By: Marlinah Muslim
SERDANG, December 5 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) celebrates OKU (Persons with Disabilities) Inclusive Campus Awareness Month from December 1 to 31, 2021.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, said in his speech that UPM strives to enhance the quality of its governance by taking proactive steps, thus introducing 10 main initiatives to empower UPM as an OKU inclusive campus. This includes the announcement of December as the OKU Inclusive Campus Awareness Month.
He added that the university would publish 50 UPM Permata books that will showcase UPM OKU alumni, along with other icons based on their achievements and contributions.
Prof. Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman urged the UPM community to join hands in providing ideas and suggestions, as a manifestation of care from UPM towards excellence, in line with the idea of “Menggema Seruan al Falah dari Menara Ilmu” (Echoing the Call of Al-Falah from the Tower of Knowledge).
He also wished a Happy OKU DAY in conjunction with the International Day of OKU celebrated at the national level on December 3, 2021.
Meanwhile, UPM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Dr. Arifin Abdu, hosted a Meet and Greet Session with the UPM OKU community on December 2.
In his speech, he announced a new initiative called “Putra Buddies” that was recently ratified by the University Management Committee as another UPM initiative to assist UPM students with their life on campus.
Several activities held this year focused more on the collaborations with different parties, including Persatuan Keluarga Autisme UPM (PEKAUPM), Alumni Relations Centre, PERKESO, Faculty of Educational Studies Students’ Association (FEDSSA), Faculty of Human Ecology, Faculty of Design and Architecture, as well as Bakti Siswa Group 20 from the Co-Curriculum and Student Development Centre.
The collaborations were in line with the Vice-Chancellor’s slogan through his speech during the OKU inclusive Campus Awareness Month which is ‘UPM cakna, warga disantuni, kebersamaan terpatri’ (UPM care, courtesy among members, ingrained togetherness).
UPM currently houses 56 OKU students and 5 OKU staff that work together to promote UPM in providing the best service to the community. - UPM
