ISTANBUL, Sept 14 — The Postgraduate Students Society (PGSS) of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) made a significant impact at the Global Student Leaders Summit 2024 (GSLS ’24) held at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Political Sciences. The summit, organized by the Council of Leadership and Training of Malaysian Universities (MAKLUM) under the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE), focused on nurturing tomorrow’s global leaders and brought together student leaders from Malaysia and various countries.
The opening ceremony featured speeches by Professor Dr. Cemil Kaya, Deputy Rector of Istanbul University, and Hirman Awang, Director of the Student Affairs Division, MOHE, emphasizing the critical role of student leadership in shaping future global cooperation. Distinguished keynote speakers included Prof. Dr. Shaharum Shamsuddin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), who presented on “Transformation Centre for People with Disability @ USM – An Evolution of Everlasting Hope” and other prominent speakers who shared insights on values-based leadership and raising future global leaders.
The second day of the summit included a Leadership Dialogue titled “Global Leadership: The Role of Student Leaders in Shaping a Better World” and a panel discussion featuring prominent postgraduate student leaders from Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, and Russia. The summit ended with a prize-giving ceremony by the Guest of Honour, Mardiah Sabri, Consul/Head of Chancery, Consulate General of Malaysia in Istanbul.
PGSS UTM members made significant contributions through their research presentations, addressing key issues and offering innovative solutions in their respective fields. The summit also included a three-day study tour of Istanbul, providing cultural immersion and networking opportunities for the student leaders.
Participation in GSLS 2024 not only enriched the postgraduate students’ academic and leadership experiences but also strengthened UTM’s position as a premier institution for global student development.
For more updates on PGSS UTM’s activities and structured courses, please follow the PGSS UTM Facebook page.
By: Evarina Amiron, PhD, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH)