KOTA SAMARAHAN: A team of interdisciplinary researchers at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is investigating how the concept of play can be utilised as pedagogy or training to build social resilience among young people of Asia.
The team, comprising Dr Jacey-Lynn Minoi, Associate Professor Dr Fitri Suraya Mohamad, Professor Dr Tarmiji Masron, Associate Professor Dr Tan Chong Eng, Dr Leonard Lim, Dr Aazani Mujahid, Dr Floriana Lendai, Dr Farah Zaini and Chuah Kee Man, collaborates with three universities in the UK, Vietnam and Indonesia to develop a pedagogical model that would encourage the development of social resilience within local communities.
“Using a community-centred approach, young people will learn non-discipline specific capabilities which would build more than fulfilling friendships and exchanges of ideas,” said Unimas in a statement on Tuesday (June 23).
Unimas said aligning with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal on equitable and inclusive quality education, they were investigating the impact of transformative education through playful approaches and experiences towards developing the social resilience of young people in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
“As social species, we work, think and act as an individual and collectively in groups. Each and every one of us has a diverse mix of interests, talents, capabilities, skills and resources. When in a crisis, or facing challenging changes, we resort to what we know.
“When we play games and we get stuck in a challenge, we do the similar action, namely we resort to what we know. Building from this idea, the research team aspires to create a pedagogical model which would be usable and relevant to build a generation of youths who are ready and resilient to face changes and challenges,” it disclosed.
The research project is to host its launch event, virtually, at 4pm today. Interested individuals can participate by registering at https://aces.gchangers.org/.
Unimas’ partners from Coventry University, Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo (UMPO), and Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) are to be present to speak about their perspectives and roles in the project.
Unimas said as the world learnt to adopt and adapt to new normal, social resilience was increasingly becoming more crucial to embrace today’s lifestyle.
“Social resilience is the way communities collectively cope with or respond to external pressures and interruptions, much like what we are dealing with now, with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Disruptions may occur due to social, political and environmental changes. To cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, we have had to learn how to protect ourselves and our loved ones, by abiding public health advice,” it said.
