia Sarawak and University Malaysia Pahang.

The three-day convention which began Wednesday, is organised by UUM,
Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, National Civics Bureau Malaysia and PSU.