Universities in the country need to exploit the social media to educate its students in line with the changing environment.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the social media not only connect people but can also become a teaching medium in learning and co-curriculum activities.

"We need to change with the times. During our time it was typewriters being used, our students now live in the computer era.

"Social media awareness emerged in a new form whereby social work is given a new definition such as education in loving the country, or patriotism," he told reporters after officiating the pre-launch of the national conference on student affairs management in collaboration with Universiti Malaya (UM) and Taylor's University, here Monday.

The three-day conference starting Feb 25 at the One World Hotel, Petaling Jaya, will touch on graduate marketability, the encultration of entrepreneurship and volunteerism.