UTP Hosts Inaugural Neurodiversity Seminar, Fostering Inclusion for All
27 March 2024
The inaugural Neurodiversity Seminar and Forum organised recently by Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) in collaboration with PETRONAS Neurodiverse Centre of Excellence (NCoE) marks a significant step towards creating a more inclusive environment for neurodiverse individuals.
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Neurodiversity, a concept gaining global traction, challenges traditional perspectives of cognitive variations such as Autism, Dyslexia, and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Rather than viewing these differences as deficits or dysfunctions, neurodiversity celebrates them as naturally occurring cognitive variations with distinctive strengths that have contributed to the evolution of technology and culture.
The event aimed to raise awareness around the importance of neurodiversity. Through informative sessions and interactive forums, participants gained a deeper understanding of various neurodevelopmental conditions and their unique strengths. By promoting inclusivity and dismantling misconceptions, the event sparked conversations around the need of a supportive ecosystem not only within academia like UTP but also in workplaces and society at large.
In his welcoming address, UTP Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Professor Ir Ts Dr Nor Hisham Hamid, said, "Let's commit ourselves to building a world where every individual, regardless of their neurocognitive differences, is valued, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive," calling for a collective commitment towards building a world that embraces neurodiversity.
The seminar also featured a panel discussion moderated by Centre for Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research (CISIR) Director Professor Tang Tong Boon with representatives from UTP, PETRONAS, Ernst & Young Consulting Sdn. Bhd. (EY) and Alaminda Healthcare Berhad.
They deliberated on the importance of having an environment where neurodivergent individuals can authentically express themselves, leveraging their unique strengths to contribute meaningfully.
Dr Hazli Zakaria from Alaminda Healthcare Berhad highlighted the exceptional ability of autism individuals to hyper focus and have high attention to detail, while individuals with dyslexia can demonstrate remarkable creative problem-solving skills.
UTP, through its CISIR, aspires to be at the forefront of the neurodiversity field. The university is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all students and staff, regardless of neurocognitive differences.
For PETRONAS, hiring neurodiverse talents brings a transformative opportunity to address business needs. Concurrently this is also part of PETRONAS’ effort to nurture empathetic and inclusive leaders who are adept at embracing diverse perspectives that can foster innovation in the workplace to drive business performance, as shared by the Head of PETRONAS NCoE, Intan Nahariah in sharing their experience hiring eight neurodivergent talents as part of its pilot programme in 2023.
In steering the neurodiversity movement in Malaysia, PETRONAS has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EY to create greater awareness in Malaysia, promoting and facilitating organisational readiness in creating neurodiversity job opportunities. This collaboration aims to strengthen Malaysia's neurodiversity ecosystem to develop innovative solutions to unleash neurodivergent individuals' potential and be part of the talent pool that can positively contribute towards economic growth.
