麻豆直播

UUM ONLINE: 麻豆直播 (UUM) and the Malaysian National Cooperative Movement (ANGKASA) sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a new milestone that will significantly impact human capital development within the cooperative movement landscape in the country.

The president of ANGKASA, Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah, said the initiative led by ANGKASA鈥檚 Centre of Excellence and Co-operative and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (CEDI) UUM continues the tradition of academic excellence while expanding the scope of collaboration into other strategic areas.

鈥淯UM, recognised as a prestigious institution of higher learning, provides a platform to enhance knowledge and skills in cooperative management, business, and finance while leveraging UUM鈥檚 academic expertise to improve cooperative management efficiency within its framework.

鈥淭his MoU establishes the Cooperative Leadership Programme, which is founded on an edutourism concept, allows participants to enrol in courses at UUM while also visiting business centres, universities, technology institutions, and successful cooperatives in Southern Thailand.

鈥淭his collaboration also aims to produce qualified cooperative leaders capable of steering Malaysian cooperatives towards a more professional and progressive direction,鈥� he explained.

He said that that research collaboration would allow both parties to conduct joint studies, resulting in new discoveries related to cooperative business models, technology, and methods for enhancing cooperative services and operations.

Additionally, the Cooperative Youth Talent Development initiative will involve placing UUM students from various disciplines in cooperatives to assist small and medium cooperatives in innovating and digitising their operations while also attracting young professionals into the cooperative ecosystem.

鈥淭he placement staff from ANGKASA at UUM for several months will provide opportunities to acquire professional experience in management and research, enhance competencies, and develop proficiency in relevant languages.

鈥淚 am confident that the combined resources and expertise of both institutions will open up new opportunities to further strengthen the position of the cooperative movement in Malaysia,鈥� he said.

He further stated that previous collaborations with UUM have brought significant benefits to ANGKASA, particularly in enhancing staff capabilities and competencies through the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.

鈥淒uring the previous collaboration, a total of 47 ANGKASA staff received full sponsorship from ANGKASA to pursue the MBA programme at UUM.

鈥淧raise to Allah, all of them have successfully completed their studies with outstanding results, a truly remarkable achievement. Investment in education is one of the key drivers for the advancement of any organisation,鈥� he added.

As the leading organisation for the cooperative movement, ANGKASA oversees over 16,000 cooperatives nationwide and represents a membership of 7.2 million individuals.

鈥淏usiness activities conducted by cooperatives encompass various sectors, including agriculture, retail, real estate, and key national industries. It is therefore critical for ANGKASA to develop a highly competent leadership and workforce to ensure the success of cooperatives it oversees, while establishing ANGKASA as a reference centre for the cooperative movement both nationally and regionally.

鈥淭his is further supported by the government鈥檚 confidence, as the Prime Minister, Dato鈥� Seri Anwar Ibrahim, allocated RM6 million for ANGKASA to spearhead cooperative empowerment programmes such as school cooperatives, mosque community cooperatives, and ANGKASA鈥檚 Madani Rahmah Sales Programme, aimed at assisting communities tackle the cost of living,鈥� he added.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dato鈥� Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan announced that upcoming initiatives will include the Mushroom Farming Incubator Project, which aims to empower cooperatives in enhancing member entrepreneurship through the support of UUM鈥檚 research and training programmes.

鈥淚n terms of impact, this project is expected to increase cooperative income, create new job opportunities, and foster an entrepreneurial culture among youth.

鈥淭he project鈥檚 target outputs include producing up to 300 kilograms of mushrooms per month per facility, resulting in a five-figure monthly income.

鈥淭he implementation of high-impact programmes such as the Rahmah Sales for Students and ANGKASA retail stores at UUM represents a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing student well-being and strengthening the cooperative sector,鈥� he said during the signing ceremony of the MoU between UUM and ANGKASA at EDC-UUM.

According to him, the World Co-operative Monitor indicates that the world鈥檚 top 300 cooperatives collectively generate a total revenue amounting to RM8.8 trillion, primarily in sectors such as agriculture and food, wholesale and retail, and insurance. For instance, Credit Agricole Group, recognised as the world鈥檚 best-performing cooperative based in France,records a revenue of RM115 billion.

鈥淚n Malaysia, according to the latest data from the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM), as of January 2024, there are 15,809 registered cooperatives with a membership totalling 7.31 million people, generating an annual revenue of RM45.50 billion,鈥� he said.

This data, he noted, highlights the significant opportunities and potential for collaboration between educational institutions such as UUM and cooperatives, particularly in the fields of education, research, and comprehensive socio-economic development.