The NAMA Foundation’s online conference on Education and Third Sector in Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Tanzania was a success at both the subject and technical levels. The conference was held on 5 November 2020 at 2.00pm.

All five papers that were presented in the conference provided examples of how the third sector, in this case the NAMA Foundation, was able to influence positive changes in the education sector through initiatives taken by academics working in conjunction with their own schools and other related institutions.

At a technical level, the online conference directed from the NAMA Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur proceeded smoothly without any hitch. Most of the audience, signing in from several countries across the world including the three focus countries, stayed on to the end of the conference.

Third sector, or as some describe it, the third force, is still a fluid concept that is awaiting a clear definition. Mr. U K Menon, in his Keynote presentation explained that the third sector in higher education is made up of different types of agencies, from charities to voluntary organizations and even parents and groups that participate in different ways in the higher education sector. Their common characteristic is that they are not formal providers such as universities, colleges, and other formal training institutions. They are neither public sector nor private sector, but civil societies as mentioned earlier that work to ultimately benefit the people.

The NAMA Foundation is a good example of a Third Sector organization. NAMA’s many initiatives in education and related areas supports the objectives of formal institutions, not directly, but from the flanks. NAMA’s main thrust so far has been in instilling the importance of excellence across institutions in the higher education sector. NAMA Integrated Centers of Excellence (NICE) established as consulting firms support corporations, associations and civil societies in management and development areas. It would have been obvious from the conference that the research underlying the papers were all inspired and supported by the NAMA Foundation.

The Conference Programme

Third Sector in Higher Education – Reflections and Takeaways from the Nama International Program on Capacity Building in Higher @ Espact Education.
By Mr U K Menon

Parental Involvement in Their Children’s Education In Tanzania In Selected Secondary Schools: a case of Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Kagera Regions @ Tanzania.
By Mr. Japhari Salum

School Committee Performance in Public and Private Junior Highschool @ Indonesia.
By Ms Alfikalia, M.Si., Psikolog

Assessing the Effectiveness of Internal Organizational Capacity of Civil Society Organizations (Csos) In Tanzania: The Case of Dar Es Salaam and Tanga @ Tanzania.
By Dr. Hawa Issa Munisi & Ms. Jannat Hamdun Ibrahim Sulayman

Challenges in Achieving Inclusiveness and Empowering Students in Schools @ Kyrgyzstan.
By Mr Sagyndyk Emilbek Uulu

Benefits of Community Leader Program (CLP) Training for Improving Social Entrepreneurship of Civil Society Organizations (CSOS) @ Indonesia.
By Dr. Dyah Andikasari, M.Pd.