UTM Summer School: "Rural Community and Culture", 1-15 July 2011

About The Program

This course is organized by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia under the management  of  the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE) and Faculty of Built Environment. The course will introduce the diverse range of communities, landscape, and culture tradition that constitute rural Malaysia. The socio-cultural, economy, physical,  values and belief systems of the people and communities in rural Malaysia varies  such as the Malays in traditional villages, Chinese in small towns and Indians in estates, the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak, the remote communities of Orang Asli and Orang Ulu. Different rural regions also have different problems and potentials. During the duration of the course, participants will be visiting a number of  rural areas in different parts of Malaysia and stay in the villages to observe, participate and experience  rural lives and their cultural activities.

A Museum in Johor Lama

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, participants are expected to be able to describe, compare and contrast the character, the life and culture of rural communities in some   parts of Malaysia.

Program Outline

·         Lectures which cover the following topics: Introduction to rural Malaysia,  Various types of rural settlements, its communities and culture, Issues in the development of rural communities,  Rural institutions and community organization,  Rural communities and culture in Sabah and Sarawak.

• Field works
• Partial participatory observations
• Cultural encounters (involving various activities such as village walk, meeting with village community and forest tracking)
• Social visit to places of interests

Other Details

• Admission Requirements: open to all undergraduate and post-graduate students of disciplines of studies overseas.
• Duration:  3 weeks (1 week preparation in home country and two weeks in Malaysia)
• Class Size: Maximum 30 participants
• Credit Value: 3 Credit

• Program Leader:  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Ngah
• UTM-Associates:  University of Liverpool (UK), Universitas Diponegoro (Indonesia), Sungkyunkwan University (Korea), Japan University
• Fee:  RM2,500 
  (Fees includes accommodation, transportation during field study, home stay and  hotel in Sarawak, Semenchu,  Johor Lama and meals  during the program in Malaysia.
  It does not include flight from home country to UTM)

 Detail Program

Week 1 (24/6/11-30/6/11) Preparation at home country Understanding the Malaysian social, economy, cultural and political context through readings. To prepare a case study of community and culture of a village in home country for discussion in a seminar (based on secondary information).

Week 2 (1/7/11-2/7/11) Arrival to UTM and Introduction Seminar on community and culture based on a case study at home country ·         concept of community and culture (UTM). ·         case study presentation by group of participants from different countries.

Week 2 (3/7/11-6/7/11) Field Study in Johor Homestay and program with community in Felda Semenchu and Traditional village at Johor Lama. Felda Semenchu is one of the successful land settlement scheme in Malaysia established in 1960s. First generation is settlers who came from various villages in Johor, mainly work in plantation, but some did run other businesses. Most are descendants of Javanese people who migrated to Johor in 1950s. Basically the culture and tradition related to the Java-Muslim but modern way of living.  Johor lama is a traditional fishing village. When the Portuguese took over Malacca in the 14th Century the King of Malacca fled toward the South-East of Johor and established a kingdom in Johor Lama. There are traces of fortress and old tomb in the villages. Now it became a tourist spot with a few home stays/chalets facilities for tourists and a Museum.

Week 3 (9/7/11-13/7/11) Field Study in Sarawak Participants will stay at long House/Homestay for 3 nights and a night in Kuching. Visit forest area to observe flora and fauna; tourism potential; Interviews with local community Writing notes and report Cultural performance (learning the art of traditional Iban dance) 13 July–return to UTM 14 July- preparation of report and graduation ceremony. 15 July-departure

Update (16 February 2011) A group of 16 students from University of Diponegoro, Semarang Indonesia has registered for participation in the program. Dr Joesron Alie Syahbana and Holi Binavijaya will accompany them. Prof. Kwang Sik Kim (SKKU Korea) is also arranging for participation from Korean Students . A few participation is expected from University of Liverpool.

Iban traditional dance

Reference on Rural Community and Culture in Malaysia A.Zainal Abidin Abdullah Salleh (2002), Life in the Malay Kampongs of Kuching, Fifty Years Ago, Kota Samarahan: UNIMAS. AIPP Foundation (2004), Indigenous Knowledge & Biodiversity in Asia, proceedings of the Asian Regional Conferenceon Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity, 30 Sept -3 Oct 2003, Hanoi-Vietnam. AIPP. Carol Yong Ooi Lin (2003), Flowed Over: The Babagon Dam and the Resettlement of the Kadazandusuns in Sabah, Subang Jaya:  Center for Orang Asli Concern. Gomes, Edwin H. (2007) The Sea-Dayak of Boneo, reprint, Kota Kinabalu Opus Publications. Hoe Ban Seng (2001) Semelai Communities at Tasek Bera: A Study of the Structure of an Orang Asli Society, Subang Jaya: Centre for Orang Asli Concern. Irene Benggon-Charuruks eds.(1992), Culture, Customs and Traditions of Sabah: An Introduction, Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation. Junaidi Payne et. Al (2006) This is Boneo, London: New Holland. JHEOA (2002), Kehidupan, Budaya & Pantang larang Orang Asli, Kuala Lumpur: JHEOA Khairul Hisham & Ibrahim Ngah (2007), Pembangunan Mapan Orang Asli, Skudai: Penerbit UTM. Lake’ Baling (2002), The Old Kayan Religion and The Bungan Religious Reform, Kota Samarahan: UNIMAS Jayun A. Jawan (1994), Iban Politics and Economic Development, Their Patterns and Change, Bangi: UKM. Khoo Kay Kim (1991), MalaySosiety: Transformation & Democratisation, Petaling Jaya: Pelanduk Publication. Narifumi Maeda Tachimoto (2001), The Orang Ulu: A Report on Malaysian OrangAsli in the 1960s, Subang Jaya: Center for Orang Asli Concern. Nocholas Colin (2000), The Orang Asli and the Contest for Resources, Copenhegan: International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Mohd Yaakub Hj Johari, ed. (1989), Sosio-Cultural Dimension of Development Planning, Kota Kinabalu: Institute for Development Studies (Sabah). Syed Husin Ali (2008), Ethnic Relationsin Malaysia, Harmony & Conflic, Petaling Jaya: SIRD Syed Husin Ali (2008a), The Malays, Their Problems and Future, Kuala Lumpur:TOP

Notes and Resources for the Program

 

Contact	Ibrahim Ngah; email: b-ibrhim@utm.my; Fax: +607-5566155;  Phone: +6075530675; H/P: 0137524206
Address	Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor Malaysia