RELEVANCY OF MALAYSIAN UOTF IN THE POST-PANDEMIC AND DIGITAL ERA: BALANCED AND DIGITAL EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ENHANCING THE WELL-BEING OF THE B40 GROUP

Abstract

COVID-19 crisis has further driven low-wage or poor B40 metropolitan Malaysian families into destitution. The destitution pace of these B40 metropolitan families in 2020 is higher than in 2019, with half of the families living in outright neediness. Seventy percent of these families' capacity to meet essential everyday costs had been impacted. Thirty-seven percent said that they are battling to buy sufficient nourishment for their families, while 35% cannot pay their bills on schedule. This conceptual paper is to propose an initiative or project for Malaysian Universities of the Future (UotF) to remain relevant by enhancing the well-being of the B40 group through a balanced education, community engagement, and digital platform in the office and home cleaning services based on Maqasid Shariah principles. This paper is applying the design thinking approach to develop a conceptual business model using Business Model Canvas (BMC) and Value Proposition Canvas (VPC) framework. The objectives of this project are to provide (a) a lifelong learning programme opportunity for the B40 community, (b) providing job employment, while reskilling & upskilling, empowering, and nurturing B40s as skilled workers, and entrepreneurs in cleaning services based on Maqasid Shariah principles, In this proposed project, hopefully, the B40s needs, and problems, poverty, and the unemployment rate will reduce in Malaysia.