The Customer Happiness DNA (4th Run)

The 4th NUS in-house workshop on "The Customer Happiness DNA" was held at the National University of Singapore for Executive, Professional & Non-Academic Division 1 Staff on 23 - 24 September 2013. The workshop focused on the concept of the customer happiness DNA, which is a holistic approach for aligning and internalising happy mind, happy heart, happy habit and happy culture to deliver employee and customer happiness.

Hands-on exercise on planning for customer happiness (1)

Hands-on exercise on planning for customer happiness (2)

The 20th ASEAN-QA Actual Quality Assessment

The T20 ASEAN-QA site assessment was held from 19 to 21 September 2013 at Universitas Indonesia (UI), Jakarta, Indonesia.

The study programme, Economics Undergraduate Programme (EUP) was assessed by an international team of assessors led by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin from the ASEAN University Network (AUN). The other peer assessors were Prof. Dr. Andreas Knorr, German University of Public Administration Sciences Speyer, Germany; and Mr. Ricardo R. Palo, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.

ASEAN-QA project is coordinated and conducted by the University of Potsdam (Center for Quality Development in Higher Education - ZfQ) within the frame of the DIES programme, which is jointly coordinated by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK). Partners of the ASEAN-QA Project are the ASEAN University Network (AUN), the Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development in Southeast Asia (SEAMEO RIHED) and two regional networks of QA agencies: in Europe and Southeast Asia: the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN).

Opening ceremony

Site tour to the faculty library

Closing ceremony

The 19th ASEAN-QA Actual Quality Assessment

The T19 ASEAN-QA site assessment was held from 15 to 18 September 2013 at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Kedah, Malaysia. 

The study programme, Bachelor of International Affairs Management (Honours) was assessed by an international team of assessors led by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin from the ASEAN University Network (AUN). The other peer assessors were Prof. Dr. Andreas Knorr, German University of Public Administration Sciences Speyer, Germany; and Mr. Ricardo R. Palo, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.

ASEAN-QA project is coordinated and conducted by the University of Potsdam (Center for Quality Development in Higher Education - ZfQ) within the frame of the DIES programme, which is jointly coordinated by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK). Partners of the ASEAN-QA Project are the ASEAN University Network (AUN), the Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development in Southeast Asia (SEAMEO RIHED) and two regional networks of QA agencies: in Europe and Southeast Asia: the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN).

Opening ceremony

Site tour at Student Services Centre

Site tour to a class

Closing ceremony

3rd Workshop on PDCA Approach to SAR Development

The 3rd workshop on the PDCA Approach to SAR Development was held on 9 & 10 September 2013 at Universitas Indonesia (UI). The workshop was customised for UI with the objective of preparing the academic and administrative staff as facilitators and writers of Self Assessment Report (SAR).

At the end of the workshop, participants learn to: 

• Apply the PDCA approach to SAR development; 

• Interpret the AUN QA criteria at programme level; 

• Apply the requirements of SAR; 

• Use the technique for writing SAR; and 

• Relate the AUN QA assessment process

The 2-day workshop was attended by 34 staff members from various faculties and offices in UI and it was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert (Singapore).

Opening Speech by Rector, UI

Participants putting the pieces together

Participants mapping a curriculum

Participants reviewing a SAR

Happiness in Relationships

Social is one of the eight dimensions of The Happiness DNA. True happiness is altruistic and it is about bringing happiness to people around us. Political scientist James Fowler of UC San Diego and sociologist Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School found that on average, a person’s happiness rises by 9 percent for every happy friend and it decreases by 7 percent for every unhappy friend in his social network. They also found that the happiness of a close contact increases the chance of being happy by 15%. The happiness of a 2nd-degree contact (e.g. friend's spouse) increases it by 10% and the happiness of a 3rd-degree contact (e.g. friend of a friend of a friend) by 6%. Happiness is contagious, therefore, cultivating positive relationships with family members, relatives, colleagues and friends boosts happiness. To find, improve and sustain happiness, think sameness, see goodness and do sweetness.