Page 1 - PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin 04_2020

ISSUE O4 | 2020

MoU with TECO on “Taiwan Studies Project”

witnessed by the new Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya,
YBhg. Dato’ Professor Ir. Dr. Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor.

Through the MoU, TECO will provide a grant of US$96,000
(RM380,000) in support of the Taiwan Studies Project at the
Faculty. Under the project, a Taiwan Lecture Series will be
carried out at the Chinese Studies Department as well. The
lecture series involves bringing in experts from Taiwan to
lecture on a variety of Taiwan-related topics. The programme
will also support two research projects at the Faculty; the first
will focus on common Chinese languages and dialects in
Taiwan and Malaysia, and the second will examine the role of
Taiwan in the development of Chinese education in
Malaysia.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed
between the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The
It is hoped that with this generous support from TECO, the
Universiti Malaya and the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Faculty will be able to further enhance the quality of the
Office (TECO) on 11 November 2020. It was signed by the
teaching of Sinology and the strengthening of research
Dean of FASS and Representative Anne Hung of TECO, and
capacity among faculty members.
HELLO 2021

And so, the year 2020 finally comes to a close. What first
spite of the circumstances. These trying times have indeed
began as a year of great possibilities and opportunities of a
helped many within the FASS family carve out new and
much anticipated decade, very quickly became known to the
meaningful narratives of survival, camaraderie and truth; this
world round as annus horribilis, or a year of great misfortune.
issue exemplifies all of this in the good work we have done.
Covid-19 brought to millions around the world illness and
The PULSE team is grateful to have had the opportunity to
death, and exposed the flaws of inequality in our systems of
capture what we can of these transformative moments at the
government, exacerbating further what we previously knew
FASS, and will continue this in the coming year, which we
of poverty, displacement and trauma. It is thus our
hope will be filled with the best of opportunities, both
responsibility, within academia, to always remember this, as
scholarly and otherwise, for everyone.
we move forward into the new year with cautious
anticipation.
“For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next
year's words await another voice.” —T.S. Eliot
While many of us will not miss the year 2020, we will certainly
carry with us the lessons from it close to our heart and be
Farewell 2020.
mindful of what it means to live through a new normal. The
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has put their best foot
Dr. Vilashini Somiah
forward in ensuring the education of our students and
Editor-in-Chief
Pulse@FASS
scholarship amongst peers continued to thrive year long, in
Disclamer: This e-newsletter is an essential communication link between the FASS, UM and the wider community. It is imperative that the newsletter is accurate,
informative and contain information that will mutually benefit both Faculty and community members.
Ed. in Chief dr. Vilashini Somiah Asst. Ed. in Chief Nadhwah Tul Iman Mizam Editorial Team DR. KOK SU MEI * DR. SHALINI NADASWARAN * Mr. Ahmad Hilmi Mohd noor