Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=71533

ICS's International Seminar

The Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) and its Centre for Chinese Studies together with Taipei National Dr Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall jointly organised the “International Seminar on Dr Sun Yat Sen and Nanyang Chinese” (孙中山与南洋华人国际学术研讨会) at Sungai Long Campus on 11 June 2016.

The seminar was set to congregate international scholars with diverse expertise in the relevant disciplines to promote international academic exchange and recognise the influence of Dr Sun Yat Sen on the Southeast Asian Chinese community.

Besides the delegates from the organisers, the seminar also saw the presence of seven Taiwanese universities — National Taiwan University, National Chengchi University, Yuan Ze University, I-Shou University, Hsuan Chuang University, University of Taipei, and Hsin Sheng College of Medical Care and Management. Also present at the seminar were scholars and researchers from local varsities, namely University of Malaya, New Era University College, and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, as well as members from the public and media.

Speaking at the seminar’s opening ceremony, ICS Dean Assoc Prof Dr Chong Siou Wei remarked, “This seminar is a reflection of UTAR’s vision to be a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact. I am glad to witness the success of this meaningful seminar which does not only serve as an international learning platform to the academics, but also the public. I wish that this seminar can also be a timely juncture which can provide scholars the opportunity to explore future collaborations.”

On behalf of Taipei National Dr Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, its Director-General Dr Lin Kuo-Chang said, “Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, has very rich cultural and historical data that is worth examining and being researched. Through this seminar, I also learnt that there are many passionate researchers who have been working very hard on the development of the Chinese communities in Southeast Asia from multiple aspects such as culture, education, economy, and more. I believe such academic collaboration also plays a significant role in informing the public about the historical development of Southeast Asian Chinese.”

The international seminar was divided into four sessions, chaired respectively by ICS’s Adjunct Professor Prof Dr Lim Chooi Kwa, Taipei National Dr Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall’s Director-General Dr Lin Kuo-Chang, Yuan Ze University’s Prof Liu A-Ron, and UTAR Faculty of Creative Industries’ Dr Wu Ming Chu. Topics discussed at the seminar and the list of presenters can be viewed here.


Guests, presenters, and participants of the seminar


Dr Lin (right) presenting a souvenir to Dr Chong

cnvery, can u post the good places to eat around UTAR Kampar?

Any Chinese foodcourts nearby besides coffeeshops?

1) Chan Siew Heng Claypot Chicken Rice Shop (陈少卿瓦褒鸡饭) - RM14.00
This is a restaurant which already spanning over 50 years. The Chan Siew Heng Claypot Chicken Rice was cooked by using charcoal.
The charcoal cooking style differentiates from other modern cooking style.
What mattered most is the traditional cooking style of Chan Siew Heng to cook the yummy dishes, original taste of clay-pot chicken rice had attracted many local and foreign customers.
Address:
47, Jalan Idris, 31900 Kampar, Perak
Tel: 016-560 0321／016-565 8647
Operating Hours：1700-2000
Close on Monday

2) Restoran Yau Kee - RM22 / RM39
Yau Kee is a restaurant which serves halal-food plus the buns. We had the opportunity to experience the bun making process.
Address:
55 & 57, Jalan Idris, 31900 Kampar, Perak
Tel: 05-4651738
Operating Hours：0430-0100

3) Medan Selera Kampar
Address: Between Jalan Masjid & Jalan Ampang,
 31900 Kampar
GPS Coordinates: E101 9′ 1.6″ N4 18′ 51.5″
Operating Hours: 7.30am – 2pm, 7pm-12am

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=71547

MAICSA Talk


FAM Dean Dr Sia Bee Chuan presenting a token of appreciation to Chan

UTAR students were given insights on corporate secretaryship and administration in a talk at the Sungai Long Campus on 14 June 2016. The talk was organised by the Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM) and presented by Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (MAICSA) Chief Executive YC Chan and MAICSA Council Member Nandita Choudhury.

Chan emphasised the importance of professional qualifications in the corporate world and the necessity of improving students’ qualifications. She said, “Extra qualifications make graduates outstanding in the market. Graduates with higher qualifications such as master’s or professional qualifications tend to find jobs easier. There is a record that there are 0% of unemployed graduates from MAICSA.”

Chan elaborated that MAICSA membership can be transferred worldwide through the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) authority body easily and that members do not need to worry about membership not being recognised while working overseas.

Nandita shared her personal working experience during the talk. She highlighted the differences between Chartered Secretaries and clerks. The job of Chartered Secretaries is not to brew coffee for directors or to do all kinds of photocopying. It is a position that instead gains one respect and higher value in the organization as it requires in-depth understanding of corporate law, taxation, corporate governance, and many more to deal with daily governance.


Dr Sia presenting a souvenir to Nandita

Nandita advised the students on improving their standard of language, especially English as it is the most important language in the corporate world. She remarked, “Life is a continuous learning process. We should always learn new things and upgrade ourselves.”

Chan said she was looking forward for more collaboration with UTAR, including in leadership camps, debate competitions, and company visits. Chan added, “Communication is an essential skill in the corporate world. English is the language of business, although we still use Bahasa Malaysia in government-related sectors. So, students should master English confidently, both written and spoken.”

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) operates in more than 70 countries and has more than 35,000 members worldwide. MAICSA was founded in 1959 and membership is limited to members, graduates, students, and affiliates of the institute residing in Malaysia.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=71557

Champion in public speaking


Sivaraj (second from right) and other winners with Dato’ Geethanjali (third from right) and other officials at the prize giving ceremony

A Journalism student from the Faculty of Arts and Social Science emerged champion for the second time in a row in the Intervarsity Bhajan Competition 2016 held on 14 May 2016 at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Selangor.

The final year student, L. Sivaraj walked away with a cash prize worth RM1,000 and a certificate of achievement for his topic on “Sivanin Uruvamum Sivalinga Thathuvamum – A Spiritual Poem on Hindu God”.

Organised by the 1Malaysia Indian Student Movement, the one-day competition was participated by a total of 10 contestants from 10 universities and colleges including University Malaya, UPM, Manipal International University, and Universiti Sains Malaysia. Aimed at promoting and instilling morality, positive values, discipline, and unity among the younger Indian generation, the competition was focussed on topics related to Hindu culture and religion, as well as the Tamil Language. Besides promoting public speaking skills, the competition also aimed to encourage students to get involved in more extracurricular activities in order to arm themselves with more knowledge and skills.

The competition started with the primary round where each contestant must deliver a five to seven-minute impromptu speech on a topic given by the organisers. Contestants were assessed on their ability to speak well and present their thoughts relating to the topic given clearly and effectively.

“Participating in this competition was an enriching experience. It was challenging because most of the contestants were really articulate and well-trained. It was very exciting and we had to think very fast to speak impromptu upon receiving the topic. I have been participating in public speaking competitions and debates since my secondary school days. I always feel happy to join public speaking competitions. Public speaking in Tamil is my passion. I would like to enhance my skills further by joining more and more competition in the future,” said Sivaraj.

He added, “I would like to thank my parents, lecturers, and friends who have been supporting and encouraging me throughout my journey. I also would like to thank UTAR for giving me this opportunity to represent the university in this competition. I would also like to thank UTAR’s Centre for Foundation Studies Lecturer Gangadurai Ganeson for helping and encouraging me a lot during my preparation period.”

The guest of honour who gave the prizes was G Team Works Group Berhad President and Malaysian Association of Women Empowerment (MyWomen) President Datin Sri Dato’ Geethanjali G. Also present at the prize giving ceremony were 1Malaysia Indian Student Movement Director Mahaganapathy Dass, Hindu Association of UPM President Kanageswari Singgaraveloo, and Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party President Datuk R.S. Thanenthiran.

Read about Sivaraj’s past achievement here:
http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=25591

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=71563

Win at Blossom Short Film Contest


Student winners with Beh and Dr Chin

Four teams of students made UTAR proud by winning several awards in the Blossom Arts Festival Malaysia (BAFM) 2016 Blossom Short Film Contest. The competition was organised by the Malaysian Chinese Culture and Arts Consultative Council, with the prize giving ceremony held on 17 June 2016 at Wisma MCA.

The UTAR teams each consisted of eight individuals, and they clinched four out of five prizes in the student category. Faculty of Creative Industries Dean Dr Chin Yee Mun presented at the prize giving ceremony.


From left: BAFM Chairman Datin Paduka Chew, Contest Judge Leonard Tee, and 988 Radio Station DJ Wang Piao Ming

UTAR Faculty of Creative Industries’ Department of Media Head Beh Chun Chee said, “The primary objective of this competition is to encourage the younger generation to share their stories, as well as the hidden sides of our motherland, to the public through short films.”

BAFM Chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun remarked, “Short films are very challenging because the director needs to be sensitive enough to construct an exposition in limited time to convey information or stories. Through organising a short film contest, the potential of the younger population in film production can be explored, and at the same time, the resulting short films can be promoted as they function to enlighten and analyse things from different perspectives. I also hope that the social values and thoughts of the younger generation can be presented through the lens organically.”


Champion: Aaron Wong and teammate receiving certificates and presents from Datin Paduka Chew and Dr Chin

One of the BAFM Blossom Short Film Contest Judges, Leonard Tee expressed his appreciation for the students’ designs, sincerity, creativity, and ideas, although there was indeed room for improvement in filming skills. Wang Piao Ming, another judge who is also a DJ of 988 radio station, said, “I was impressed by the students’ seriousness and sincerity. But I hope students can start to learn how to express something with full text, complete punctuation, and comprehensive expressions to enhance the skills, effects, and characteristics of the film.”


First runner-up: Lee Shin Shyuan and teammates


Second runner-up: Yap Yean Mei and teammate

Aaron Wong Kang Yong, whose team was crowned champion of the student category with the film “The Tin Star”, said, “My members and I were from different backgrounds and we were not familiar with each other before participating in this contest. But after spending three months together, we are now good friends and partners. We have experienced a lot of difficulties including a change of theme, language barriers, and differences of opinion. We are glad that we overcame all of them to get thefinal version of our film.”

“24”, which was directed by Lee Shin Shyuan won second place in the contest. Lee expressed her happiness by saying, “There are so many people who do not know that the 24 Festive Drums originated from Malaysia. We hope that people’s curiosity can be piqued to explore the history, development, and background of the 24 Festive Drums through this film. The most difficult part during production was when we carried the drums to the top of a mountain to get the best view for our film. But we obtained such an encouraging result today and we feel that all the effort we put in was worth it.”


Fifth Place: Chew Meng Jiun and teammates

Yap Yean Mei’s team won third place with their film titled “The Legacy of Sungai Lembing”. She said,“We wish to show the other side of Sungai Lembing to the world through the film. Our team members believe that being of the younger generation, it is our obligation to inherit the cultural heritage, to promote the beautiful side of our hometown, and to let the world understand the dilemma of cultural loss.”

Timothy Chang Siao Yiao and Chew Meng Jiun’s teams won the fourth place and fifth place respectively with their films titled “Think About it” and “25oc”. The winners received cash, presents, and certificates.


Contest Winners and Organising Committee

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=72583

SRC handover ceremony

New Student Representative Council (SRC) duties were once again officially passed down from outgoing SRC members of 2015/2016 to members of 2016/2017 during a handover ceremony on 30 June 2016 at Kampar Campus.

The ceremony, organised by the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), was held to welcome the new sworn in members of both Kampar Campus and Sungai Long Campus, and also to give recognition and appreciation to outgoing members of 2015/2016.

Present to witness the ceremony were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Acting Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Institute of Chinese Studies Dean Dr Chong Siou Wei, Faculty of Business and Finance Dean Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Dr Tan Kok Tat, Centre for Foundation Studies Kampar Campus Director Tan Lee Siew, Department of Student Affairs Kampar Campus Head Chiang Jeng Fong, and Department of Student Affairs Sungai Long Campus Head Loh Nyuk Leung, along with 68 SRC members of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017.

Thanking the outgoing members for their past effort and dedication, Prof Chuah also congratulated the incoming members by offering pieces of advice during his speech. They included time management, teamwork, community engagement and others which are crucial aspects to the personal and intellectual growth of the new SRC members, as well as the vitality of UTAR’s vibrant student community.

“Being an SRC member is challenging as you need to juggle your studies and duties, but it also allows you to learn how to manage your time wisely,” said Prof Chuah, who also reminded them on the importance of working collectively as a team and that the SRC will be a platform to groom them into becoming future leaders.

To complement UTAR’s initiatives in community engagement projects, Prof Chuah encouraged the SRC members to help propagate good practices mooted by the University management and to promote meaningful campaigns aimed at helping the students and the university community. Prof Chuah also shared examples such as the promotion of green campus concept through SRC, whereby students are encouraged to go green by cycling or walking to the university, as a way to help reduce carbon emission. Health and safety campaigns were also among the highlighted suggestions for the SRC members.


Prof Chuah delivering his speech

SRC Kampar Chairperson of 2015/2016 Choong En Di also spoke on his experiences and mentioned that SRC members should bear in mind SRC’s role in bridging the gap between students and the university management. He offered his gratitude to the lecturers and DSA officers in charge for their patience and guidance that have led to the success of SRC in various activities.

Throughout his tenure as a chairperson, Choong discovered the importance of interpersonal communication and networking which are crucial for tasks to be carried out swiftly and effectively. “Learning interpersonal communication in my study and applying it in my duties have certainly showed me how helpful and important it is for leadership,” shared the final year Psychology student.

Concurring with Choong, Sungai Long SRC Chairperson of 2015/2016 Chai Yong Se Nian also advised the newly elected SRC members to always be supportive of their teammates. “As a team, you must show your unity and strength in walking through tough times together. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, which, at times, may be difficult to reach an agreement. However, it is through the process that we discover our strengths and weaknesses, then learn to improve ourselves by putting aside the differences and achieve a common goal together,” said the Chemical Engineering student.


Outgoing SRC chairpersons Choong (left) and Chai (right) delivering their speeches

The outgoing SRC members were then awarded with certificates of appreciation, followed by the handover ceremony and a group photograph session.


Prof Choong (centre in red tie) posing with outgoing Kampar SRC members of 2015/2016 after presenting the appreciation certificate


Prof Chuah (centre) posing with outgoing Sungai Long SRC members of 2015/2016 after presenting the appreciation certificate


From left: Newly elected SRC chairpersons Ng Zi Kent and Liew Siong Hian, Prof Chuah, Prof Choong, Choong and Chai

Sungai Long SRC 2016/2017 :

Chairperson: Ng Zi Kent, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Vice Chairperson: Loh Kin Huat, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechatronics Engineering

Secretary: Derrick Sue Zi Xian, Bachelor of Accounting (Hons)

Treasurer: See Boon Hui, Bachelor of Science (Hons) Quantity Surveying

Auditor: Mansour Ayman Alawi, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Biomedical Engineering

Campus Wide Representatives: Ng Rui Ying, Bachelor of Accounting (Hons)

Wong King Xuan, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Chemical
Engineering

Yap Yuan Ping, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechatronics
Engineering

Andrik Nge Hau Shuen, Bachelor of International Business (Hons)

Choo Kuen Cheng, Bachelor of International Business (Hons)

Faculty Representatives:

Faculty of Accountancy and Management: Yap Rong Hui, Bachelor of International Business (Hons)

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: Chan Hann-Tarng, Bachelor of Chinese Medicine (Hons)

Faculty of Creative Industries: Daniel Lee Kuan Cheng, Bachelor of Media and Creative Studies (Hons)

Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science: Lim Yiren, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering

International Representative: Juliah Nicole Dacles Sayco, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Civil Engineering


Kampar SRC 2016/2017:

Chairperson: Liew Siong Hian, Bachelor of Marketing (Hons)

Vice Chairperson: Ting Xin Then, Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons)

Secretary: Pang Siau Jun, Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Accounting

Treasurer: Chang Mei Chee, Bachelor of Finance (Hons)

Auditors: Ng Kai Wei, Bachelor Business Administration (Hons) Banking and Finance, and Neoh Chee Hong, Bachelor of Communication (Hons) Public Relations

Campus Wide Representatives: Tan Wei Jia, Bachelor of Finance (Hons)

Tan Yu Jun, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Chinese Studies

Kho Jiat Suan, Bachelor of Communication (Hons) Public Relations

Wong Xue Er, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Chinese Studies

Tan Xin Yi, Bachelor of Communication (Hons) Advertising

Faculty Representatives:

Faculty of Arts and Social Science: Wu Kai Wen, Bachelor of Communication (Hons) Public Relations

Faculty of Business and Finance: Ng Zhi Zhong, Bachelor of Economics (Hons) Financial Economics

Faculty of Science: Ang Teck Chee, Bachelor of Science (Hons) Food Science

Institute of Chinese Studies: Yong Kian Fai, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Chinese Studies

International Representative: Yusra Nasser Ahmed Al Hamed, Bachelor of Social Science (Hons) Psychology

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=72579

A moment with Rayyan Haries


Rayyan (centre) posing with staff and students after the talk

Students received a golden opportunity to broaden their horizons during disaster response volunteer Rayyan Haries’ talk organised by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) on 23 June 2016 at Kampar Campus.

In line with UTAR’s goal to offer learning experiences that instill a strong sense of social responsibility, the talk was organised to inculculate a compassionate heart to serve society among students. The talk also hoped to help students understand that a giving heart goes hand in hand with education, bringing positive outcomes that will significantly impact themselves, families, friends, and society.

Rayyan spoke of his experience in Greece during the Syrian refugee crisis, which allowed students to understand the role played by volunteers in aiding those affected by the crisis. He emphasised the importance of action in a crisis and explained, “There is a need to respond to the refugee crisis, or else our future generation will think that it’s all right not to take action and as a result, problems will worsen.”

Rayyan also shared his encounters while working on his first project in the Phillippines after Typhoon Haiyan hit in 2013. He volunteered himself to help the families and homes affected. Realising that volunteering was more than just offering a helping hand, Rayyan envisioned to do something bigger, which led to the “The Volunteer Cook” initiative, an initiative that provide food to the unfortunate.

The initiative was first conducted at Nepal when the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit in April 2015. It grew with support from the public and continued to expand through volunteering projects around the world. “I realised I was able to do more and that we volunteers were doing something important. Our work could potentially help people move on with their lives after a crisis,” said Rayyan.

In all these crises that he has faced along with the myraid of emotions experienced, he shared one of the many life lessons learnt — the beauty in all these crises is that people overlook their differences to help one another. “At the end of the day, if we ignore all the differences, it’s just a human helping another human,” he said. He continued sharing on the many times people of different backgrounds came together and offered their time to be volunteers.

He positively encouraged students to help in any way possible, such as to provide support or solidarity to those affected by crises, to be a volunteer at centres local or abroad, or to donate to volunteering projects and NGOs.

The talk ended with an interactive Q&A session and a souvenir presentation.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=72580

LSE professor shares business experience


Dr Tony sharing his experiences

London School of Economics and Political Science’s (LSE) Professor Dr Tony Wilson gave a talk titled “Researching the Malaysian consumer: looking beyond the Likert scale” at Sungai Long Campus on 16 June 2016.

Dr Tony, who is a visiting senior research fellow, stressed on the importance of using a hermeneutic perspective to research Malaysian consumers. “With this hermeneutic perspective in the methodology, it enhances the validity and reliability of the qualitative research,” he said.

He emphasised on the best values of “Embodied”, “Equipped”, and “Emplaced” to align with points of interpretation in defining themes and identity that allow reflection on tacit horizons of understanding in the research.

Besides research, Dr Tony is currently writing a book titled Consumption, marketing and practice theories: A hermeneutic perspective for Routledge's Interpretive Marketing Series.

His other works include Global advertising, attitudes and audience (Routledge), Understanding Media Users (Wiley-Blackwell), published articles in the Journal in Qualitative Market Research, and others.

The event was jointly organised by the Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM) and Centre for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSDCSR).

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=72587

Third at AngelHack KL


See, Lau, Tan, and Chan with their mock cheque

When AngelHack said “Anyone can code”, they literally meant anyone of different backgrounds can code. That rang true for a team of UTAR Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) students when they won third place in the Big Data Analytics Challenge at AngelHack Kuala Lumpur 2016. The ninth global hackathon series was held on 4 to 5 June 2016 at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur.

The diverse team, named FindMate, consisted of four students from different programmes, namely Lau Kam Chuan and Chan Yong Jia from the Information Systems Engineering programme, See Ree Na from the Communications and Networking programme, and Tan De Zhern from the Computer Science programme. For their efforts for coming in third, they were awarded RM500.

Gathering code creators and change makers, the hackathon focused on building technologies that will have a positive impact on the world, people, or environment. Supportive of the noble cause, UTAR too educates students to have a caring heart. With its vision to be a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact deeply rooted to its core, UTAR students are nurtured to be individuals who are sociable and with humanitarian understanding.

Applying that understanding in their project — an app that serves to benefit society — the team successfully overcame the strenuous condition of having to complete their project within 24 hours. Pouring all their energy into the project and going up against 90 other teams, the students managed to create a tinder-esque mobile web app named FindMate which assists individuals in finding potential housemates.

The idea behind the creation of this app is the real-life struggle that students and even working adults often face — housemate hunting. As Tan explained, it is often difficult to find roommates or housemates interested in the same rental locations. Thus, the team hopes the app will be a solution to the problem. The app works by allowing registered users to view available rentals listed in the app and when other matching users show interest in the same location, the user will be prompted.

“I am very proud that our team won! It is truly awe-inspiring to see our ideas being launched at the hackathon and building it up from the concept base to a prototype. I look forward to participating in more of these hackathon events and hopefully to developing this winning idea into a fully-functioning product,” enthused Tan.

To be able to realise their ambition, the team joyfully expressed their gratitude to UTAR for being a strong educational platform that has taught them the problem-solving and programming skills that has allowed them to excel at the competition. “It is important to solidify our basics and develop interest in exploring new frontiers while still in our studies. These skills enable us to stand out in the competition and to showcase our project,” commented See.

Sharing his experience from the competition, Chan mentioned, “It was a good place to expose ourselves to new technology, acquire new skills, and to meet new people! I would recommend UTAR students to participate in the next competition.”

Currently the app is not available for download and is still in the prototype phase. The team hopes to expand their efforts and to eventually launch the app.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=72588

UTAR the biggest winner


Fourth from left: Chan, Cha, and Chia posing with the other five winners of the oral and poster competitions and the organisers

Paving further the way to success, UTAR emerged as the biggest winner at the 7th Malaysian Symposium of Biomedical Science 2016 held from 14 to 15 March 2016, at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Themed “Unlocking the Basis of Health and Diseases”, the UPM-organised symposium was a platform that enabled students to present their final year projects, exchange ideas through constructive dialogues, expand their academic network, foster and nurture the importance of research and development, and seek potential research collaborations.

UTAR’s contingent from the Department of Biomedical Science under the Faculty of Science consisted of 32 students and two lecturers, who competed with 400 participants from other participating universities, namely University of Malaya, UPM, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, International Islamic University of Malaysia, International Medical University, Taylor University, Nilai University, Politeknik Malaysia Nilai, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Open University Malaysia, UCSI University, Newcastle University, and Management and Science University.

Of the eight awards in the oral and poster presentation competitions, three final year UTAR Biomedical Science students were awarded the Best Presenter Award, making UTAR the biggest winner in that major competition.

Cha Yong Hong was awarded the Best Poster Presenter in the Biochemistry, Molecular Biology/Cell Biology, and Bioinformatics category. “I believe the reason my poster stood out was my good performance at the Q&A session, which earned praises from the judges. Receiving this award has definitely boosted my confidence and I am immensely grateful to those who helped me throughout this journey,” mentioned Cha.

Supervised by Assoc Prof Dr Chew Choy Hoong, Cha’s winning poster, titled “Multiplex PCR Detection of blaOXA-23, blaOXA-51, and Class 1 Integrase Genes Associated with Carbapenem Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa”, explains on identifying the presence of three resistance genes in Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. These drug-resistant bacteria are viewed as threats to the available antibiotics and usually infect humans with compromised immune system. With his research, Cha will be able to obtain preliminary insight into the main mechanism of resistance in the bacteria towards the antibiotics, and hopefully help solve the concerns of the medical community. Expressing his gratitude to his supervisor, Cha also thanked UTAR for the education he received that has moulded him to be a competent person.

Winning the Best Poster Presenter in the Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Physiology category was Chia Shiow Ling. Surprised to be announced as the winner in that category, Chia mentioned that she was doing her best to convince the judges on the poster she was presenting. “The award gave me more confidence and I am truly motivated knowing that there is room for further improvement in the future,” said Chia.

Under the supervision of Biomedical Science Lecturer Ng Wen Jia, and co-advisor Dr Ee Kah Yaw of the Department of Agricultural and Food Science, Chia expressed her gratitude to them for the guidance in thesis writing and presentation skills. Her winning poster, titled “Physicochemical, Enzymatic Properties, and Antioxidant Capacity of Stingless Bee (Trigona spp.) Honey”, studies the antioxidant capacity of Trigona honey, and the effects of the Trigona physicochemical and enzymatic properties on the antioxidant. “UTAR’s conducive study environment and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment have actually enabled me to conduct my research project more effectively,” enthused Chia.

Best Oral Presenter award in the category of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology was awarded to Chan Szn Yi. Chan participated in the competition with inspiration to share her research project and to inform the public about the issue of the antibiotic resistance that has been worsening over the years. Remembering the words of her supervisor Biomedical Science lecturer Yuen Hawk Leong, “Present as if you are selling a product; be passionate and convince your audience. Do not present for the sake of presentation”, Chan presented well. With issues pertaining E. coli as part of Chan’s research interests, her research, titled “Screening of broad-spectrum antibacterial effects of synthetic peptide PAM-5 against selected pathogenic bacteria”, aims to study the potency of PAM-5 against various bacteria and hopes that the PAM-5 can be developed into a novel antibacterial agent.

“Winning the award has definitely given me confidence and I am all the more determined to pursue my postgraduate studies. I am really grateful to my supervisor for his patience, guidance, and teaching, that have helped me in completing the research,” mentioned Chan, who also added that the team of dedicated and passionate lecturers have nurtured her passion to be a competent biomedical scientist.


UTAR contingent posing after the symposium

well, wats the ranking for utar among malaysia uni ?

UTAR is ranked on multiple international rankings

You may refer link below for easier comparison

Rankings of universities in the Malaysia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rankings_of_u...in_the_Malaysia

Thx

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=72595

TCM Fiesta


TCM Students providing medical treatment and check-ups to the public

UTAR Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Club held a "TCM Fiesta" on 29 to 30 June 2016 at Sungai Long Campus.

Organising Chairperson Tay Ching Sheng said, “The aim of organising the TCM Fiesta was to promote the knowledge of Chinese medicine to the public and community.” It also aimed to enhance the relationship between UTAR and the community and to provide an opportunity for the students to get involved in TCM treatments.


Acupuncture session

UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik said, “I am a supporter of TCM and I have full confidence in it as well. I hoped students of TCM will continue upholding the the spirit of professionalism and contributing to the community, citizenry, and country. I also hope that when students of TCM finish their studies, they will carry out the practice of TCM professionally and pursue higher ethical standards.”

Department of Chinese Medicine Head Dr Te Kian Keong said, “This is the first time that UTAR TCM Club has held such a huge event on campus and our students put in a lot of effort and ideas to ensure the event goes successfully and smoothly. I wish to draw attention to the spirit of teamwork and innovation of the students. This is also the first time that our lecturers and students provided in-campus medical treatment to the public. I hope both lecturers and students can gain more experience through this event and organise more beneficial events like this again in the future.”


A TCM lecturer and student providing free consultation

Among the other VIPs who attended the opening ceremony were Sungai Long Medical Center CEO Alexandra Chong, Sun Ten Pharmaceutical Mfg (M) Sdn Bhd Assistant Marketing Manager Chia Chin Koon, Malaysian Chinese Medical Association (MCMA) Representative Erin Lim Lih Zhe, and UTAR Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Deputy Dean Alan Ong Han Kiat.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=72610

MyMoji Recruitment Showcase


Participants visiting the clubs and societies’ booths

A total of 49 clubs and societies gathered together for the first time for a mass recruitment drive known as “MyMoji Recruitment Showcase” from 6 to 17 June 2016 at the Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, UTAR Kampar Campus.

Jointly organised by the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) and Student Representative Council (SRC) 2015/2016, the inaugural drive was in line with the university’s efforts in providing a supportive and conducive learning environment for students to realise their full potential. It was named MyMoji to reflect various expressions, which akin to emojis depict the participants’ reactions when visiting the booths.

According to Organising Chairperson Liew Siong Hian, it served as a platform for students to register themselves in clubs and societies of their interest, and also a way to embrace them as part of the university’s vibrant student community.

“Joining the activities of the clubs and societies will educate and benefit the members in the long run. As these clubs and societies are run voluntarily by the students, new members will also be able to kindle a sense of leadership within them as they journey further with and work alongside senior members. The decisions they make will teach them to be self-reliant,” said Liew, a Marketing student.

The recruitment drive drew visitors who enriched themselves via exhibitions and mini games, martial arts demonstrations, and performances. The booths present included the Advertising Student Chapter, Agricultural and Food Science Society, AIESEC, Arts and Craft Society, Asian Cultural Society, Askar Wataniah, Board Games Club, Buddhist Society, Bursa Young Investors Club, Calligraphy Society, Catholic Students Society, Chinese Language Society, Christian Fellowship, Community Service Society, Crime Prevention Society, Dance Club, Drama and Public Speaking Society, Mass Communication Society, Psychology Society, Accounting Society, Banking and Finance Society, Biological Science Society, Business Administration Society, Business Entrepreneurship Society, Financial Economics Society, Marketing Society, Wushu Club, Young Entrepreneurs Society, Yoga Society, Traveller’s Den, Tin Talks Toastmasters Club, Taekwondo Club, Sports Club, Photography Society, Music Club, Maths Fun Society, Nature and Pet Lovers Society, Karatedo Club, Japanese Culture Club, Institute of Public Relations Malaysia Student Association – UTAR Chapter, International Friendship Society, Indian Cultural and Language Society, The Institution of Engineers Malaysia Student Section (UTAR Kampar Campus), Logistics and International Shipping Societies, Chemistry Society, Finance and Investment Society, Computer Society, Engineering Society, and Built Environment Society.

The Department of Soft Skills Competency and Department of International Students Services also supported the event by having their stalls to promote their upcoming student and community engagement programmes.



Clockwise from top left: Department of Soft Skills Competency, Crime Prevention Society, and Askar Wataniah at the showcase

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) has added another mark of recognition to its list of academic achievements by being named one of the “top three Malaysian universities in terms of number of citations per paper” in 2015.

The ranking focuses on the performance of the papers an institution produces that are indexed in journal database Scopus, and was released by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds’ Intelligence Unit.

Utar council chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik said out of 104 public and private universities in the list, the university was ranked third in having the most-cited publications by international and local researchers last year.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016...n-institutions/

I already took my muet with band 5 before entering UTAR.
Now the result expired, do I have to take it again before I graduate?

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73638

Conference on civilisation


Prof Osman (fifth from right) and Prof Chuah (centre) with some presenters

The Institute of Chinese Studies’ (ICS) Sinology Unit organised the Persidangan Kebangsaan Tamadun Islam & Tamadun Asia 2016 (National Conference on Islamic and Asian Civilisation 2016) on 14 July 2016 at Sungai Long Campus.Themed ‘Ke Arah Pemantapan Masyarakat Bertamadun (Towards Consolidating a Civilised Society)’, the conference was set to congregate scholars from multiple disciplines to explore and exchange ideas on the subject of civilisation through presentations, dialogues, and discussions.

Present at the opening ceremony were UTAR’s President YBhg Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s YBhg Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bakar, the Organising Chairperson Assoc Prof Tee Boon Chuan, and UTAR’s ICS Dean Assoc Prof Chong Siou Wei.

Prof Chuah said, “This conference is a channel for us to better understand one another and address differences positively.” Citing UTAR students and alumni’s success at the international workplace, he explained, “Living in this diverse society enables us to respect one another as well as to embrace other cultures and languages easily. Such an academic platform can be an eye-opener for us to identify our strengths and realise how diversity can be a huge advantage for us to move towards a more civilised Malaysian society.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Tee mentioned, “Civilisation Studies is a compulsory subject in all Malaysian higher learning institutions. It helps us to improve our understanding of the histories, cultures, and social development of different civilisations, and to further discover the profound knowledge in this subject. I am hopeful that the fruits of today’s conference will contribute to the subject and will become more relatable to the public in the foreseeable future.”

The conference began with a keynote address by Prof Osman, followed by four conference sessions with the respective sub-themes of Malay, Chinese, Islamic, and Indian Civilisation. Each session was chaired by moderators, respectively Dr Rohaida Haron and Dr Ling Tek Soon from University of Malaya (UM), as well as Dr Azizi Umar and Dr Ravichandra Moorthy from National University of Malaysia (UKM).

There were some 80 participants at the conference including scholars, academics, and students from local and private varsities such as UM, UKM, UTAR, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, and UCSI University.


Prof Osman Bakar, the keynote speaker of the conference