Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education seminar

16th December, 2009

OPTIMIZING THE POWER OF ACTION LEARNING FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR HIGH PERFORMING ACADEMICIANS

The seminar Optimizing the power of action learning for teaching and learning for high performing academicians was held at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Center, December 16 – 17, 2009. It was organized by AKEPT Higher Education Leadership Academy, part of the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.

Photographed above: Dr Eric Sandelands explaining action learning principles.

Corporate Learning Consultants Ltd was pleased to have Dr Eric Sandelands co-chair the sessions with Professor Michael Marquardt of George Washington University and the World Institute for Action Learning (WIAL).

Senior academics and academic administrators were invited from across Malaysia to address the challenges of enhancing teaching and learning practice through incorporating action learning within the administrative and teaching processes. Over the two days, four keynote lectures provided the structure to the workshops:

• Lecture 1, Prof. Marquardt: Optimizing teaching and learning for high performing academicians;
• Lecture 2, Dr. Sandelands: Aspects of designing courses in curriculum design, improving department or university-wide programmes and pedagogy, motivating difficult students, and student-centred learning;
• Lecture 3, Prof. Marquardt: How action learning incorporates the five schools of learning (as well as other social and physical sciences) to empower education in the classroom;
• Lecture 4, Dr. Sandelands: How does action learning and problem-based learning support the development and performance of students?

 

Prof. Marquardt and Dr. Sandelands in conversation.

However, perhaps the most important sessions were the problem-solving action learning teams in which delegates resolved issues, helped colleagues and acted as action learning coaches. Four such sessions were held, with delegates organized into teams of 6 – 8 and invited to address live issues, generating implementable strategies to improve their own practice and enhance their institutions.

AKEPT Higher Education Leadership Academy run a significant number of courses, programmes and events each year, with speakers including Edward de Bono, John Kotter and Tony Buzan. They have three significant key results areas to address:

• Leadership;
• Teaching and learning; and
• Innovation and research.

Photographed above: addressing live issues in action learning teams was a highlight.

Photographed above: a number of live case studies were presented.