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SPECIAL LECTURE BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE REGENT OF PERAK, RAJA DR NAZRIN SHAH ON ‘THE CHALLENGES OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT’

5 MAY 2008

“What has particularly impressed me about University Teknologi PETRONAS is the fact that it has gone about the job of cultivating Malaysian scientists, engineers and technologists with quiet confidence and determination over the past decade. There is much to be said about an institution that goes about delivering valued knowledge services without great fanfare and in a serious business-like manner”.  These remarks were expressed by His Royal Highness The Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah in his introductory remarks when giving a special lecture on ‘The Challenges Of Human Capital Development’ in the Chancellor Hall of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) on 5 May 2008.

UTP has been organising this Public Lecture series since 1998 and since then, has invited many prominent speakers including Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Yang Berbahagia Prof Emeritus Dato’ Dr Khoo Kay Kim and Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Shafie to provide them with better insights on national and global issues.

 

His Royal Highness Raja Nazrin emphasised that development of knowledge, skills and abilities on the one hand, and the moulding of values, belief and attitudes on the other, are the two pillars of human capital development.  These development must ultimately lead to positive, confident, resilient and morally strong character.

Knowledge institutions he said, flourish in benign circumstances, without excessive and overbearing external control and interference.  The process of human capital development works best where policies are strongly encouraging and supportive and not dispiriting and coercive.

He also stressed that we need to aim to achieve three goals when enhancing human capital i.e. a change in the learning, analytical and intellectual culture. A true learning culture is spurred by an over-riding sense of curiosity, one that actively hunts out information rather than passively responds to it.  To be analytical is to be able to examine issues in depth and detail, to process and combine information, to draw logical conclusions and to suggest consistent courses of action.  Intellectual culture is developed from an environment where one is ready to push beyond past boundaries and limits.  We must seek to develop vibrant communities of practice who question, challenge and think.

 

A total of almost 2,000 attendees were glued to their seats throughout the lecture. Also present were Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin b Hj Kasim, Rector of UTP, Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini, Chairman of Bernama, government officers, staff and students of UTP, and the public.

After the lecture, His Royal Highness visited the UTP Gallery, academic lab and the Information Resource Centre (IRC) before proceeding for lunch that was served in honour of his royal visit to UTP.