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THE key to learning a tough life lesson like resilience is to know your purpose, says Vice Chancellors’ Council for Private Universities chairman Prof Mushtak Al-Atabi.
“If you attempt something and fail, without understanding your purpose, you will most likely quit. But if you know your why – your purpose – you are more likely to be resilient.
“It is about understanding the element of resilience within a purpose-driven education philosophy, which can be taught.
“However, it may be challenging as it needs trained instructors, investment and patience,” Prof Mushtak, who is also Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) provost and chief executive officer, said.
He was speaking at the launch of the varsity’s “Driven by Purpose” campaign in Putrajaya on Feb 24.
The campaign was an initiative to recalibrate Malaysia’s higher education sector by fostering resilience and equipping students with essential skills for future success.
Central to the campaign is the adoption of “Purpose-Driven Education” initiatives, which are designed to develop holistic purpose-driven leaders who excel academically while contributing to societal progress.
Prof Mushtak said a purpose-driven education is the philosophy that education should focus on three elements: delivering academic excellence, building character and personal effectiveness, and developing resilience and well-being (see infographic).
Anchored by a clear sense of higher purpose, he said, one will flourish and deliver success and impact.
“There are many ways to build resilience and understand challenges. Sending our children to volunteer is one option,” he said, adding that engaging in positive community activities helps one value what one has.
“Some may send their children to boarding schools for them to cultivate resilience, while others find different ways, as not everyone has access to that option,” he said.
Agreeing, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, who was also present at the event, emphasised that the best way to nurture resilience in students is to allow them to volunteer and join non-governmental organisations.
“Coming from the background of a youth leader, I find that training young people to participate in prosocial behaviours that involve helping another person, group or cause fosters independence and resilience,” he said, adding that this can be achieved through various methods.
“Sending children to boarding schools is an option favoured by parents for cultivating this trait in their children.
“But parents must prioritise openness, ensuring their children understand that experiencing hardships is not about punishment, but rather about acknowledging the realities of privilege.
“The most effective approach is to build resilience in students through a purpose-driven education, which includes encouraging them to volunteer,” he said. — By JAAYNE JEEVITA
