SWRC at PRAXIS 2026: Reimagining Visions of Progress
Venue: InterContinental Kuala Lumpur
Organiser: Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
The Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia convened PRAXIS 2026 under the theme "Reimagining Visions of Progress," bringing together policymakers, private sector leaders, researchers and civil society representatives to explore practical responses to Malaysia's pressing development and policy challenges.
The conference examined how Malaysia can move beyond conventional measures of economic success, particularly high-income status, towards a more comprehensive understanding of national progress that prioritises wellbeing, inclusion, resilience and sustainability.
During Session 3, "From Future Visions to Choices in the Present," Emeritus Professor Datuk Norma Mansor, Director of the Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC), Universiti Malaya, shared perspectives on the broader social and human dimensions of progress. Drawing on her work on the National Social Wellbeing Blueprint, the care economy and ageing, she emphasised the need to integrate social considerations into Malaysia's long-term development priorities.
Her contribution underscored the importance of placing social wellbeing and human development at the centre of national policymaking, while acknowledging the fiscal, institutional and social realities that shape Malaysia's development trajectory. The discussion reinforced the value of inclusive, evidence-based approaches in translating future aspirations into meaningful policy choices.