PARALLEL SESSION 1B: HR AND SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Parallel Session 1B discussed approaches in human resource management that address emerging challenges in leadership, workforce competitiveness, and transportation regulation in Asia.  The session, chaired by Professor Kyung-ho Cho, Dean, College of Sciences, Kukmin University, Korea, featured presentations by Mohd Afzanizam Mohd Badrin of the Razak School of Government, Malaysia; Dr. Vincent Wong of the Hong Kong Public Administration Association (HKPAA); and Prof. Yi Wang of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, PR China.

The study of Mohd Afzanizam Mohd Badrin of Razak School of Government mapped the prospects of the public leadership in Malaysian Civil Service in the context of the Malaysian government’s National Transformation Programme. The study took note of three contextual landscapes:  digital, diversity and engagement. Prof. Afzanizam hopes to use the framework he developed in the study in providing directions for the future of public leadership in anticipation of future challenges. 

By analyzing the the implementation of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF), a major policy initiative in 2008, Dr. Vincent Wong identified sustainable strategies on human resources management and human resources development. Dr. Wong detailed how HKQF is operationalized as a platform for lifelong learning to develop and maintain the competitiveness Hong Kong’s workforce. Based on his analysis of the HKQF, Dr. Wong has drawn eight strategies to promote HRM and HRD in HK.

Prof. Yi Wang tackled the problem of transportation in Shanghai as a megacity and the e-bicycle sharing system as alternative solution. However, the e-bicycle sharing system as a solution gave birth to new problems such as lack of bike parking, bike accidents and lack of regulation. Prof. Wang shared how the Shanghai government responded to these issues by putting up regulation and engaging the participation of stakeholders.