Heart of education: Universal values such as respect, integrity and accountability should be integrated into every student’s learning journey. — 123rf.com
The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) recently directed higher education institutions to embed values-based education (VBE) in the curriculum, presenting the opportunity for educators, policymakers, industry leaders and students to work together in building an ecosystem that can shape Malaysia’s future.
Graduates today must not only be academically excellent and skilled, they must also be principled, have a deep sense of empathy and are socially responsible.
VBE in this context focuses on the need to embed universal values such as respect, integrity and accountability as part of every student’s learning journey.
These values are not abstract ideals but rather, practical competencies that guide students on transitioning into their careers, engaging socially and contributing towards nation-building.
VBE can also serve as a moral compass for the individual’s self-improvement.
There’s growing emphasis among employers on integrity, communication skills and technical proficiency – all outcomes of VBE, which aspires to promote social cohesion in our multicultural society.
Implemented well, the benefits of VBE can be far-reaching – moulding character development and equipping learners with the ability to make sound ethical choices even in challenging situations.
Timely vision
MQA’s VBE vision aligns with global trends. Unesco, for instance, has been advocating the need for a holistic education model – combining intellectual abilities with VBE outcomes such as emotional and social competencies.
This is a timely move for Malaysia, as the nation continues to face issues such as climate change, technology disruptions and social inequality, which require our graduates to have heightened ethical leadership, collaborative problem-solving and an empathetic view.
Integrating VBE into higher education curriculum, however, cannot be an act of adding more content to an already comprehensive syllabus. What we need is a holistic approach that encompasses four core areas.
Values can be integrated into existing courses through practical approaches such as case studies, ethical scenarios and reflective tasks. For instance, engineering students might examine sustainability ethics in design, while business students could evaluate corporate governance lapses to understand the implications of ethical decision-making.
The hope is that, over time, students will make decisions with their moral compass in mind. And this permeates into the corporate culture as graduates are employed.
A new culture
Institutions can promote initiatives such as community engagement, sustainability-focused projects, and collaborations with industry that highlight social responsibility. These activities provide students with opportunities to practise and demonstrate values in authentic, real-world settings, and can be embedded in final-year projects and research dissertations.
Faculty members play a vital role in exemplifying values. Development programmes should empower educators to incorporate ethical principles into their teaching strategies and assessment practices. As students learn vicariously, faculty members should emulate human values such as truth and proper conduct to serve as role models to their charges.
A curriculum rooted in values must be complemented with a campus culture that fosters respect, inclusivity and accountability. Clear and enforceable policies on academic integrity, diversity and sustainability must be visible and actively upheld.
Policies on academic integrity must be prominently displayed across campus and reinforced through orientation programmes. Diversity can be promoted through inclusive student activities and faculty training, while sustainability can be embedded in campus operations, such as energy-efficient facilities and recycling initiatives.
VBE is not about institutional gain; it is about shaping future generations who embody human values – individuals who serve society, assist those in need, and live harmoniously with others and the environment, fostering empathy, responsibility and sustainability for a better world. This requires a collective effort from parents, educators, role models and institutional policies that nurture human values.
Institutions should go beyond mere compliance and treat VBE as a strategic priority. Industry can reinforce this by promoting ethical practices in internships and employment. Parents and communities, too, play a key role in modelling and supporting these values.
Prof Dr Murali Raman is the deputy vice-chancellor (academic development & strategy), overseeing postgraduate and continuous education at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU). Focused on executive training and consultancy, his niche areas include design thinking, coloured brain communication and emotional drivers, digital economy, digital strategy development, and mindset change.
The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
