myAlumni: News

UCSI UNIVERSITY & THE GOVERNMENT OF YEMEN INKS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Kuala Lumpur, 19 December 2008 - Yemen’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Dr. Mohamed Mohmed Almotaher and UCSI University’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Associate Professor Lachman Tarachand signed a Memorandum of Understanding which provides subsidized tuition fees for Yemeni students at UCSI University.

Yemen students who are sponsored by the Yemeni government or Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education will be eligible for a discount to alleviate the cost of producing quality graduates for a nation facing economic challenges.

Yemen is ranked 153 out of 177 on the Human Development Index of 2007 – 2008. The report shows that half of its population still live under the poverty line and suffer widespread unemployment and illiteracy. Despite this, the oil-rich country is determined to produce quality graduates to develop its economy and international standing. Striving to be on par with the rest of the world in the education sector, the country has invested millions to build new universities, colleges and schools.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed reiterated however that it was still vital for Yemeni students to seek tertiary education in more developed countries like Malaysia. “The experience they gain from seeing other countries will broaden their minds, and open possibilities for what they can do for our country upon their return,” he said. Impressed with UCSI University’s homegrown degree programmes and state-of-the art facilities, he has also expressed his desire to send more Yemeni students here, after hearing much positive feedback from current students.

It doesn’t take long for new Yemeni students to settle down in their new surrogate home. Mahmood Abdullah Ali Al-Dumagy, who has been at UCSI University for two months says that he is really grateful to study in Malaysia and UCSI University. "I can walk into the computer lab anytime I want to and surf the Internet, which was unimaginable back in Yemen," he says. Another Yemeni student, Ali Mohammed Mahmood says that he was awed when he stepped into the engineering lab. "I spend most of my time there now, as I am able to experiment, and work on my research whenever I am free."

Most of all, their educational experience here will enable them to serve their country and help their families. Mohammed Abdulhameed Ahmed Ali hopes that he will be able to complete his Masters degree here, and return to Yemen to build his hometown and provide for his family. "UCSI University and Malaysia will always be in my heart for helping me out with my higher education, but home, is still home, and I hope I can take whatever that I have learnt here to make a better tomorrow for Yemen," he says.

RED RIBBON CHARITY WALK BY UCSI UNIVERSITY

Kuala Lumpur, 6 December 2008 - UCSI University’s School of Nursing took a bold step towards HIV/AIDS awareness in conjunction with this year’s World AIDS Day.

They organised a “Red Ribbon Charity Walk,” supported by Rukun Tetangga Taman Midah Zon B and the Rotaract Club of Kuala Lumpur.

Dr. Mazliza Said, Clinical Specialist from the Department of Medicine and Infectious Disease Unit at the Sungai Buloh Hospital was the special guest at the event. She shared vital information and statistics on the spread of the HIV virus and AIDS in Malaysia.

"The first patient diagnosed as HIV positive was back in 1986 and to date, there are 80,936 HIV positive patients identified in Malaysia,” she said.

She added, “However, these numbers are not fully accurate, as many do not come forward due to the social stigma it carries. There is also a great shift in the demographics of HIV positive patients. It is now the ‘average Joe and Jane’ who is HIV positive.”

Group President and Vice Chancellor of UCSI University, Peter T. S. Ng, in his speech, acknowledged that AIDS is here to stay, and it is not just a problem for the “other people” but rather an issue for all of us --- you and I. In short, the whole community!

This event aimed to highlight the university’s collective responsibility in transforming attitudes towards those afflicted with HIV/AIDS, and to encourage actions that can stop its spread.

UCSI University School of Nursing students, members of the Rukun Tetangga Taman Midah Zon B and the Rotaract Club of Kuala Lumpur turned up in full force to join this charity walk. The group, numbering more than 250, wove their way round the commercial area of Taman Midah, including the night market and distributed pamphlets on HIV and AIDS while carrying candles symbolizing support for the afflicted.

The charity walk also raised funds amounting to more than RM5,000 to support HIV-infected children at Rumah WAKE 1 (Pertubuhan Wanita dan Kesihatan, Kuala Lumpur), an NGO set up by the late Ms. Catherine I. J. Arumanayagam.

Rumah Wake 1 has 14 children of all races and religion, aged 2 to 14 years. The children are provided regular treatment at the Pediatric Institute, Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Seven of these children are on HAART medication (combined antiretroviral therapy of 3 drugs).

Encik Abu Bakar Jalaluddin, President of WAKE said, “I am very grateful that UCSI University’s School of Nursing spearheaded this effort to raise funds for WAKE, along with the rest of the Taman Midah community and the Rotaract Club of Kuala Lumpur. As this silent epidemic makes its presence felt within the community in the decades to come, the work begun today will help increase the understanding that HIV and AIDS is a communal issue rather than an individual one.”

UCSI UNIVERSITY’S ENGINEERING STUDENTS RECEIVE HONOUR FROM NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Kuala Lumpur, 5 December 2008 - UCSI University and National Instruments (NI), a pioneer in virtual instrumentation, came together to recognise and award engineering undergraduate students for their efforts in using NI technologies to conceptualize and create innovative applications that will benefit society. Earlier this year, UCSI University’s engineering students, Mimi Iriana (Indonesia) and Joshua Tan Wai Kiat, together with their mentor and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Built Environment, Mr. Rodney Tan Hean Gay won an honorary mention in the annual Virtual Instrumentation Applications Contest hosted by NI ASEAN.

The team managed to impress the judges with their invention, the Distance Monitoring System (DMS) which can be applied to monitor toddlers and young children through FM radio transmitters. Mimi explained that, “The DMS alerts parents when their children stray beyond a safe distance. The sensors are inserted into cute toys which can be pinned onto the child’s clothes or hung as a key-chain on the child’s bag.”

Finalists from the competition were also invited to do a short presentation on their inventions. Tan Aik Chun and Yeap Khai On presented their invention called the PortRaff, a portable system which resolves traffic congestion by replacing damaged traffic lights temporarily. Sugumeran, a final year engineering student, presented his invention which could accurately gauge the exact amount of electricity used from an electrical power point, which in turns helps users save energy.

Mr. Rodney Tan, who also works closely with UCSI University’s Center of Research Excellence (CRE) said “The NI paper contest is an excellent platform to feature our students’ projects and compete amongst the best brains in the engineering and scientific arena in South-East Asia. It is a good opportunity for our students to hone their analytical minds and cultivate their skill sets to face the challenges of tomorrow’s environment.”

“It is truly laudable that these undergraduate students are able to apply practical knowledge and classroom theories to conceptualise and create real-world applications that are beneficial to today’s tumultuous society,” said Chandran Nair, managing director for NI ASEAN. “One of National Instruments’ initiatives is to play a significant role in educating and nurturing engineering students; and the NI paper contest is a perfect avenue for those budding engineers and scientists to witness the transition of their ideas from paper to reality.”

UCSI UNIVERSITY, A PARTNER IN THE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 November 2008 - UCSI University was among 100 Malaysian partners taking part in the Global Entrepreneurship Week – an event which brings together millions of young people from around the world to engage and generate new ideas and practical solutions for our future.

Held from 17^th to 23^rd November, students at UCSI University attended a series of seminars to optimize their budding innovation instincts, and creativity in the field of entrepreneurship.

The first speaker in the series was Jimmy Yeoh, inventor of world-renowned educational boardgame, Math Magic. He talked on his experiences as a budding entrepreneur, and the alternative ways of creating a successful business model, particularly through the Internet. He advised the audience on business start-up techniques, from developing a relevant business map, to evaluating competitors and market size to sustaining one’s business.

The second speaker in the series was a group of successful businesswomen from Mission Advance Group who coached students on the motivational aspects of entrepreneurship. Ms Carol Cheong, one of the consultants for the company showed how specific mind-mapping ways and positive thinking got her motivated to pursue a career in the business field. The women also approached the students in a hands-on manner, and did not use power point slides; rather they had a one-on-one session which encouraged feedback from the students.

UCSI University greatly encourages entrepreneurship. From the very first semester, students are exposed to campus programmes dedicated to hone their entrepreneurial skills. Two big industry players, telecommunications giant, Digi and herbal icon Himalaya have been engaged in a smart partnership with the University, under the Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Zone (2EZ) programme.

The 2EZ programme trains participating students in key areas of business, such as Management, Human Resource, Marketing Strategy, Accounting and Administration. Students are provided a physical space within the campus with a retail booth, are groomed to think creatively and expand their talents to promote products. This also hones brand advertising skills through actual sales transactions on campus.

UCSI UNIVERSITY IS COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Kuala Lumpur, 31 October 2008 - UCSI University was presented the Company of the Year award by the Malaysia Canada Business Council (MCBC) during its 5^th Annual Business Excellence Award ceremony, last night.

The award was given to the University in recognition of its exceptional growth and commitment to excellence. Within two decades, UCSI University rapidly metamorphosed from a computer training centre with two computers to a four-campus institution in four states, spanning 231.04 acres. On 6^th of October this year, it was officially conferred the coveted University status, constituting another milestone in the history of the institution.

Participating companies were judged by standards set by the National Quality Institute of Canada utilising the Canadian Framework for Business Excellence, which was tailored to suit the Malaysian Business context. The pre-selection committee and the panel of judges are all closely linked to various industries in Malaysia.

The criteria for the MCBC Business Excellence Awards are interrelated core principles, values and concepts such as leadership through involvement, strategic planning with a focus on continuous improvement, and performance measures based on creating added-value through business process improvement.

UCSI University was one of three finalists in the same category. The other two finalists were TexCycle Sdn. Bhd, a company dedicated to recycling and recovery of waste, and MMVitaoils, a world leader in the downstream palm oil industry.

MCBC is a private, non-profit organisation, established in Kuala Lumpur in 1989 to foster ties between Canada and Malaysia. Canada was one of the first countries to forge bilateral relations upon Malaysia’s independence in 1957. Malaysia and Canada have since enjoyed a close, symbiotic relationship in trade, social, cultural and education matters.

UCSI University has ties with Canada as well. UCSI University students can participate in the International Degree Pathway programme, where they can be transferred to Canada and obtain a degree from any one of the University’s partner institutions.

With another prestigious award on the shelves of UCSI University, the institution will certainly continue on its pathway towards excellence.

UCSI UNIVERSITY, A RESEARCH UNIVERSITY

Kuala Lumpur, 31 October 2008 - A representation from the Ministry of Science Technology and Research (MOSTI) visited UCSI University recently to prepare academic researchers for the future wave.

The event was jointly organized by UCSI University’s Center for Research Excellence (CRE) and MOSTI. It provided a platform for MOSTI to share information on technology research funding as well as avenues for knowledge-sharing between research institutions. They also established a discussion forum between researchers and ministry officials.

After being recently conferred with a University status, UCSI University is gearing itself towards becoming a research powerhouse. The University is already actively pursuing research and scholarly activities in a wide range of fields through the unified efforts of its various academic schools and programs. Students here are encouraged by their lecturers to venture into research, and they have won numerous awards across the country for their innovative ideas.

The most recent award was bagged at the Virtual Instrumentation Applications Contest 2008. Engineering students, Mimi Iriana (Indonesia) and Joshua Tan Wai Kiat with their mentor and lecturer, Mr. Rodney Tan Hean Gay won an honorary mention in the competition for their invention, the Distance Monitoring System (DMS), which, can be applied to monitor toddlers and young children using FM radio transmitters. The honorary mention is especially meaningful, as the competition was tough. In fact, it was larger than life so to speak, for the UCSI University team was competing against daunting counterparts from Sony and Sanyo — venerable conglomerates that need no introduction.

UCSI University believes in a rich worldview and a plethora of ideas to produce competent, confident and consummate graduates.

Through its internationalization efforts, many reputable lecturers and staff members from around the world are now engaged at UCSI University to spearhead research and knowledge development. Our lecturers have also been appointed to various research editorial boards.

The latest appointee is Professor Dr. Hikmat Said S. Salim from the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Built Environment. He is now a member of the editorial board of Energy Resources and a reviewer for the Petroleum Science & Technology journal published by Taylor & Francis, United Kingdom. Both international journals are peer reviewed and are highly esteemed in the global energy industry.

UCSI IS A UNIVERSITY

Kuala Lumpur, 23 October 2008 - University College Sedaya International (UCSI) announced today that it has officially received its university status from the Ministry of Higher Education and will henceforth be renamed UCSI University.

According to Chancellor Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad, “The conferment of university status to UCSI is testimony of the high quality of education and commitment to service excellence of all UCSI University staff (both academic and administrative). This new status confirms that we have exceeded expectations.“

Founder, Group President and Vice Chancellor of UCSI University, Peter T. S. Ng said, “UCSI University had humble beginnings and in the past 22 years we have continued to excel as a premier institution of higher learning. It has contributed much to the national private education landscape and even invested millions of ringgit to provide quality education in several states.”

He said that UCSI University now has 3 separate campuses: one in Kuala Lumpur, one in Kuala Terengganu and also another in Kuching, Sarawak. UCSI University had announced at the beginning of February this year that it had acquired 160 acres of land in the Negeri Sembilan “Knowledge Valley” at Bandar Springhill, which will be developed as its main campus. This new complex will also house its corporate headquarters, an international school and a state-of-the-art 500 bed medical facility. It will also feature a centre dedicated to continuous research into Blue Ocean Strategy, an incubation centre for UCSI University’s subsidiaries and R&D spin-off companies, an applied nursery for research, and commercial facilities for the green industry to promote eco-tourism in Malaysia and the inclusion of facilities for Marine Biology studies.

Our commitment is to be major player in the Malaysian economy, not only in the education sector, but also in generating foreign income from non-education sectors,” added Group President Ng.

UCSI UNIVERSITY'S 4TH ANNUAL AWARDS DAY

Kuala Lumpur, 9 October 2008 - UCSI University recently held its annual Awards Day with scholarships worth more than RM2 million awarded to students.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Yang Berhormat Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron, was the guest-of-honor at the gala event.

Almost 700 recipients received awards in 10 different categories. These included the much coveted President's Award, Overall Achievement Award, the Tan Sri Ahmad Razali Scholarship, and the Dean’s List Award.

In his speech, Datuk Haji Idris spoke highly of UCSI University's holistic curricula which emphasized academic excellence, practical experience and communication skills.

He also congratulated staff and students of UCSI University upon learning that employers retained almost 90% of UCSI University interns as full-time staff after graduation. The figure was impressive by any industry yardstick. Clearly, the curricula formula developed in-house was finding many industry takers.

"UCSI University's quality education which, is designed to produce a competent and skilled workforce to spearhead national development, will certainly contribute greatly towards achieving the national vision of making Malaysia a developed nation by the year 2020," he said.

One of the nine recipients of the President's Award this year was Eunice Au Yan Hoong, a 2^nd year Mass Communications student. She stated that her achievements would not have been possible if it were not for her parents and lecturers who created a wonderful support system for achieving excellence. "My parents made sure that I didn't neglect my studies, while my lecturers always went out of their way to ensure that I understood the subjects," she said.

This year's Awards Day marked UCSI University’s success in producing competent, all-round graduates who exhibit their tenacity and dedication, either in academia and or in extra-curricular fields.

Aside from the recipients of various scholarships and awards as well as their parents, various dignitaries from Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan also graced the event.

CREATING FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH UCSI'S BEST BUDDIES

Kuala Lumpur, 20 September 2008 Best Buddies is a well-known international non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Its accredited international programme is implemented across six continents, and UCSI University distinguishes itself by being the first Malaysian chapter.

UCSI University’s College Best Buddies, with its tagline, “I see you, Kawanku” is one of six divisions in the overall organization. The other five are: Best Buddies Middle School, Best Buddies High School, Best Buddies Citizens, Best Buddies Jobs and e-buddies.

Through the programme, one special child will be paired with a UCSI University student for one academic year to fulfill the objectives stated above. All students will be screened for compatibility of language and personality by UCSI University Best Buddies advisor, Ms. Teow Ker Shin. “All potential student candidates must complete a membership application and matching survey before they are chosen to be paired off with a special child,” she says. She also adds that all volunteers go through a stringent training process before they are chosen, to ensure that both student and child will be comfortable with each other. Once they are paired, the students are committed to make weekly phone calls, and monthly visits to their buddies. “For the children, having friends outside of their normal network raises their status in society,” says Pauline Wong, Assistant Director of Children Services of Malaysian Care, another NGO.

MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL IN THE HEART OF UCSI

Kuala Lumpur, 19 September 2008 - The beat of the 24 Chinese drums signalled the start of UCSI’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Almost one thousand students and members of the public thronged the open area between UCSI’s academic blocks, visiting food and games stalls that were put up for the event. UCSI Group President and Vice Chancellor, Peter Ng was the guest of honour, and officiated the event by lighting a candle in a giant lantern built by the students. The event was organised through the dedication and hardwork of members from the UCSI Chinese Cultural Society (CCS).
The lighting ceremony was the climax of the night, as President Peter Ng lit the candle, and passed it on to the president of the Chinese Cultural Society, Tan Kian Shing. It took less than two minutes for everyone’s candle to be lit, as strangers became friends with the passing of the flame. As paper lanterns everywhere were being lit up, a group of students from SMK Taman Connaught treated the crowd to various tunes on their traditional Chinese instruments. This was followed by performances such as the Chinese yo-yo (Che Ling), a traditional Chinese comedy cross-talk, a lucky draw, modern dances and singing by UCSI students.
Many among the crowd were international students who were there to experience the Mid-Autumn festival for the first time. Engineering students, Muthana, Raad and Yousif from Iran were among them. “It was really special event, and I have never seen one quite like it before. I’m glad that I have the opportunity to experience it,” Muthana says. Naseem, from Iraq was also one of the visitors at the festival: he and his sister came all the way from University Malaya to be at the event. “There was a lot of hype about the event, and I wanted to see for myself what it was like,” Naseem says.

CELEBRATING FRIENDSHIP AND FREEDOM AT INDEPENDENCE DAY FIESTA

Kuala Lumpur, 16 September 2008 - Three nations came together at UCSI University to celebrate their respective Independence Day. The national anthem for Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam echoed in UCSI University’s main lobby area where students always gather as everyone stood to attention. It was the start of the Independence Day Fiesta, and for the next two days, students from Indonesia and Vietnam shared with their Malaysian friends their unique culture and traditions, while local students worked together to show everyone their solidarity and appreciation for one another. The event aimed at providing an opportunity for students to explore the unique cultures and traditions of countries represented at UCSI. Apart from that, it was also to remind the students that one’s national day can always be celebrated in a fun and memorable way with everyone else. The students did just that, with the setting up of many interesting stalls in the lobby. The traditional games stall gave an opportunity for students to spin the gasing, a hand made, wood spinning top. Other games included Chinese Checkers and marbles. Other stalls served food that was unique to each country. Vietnamese fried meehoon, curry puffs and nasi lemak were quickly snapped up while the Indonesian students sold their batik and other souvenir items at their stall.
The students also worked together to present a unique fashion show which showcased the traditional costumes of the various ethnic groups in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Balinese costumes, Cheongsam, Baju Melayu and Kebaya, Sari, the Vietnamese Ao Dai and the Iban costumes were all eye openers, particularly for the international students who make up a quarter of the student population here. They were also treated to a musical showcase, featuring many traditional and modern performances. A Balinese dance performed by an Indonesian student enthralled the crowd.

KEEPING MERDEKA IN THEIR HEARTS

Kuala Lumpur, 31 August 2008 - Merdeka is not an occasion one celebrates once a year, and leave aside to be forgotten until the next year. More than an annual event, we are living it everyday, as we busy ourselves with work and studies. We all have our own ways to show that we are proud of our nation, even when not all of us are able to showcase it in a special way come 31 August.

Every student in Malaysia is directly involved in building Malaysia for a better tomorrow. UCSI students find different ways to show their pride in Malaysia, what it means to be Malaysians and how being away from one’s homeland can truly make one miss it.

Nadia Nur Ayumi Bt. Amir Hamzah is one of ten A-Levels students celebrating their Merdeka this year by participating in the National Day Parade. For her, being a part of the national day parade this year was a way for her to keep sweet memories of independence day when she goes to the United Kingdom to study next year. “I want to be able to tell my future classmates, what it is like to celebrate Merdeka, and what it means to us,” she says. The ten students, all girls, cite the same reason for their participation in the parade, apart from their passion for marching.

Absence does make the heart grow fonder, and it certainly was the case with Stephanie Liew, UCSI’s current Student Council President. “Honestly, I never really felt any pride for my country until I was living in someone else’s. I was in New Zealand, attending a school there when I realized just how unique my country was. They were fascinated with my ability to speak many languages, and were interested to learn about our history,” she said. Ever since then, Stephanie has felt nothing but pride for Malaysia, and a strong determination to make her own mark in the country, starting at UCSI.

WRITING SONGS WITH HEART AND SOUL

Kuala Lumpur, 13 August 2008 - Students from the Contemporary Music degree programme of UCSI today held their song-writing concert for the public. The students performed 10 original pieces to an awed audience at the UCSI auditorium. They were treated to songs from a range of genres, from a Chinese pop ballad, to a hard metal number. The 20-odd students were all from the song-writing class, a core subject, under the tutelage of Mr. James Phillip Sheng Boyle. Punctual and orderly, the concert showcased not only their talents as singers and song-writers, but also their ability to organise a successful event.

I keep on running, keep on fighting what I want it to be, I’ll never give up, no matter what it could be,” were the lyrics for the opening number, which like a diary, tells so much about the person who wrote it. Tommy Chan, who wrote and performed I’ll Never Give Up, said “I wrote the song to give myself encouragement to persevere in my studies and everyday life.” The haunting but melodious tunes from Silvia in Hanya Darimu spoke of the realization that her achievements to date would not have been possible without divine guidance. Next came Sean who wrote, sang and played lead guitar to the hard metal number Don’t Care. He admitted to writing the song at the last minute, and said that the song was an outlet for him to vent his frustrations about certain things in life and provide him emotional peace after it was written.

Pei Saan, sang as lead vocal to her original number Believe which is a refreshing Chinese pop ballad. Wei En’s You Were Once Mine and Jeanie and Denis’ Memori Cintaku was about young love, and love lost. Kawai’s Lullaby for Teary Eyes is a song to comfort those who are feeling disenchanted, but are uplifted by their faith in God. Chearn Yau sang about freedom in his coming-of-age song, Flee, while Evelyn Choong’s Ho Ya Hi Ya He and Wei Keat and Derene’s Stop Wasting Time were a musical treat for the senses, with almost the whole class playing an instrument to the scores.

This concert is part of the students’ final year projects which are usually held in classrooms. This time however, their lecturer, Mr. James Boyle, suggested that they try a different approach, and organise a public concert instead. “This way, the students feel a greater sense of pride in their work, and we get to showcase their music to the public,” he said.

All of the students go through the process of finding the right melody, harmony and preferred style for their songs. “Some are better at writing ballads, while others are more apt at writing songs with a fast tempo. We try to identify their strengths and use them in the process of writing the song,” he added. Melinda Sik, a student from the Contemporary Music course and emcee for the night quips, “It isn’t hard to write a song, but it’s hard to write a good song.” This explanation makes one appreciate the students’ efforts even more, notwithstanding the sterling quality of the songs performed.

PLAYING IT TO THE HILT FOR CHARITY

Kuala Lumpur, 1 August 2008 - UCSI’s English Literature Class today staged a modern take to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice with part of the proceeds of their ticket sales going to Pusat Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Harmoni. UCSI’s auditorium was packed half an hour before the show started last night at 8 p.m. The main characters in the play were Eunice Au as Shylock, Dwina S. Adinda as Antonio, Louis Lim as Lancelot, Carmen Chow as Portia and Narvinder Jit Singh as Bassanio. Directed by Mohd Nur Uzair and assisted by Yvonne Lee, the mostly female cast elicited tumultuous applause at the end and lots of laughter in between.

The same class had in the middle of July, organised a charity bazaar, with its proceeds channelled to the same centre. The theatre production is aimed at promoting a more acute appreciation towards literature as well as challenging the students to produce a full-fledged theatre production independently. Eunice Au, one of the main cast members who played the key character, Shylock, said, “We definitely got a better understanding of the play, Merchant of Venice and will be able to ace any final exam questions about the She went on to say that the production would not have been possible if it was not for their lecturer, Ms. Lilian Leong Swee Yoke, Eunice said that, “ It was she who helped us to collaborate with the relevant authorities, rallied other lecturers to support our play, guided us through rehearsals. She had also stayed until late each rehearsal night, and provided help in numerous tasks, big and small, that made our production possible. With just over two months to prepare, rehearsals were conducted on a weekly basis, with up to 7 hours a week just for memorising lines, and perfecting their acting skills. Ms. Lilian also saw to it that the students received the right training from the right people to hone their talents. One such trainer was Mr. Kelvin Wong, the director of the acclaimed local production, How I Learned to Drive.

“Producing a full-scale theatre production helped students to gain self-confidence, while improving their presentation skills. Working in a team inculcates team spirit, and disciplines students as they strive to perfect their acting skills, and memorise lines,” said Ms. Lilian Leong.

PLAYING IT TO THE HILT FOR CHARITY

She went on to say that the production would not have been possible if it was not for their lecturer, Ms. Lilian Leong Swee Yoke, Eunice said that, “ It was she who helped us to collaborate with the relevant authorities, rallied other lecturers to support our play, guided us through rehearsals. She had also stayed until late each rehearsal night, and provided help in numerous tasks, big and small, that made our production possible. With just over two months to prepare, rehearsals were conducted on a weekly basis, with up to 7 hours a week just for memorising lines, and perfecting their acting skills. Ms. Lilian also saw to it that the students received the right training from the right people to hone their talents. One such trainer was Mr. Kelvin Wong, the director of the acclaimed local production, How I Learned to Drive.

“Producing a full-scale theatre production helped students to gain self-confidence, while improving their presentation skills. Working in a team inculcates team spirit, and disciplines students as they strive to perfect their acting skills, and memorise lines,” said Ms. Lilian Leong.

STUDENT ELECTIONS SHAPES LEADERS OF TOMORROW

Kuala Lumpur, 16 June 2008 - UCSI recently held its annual student elections, which saw Stephanie Liew Sze Wei and Pang Huai Yi elected as the Student Council’s President and Vice-President respectively. The student elections is to elect new student leaders who hopefully can raise the quality of student life at UCSI by implementing fresh new ideas during their term in office. It is an independent body that is run entirely by students for students. Its objective is to ensure that the views and needs of students are taken into account by UCSI’s Management. The Student Council acts as the “voice” of the students and addresses numerous issues, big or small.

UCSI STUDENTS ADDS "FLAVOURS" TO CHRESTUS HOME

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 June 2008 - “Everyone from ICS (Indian Cultural Society) has toiled blood, sweat and tears to make sure this event pulls through,” said Ravivarman Arron event director for the night. The lights were dimmed as sounds of “Innisai” reverberated through the UCSI auditorium while the appearance of three girls in elaborate classical Indian dance costumes and ankle bells mesmerized the audience. As they danced in perfect unison, more people were filing into the packed auditorium. Near the front row, twelve children sat back and swayed to the tune of the music. They were the children from the Chrestus Home, a home for abandoned and abused children in Cheras. Tonight however, they were the main stars of this event.

UCSI’s 7th ANNUAL PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN GAINS RECORD NUMBERS

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 June 2008 - UCSI organised and commenced their 7th annual public health campaign at a sponsored venue, Sunway Pyramid from 20 – 22 June 2008. It was an initiative by UCSI’s Faculty of Medical Sciences through collaboration with the School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing. The opening ceremony was officiated by UCSI Chancellor, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad. Deputy Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Professor Chin Peng Kit, Mr. H.C. Chan, Senior General Manager of Sunway Pyramid Sdn. Bhd and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Professor Dr. Yeong Siew Wei was also present at the opening ceremony.

INTERNATIONAL UCSI MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE

KUALA LUMPUR, 11 July 2008 - Music is an international language that traverses across cultures regardless of race, religion or age. Realising this, UCSI has taken the initiative to expose their students to music from around the world to enable them to broaden their musical experience particularly for students pursuing their degree in Music.

Over the past month, UCSI has played host to two international musical guests. They were the Women’s Concert Choir & Bell Ensemble from the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago (Illinois) and Dr. Peter Amstutz, Professor of Piano and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies from the West Virginia University.

UCSI NURSING STUDENTS LEAD THE WAY IN COMMUNITY SERVICE

KUALA LUMPUR, 11 July 2008 - Nursing students from UCSI (University College Sedaya International) today celebrated Nursing Day themed “Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health Care.” Nursing students organised various activities during the 2-day event, such as sales of snacks to raise funds for the Student Nurses’ Association, health screening tests as well as a health exhibition at UCSI’s student area. A seminar featuring talks by faculty members and health care personnel was held at the Multi-purpose Hall during the first day of the event. A blood donation drive also took place, tended by representatives from the National Blood Bank with 150 donors stepping forward to give their blood. The Nursing Day event was also a platform the students used to kick-off fund-raising for their community service project, which will allow the students to do community service at Rumah Sayangan and Rumah Solehah every week.