KUALA LUMPUR: In order to be leading educational institutions, universities must strive to build ties between local businesses, community groups and learning institutions, said David Lloyd Johnston, visiting Governor General of Canada.
He said they must practice the diplomacy of knowledge at local and regional levels to identify and broadly share specific needs and goals.
“To do this effectively, universities must understand the dynamics of the 21st century knowledge economy, where education, research and innovation are more valued and intersect more closely than ever,” he said in a keynote address on the ‘Diplomacy of Knowledge: Education and Globalization in the 21st Century’ at University of Malaya (UM) here yesterday.
This is Johnston’s first visit to Malaysia. He arrived Sunday night and will be in the country for four days.
Johnston said that universities must rededicate themselves to their role in transmitting the civilization of the past to that of the future, in order to ensure that the traditions and cultures “that constitute our unique contributions to the
world are understood and respected.”
“Within the university itself, we must never lose sight of our commitment to democracy, academic freedom and learning for its own sake,” he said.
An audience of some 200 students, lecturers, researchers, university partners and industry representatives attended the event.
A panel discussion on ‘Transferring University Research to the Private Sector to Make Smart Cities/Innovative Communities’ was held after the keynote address.
Panelists were academicians and industry representatives from Canada and Malaysia.
Present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the minister-in-attendance for Johnson’s visit, UM vice-vhancellor Tan Sri Dr Ghauth Jasmon and High Commissioner of Canada to Malaysia Randolph Mank.
After the UM event, the Canadian Governor General visited Masjid Jamek in Jalan Tun Perak.
He spent about 20 minutes visiting the mosque, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most famous landmarks, built in 1909 and one of the oldest mosques in the city. — Bernama