Symposium Evaluation: Preliminary Results

 

A total of 53 participants returned the evaluation forms. The results will be tabulated soon. The following are some of the more commonly written responses:

·         Positive short reflective pieces of comments such as: “Congrats. The conference was conducted well”, “organisation was execellent”, etc.

The following criticisms were noted and we note the mistakes made & accept the responsibilities:

·         Too much changes in the parallel sessions; programs change in the last minute

·         System of registration for tours not well integrated with on site; confirmation-not made clear

·         Need more variety in dinner (seafood all the time) [Conference &  Gala dinner in same place]

·         No program for accompanying spouses; limited choice for dinner-expensive

 

Messages from Participants on XII IOSTE Symposium at Penang via e-mails

(dated till 15 August 2006)

("Susan Rodrigues" <S.Rodrigues@dundee.ac.uk> ) Thank you for organising the symposium. Clearly a challenging task, and you managed it calmly and with a much charm. I am sure people enjoyed visiting Penang and enjoyed attending the symposium. You are a credit to your University and a true ambassador for Malaysian hospitality. (UK)

 

(Angela James <Jamesa1@ukzn.ac.za> ) Thank you so much for a splendid and well organised conference. The expereince was one of a lifetime - not just the discussion sessions but also the full schedule organised. I was really taken by the immense effort and comfort provided, requestes attended to and the wonderful spirit that prevailed. Malaysia and its people are spectacular. Once again thank you for a fantastic expereince - your cool, calm demeanour really amazed me - you had it altogether. Please convey my thanks and good words to all involved in the hosting and the supporting of the conference. (South Africa)

 

(Elwira & Maciek "RMJaniuk" rmjaniuk@hermes.umcs.lublin.pl) We have just returned to Poland safely and directly quick email to say how much we enjoyed the conference. You have obviously worked hard, evidenced by the smooth running of the event. As well as the lectures and seminars the extra cultural events made our stay amemorable one. Please express our special regards to the IOSTE organizing committee and board members. (Poland)

 

(Nelio <bizzo@usp.br>) Thank you for the wonderful time we had together, and many thanks to Suan and his team for hospitality. (Brazil)

 

(Jayshree Mehta SATWAC SATWAC <satwac@gmail.com>) I am back to home but memories of Penang are still fresh in my mind. It was a wonderful IOSTE 12 conference. You and your team had planned everything very carefully and warmly. We are deeply grateful to you for all your efforts, generosity and positive attitude.   You have done everything with a smile. I am thankful to you for all your support and hospitality. IOSTE 12 has been the most successful conference. Thank you again to your team and USM for the wonderful conference and taking care of everything, minute details for everyone.  Your contribution will be always remembered. (India)

 

(Pierre "clement.grave" clement.grave@free.fr) I also send great thanks to Suan and other organisators of this IOSTE XII Symposium, which was really very interesting and very well organised. (France)

 

("Svein Sjoberg" svein.sjoberg@ils.uio.no) Today, the Norwegian Oslo participants have arrived home, after a successful IOSTE and very active ROSE workshop with 26 participants. The success of both events are to a great extent due to the organization by Suan (and of course his many colleagues). In the ROSE workshop, we also benefited a lot from his professional expertise regarding psychometrics, statistics and survey studies as well as thorough knowledge about cultural differences. Great thanks to him! (Norway)

 

("Shu-Nu Chang" <shunu@ms3.url.com.tw> ) Thanks for your wonderful organization for IOSTE. I enjoyed it and learned a lot from that. (Chinese-Taipei)

 

("lew leeyuen" <leeyuenlew@hotmail.com>,<leeyuen.lew@liu.edu>) Thank you very much for an excellent symposium. I have both enjoyed and learned. Thank you Yoong Suan and members of the organizing committee for all the hard work done. The symposium went smoothly and it is clear that everything was carefully planned and very well organized.  (USA)

 

(Betty Dlamini <betty@uniswacc.uniswa.sz>) Just to tell you that I had a safe and enjoyable trip and am now back home and at work already (We are opening after a long vacation). I would like to say most sincerely thank you for a wonderful conference and for looking after us so well. I told my family about my experience upon returniong yesterday and they are talking
about planning a holiday in Malaysia. (Swaziland)

 

(Jari Lavonen <jari.lavonen@helsinki.fi>) I am now safely home after sitting 21 hours in the aeroplane.I like once more thank you, Suan, and all your colleagues about the wonderful conference. I learn a lot and get new interesting friends. (Finnland)

 

(oon peytee <oonpeytee@yahoo.com>) Yes, I did enjoy (the Symposium). As a novice presenter, I had learned a lot from this conference. (Malaysia)

 

("Terry Lyons" <terry.lyons@une.edu.au>) I would like to thank you again for organising an excellent conference. It was smoothly run and I think everyone had a very worthwhile time, both professionally and personally (the food was also wonderful, though I put on some weight which I now have to lose). Considering the importance of each symposium to the organisation, you and your team have given IOSTE a big boost which will sustain it for the next two years. (Australia)

 

(Berna Gücüm <gucum@hacettepe.edu.tr> ) We arrieved our cauntry in healty.It was an excellent organization. I love too much Penang and Malesian people. I thank you for every thing again. I am so happy for the desicion of the IOSTE related with the next meeting..I hope to see you in Izmir on 2008 (Turkey)

 

("Moyra Keane" <keanem@science.wits.ac.za> ) I have never propoerly thanked you for the wonderful conference, for your attention and care. The whole conference had a spirit of friendliness with professionalism. I also owe you thanks for the sponsorship offered me that allowed me to attend. I am very grateful for this as without out I would have missed a wonderful experience and opportunity. I look forward to seeing you in Turkey. May the year go well for you and your colleagues. (South Africa)

 

(Vincentas Lamanauskas <vincentaslamanauskas@yahoo.com> & Rytis Vilkonis) Thank once again for warm welcome in Penang during IOSTE symposium. It was great chance to communicate with people from all the world. Such symposium is of great importance for development of natural science education. We hope, that each participant of a symposium was glad for an opportunity to visit your remarkable country. We wish to you and your colleagues big success in the future. (Lithuania)