Research Institutes, Centres and Units - Universiti Sains Malaysia

All Masters and Ph.D. candidates are required to pass two pre-requisite courses as
listed below:
1. SGS501 - Gender Theories
2. SGS502 - Research Methods and Analysis for Gender Studies
Research projects for these courses may be based on theoretical or academic
discourses on feminism or founded on practical work settings or grounded in real
life experiences. The projects may emphasise local, national or global women/gender
issues that focus on policy and advocacy, or development and management strategies
relating to training and employment. Students may research issues related to any of
the six core areas of KANITA.
Achievements 2009
1. Research
KANITA`s core business is research, in 2009 there were research 12 projects being
conducted covering a range of topics which are linked to the thrust areas. Three
collaborative research projects received external funding from the research partners.
Research topics were strategically chosen for their relevance to women and their
potentials for policy impact. KANITA is marking on a strategic plan which will launch
it as a Centre of Excellence in research on women and gender issues.
Another success story is in getting the university to approve a transdisciplinary
research cluster called GLIDE which is an acronym for “Gender, Livelihood, (In)
equality, Development and Women”. This cluster is a platform to bring transdisiplinary
perspectives to research cross-disciplines, such as health and poverty.
2. Sexual Harassment Polic
KANITA takes pride that its initiative in drafting a sexual harassment policy and
protocol for the university was finally accepted 27 th July 2009 by the University Exco.
This is in line with the University’s healthy campus policy within the framework of
sustainable development, gender and rights.
3. Professorial Lecture
On 17 July 2009, 600 guests from all over Malaysia filled the Dewan Budaya, USM, to
witness Professor Datin Rashidah Shuib deliver her professorial lecture, “Engendering
Health: A Strategic Investment”, the first since KANITA achieved its Centre Status.
On 14 th May, SocTrans, in acknowledgement of the importance of a gender
perspective in research selected GLIDE as a cluster under its portfolio. A
representation of the GLIDE framework is included below.