Resilience, Values and Student Welfare During the Pandemic
Malam Bersama Rektor 2020 was a virtual town hall organised by the Student Representative Council of UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang during an extraordinary period when the COVID-19 pandemic had fundamentally changed university life. Conducted fully online and livestreamed on YouTube, the session created a direct platform for students to engage with the Rector and university management on academic continuity, campus safety, financial concerns, internet connectivity and student welfare during the transition to Online Distance Learning (ODL).
My message to the students began with something more fundamental than the pandemic itself: renewing our nawaitu—our intention in seeking knowledge. Students were reminded that the journey of education should begin lillahi ta‘ala, providing an inner anchor when difficulties arise. Equally important was the development of a strong jatidiri, grounded in the principles of the Rukun Negara, beginning with Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan. Education was therefore presented not merely as acquiring a qualification, but as developing character, responsibility and a sense of purpose.
Drawing from engineering, I used the idea of potential energy and “jatuh bangun” to illustrate an important lesson about adversity. Life inevitably has its rises and falls, and these variations are not necessarily obstacles to progress. Just as differences in physical systems can create the potential for movement, our struggles and setbacks can become sources of growth, resilience and wisdom. This was particularly relevant for students navigating the uncertainties and disruptions of the pandemic.
Three values were highlighted as important anchors: Ihsan, Sinergi and Cinta. Ihsan calls us to strive for excellence while recognising the potential within every individual; sinergi reminds us that greater outcomes are achieved through cooperation rather than individual effort alone; and cinta—love for Allah, our responsibilities, our community and our country—provides the inner energy to contribute meaningfully. Students were reminded that they represented an important strength of the university and, ultimately, the future strength of the nation.
Importantly, Malam Bersama Rektor was also a listening platform. The management team responded directly to students’ practical concerns regarding ODL, internet limitations, access to campus and laboratories, fees and refunds, as well as zakat and financial assistance. The session also saw the launch of a new Student Activities App, reflecting the need to adapt student engagement to an increasingly digital environment.
Ultimately, the session reflected a principle that became particularly important during the pandemic: leadership must combine direction with listening, and institutional resilience must be accompanied by care for the people experiencing the disruption. Even in uncertainty, students were encouraged to hold firmly to their intentions, values and integrity, support one another, and continue their educational journey with resilience and purpose.