Addressing Gender Inequality at Leadership Camp

Nilai U successfully organises another edition of the Future Leaders Camp in collaboration with NIEW, focussing on gender issues.

Nilai University (Nilai U) in collaboration with NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women (NIEW) successfully organised the sixth annual Future Leaders Camp. Held from the 15-17 November 2014 at the former's sister company, Nilai Springs Golf and Country Resort Hotel, the theme for this year's leadership camp was 'Innovations in Leadership: A Focus on Gender Issues'. Over the course of the three days, over a hundred student leaders, who had been hand-picked from public and private institutions all over the country, were exposed to seminars, workshops, talks and a parliamentary-styled debate.  With students hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds, the Future Leaders Camp also acted as an ideal platform for the participants to better understand their international counterparts and also make meaningful networking connections.

Datuk Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, delivered the closing address and in her speech focussed on the gender imbalance of undergraduates, not just in this country, but in many other developed nations as well. With the disparity reaching as high as 70% women undergraduates in some institutions, Rohani said that while it was not ideal, it did not necessarily have a negative impact on society. She was also quick to point out that while the numbers of female graduates have been on the increase, this rise has not been reflected in the employment market. The Minister also pointed out that in many institutions of higher learning, this disparity was also not mirrored in the Students Representative Councils, where on average women only made up 30%. Saying that her Ministry was committed to improving these statistics, Rohani urged the gathered female student leaders to make a positive impact in the nation building process.

(Minister for Women, Family & Community Development at FLC 2014): Datuk Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (in red head scarf) obliging participants at the Nilai U-NIEW Future Leaders camp 2014 with some selfie mementoes.

Nilai U has been actively involved in organising and hosting the Future Leaders Camp since its inception six years ago. Its administrators are committed to providing students the ‘Total Student Experience’ which aims to give students a complete education, from both within and beyond the classrooms. They believe that students need to be exposed to more activities and forums which would positively impact their thinking and the way they interact with one another. Hence, moves were made to initiate a camp where student leaders from both private and public higher education institutions have the opportunity to learn and listen from renowned speakers, industry experts and even, activists. This year's keynote speaker was Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (CEO of the Global Movement of Moderates) and he, too, highlighted statistics that, while number of women in higher learning institutions was on the rise, it was not reflected in other key areas. For instance, he pointed out that only a couple of public universities have appointed female vice-chancellors.

Previous editions of the Future Leaders camp have championed gender issues as well as fostering of better cultural relations and volunteerism among young leaders. These are themes which Nilai U administrators have found to be key in developing students into mature young adults, who know how to deal with such crucial issues. It also offers student leaders to listen to current leaders and renowned experts speak on a variety of topics. Aside from Rohani and Saifuddin speaking in this year's camp, other VVIPS who spoke at previous editions of the camp include Tunku Ali Redhauddin ibni Tuanku Muhriz (Tunku Besar Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan) and Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (former Minister of International Trade and Industry).

For more information on the Future leaders Camp, kindly visit www.nilai.edu.my or search for 'Nilai U' on Facebook.