Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73754

Nirvana founder inspires UTARians

Nirvana Asia Group’s Founder and NV Foundation Honorary Chairman YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Kong Hon Kong inspired UTARians through his talk on “How to Create a Life That Shines” at the Sungai Long Campus on 15 August 2016.

The talk was organised by the Department of Consultancy and Commercialisation and the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS). Besides the speaker, NV Foundation Vice President Tan Kean Huat, UTAR Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, and ICS Dean Assoc Prof Dr Chong Siou Wei were also present at the talk.

Prof Lee said in his welcome remark, “Success is made up of ups and downs. I hope the audience, especially our students, will learn how Tan Sri has strived towards his dreams against all adversities.” He advised, “The roles of an entrepreneur goes beyond the business world. I wish that this talk will enlighten budding entrepreneurs on how entrepreneurial ventures are conducted, and how they influence the business community and the largest society beyond a single organisation.”

The founder of the largest integrated bereavement care service provider in Asia shared his life stories as he triumphed over adversities to achieve his dreams. He encouraged the audience especially the potential entrepreneurs to be courageous and learn from their failures. “Failures and downturns are the precursors to reaching your ambitions. Being able to overcome challenges and learn from these experiences will help you to better cope with a multitude of hardships before you can enjoy the fruits of your labour.”


Tan Sri Kong speaking about his entrepreneurial ventures

Tan Sri Kong added, “Most times, we are hindered by obstacles and apprehensive about new changes simply because we refuse to endure struggle and are often petrified by the unknown. Nevertheless, being able to face and overcome challenges helps you to build the willpower to face larger obstacles in life that you could never imagine before. You must condition yourselves to embrace your imperfections and at the same time learn to counteract your disadvantages.”

At the end of the talk, Tan Sri Kong highlighted that courage, passion and human network are also key to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He added, “Reading is a form of investment in yourself. Reading various genres of books, including biographies of notable figures, can help you to understand how success can be achieved, and how to materialise your dreams and ambitions.”

The talk saw some 180 participants making up the audience, with the presence of representatives from Nirvana Asia Group as well as UTAR staff and students.


Tan Sri Kong (front row, centre) with the audience


Prof Lee (left) presenting a fruit basket to Tan Sri Kong


The audience at the talk


Students and staff at the Q&A session

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73755

IPRMSA - UTAR Chapter launches

The Institute of Public Relations Malaysia Student Association (IPRMSA) — UTAR Chapter was officially launched at Kampar Campus on 9 August 2016.

Invited to officiate the opening of the IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter was Second Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan. On hand to receive him were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) Dean Dr Alia Azalea, and IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter Director Chew Luck. Other invited guests included IPRM Education Committee Chairperson Prof Dr Kiranjit Kaur representing IPRM President Dato’ Haji Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, UTAR PR programme external examiner Assoc Prof Dr Amiso M. George from Texas Christian University, UTAR Planning and Development Committee Advisor Tan Sri Hew See Tong, Industry Advisor-cum-CEO of Intelectasia Consultancy Manminder Kaur Dhillon, former Industry Advisor-cum-Executive Director of JLPW Communications Jackie Leong Lai Yin, and Yeo Hiap Seng (Malaysia) Bhd Corporate Communications Senior Manager Joe Wong.

Also present were PR alumni Eric Moo Hong Yuen, Chia Yi Jing, Bey Bun Kiat and Wong Jia Min, who were earlier invited to share with their juniors on their past involvement as PR students in the annual PR campaigns as well as current working experiences in the field of PR and Strategic Communication.


Second Year PR student Lee Yin May moderating the panel discussion and sharing session by alumni


From left: Bey, Chia, Lee, Wong and Moo

Introducing IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter’s raison d'être and significance, Chew said that it aims to enhance PR students’ practical skills, while building rapport with professionals from the PR industry. “Furthermore, we aim to train and keep PR students updated with current industry practices through various programmes, as well as to strengthen the relationships among the IPRMSA members and students from other universities. Another objective is also to create opportunities for networking, exchanging of views, and sharing of knowledge, experiences and ideas for improvement between the students and professional PR practitioners, further heightening our competency in our jobs,” the second year PR student explained.

Heartened by the PR students initiative in actively collaborating with professional institutions like IPRM, Prof Chuah said, “The PR students have been very supportive of the university’s efforts in giving back to the community by organising campaigns benefitting the local community. Last year, the campaign managed to win the Malaysia Public Relations Award under the Public Sector Category, enabling our students’ work to be widely recognised by the industry. With this IPRSMA — UTAR Chapter, there’ll be an even more solid platform for students to enrich themselves.” Citing the student chapter as a gateway between academia and the industry, Prof Chuah also encouraged the students to make full use of the opportunity to network with industry experts and also to continue learning even after graduating.

Congratulating UTAR on being the seventh local institution of higher learning to have a student chapter after Universiti Teknologi MARA, International Islamic University Malaysia, HELP University, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Utara Malaysia, and SEGi University, Prof Kiranjit also welcomed the members to keep in close contact with IPRM. “IPRM was established in 1962 to promote and enhance the professionalism among PR practitioners in Malaysia through trainings, as well as provide a conducive environment for professional and ethical practice. The institute’s Education Chapter looks into the accreditation of PR courses, professionals and academics. Collaboration is key to greater success, so I hope that IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter will collaborate with the other six student chapters to jointly look into more programmes, CSR activities and other areas.”

Thanking UTAR for the invitation, Dato’ Seri Ong expressed his confidence that the careers of UTAR PR graduates are bright as they are sought after by various industries to enhance brand visibility and engagement. Speaking from his experience, Dato’ Seri Ong also highlighted the importance of PR and also the skills in multilateral and bilateral trading to generate interests, as well as the ability to network strategically with trade partners on the international stage. “What you have learnt from UTAR and from the activities by the student chapter will be very relevant and useful in your future careers. PR practitioners need to embrace technology and must be equipped with the right skills,” he mentioned.


Clockwise from top left: Chew, Prof Chuah, Dato’ Seri Ong and Prof Kiranjit delivering speeches

The event reached its highlight with the VIPs being invited on stage to officially launch the opening of the IPRSMA — UTAR Chapter.


From left: Tan Sri Hew, Prof Kiranjit, Prof Chuah, Dato’ Seri Ong, Chew, Dr Alia and Dr George at the launch of the IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter


From left: Tan Sri Hew, Prof Kiranjit, Prof Chuah, Dato’ Seri Ong, Manminder, Dr George, Leong, Wong, Dr Alia and Chew

In line with the university’s commitment in providing a supportive and enriching environment for students to realise their full potential and develop industry-relevant skills, the event was also followed by a keynote address titled “Crisis Communication and Media Roles” by Dr George, as well as a panel discussion consisting industry experts Manminder, Leong and Wong. Attended by over 100 students, the panel discussion saw the trio speaking candidly about their professional experiences, sharing insights about the country’s current PR and Communication landscape, as well as advice for budding PR practitioners.


Dr Cheah Phaik Kin (left) from FAS Department of PR moderating the panel discussion


From left: Manminder, Dr George, Dr Cheah, Leong and Wong

With the motto “Talk with action, perform beyond expectation”, IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter strives to provide a strategic platform for UTAR PR to upgrade their skills through a multitude of activities which primarily connect them with the industry and broaden their horizons. Upcoming activities for 2016 include Industry Field Trip, Industry Experts Talk and PR Workshop.


The organising committee of the IPRMSA — UTAR Chapter Launching Ceremony

This post has been edited by cnvery: Aug 27 2016, 12:46 AM

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74776

New Village Collaborative Project with UST and NCTU


The guests and participants

The New Village Collaborative Project between UTAR and the University System of Taiwan (UST) made a comeback following last year’s successful joint venture focusing on new villages and aboriginal villages in Pahang.

This year, the UST team led by Assoc Prof Dr Lo Lieh-Shih was also joined by another National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) team, under the “Field Trips and Travel Studies” (异地教学) initiative led by Assoc Prof Dr Shu Wei-Der and also Dr Lo. The UST team comprising 11 Taiwanese students focused on new villages in Kampar’s Sungai Siput Selatan, whereas the NCTU team comprising 15 students concentrated on the history of Kampar’s old town and its surrounding multiracial community.

Both teams were cordially received by UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Institute of Chinese Studies Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Dr Wong Wun Bin, and Head of Department of Soft Skills Competency for Kampar Campus Hee Chwen Yee at the opening ceremony held on 22 July 2016 at Kampar Campus.

Also invited to the ceremony was Deputy Director of Kinta Tin Mining (Gravel Pump) Museum Chew Sin Long, who briefly introduced the various places of interests in Sungai Siput Selatan, the people’s livelihoods, and also the potential of improving the visibility of the quaint new village.

As an accompanying project supervisor from UTAR, Dr Wong also highlighted the reason Kampar and Sungai Siput Selatan were selected for research and study purposes. “Malaysia is undoubtedly rich in terms of historical context, and the historied Kinta Valley is part of this richness. Previously, we’ve carried out research and field trips on Gopeng. This time around, the focus will be on Kampar, specifically the Sungai Siput Selatan new villages and also Kampar old town, allowing us to have a more in-depth study on these two places,” he told.

Delighted by the strong ties between UTAR and UST which have sparked continuous collaborative projects, Prof Choong said, “As UTAR aspires to be a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact, it is important to be working closely with partners from all over the world. The collaboration with UST and NCTU has certainly helped UTAR in reaching its vision.” He also proceeded to thank UST and NCTU for the collaboration opportunity as the mutually beneficial working relationship benefits not only the students, but also the communities nearby.


Clock-wise from top left: Chew, Dr Wong and Prof Choong

Dr Lo and Dr Shu also stated that it is an honour to be working closely with UTAR on community engagement projects as such. “It’s always heartening to share the same passion with a group of enthusiastic students and lecturers who make work more enjoyable, enriching and endearing. It is only with mutual interest and support from the locals that we are able to produce favourable results and newfound ideas which will be highly beneficial for posterity, which in this context is how we can prevent the disappearance of new villages due to an ageing population, and also induce others to remember the past history of an old town which was once colourful and meaningful.”


Prof Choong (middle) presenting a token of appreciation to Dr Shu while Dr Wong looks on


Prof Choong received a souvenir from Dr Lo

During their three-week long stay, both teams managed to accomplish their projects under the guidance and support of the project supervisors and community leaders. An added bonus to them was the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local cultures through field trips, food sampling and other activities.

NCTU Group Leader Huang Yuwen was delighted to be involved in research on the history of Kampar’s old town. “Cultural anthropology and the humanities have always been my favourite study areas. Hence, it was an insightful trip to me as I got to learn about Kampar’s past history which showed that multiculturalism has been in existence since long ago. This is evident through the co-existence of Chinese temples, Sikh Gurdwaras, chapels, churches, Hindu temples, and mosques,” the postgraduate student added.

The UST group, on the other hand, successfully launched a series of community engagement projects involving primary school children, while also engaging social media as a means to improve the visibility of these aging new villages by introducing them to Malaysians and the world.


Outdoor activities at Sungai Siput Selatan


UST students with primary school children


Serving food to the school children

During the closing ceremony on 7 August 2016 at Sungai Siput Selatan, UST Group Leader Lo Fang Yi said that he was humbled by the experience of working on this project which will benefit the community in the long term. “Most of us were not acquainted with one another prior to this. However, this new village project has managed to bring us together as a big family. It feels rewarding to come together as a team and brainstorm ideas, thinking how best to tap into the potential of Sungai Siput Selatan and introduce to others its beauty and its people, and in turn rekindle the love of the people who were born here but are currently residing elsewhere,” Lo mentioned.

Echoing Lo’s sentiment was UTAR student representative Yim Jian Nam, who was one of the UTAR students who worked alongside the UST team in the project. “Coming together is the beginning and working together results in success. We’ve had so much fun learning and working together as a team that we’re like one big happy family. This New Village Collaborative Project has certainly broadened my horizon and encouraged me to participate more in such activities as it’s also a platform for me to network with people from different backgrounds,” shared the Final Year Biomedical Science student.


Lo (left) and Yim sharing their experiences

Representing UTAR President at the closing ceremony was Dean of UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology Dr Yap Vooi Voon, who said in his speech, “UTAR is a not-for-profit private university with the core principle of ‘by the people, for the people’. The establishment of this university was made possible due to the trust and support from society. Therefore, UTAR’s success today is very closely linked with the community and it is due to this fact that is why the benefit and wellbeing of the community have always been at the heart of UTAR. Acts of outreach to the community, engaging with them and servicing them have always been an important aspect of UTAR’s holistic education.” He added that the New Village Collaborative Project is one of the many initiatives by UTAR to bring itself closer to the community.


Dr Yap presenting a certificate of participation during the closing ceremony


UTAR and UST students with the guests and villagers

Curtains were officially drawn for the three-week project following a souvenir and certificate presentation ceremony and group photograph session.

UST consists of four institutions of higher learning from Taiwan, namely National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), National Tsing Hua University, National Central University, and National Yang Ming University. Both UTAR and UST have been working closely the last several years on several projects ranging from academic projects to community betterment.

This post has been edited by cnvery: Sep 7 2016, 01:53 PM

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=73770

Chinese embassy awards financial aid

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia awarded financial aid to 20 UTAR students. The award giving ceremony was held on 25 August 2016 at Sungai Long Campus.

The award recipients were 20 Malay undergraduates evenly chosen from the Kampar and Sungai Long Campuses. A total of RM60,000 was disbursed by the embassy for this financial aid award with each deserving UTAR student given RM3,000 in recognition of their academic achievements. The financial aid award was specially created and given solely on this occasion only.

Present at the award giving ceremony were its guest of honour, the Malaysian Second Minister of International Trade and Industry, YB Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan; the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, His Excellency Dr Huang Huikang; and UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik. The ceremony also saw the presence of UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat, as well as Third Secretary Gao Shuang and Attaché Bai Yuzhu from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia.


Back row, sixth from left: Gao, Prof Chuah, His Excellency Dr Huang, YB Dato’ Seri Ong, Prof Ewe, and Bai with the financial aid award recipients

In his welcome speech, Prof Chuah expressed his heartiest gratitude to the Embassy and His Excellency for providing financial support to the commendable students through this meaningful award. He elaborated, “UTAR as a non-profit university constantly emphasises its obligation to give back to society since its inception. To date, RM107.8 million worth of internal scholarships and more than RM6 million of internal loans have been disbursed to over 12,226 deserving UTAR students.”

“Through MoUs and collaborative agreements with many local and international universities and industrial partners, UTAR is able to sustain its growth to provide more opportunities for student and staff exchanges, trainings, internships and research collaborations.” Prof Chuah added, “The recent setup of the first offshore Mencius Institute in our Kampar Campus marked another milestone in UTAR’s history to becoming a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact.”

Citing UTAR graduates’ employment rate of 97% within six months of graduation, Prof Chuah attributed the high employability to the students’ adaptability to multicultural and multilingual environments. He advised, “I hope our students will capitalise on their strengths at the workplace, and continue the university’s legacy by giving back to the university through any form of contribution you are capable of.”


His Excellency Dr Huang speaking at the award giving ceremony

Speaking at the award giving ceremony, Dr Huang enthused, “Today’s ceremony demonstrates that the embassy is interested about Malaysian education, besides the country’s development in other aspects. We do not only pay attention to the Chinese community, but also to other Malaysian communities such as the Malay students. It is my wish that this initiative generates awareness that comprehensiveness and inclusiveness are important assets in sustaining the amicable friendship between China and Malaysia.”

“Knowledge is power; align yourselves with UTAR’s philosophy of ‘by the people, for the people’. The embassy hopes to contribute to society as we believe everyone should have equal access to education. Therefore, we wish to help students to achieve their dreams in spite of their financial difficulties.” Dr Huang added, “I am very impressed that UTAR as a young university has established such strong foundations by expanding its scholastic strengths through continuous academic development and international networking with multiple collaborative partners. I yearn to see more students materialising their ambitions through their studious ventures in UTAR and contributing to their respective communities, as well as the nation in the future.”

Dato’ Seri Ong said, “The award goes beyond an act of generosity as it recognises the students’ achievements which will encourage them to strive further on their scholastic journeys.” He highlighted that the world is progressing towards increasing integration where holistic mind-sets are key to fostering closer relationships between all economies. “China and Malaysia enjoy a special bond where we are interdependent and mutually important, sharing ties that bind us socially and economically. As such, the bridge for cultural, commercial and educational exchanges between China and Malaysia remains sturdy to this day.”

He added, “The financial aid award has made this bridge of connection even stronger. This event initiated by the embassy as a caring gesture goes beyond the boundaries of race and culture in support of education and the close ties between China and Malaysia. I do hope the students will pass on this gesture to others in need when the time comes in the future.”


Some award recipients with Prof Chuah and His Excellency Dr Huang

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74778

MoU with Sunway Medical Centre


From left: Dr Khoo, Lau, Tan Sri Cheah, Prof Chuah and Prof Ewe

UTAR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sunway Medical Centre Sdn Bhd on 25 August 2016 at Sunway Medical Centre, Swan Convention Centre.

Signing on behalf of the parties were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and Sunway Group Healthcare Services Managing Director Lau Beng Long. It was witnessed by UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat and Sunway Group Healthcare Services Deputy Managing Director and Sunway Medical Centre Chief Executive Officer Dr Khoo Chow Huat. Also present were Founder and Chairman of the Sunway Group Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Dean Emeritus Prof Dr Cheong Soon Keng, Department of Nursing Head S. Sheela Devi and UTAR staff.

The MoU established a platform for UTAR and Sunway Medical Centre to have future collaborations in advancing nursing education and creating career opportunities, as well as joint efforts such as career fairs, conferences, recruitment drives, health seminars, talks, workshops and exhibitions to benefit both parties and the public.

“I believe the signing of this MoU enables us to move forward together towards the increased development of the healthcare sector, especially in training the nurses to provide intensive care. I am proud to be associated with UTAR as a fast growing university that is known for its academic excellence,” remarked Lau.

“I hope this will be an active MoU with Sunway Medical Centre whereby we help each other to ensure that our future nurses are well trained for future success to reach our ultimate goal, which is to improve and develop the nursing sector to enhance the Malaysian healthcare industry as a whole,” said Prof Chuah.

The signing ceremony adjourned after both parties exchanged tokens of appreciation.


Lau and Prof Chuah during their speech

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74779

Innovation in University: Impacts and Challenges


Staff, students and speakers

The Institute of Management and Leadership Development (IMLD) organised a talk called “Innovation in University: Impacts and Challenges” at Sungai Long Campus on 12 August 2016.

The talk featured two international speakers known as Prof Robert Tijssen and Prof Wong Poh Kam. Prof Robert Tijssen holds the positions of the Chair of Science and Innovation Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, a professorship at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and as an international research partner at the Centre for Global Higher Education at University College London in the United Kingdom. His current work interest focuses on 21st century universities, the socioeconomic impacts of science, and university rankings.

Meanwhile, Prof Wong Poh Kam is a professor at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) School of Business and is director for the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre. His achievements consist of publishing numerous international refereed journals on innovation policy, industrial and competitiveness policy, and technology entrepreneurship, while providing consultation for international agencies.

The talk aimed to bring about innovation in universities which seek to enhance their research and its application to their work, and also to boost revenue through university-industry partnerships. Ideally, an innovative university possesses several organisational conditions such as well-equipped facilities and equipment, adequate funding resources and managerial structures which offer opportunities for novel research, teaching and training and enhanced creativity, a culture of excellence that fosters competitiveness and collaboration, performance-based incentives and reward systems, and human resources management and strategy that promote and sustain innovation and entrepreneurship.

In the talk, Prof Tijssen spoke on his topic “Innovative University: From World University Rankings to Entrepreneurial Academics”. The topic covered the idea of an innovative university and the criteria to measure an innovative university’s performance, along with its socioeconomic impacts and the performance indicators for university-industry linkages.

“It is not only about the research but also the quality of higher education. Innovative universities are defined by enterprising staff and students with high-quality lecturers and educators that develop professional coursework, organisers of ground-breaking cultural events, and researchers that cooperate with the industry to be involved in areas of consultancy,” said Prof Tijssen.

Prof Wong on his part shared his experiences in “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: The Experience of NUS Enterprise”. He said, “If you really want to succeed, do not look at the leaders alone, but also to look at the latecomers because it is the latecomers that are going to leapfrog and come out with innovation. While we try to learn from the best in the world, we must never copy. We must try to adapt and try to achieve impacts where they matter the most.”

The two speakers gave the audience some fascinating insights into innovation within universities and the frameworks that may induce universities to grow and make a greater impact on society.


Prof Cheng presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Tijssen


Prof Cheng presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Wong

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74781

Fostering stronger relations

A conference titled Discourse on Fostering Ethnic Relations in Malaysia was held at Sungai Long Campus on 24 August 2016. The conference aimed to foster greater interethnic understanding and relations, and unite Malaysians through interfaith dialogue.


Prof Mansor (right) receiving a gift basket from UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat

“The concept of commonality is very important for ethnic relations. Universal values that we share as well as common issues that we face, such as crime, poverty and cost of living, are strengths that bind us together,” said Head of the National Unity Cluster, National Council of Professors, Prof Dr Mansor Mohd Noor.

Prof Mansor also said that our diversity has great potential to aid Malaysia to becoming a dynamic and competitive nation, but also warned that it could be manipulated by irresponsible parties to cause discord.

The discourse was divided into two sections with differing themes. The first was ‘Dialog Antara Agama: Mencari Titik Pertemuan Kesepaduan Sosial Antara Penganut Agama (Interfaith Dialogue: Seeking the Nexus of Interfaith Social Unity)’.


From left: Dr Rajantheran, Dr Wendy, Dr Ahmad, UPM Faculty of Human Ecology Dr Lee Yok Fee, and Assoc Prof Dr Sarjit share the importance of building good ethnic relations

Prof Dr Rajantheran a/l Muniandy, from the Department of Indian Studies, University of Malaya (UM), said every religion shares common values such as piety, love of God, respect for tradition, emphasis on duty, and responsibility to uphold basic human virtues, such as nonviolence, truthfulness, compassion and charity.

“Change starts with the individual. Building a harmonious and peaceful society starts with self-reflection and transformation,” said panelist Dr Wendy Yee Mei Tien from UM.

Panellists from the Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Assoc Prof Dr Ahmad Tarmizi Bin Talib and Assoc Prof Dr Sarjit Singh Darshan Singh said the key to harmony and peace lies in our courage to learn the differences of other religions, and then embracing and acknowledging their strengths.

One of the strategies for improving ethnic relations is for people from different communities to be involved in programmes such as this, which ensures higher tolerance and forms a sense of togetherness.

The second part of the discourse was ‘Symposium: Language, Unity and Identity in Malaysia’.


From left: Dr Kamila, Dato’ Dr Saran and Dr Susan speaking on the importance of language in nation building

Language also plays a significant role in nation building as it contributes toward the forging of a national identity. Malaysia’s complex multicultural background has given birth to unique linguistic choices, such as rojak, a distinctive Malaysian speech that incorporates words borrowed from Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and others.

Assoc Prof Dr Mary Susan Philip from the Department of English Language, UM said language choice remains a highly debated issue, as some individuals in various ethnic groups still prefer to express themselves in their own languages.

Using her research on Orang Asli languages, Prof Dr Kamila Gazali, also from UM’s Department of English Language, showed that a majority of the Orang Asli communities still maintain a positive attitude towards their languages but also acknowledged the importance of learning languages that are used for trade. However, she also found out that their minority languages and even cultures are sometimes sacrificed in pursuit of attaining competence in the lingua franca.

“Multiethnic and multilingual countries like Malaysia are currently facing the challenge of creating the essential balance that is needed between national, ethnic linguistic and cultural identities,” said Prof Dato’ Dr Saran Kaur Gill from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

This conference was jointly organised by the National Council of Professors (MPN), together with UTAR's Centre of Modern Languages and Literature (CMLL) and Faculty of Creative Industries’ Department of General Studies.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74789

MoU with Alibaba.com


From left: Dr Liew, Prof Ewe, He Dongpei and Wang Hu with the signed documents

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between UTAR and Alibaba.com, a leading B2B marketplace for global trade under the Alibaba Group, on 6 September 2016 at Kampar Campus. Both parties announced their joint initiative to better equip UTAR students and staff as well as Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with e-commerce knowledge.

Signing the MoU on behalf of the parties were He Dongpei, Deputy General Manager of Operations at Alibaba.com, and UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Wang Hu, Malaysia Country Manager of Alibaba.com, and UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat. Also present at the ceremony were Business Development Manager of Alibaba.com Ben Sim, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Dean of UTAR Faculty of Information and Communication Technology Assoc Prof Dr Liew Soung Yue, Director of Division of Community and International Networking Prof Dr Cheng Ming Yu and Director of the Division of Corporate Communication and Public Relations Ong Soo Weon.

The UTAR-Alibaba.com collaboration, a part of Alibaba.com’s “Global E-commerce Talent (GET)” programme, represents the culmination of hard work between both institutions to enhance the understanding of e-commerce by UTAR students and staff, as well as Malaysian businesses. This collaboration will be implemented through the provisioning of third-party trainers by Alibaba.com to coach UTAR staff and students in e-commerce and related subjects in the core fields of e-commerce, finance and other related curriculum. Qualified trainees will receive certification from Alibaba.com. Alibaba.com will also provide students and staff with access to its online e-commerce learning platform.

Under the GET programme, 30 UTAR staff from Kampar Campus and Sungai Long Campus attended the 5-day training within the same week of the MoU signing. At the end of the training, the staff will be assessed and they will receive certification depending on the outcome of the assessment. Once certified, the trained staff can then teach students and other staff.

To roll out Alibaba.com’s GET programme to the wider community, UTAR will provide and use their online and offline platforms to facilitate the implementation and promotion of the programme in Malaysia. In addition to that, UTAR and Alibaba.com will engage other education centres, as well as academic and industry experts, for the development and improvement of GET’s course content, training of certified trainers, facilitation of trainee enrolment and certification, offline teaching, practical training, and the connection of certified trainees to potential employers at job fairs in Malaysia. UTAR will also join hands with Alibaba.com to provide training and certification programmes to SMEs in Malaysia, in a bid to grow more e-commerce talents in the local business community.

Representing UTAR President, Prof Ewe in his speech said, “UTAR is truly grateful for Alibaba.com’s initiative to establish a cooperative relationship in efforts to improve the current e-commerce business environment and to promote e-commerce in Malaysia. With this strong collaboration, we look forward to the numerous opportunities presented to us through the vigorous activities under this MoU. Therefore, with our collaboration, I believe the intellectual and personal development of staff and students will be improved and we will be able to nurture them in the right direction in response to professional and community needs.”


From left: Prof Ewe and He Dongpei addressing the audience

He Dongpei said, “We believe that the future of global e-commerce will be a driving force to promote global economic development. In fact, e-commerce in China has been growing rapidly and is almost the fastest in the world. Likewise we look to Malaysia as being home to a wealth of high-quality manufactured products that are sought after by global buyers. In spite of the growing popularity of online shopping, many Malaysian entrepreneurs and businessmen have yet to fully understand and embrace the potential opportunities that B2B e-commerce has to offer on a global scale.”

“By partnering with an influential local university like UTAR, we hope to broaden our reach to current and future business decision makers in Malaysia with the aim to cultivate e-commerce talent that will be the cornerstone of development for the industry and to build their capability and confidence in online trade,” she added.

With the mission “to make it easy to do business anywhere”, Alibaba.com has 17 years of experience connecting buyers and sellers from around the world for cross-border trade on its online wholesale marketplace. Recognising a shortage of e-commerce talent, Alibaba.com this year initiated the “Global E-Commerce Talent (GET)” programme, under which it collaborates with universities, colleges, business schools and training centres across the globe to empower cross-border trading communities through training, assessment and certification, as well as career development and guidance.


From left: Prof Choong, Dr Liew, Prof Ewe, He Dongpei, Wang Hu and Sim after the signing


GET training of UTAR staff in progress

Banking and Finance will be a better choice for future career paths

Nope

Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?stor...100003405455381

Research Opportunity for 3E to do Postgraduate Studies

We are recruiting a full research assistant to work on smart grid project.

Stipend is RM 2500 or more.

For further information, please contact Prof Lim Yun Seng on email: yslim@utar.edu.my

Nope, this applies to some private university in Malaysia, but definitely not UTAR.

+1

UTAR exam is tougher compared to other local-grown uni. You will pass if you working hard.

If you take 5 subjects for one semester and only failed 1 out of 5, then you only need to retake the failed subject in next semester (Some subjects only offer once per year).

The cost actually is based on credit hours.

If you only take one subject in next semester, then you only need to pay fees for one subject. Take note that you need to pay university fees once per year (Depends on your intake).

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74811

Comprehensive research workshop


Prof Ramayah giving tips to improve academic research

A two-day comprehensive research workshop was held at Sungai Long Campus on 2 and 5 September 2016. The workshop aimed at improving academics’ research and publication skills.

“Publishing research is an integral part of a researcher’s professional life, as it advances the theory and practice of your fields, enhances institutions’ reputation and funding, and creates networks with other professionals worldwide,” said Prof T. Ramayah, from Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Department of Operations Management, School of Management.

“Both the number and quality of publications are the most important factors in deciding a researcher’s career; it is practically a matter of life and death,” he warned.

Prof Ramayah highlighted two important performance indicators that will make or break an academic research — the h-index and g-index.

The h-index measures quantity and quality, productivity and influence of a research. It has a chart to show the number of papers published by an author, and the citations of an author over time. However, the index will only work properly for comparing researchers working in the same field as citation conventions differ widely from field to field.

The g-index is an alternative to the h-index, which does not average the numbers of citations. The index is calculated based on the distribution of citations received by a given researcher's publications.

Prof Ramayah advised the audience to publish in higher-ranked journals listed in the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) to get a better impact factor.

He also warned that there are many predatory journals that researchers have to be aware of, as it will put a researcher’s career in jeopardy. “Jeffrey Beall’s website Scholarly Open Access offers a detailed list of blacklisted journals and publishers that you should stay away from,” he said.


Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dean Dr Sia Bee Chuan presenting Prof Ramayah a token of appreciation

Prof T. Ramayah is an avid researcher especially in the areas of Information Systems, Operations Management, Marketing Management and Organisational Behaviour. He is also an expert in Quantitative research methods and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

His publications which exceed 300 have appeared in the Journal of Environmental Management, Technovation, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Business Economics and Management, and Computers in Human Behavior.

This workshop was organised by the Centre for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility in Business (CSDCSR).

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74815

Talk on Hakka culture


Prof Chien (left) receiving a gift from Faculty of Creative Industries Dean and Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre (TCLC) for Social and Policy Studies Chairperson, Dr Chin Yee Mun

A talk titled “Leisure, Work, and Constituted Everydayness Mountain Songs of Hakka Women in Colonized Northern Taiwan (1930–1955)” was given by National Chiao Tung University, Department of Humanities and Social Science’s Prof Chien Mei-Ling at Sungai Long Campus on 26 August 2016.

“My research focuses on the diversity of individual experiences through singing and listening to mountain songs among Hakka women in northern Taiwan during the colonial period,” Prof Chien said.

Prof Chien’s research showed how different types of mountain songs shaped the lives of her participants, Grandma Lo, Liu, Teng and Huang.

The oldest folk songs in the north are formed based on musical notes, “la, do, mi”. The topics of the song are impromptu instead of prescribed. The second type of song is known as “tea-picking tunes”, performed mainly in the fields. The third type, “little deities”, has fixed titles, rhythm, and lyrics with no room for improvisation.

“Grandma Lo, Liu, Teng and Huang shared similar modes of life, but the songs carry different meanings for each,” Prof Chien explained. Through Grandma Lo’s narration, the songs play an important role in rituals and special occasions, but not during work or in places of worship.

From her research, Grandma Huang and Liu believe that music is part of life. It carries no restrictions and taboos, and they are an integral part of their everyday life. However, Grandma Teng viewed singing mountain songs as a private activity and thought it as unimportant in her life.

In contrast to Grandma Huang and Liu, Grandma Teng’s upbringing was different due to her father’s relationship with the Japanese. She was heavily influenced by Japanese culture growing up. She read Japanese books, dressed in Japanese clothing, and listened to Japanese music, an indicator of two contrasting cultural elements in her life.

“The elders’ narration showed how the rural Hakka in northern Taiwan defined leisure and work in a colonised agricultural society. It also shows a distinct style of folk life, and the means of personal communication and emotional expression,” Prof Chien said.

This talk was organised by the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre (TCLC) for Social and Policy Studies.


Participants with Prof Chien (fifth from left)

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74819

Kuok Foundation delegation visits UTAR

A team of four delegates from the Kuok Foundation visited Kampar Campus on 5 September 2016. The objectives of the visit were to discuss the research capabilities of the university in the field of agricultural science, scholarship opportunities for students, the facilities and services of UTAR Mary KUOK Pick Hoo Library, the activities conducted by the Professorial Chair of Kuok Foundation, facilitation of talent to address industries’ needs, and further exploration on possible collaborations between UTAR and the Kuok Foundation.

The four delegates from Kuok Foundation were General Manager Ng Teck Seng, Trustee Lynette Ng, and Administrative Managers Sharon Teoh and Choo Hwei Miin.

On hand to welcome them were UTAR staff led by UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Faculty of Science (FSc) Dean Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng, FSc Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Dr Gideon Khoo, Professorial Chair (Tan Sri Dato’ Philip Kuok Professorial Chair in Agricultural Science) Prof Dr Ooi Aun Chuan, Department of Agricultural and Food Science Head Dr Tan Yen Nee, Division of Community and International Networking Director Prof Dr Cheng Ming Yu, Department of Mathematical and Actuarial Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Tan Sin Leng, Library Director Lim Suan Hoon, FSc lecturers and supporting staff.


The delegates and UTAR management staff during the campus tour


From left: Choo, Teoh, Prof Cheng, Lynette Ng and Dr Tan at the Agriculture Park

The visit started with a campus tour led by Dr Lim, Dr Tan, Prof Ooi and Prof Cheng to noteworthy places of Kampar Campus, including UTAR Gallery, the bronze sculptures of Confucious and Einstein, Bird Sanctuary, Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and UTAR Main Library. After the campus tour, Prof Ewe presented the delegates with a video introduction to the university. The visitors were enlightened with information on the university's research and post graduate programmes, student services and facilities, students' activities and recognition of programmes offered.


Discussion in progress

The briefings led to further discussion on UTAR’s Agricultural Science programme and the various fields of studies parked under the Faculty of Science. Ng gave a short introduction about the Kuok Foundation and expressed their interest to collaborate with UTAR, particularly on relevant industries, scholarships and R&D. Overall it was a fruitful fact-finding journey for the delegates.

The Kuok Foundation is a non-profit charitable institution incorporated on 1 June 1970 under the Malaysian Companies Act 1965 as a company limited by guarantee and without a share capital.


Prof Ewe (right) presenting a token of appreciation to Ng

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74820

FICT IAP Forum 2016


Panel of guests sharing their opinions

Gathering industrial experts, academicians and students, the “Hottest and Highly Sought-after Skills in ICT” Industrial Advisory Panel (IAP) Forum 2016, organised by Faculty of Information and Technology, was held on 29 June 2016 at the Kampar Campus.

Invited to the forum was a panel of guests, namely Recogine Technology and EV-Dynamic Senior Consultant Dr Kwong Kae Hsiang, Intel Microelectronics (M) Sdn Bhd System on Chip (SOC) Senior Design Validation Manager Chew Beng Wah, E-Genting Holdings Sdn Bhd Senior Vice President of the R&D Systems department, KEDA Limited Managing Director and Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (PIKOM) Representative Lee Boon Kok, and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDEC) Senior Manager of Talent Development Division Tan Eng Hoo. The forum also saw the presence of FICT Dean Assoc Prof Dr Liew Soung Yue, and FICT Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes and Organising Chairperson Dr Cheng Wai Khuen, along with staff and students.

With aims to have in-depth discussion on the effectiveness of universities’ expenditures on large-scale resources in augmenting its degree programmes, the forum commenced with the panel addressing the effectiveness of the university’s efforts in nurturing students that can be valued assets to employers. The forum saw agreement that UTAR is indeed on the right track with proper resource utilisation. Active engagement was seen among participants as they voiced their opinions which led to other topics being raised, such as student employment after graduation, technical and soft skills required by the industries, and the effects of academic results on employment.

When asked of the qualities students should possess for employment, Dr Kwong responded by advising students to be passionate in performing given tasks. He stated his belief that students should have the maturity and capacity to make independent decisions to better navigate their careers. He also reminded students that the monetary aspect of their careers is not the priority and rather they should consider first their capacity and willingness to contribute to the company and learn from the job.

Responding to a similar question, Lee however, encouraged students to found a start-up business of their own, mentioning that it offers invaluable experiences after graduation. With a word of caution, Lee said, “There will be risks and failures along the business line, but do not lose hope because failures are great teachers that offer great lessons.” Regardless the choice of employment students make, the panel advised students to pair patience with effort to achieve their ambitions.

In light of career-related subjects, the panel also placed emphasis on having both technical skills and soft skills to heighten students’ employability. The panel noted students, in general, graduate with good technical skills, but yet lack the required soft skills. Hence, they presented an example which validated the importance of having well-developed leadership skills.

FICT is committed to assuring students graduate with the required skill sets to respond to professional needs. Events such as the IAP forum are one of the many strategies FICT employs in enhancing its current programmes. The forum ended with a souvenir presentation by Dr Liew to all the honoured guests.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=74834

UTAR and FMM Perak sign MoU


From left: Hew, Dr Au Yong, Prof Lee, Prof Chuah, Dato’ Gan, Chok, Louis, Prof Choong, Chan, Zulkepli and Won

UTAR and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Perak signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 22 September 2016 at Kampar Campus, laying the cornerstone for dynamic industry-academia collaboration.

The MoU will see UTAR and FMM Perak exploring a wide spectrum of areas including industrial trainings and attachments, staff/students trainings, professional development courses and collaboration with industries in Perak.

The signatories from UTAR were President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, while FMM Perak was represented by Chairman Dato’ Gan Tack Kong and Senior Manager Louis Gnanapragasam. Also present at the ceremony were FMM Perak Vice Chairman Francis Chok Yin Fatt, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, UTAR Council Member Hew Fen Yee, UTAR Faculty of Business and Finance Dean Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, UTAR Division of Community and International Networking Director Prof Dr Cheng Ming Yu, FMM Perak Manager Mahinder Singh, and FMM Perak Committee Members Won Foo Yee, Mark Chan and Zulkepli Bin Hussin.

Reminiscing of the maiden collaboration with FMM which was a seminar on wastewater following the inaugural MoU signing between both parties in 2009, Prof Chuah said both UTAR and FMM have subsequently worked closely on several occasions such as the invitation to UTAR to participate in the Malaysia-China (Wenzhou) Expo event among others. According to Prof Chuah, Malaysia is often seen by other countries such as South Korea and China as a strategic partner in the ASEAN region, which has resulted in institutions of higher learning like UTAR reaping an abundance of opportunities to collaborate with overseas partners. “As a university, we can be the bridge between the industries and our overseas partners. And by capitalising on these working opportunities, we are also able to benefit our local small and medium industries and enterprises by assisting them in reaching out to a wider market,” Prof Chuah mentioned. He also voiced his hope that this MoU will be an impetus for UTAR and FMM Perak to jointly contribute to the overall development and growth of industries in the Silver State.


Prof Chuah thanking Dato’ Gan for the opportunity to work together

Echoing Prof Chuah’s sentiment on boosting the SMEs in the country, Dato’ Gan highlighted the importance of working with strategic partners and how this can help to benefit Perak. Also impressed by UTAR’s remarkable track record and achievements in a span of 14 years, Dato’ Gan said, “It’s a privilege for FMM Perak to be one of UTAR’s industry partners by which we are able to share resources and knowledge. Globalisation today has made it necessary for the industry to connect with the students.” Citing the example of Facebook and Google being invented by students, Dato’ Gan also mentioned the need to empower and encourage students to be creative and innovative as their ideas can be taken to help the industries.


Dato’ Gan sharing his thoughts and hopes of the MoU

The ceremony reached its highlight with the signatories being invited to sign the documents and subsequently ended with a souvenir presentation session.


Prof Chuah and Dato’ Gan all smiles after signing the MoU while Prof Lee (left) and Louis (right) look on


Prof Chuah and Dato’ Gan exchanging souvenirs

Dubbed as “The Voice of the Malaysian Manufacturing Industry”, FMM was established in 1968 and is Malaysia’s largest private sector economic organisation representing more than 2,800 manufacturing and industrial service companies of varying sizes. FMM has since been leading Malaysian manufacturers in spearheading the nation’s growth and modernisation.

FMM Perak is currently one of UTAR’s 86 industry partners. UTAR’s robust network with many universities and industry partners has over the years cemented its position as a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact.

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=75843

SAGE Talk


Garcia providing tips on how to start writing a journal article manuscript

The UTAR Library organised a talk titled “Simple Guide to Writing a Journal Article” at the Sungai Long Campus on 26 September 2016. The speaker was Rosalia da Garcia who is the Deputy Managing Director of SAGE Publications, and the Head of Sales and Marketing for the Asia-Pacific region.

With the aim to provide useful tips for journal article publication, the informative talk also empowered writers with helpful advice to improve the quality of their manuscripts to heighten the chances of the journal articles being published. Besides that, Garcia with her rich experience in the publishing field discussed the keys that one must consider before submitting a journal article for publication and offered a simple guide to preparing a good manuscript.

“Before you proceed to writing, you must first consider your purpose of writing and publishing the paper. It is necessary to spend some time to think from what angle or perspective you wish to convey your research findings. You might want to fill a research gap, extend an existing theory or present a novel idea. Understanding your purpose of writing the paper and identifying the needs of your prospective audience will help you to frame a better manuscript structure and improve the clarity of the writing,” said Garcia.

She added, “It’s also crucial to identify the objectives, genres and scopes of the target journal. Do ensure that you have met the required criteria before you submit the manuscript. Approach your colleagues and consult the journal editor when you need assistance. Those little steps will help you to keep your writing clear and relevant.”

Garcia showed some good examples on how to write a good query letter to the journal editor, and provided specific guidelines on how to structure an outstanding manuscript. The speaker further explained some strategies on writing a precise abstract and selecting a suitable journal where the writers can submit their manuscripts for publication.

In addition, Garcia briefed the audience about some psychological aspects of a successful writer while working on an academic paper. “Handling rejection and revisions of manuscripts could be time-consuming and certainly require much effort to reread, review and rewrite your submitted papers. Do not be disheartened by that as that’s what the majority of writers have to experience before they get their papers published.”

“Most manuscripts are rejected due to insufficient constructive arguments,” explained Garcia. Mentioning some criteria of a good manuscript, she highlighted, “Papers which provide insights into an important issue for research or theory development, as well as those which stimulate the audience’s mind for more questions are more likely to be accepted. I recommend you to study some good published papers as reference. Attend to details and check your language and spelling before you submit the paper as it will help to reduce the risks of getting rejected.”

The talk ended with a Q&A session with the speaker. Participants at the talk included UTAR academics, researchers and postgraduate students from various faculties and research centres.


The audience listening attentively to Garcia

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=75849

Educational visit to news agencies

A total of 35 students and four lecturers from the Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) embarked on a journey to discover the ins and outs of the world of news and media on 4 August 2016.

Organised by the Department of Languages and Linguistics (DLL), the trip comprised visits to two major English news agencies, namely Al-Jazeera and Malaysiakini. Initiated by the Head of DLL Christina Ong Sook Beng, the visits were aimed to expose the students to the processes involved in news production, as well as to prepare them for their journeys after graduation.

Upon reaching the Al-Jazeera offices located at GTower in the heart of bustling Kuala Lumpur, the students were witness to journalists hard at work in the newsroom where news broadcasts from all over the world were being displayed.

Being an international company, Al-Jazeera operates its main office from Doha, Qatar, while running regional hubs all over the world. The Malaysian hub caters to the Southeast Asian region, and is booming with activity as journalists strive to achieve the best coverage of stories to be published and aired on time.

The students and lecturers, who were given a sit-down tour of the company and its operations, were thrilled with what they saw and heard, with some even expressing their aspirations to become journalists or producers in the future. The students were also exposed to information regarding the news writing and production from a series of sharing sessions delivered by officials from Al-Jazeera, namely Bureau Manager Jayaganesh Sabapathy, Producer of Programme Tiffany Ang, Producer of News Alicia Au and Senior Producer of Programme and Industry Advisor for UTAR’s English Language programme K. Parkaran.


From left: Jayaganesh, Ang, Au and Parkaran revealing the perks of becoming a journalist and producer

Year Two English Language student Tan Sze Ling, who took an interest in the workings of the cameras used to broadcast live news updates, said that she had never considered becoming a producer or a newscaster, but is now quite interested. “After seeing the intensity of the work that journalists and newscasters have to go through, I now understand why news is so valuable and of such quintessence. I hope that one day I too will be able to contribute to such a vast field,” she said.

Producer Tiffany Ang said that social media is one of the most effective ways to disseminate information to the masses. “Since many people are on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and now even Snapchat, we have taken it into our own hands to be active on these platforms to spread news, even if it is as simple as a tweet or picture,” she said. Ang, who is also in-charge of 101 East, Al-Jazeera’s in-depth, weekly current affairs programme, works with her team to produce newsworthy stories from across Asia and the Pacific, to uncover information that people would normally never look into twice. She mentioned that 101 East is a great way to enable society to understand the trends and ways-of-life of people in different countries, and to immerse themselves in cultures different from their own.


Media Manager of Al-Jazeera Gary Ooi (in black shirt) helping a student don a Kevlar vest and demonstrating the usage of filming equipment

Fellow producer at Al-Jazeera, Alicia Au was overwhelmed by the students’ reactions, saying that it was nice to see young people taking the initiative in a field where controversies from news reports might arise. “Although we understand that certain news might expose the ill-workings of certain people, it is our job to be fair and just when reporting, so that our viewers are able to grasp the truth of what is happening around them instead of being clouded by false accusations and biased news,” said Au.

She also mentioned that UTAR students could play an active role, even through their lives in a small town such as Kampar. “As university students, I’m sure you go through many things on a daily basis. If many of you come together and produce little write-ups of the happenings in Kampar, you could produce an online blog that would help people get acquainted with the treasures that Kampar has to offer. That could help you build a good community for yourselves and the locals there, as well as give you the necessary experience,” she said.


Ong (centre) presenting a token of appreciation to Jayaganesh, while (from left) Mohamad Iqbaal, Parkaran, Au and UTAR Lecturers Siti Ummaizah and Ooi Zao May look on

After about two and a half hours spent in the Al-Jazeera office, the students and lecturers made their way to the second news agency, Malaysiakini, a free press agency that fights for press freedom in Malaysia by reporting unbiased and unrestrained news.

Located at Section 51 of Petaling Jaya, the Malaysiakini office is home to news productions in four different languages, namely English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil, as well as home to KiniTV, Malaysiakini’s internet TV news portal. The Social Media Editor of Malaysiakini Norman Goh led the tour around the office and showed the students and lecturers the different workspaces created to suit the needs of staff to maximise productivity.


Students listening attentively to KiniTV’s Head of Content Tham Seen Hau (in dress) and Goh (in pink shirt)

Year Two student Taneesha Pillai commented on the press freedom that Malaysiakini fights for, saying, “It’s nice to see a news agency that believes in objectivity and truth in news reporting. It makes me even more interested to take up some sort of journalism when I finish my bachelor’s degree.”

The UTAR students and lecturers also had the opportunity to meet Steven Gan, Malaysiakini’s Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder, who spoke to them about the multiple challenges that the agency has faced since its launch in 1999.

The trip managed to evoke a sense of pride in the hearts of the students, as they expressed their appreciation for news agencies which strove to do good. Final Year Journalism student Wong Poe Kay said that this is what made her fall in love with journalism in the first place. “I like how despite obstacles they still manage to keep their heads held high.” She said that the trip allowed her to gain better insight to the world of media and news.

DLL’s Lecturer Mohamad Iqbaal bin Mohd Wazir said that he himself learnt a vast amount of information that cannot be obtained through textbooks. “The working world will pose challenges to individuals and companies, but what matters is whether or not the ways to overcome these challenges are based on the truth. If they are, success will not be a stranger.”


From left: Gan, Ong, Siti Ummaizah and UTAR students

Source: http://www.utar.edu.my/econtent_sub.jsp?fc...contentid=75851

Exploring collaborative opportunities with PCCCI


Representatives from UTAR and PCCCI discussing on potential areas for collaboration

A group of UTAR management staff organised a visit to the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI) on 14 September 2016 to explore potential collaboration between UTAR and PCCCI.

The representatives from UTAR consisted of Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF) Dean Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, FBF Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Dr Mahmud Bin Hj Abd Wahab, FBF Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Yew King Tak, FBF Department of Business Head Choong Yuen Onn, FBF Department of Marketing Head Choy Johnn Yee, FBF Department of Finance Head Lim Chong Heng, FBF Head of MBA (Corporate Management) Programme Dr Ng Lee Peng, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Dr Lo Po Kim, and Prof Dr Ooi Aun Chuan from the Faculty of Science.

The UTAR delegates were warmly welcomed by the PCCCI representatives, which consisted of Vice President Steven Yow Thin Chin, General Secretary Dato’ Ng Yok Gee, General Assistant Secretary Tan Chong Seng, Economic and Government Affairs Head Lee Chee Ming, Central Committee Member Chai Koh Pian, Central Committee Member cum Vice Chairman of Youth Committee Tan Kin Wai, Committee Member of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Human Resource Development Dean Liew Choong Ching, Youth Committee Treasurer Kean Wong Kean Yue, Youth Committee Member Loh Ban John, Vintage Consult Sdn Bhd Representative Edwina Chee Ong, Pak Keong Food Industries Sdn Bhd Representative Gary Soh Chong Mun, Weldmart Representative Edward Leong Sir Weay, PanPages Online Sdn Bhd Representative Steven Chan Chee Yip, Computerxpress Sdn Bhd Representative Chun Chee Kong, Mee Sim Marketing Sdn Bhd Representative Eric Liew Chan Wai, and Soon Hin Hardware Sdn Bhd Representatives Eric Koh Seng Kiat and Alan Ng Tuak Loon.

With both parties expressing their hopes to foster strong collaborations, a meeting, chaired by Yow, was held to facilitate better discussion and understanding on the possible areas for collaboration among the representatives. The meeting commenced with Yow presenting his welcome message who said he was hopeful that the collaboration between UTAR and PCCCI will greatly benefit the development of SMEs in Perak.

The meeting also saw the discussion of possible collaborative opportunities to conduct trainings or workshops for SMEs. The courses will include providing guidance on accounting practices, tax consultation, procedures involved in Good and Services Tax (GST) implementation, and also solutions for firms facing difficulties in sales and marketing.

The representatives expressed their optimism towards the trainings that will serve as platforms to better educate the SMEs on the current trends and happenings in the market, as well as to assist the SMEs in conducting research.

The meeting also touched upon internship placement opportunities for UTAR students at PCCCI member companies, invitation for recruitment drives where PCCCI member companies can interview and recruit UTAR graduates, and promotion activities aimed to introduce UTAR programmes to PCCCI member companies’ staff whom wish to further their studies.

It is through the university’s commitment to expand its expertise, services and resources to continuously provide a supportive environment for the faculties and students that culminate in UTAR forging ties with industry partners for many research collaborations. The fruitful visit ended with souvenir exchanges between UTAR and PCCCI.


Souvenir exchanges between UTAR and PCCCI