At Quest International University, promoting inclusivity in education across the board is at the heart of our educational mission. We are committed to equalising access to quality education for everyone, whether they are differently abled or belong to disadvantaged groups. This is how we serve the community and advance social justice for all.
Our commitment shines forth both in the design of our campus – which is equipped with a range of accessibility features to empower persons with disabilities – and the philosophy inlaid in our teaching and learning practices which encourages academics, students, and staff to embrace, innovate, and champion equity in education.
We are thus proud to report that Ms Ummu Hani Yahaya, a senior lecturer associated with our School of Education in the Faculty of Social Sciences, recently won the Bronze Award (Education Cluster) in the 7th Carnival of Research and Innovation (CRI2024).
Organised by Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), CRI2024 carried the theme ‘Empowering Society Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship,’ and showcased inventive concepts from higher institutions across the nation, including the hosts, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), etc.
Ms Hani made the podium for her innovation proposal titled ‘Relaxis Crew’ – a unique solution to the challenges faced by families with special-needs children that also reinforces experiential learning for our Bachelor of Special Needs Education (Honours) students.
Specifically, ‘Relaxis Crew’ proposes the establishment of trained teams that will provide caregiving and chaperone services for families with children with special educational needs, so parents or guardians don’t have to miss out on social activities and personal time.
These services will also enable students of special needs education to gain real-world experience that bridges theory with practice, accelerating their professional development and allowing them to find work outside the confines of schools and educational centres.
For the uninitiated, CRI2024 is a national platform of note where innovators across multiple disciplines come together to share creative ideas and exchange best practices with academics and industry professionals in multiple clusters that comprise specific domains of expertise.
Well done, Ms Hani! We’re proud of your accomplishment and look forward to seeing your innovation in action soon. Keep up the great work!