Foreword Prof Dr Zaini Abdullah

Greetings from the Office of Industry Community Alumni and Entrepreneurship Network

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh and Salam Sejahtera.

With the grace of the Almighty Allah SWT, we are already in the year 2017. Firstly, let me convey my sincere thanks to all ICAEN (Industry Community Alumni Entrepreneurship Network) and university citizens for 2016. The past 12 months have been marked by noteworthy achievements. As we reflect on the past year, I believe that we have many reasons to be satisfied with our accomplishments.  Nevertheless, I believe 2017 will bring us greater success and fulfilment as we undertake the plans we have outlined for enhanced synergy among industry, community, alumni and entrepreneurship networking endeavours for the university.

With the new terms that this office has been given, particularly in incorporating Malaysian Academy of SME and Entrepreneurship Development (MASMED) with the existing Industry Community and Alumni Network (ICAN) functions, I am optimistic that this university will be better equipped to face the challenges of 2017 and beyond. The realigning of the functions of these entities will spur greater focus and efficiency in delivering results and achievements. In line with the aspirations of the university, ICAEN is targeting greater visibility and notability in our objectives.

The magnitude of the 2017 objectives for ICAEN is short of monumental but with great planning and commitment to our resolves, I am confident that firstly, the governance of ICAEN functions UiTM wide will produce streamlined nomenclatures and scope of work. This is turn will impact the visibility and effectiveness of the entrepreneurship scope of MASMED under ICAEN. Subsequently, our intention to establish as well as enhance local and international links to the industry would better position UiTM to undertake wider community and alumni connections and collaborations. Conclusively, our goal to market and track our graduates while being in control of graduate employability is one of the key performance elements in the ICAEN agenda. Crossing all our tees and connecting all the dots would not amount to anything if we do not work towards a concerted effort to synergise these scopes and transform the way we do business.

My hopes for ICAEN as an office in the UiTM system is that it can continue to represent and connect the entities of the university to the industry and community on a wider and comprehensive scale. With an improved and intensified communication process to support and promote the university’s activities within and without the community, ICAEN is poised to assist UiTM in facing the challenges of a dynamic yet unpredictable world.

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Foreword Prof Dr Zaini Abdullah

May 2017 augur a more successful year for all of us.

Prof Dr Zaini Abdullah

Deputy Vice Chancellor

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