The Malaysian Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) has highlighted the need to take collaboration between universities and the industry to the next level. Taking these aspirations, the Faculty of Business and Management (FBM) has formalised collaboration with the partners in teaching and learning as part and parcel of a tertiary institution’s core responsibilities. On Friday, 14 July 2023, FBM held an Expert Forum Sharing Session during the IACCR International Study. This program is an engaging and informative session that facilitates transforming how we conduct social work and explore the vast world of knowledge.

With the theme “Beyond Boundaries: Navigating Common Weal and Woe in Social Work”, the widely anticipated 2023 IACCR International Mobility Programme took place at UiTM GESTURZ, aimed to establish a platform for dialogue within the realm of social work, surpassing conventional limits by delving into the intricacies of social work and envisioning a brighter future for global communities. Both local and international participants were afforded an invaluable opportunity to exchange experiences and expertise.

Co-hosted by the International Alliance for COVID-19 Community Response, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), the event was organised by the Department of International Business and Management Studies under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr. Nor Lelawati Jamaludin from FBM, supported by MBA (AA7004PA) students from Arshad Ayub Graduate Business School (AAGBS), Puan Siti Salwa Isa and En Abu Ali from College of Creative Arts UiTM, and the School of Technology Management and Logistics, UUM.

This program was also jointly supported by noteworthy NGOs, such as Yayasan Chow Kit (YCK), Kechara Soup Kitchen, Buku Jalanan Chow Kit, Early Autism Project, Batik Boutique, and the Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW), joined forces to ensure the success of this event, which indeed will have a lasting impact on the field of social work.

The programme involved diverse activities designed to engage and inspire participants. The morning session featured an enthralling sharing session with students from China, providing a unique opportunity to glean insights and perspectives from their social work experiences. Throughout the event, diligent and dedicated students who actively participated in the programme were duly acknowledged and awarded certificates, recognising their invaluable contributions. Thoughtful gifts were also presented to the collaborating NGOs as a sign of heartfelt gratitude from the organisers.

A notable highlight of the event was the group activity that involved dividing participants into three groups- each group was entrusted with constructing a LEGO structure symbolising different aspects of themselves, their families, and their communities. Skillfully utilising the LEGO pieces, participants created distinctive representations that effectively captured their understanding and connection to these integral facets of their lives.

The event culminated in a prize-giving ceremony to honour the winners of the group activity. Participants and organisers alike expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of Beyond Boundaries: Navigating Common Weal and Woe in Social Work, the 2023 IACCR International Mobility Programme. The knowledge shared, connections forged, and memories created during this event will definitely leave a lasting impression on the participants, and propel them to contribute further in the realm of social work.

This collaboration model nurtures closer understanding from the participating faculties, universities and industries to work towards the same goals. Under this program, the strategic partnership sees an exchange of ideas and the development of quality and practical solutions applicable to societies. Thus, the spotlighted program is an excellent measure to move the Faculty of Business and Management, Arsyad Ayub Graduate Business School, College of Creative Arts and UiTM forward and make it more visible.