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CONTENTS
- MOVERS & SHAKERS -
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed or implied in UP2 are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Sunway Education Group.
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The Sunway Education Group
UP2 or UPP or Uniquely Purposeful Programmes is a quarterly publication that represents a progressive Sunway College. Owned and governed by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, this leading private institution of higher learning is forging ahead towards the next level of excellence.
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Sparking ConversationsSeek Your Own PathThe Future IsIntroducing SQL AccountsEncouraging Critical ThinkingWhere Everyone Is Significant6 Challenges In Monash Science Cup
No Substitute For Hard WorkExposure To MoreWielding A SabreThe Right AmountRuled By MathematicsThe Art Of Adult-ingAccelerated ACA Pathway
I-Care Focus On PAWS
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Face To Face
Movers & Shakers
Social Report
Celebrating Goodbyes And Change
The Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) Pitch Competition 2018 held recently attracted a total participation of 81 students from various international and private schools. Each participant had to submit a video of their 3-minute speech in the preliminary round before proceeding to the finals.
For the finals of the AUSMAT Pitch Competition held at Sunway College, the top 10 finalists had to deliver a 3-minute speech based on their submitted video to a panel of judges comprising Vanitha Satchithanadan, Director of AUSMAT; A. Alagarani, lecturer of Victoria University (VU) Undergraduate Programme, Sunway College; and Professor Stephen Hall, Head of Centre for English Language Studies (CELS), Sunway University.
Aimed at spreading prodigious ideas to spark conversations and arouse curiosity through succinct, powerful, persuasive dialogues; seven consolation prizes of RM5,000 bursaries each for the AUSMAT programme were given out that day. Claiming third place with a RM10,000 bursary for the AUSMAT programme, Megan Elizabeth Teoh-John from Heads Up Academy spoke on “Education”. Believing exams to be a culprit that hinders true learning, Megan emphasised the importance of an education system that encourages, inspires and provides students with the right tools. This will enable them to proceed with what they love and help to nurture their interests.
Coming in second with his speech, “Am I Stupid?”, Marcus Chai Zhen Yang from Nobel International School said, “Instead of telling us to memorise, make us understand it. Instead of telling us to get an A, tell us why we should. Instead of making us study hard, make us fall in love with studying”. In urging Malaysian educators to revamp the education system, he won a RM15,000 bursary for the AUSMAT programme.
Winning the heart of the judges with her speech “Stereotyping Body Image”, Priyaa Thiruventhiran of Sri Desa Learning Centre spoke of the increased dissatisfaction with their bodies being on the rise for adults and young people. Asking society to stop putting people down for the features that make them unique, Priyaa made a plea to end body image stereotyping in order to put a stop to the increase of dysmorphia. As champion of the AUSMAT Pitch Competition, the Year 10 student took home a full scholarship to pursue the AUSMAT programme at Sunway College.
All ten finalists were given a certificate of commendation and individual trophies.
SPARKING CONVERSATIONS
No 3 Jalan SR 3/7, Taman Serdang Raya 4, Seksyen 343300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor
Winners of the AUSMAT Pitch Competition 2018
Priyaa Thiruventhiran
Marcus Chai Zhen Yang
Megan Elizabeth Teoh-John
- FACE TO FACE - - MOVERS & SHAKERS -
04 05
SEEK YOUR OWN PATHGathering at the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) graduation to witness 430 achievers complete their first step on the education pathway, students, lecturers, parents, friends and well-wishers were on hand to congratulate the graduates of the May cohort.
Amongst all MUFY providers worldwide, MUFY Sunway College Kuala Lumpur topped all eleven subjects offered with Kee Pei Jiin receiving the MUFY Excellence Award for achieving the Highest Overall Score of 98.63% worldwide. Now in its 19th year at Sunway College, MUFY has had more than 13,000 students embrace the vibrant, holistic learning environment offered at the Sunway College campus.
The academic accomplishments of 206 students have made them eligible for Monash University scholarships in Malaysia or Australia as they achieved an overall High Distinction score. The Monash University High Achiever Awards for outstanding academic performance were given to 85 students who maintained an average score of 89% and above. For emerging top among all providers worldwide in their respective subjects, 47 students from the May cohort were given Awards of Excellence.
In his speech, Lee Thye Cheong, Director of MUFY spoke of the tireless efforts made by the MUFY Student Council in building the spirit of community through the MUFY Cup, MUFY Talent Quest and MUFY Games. Proud of MUFY students for using their talents to improve the lives of others through MUFY Sharity Day, inventing a device for the visually impaired via the Monash Innovation Challenge and through launching a book to inspire others, Lee encouraged the students to continue to apply themselves to making a positive difference.
In her speech to the graduating cohort, Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group and Sunway University gently reminded the graduates to be mindful of the words of wisdom that have been shared. As they celebrate their achievements, Dr Lee shared her concerns about the myth of a ‘perfect life’ which is often showcased via social media.
With a focus on learning that is relevant to the world, Dr Lee hoped the graduates have come to understand their role in community with the help of their friends and lecturers. Requesting the graduates to chart their own course in life, Dr Lee spoke of how graduation is the promise of new beginnings and asked that they be fearless and courageous in their pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment.
On behalf of the graduating cohort, valedictorian Matteus Lim thanked the lecturers for being the Most Valued Players (MVPs) in their quest for success. Appreciating the strong support structure provided by Sunway College, he urged his fellow graduates to continue stoking the fire within themselves so that they may continue to shed a light for themselves and others on their paths through life.
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK
With Psychology being his favourite subject, David enjoyed the lessons taught by Ms Ida Ngui as the classes were kept interesting for students were often asked to probe beyond the syllabus and to get to the crux of any issue. Having learnt a lot from both his fellow classmates and lecturers, David began preparing for the examinations a few months earlier by drawing up a study timetable, making notes plus consulting friends and lecturers on topics he was unsure of.
A Sunway scholarship recipient in the A-Level, David chose to quit the football team as the rigorous demands of his studies meant he had less time for football training. Spending up to ten hours of study every day during the two months before his examinations, David felt the results of his efforts were worth it as he scored 3A* for Mathematics, Economics and Psychology plus an A for Law.
Whilst waiting for his results, David spent four months of his time working for a lawyer. By following the lawyer in his daily routines, David learnt to deal with clients, draft letters, reading through contracts and it was an opportunity for David to experience the world of legal practice, outside of law textbooks and lectures. David also worked for RC Deaf Missions which gifted him with a newfound appreciation for the resourcefulness and optimism of those who have hearing challenges.
Having learnt much during his gap year after completing his A-Levels, David believes that to go far in life, there is no substitute for hard work. Very much looking forward to beginning his time in Oxford, David aspires to be the best person he can possibly be as he wants to always challenge and spur himself on to greater heights as a lawyer, a friend and a member of society.
Having made a visit to England when he was 11 years old, the dream to study in Oxford is now a reality for 20-year old David Lau Wen Chung. Heading to St.Hilda’s College in Oxford to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence (Law) end of September, David hopes to spend the next three years being part of something bigger than himself. David hopes to make a positive difference in the world one day as the development of law over the centuries and modern law intrigue him. He believes law is his calling as he has always loved reading and writing from a very young age.
For David, the A-Level was a big step up from SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia). The OPEN Day visits David made to HELP, Taylor’s and Sunway helped him to decide on Sunway as he liked the overall feel of the campus, the available facilities plus the friendly and knowledgeable student volunteers.
Kee Pei Jiin receiving the MUFY Excellence Award from Dr Elizabeth Lee Valedictorian Matteus Lim
MUFY Award recipients
- FACE TO FACE - - SOCIAL REPORT -
06 07
EXPOSURE TO MORE
Having shared her success in “My Sunway Story” feature, Rachel has used the opportunity to contribute her personal story and give tips to other aspiring students through social media and being featured on the cover of the Sunway Special Scholarship 2018 magazine.
With all the ups and downs she has experienced in her year in the FIA programme, Rachel believes the FIA lecturers are the most nurturing teachers on campus so it is only natural she would advise future FIA students to listen to the lecturers. Be truthful, be thankful, be grateful for the people around you and for yourself is Rachel’s advice; as she envisions that when she looks back on this in future, she will treasure all these moments.
A recipient of the Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship, Rachel has chosen to pursue the 3-year BA (Hons) in Communication programme. In making this her choice, Rachel hopes to learn more, excel more through experiencing new kind of things along with getting to know more people with different backgrounds and stories. She hopes to be happy and satisfied with her choice ten or twenty years into the future as Rachel is hopeful this pursuit is right for her.
With so many different things happening every day, Sunway Special Scholarship 2017 recipient Rachel Goh Pei Shyuan appreciates the important role her Foundation in Arts (FIA) lecturers have played in helping her to prepare for her undergraduate studies in Sunway University.
To help enhance and make a clearer pathway for herself, Rachel chose the one-year FIA programme as aspects like the syllabus, the study environment, the campus and the people caught her eye. Knowing how to adapt to different environments proved to be a challenge for Rachel, but the exposure to both academic and practical based assignments allowed FIA students like Rachel to experience planning events, visiting an orphanage and appreciating Sunway workers, the “kakak” and “abang” who helped make the campus cleaner and better.
Becoming more independent and mature, Rachel has learnt to better manage her studies, her piano sessions and the extra activities which required many meetings and planning. More patient and understanding of other cultures now, Rachel was on the FIA student committee and a committee member of the Sunway Ambassador Leadership Trek (S.A.L.T.) handling public relations. S.A.L.T taught Rachel to frame the public relations for this event as part of a bigger picture and enabled her to look at different perspectives. Being involved in S.A.L.T made her feel like part of a family, working together with her team members and being there for each other.
I-CARE FOCUS ON PAWSPAWS, a non-profit animal shelter in Petaling Jaya recently received an injection of funds from the students and lecturers in the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) programme. Through their yearly charitable drive at AUSMAT I-Care day, the students and lecturers of AUSMAT chose to focus their efforts on contributing the proceeds of the day to the welfare of over 500 dogs and cats under the care of PAWS.
Director of the AUSMAT Programme, Vanitha Satchithanadan commented on the excitement and buzz generated at this year’s I-Care Day. Thanking the team of lecturers, Organising Chair and Senior Lecturer Hanushia Palpanavan plus the AUSMAT Student Council for their efforts, the 7-km AUSMAT I-Care Run kicked off at 7am on a Saturday. Campus security and auxiliary police personnel were on hand to assist with the AUSMAT I-Care Run.
Attracting more than 600 participants, boxer and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Andre Loh-Max placed first in the AUSMAT I-Care Run. Currently in his first semester at AUSMAT, this self-confessed animal lover was happy to participate as Andre wanted to contribute to a good cause.
In planning and executing the I-Care Run, President of the AUSMAT Student Council Yap Yi June cited teamwork and communication as essentials to getting things done. Balancing her studies with her Student Council role, AUSMAT I-Care Day has aided her in sharpening her time management skills.
Secretary of the AUSMAT Student Council, first semester student Olivia Bong Kah Wai shared the Council had fun planning and organising the entire event from the I-Care Run to the bazaar. Throughout the day, AUSMAT students volunteered as first aid workers, route marshals, photographers and provided manning for the seven booths at the bazaar. The booths offered t-shirts for sale, food and beverage plus a photo booth.
Passionate about educating and raising social awareness among AUSMAT students for a chosen charity, Olivia shared that the Student Council was looking forward to further collaborations with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), like a refugee learning centre.
Participants of the AUSMAT I-Care Run
All set for the AUSMAT I-Care Run
AUSMAT students selling t-shirts at one of the booths during the I-Care charity drive
- FACE TO FACE -- MOVERS & SHAKERS -
08 09
THE FUTURE IS
In the span of one and a half months before the fourth Sunway Model United Nations (SUNMUN) conference, the Secretariat members toiled away at making this year’s conference a noteworthy success for the delegates and participants. Choosing to be a voice for the youth of Malaysia, SUNMUN 2018 was the result of the efforts by a small but passionate community of people who believe in a better Malaysia. Gathering a total of 280 delegates, this year’s SUNMUN “The Future Is” got off to a promising start as the official opening by Yang Berhormat Michelle Ng Mei Sze inspired many with her New Malaysia speech.
Over the next 3 days of SUNMUN, the debates by the represented councils were lively, productive and occasionally chaotic. “The Hague International Model UN” format (THIMUN) councils included The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nations Women Council (UNWC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). UNHRC had a discussion on sex workers and their legalities, as well as human rights in the context of businesses whereas UNGA discussed issues of biological warfare and the issue of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. UWNC discussion was on the prevention of rape culture and equality in education whereas WHO covered issues of child malnutrition and mental health, as well as the stigmas associated with mental health.
The “Harvard Model UN” format (HMUN) councils differed from the traditional THIMUN councils as the debates conducted were controlled by the delegates, instead of the Council Chairs. The HMUN councils included the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union (EU), SUNMUN’s unique United States Senate x Youth Assembly (USSxYA) and the crisis council in the form of United Nations Futuristic Security Council (UNFSC). UNSC discussed the Rohingya Crisis and the situation in South Sudan whereas EU discussed the reform of the Eurozone and the creation of an EU army. USSxYA discussed the reform of gun control in the United Nations and the UNFSC took on a hypothetical situation where the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had been compromised by an unknown threat in the year 2050.
On the evening of day two, the delegates were treated to socials in the evening where games, performances and all sorts of merriment were created to help the delegates relax before commencing the final day of SUNMUN.
On the final day of SUNMUN, inspired closing speeches by the Secretary Generals moved the delegates and awards for Best Delegate and Social Kings were given out by the SUNMUN Secretariat. After a thrilling three days of SUNMUN’s “The Future Is”, the conference came to a close and will remain a beacon of wonderful memories for many of the delegates.
WIELDING A SABRE
Citing her breakfast club friends as the best bits about CIMP, Natania thinks CIMP taught her to be creative and manage her time, as the teachers tended to assign tests and coursework at the same time. Having to train about eight hours a week at the fencing club, Natania has also had to schedule her school work around her fixed training times. In fencing, the competitive culture is filled with respect for the opponent as evidenced by saluting your opponent before commencing the bout and unmasking before shaking hands after the bout. At times, it still gets extremely hot for Natania under all that protective gear, in spite of the air-conditioning in the competition venue.
With her dad being her biggest supporter from the very beginning, Natania has him to remind her that although winning is great, the fact she enjoys her competitive fencing makes him happy. For Natania, screaming at her fencing matches reminds her of her purpose in life which is to fight for those who have given her the opportunities in life. From her coach and team who have pushed her to improve beyond her limits to her family for their moral and financial support to her religious beliefs, Natania believes her growth as an athlete has come from the principles she learnt at home and in her activities.
Currently prepping for her next bout of competitive fencing, Natania thinks she will probably stay in Sunway to complete her first degree. For Natania, working on her school work in every spare moment and not letting the work pile up has enabled her to manage her year in CIMP. She advises future CIMP students to take subjects that interest them as the passion for the subject will help them to pull through in their studies.
Believing that every win and every loss is a part of a greater plan, 18-year old Natania Tai formerly from the Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) at Sunway College has been involved in competitive fencing since 2012. Now specialising in sabre which is aggressive, fast and requires split-second decision making; Natania clinched the gold medal at SUKIPT 2018 (Higher Education Institute Sports Meet), the gold medal at MMU (Multimedia University) Championship 2018 and a bronze medal at the 2nd ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Fencing University Championship 2018.
For Natania, Sunway always seemed to be the best choice for college and university because of opportunities like sporting support, useful facilities, and a healthy college environment (smoke free campus). Attracted to CIMP because of the grading system and the subjects she had interest in, Natania shared she works better with coursework, rather than exams as she has the time to prepare to the best of her abilities.
SUNMUN Secretariat
EU UNHRC UNGA Lobbying
- FOCUS - - FOCUS -
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CELEBRATING GOODBYES AND CHANGE
At the recent Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) graduation ceremony, more than 300 Sunway College and Sunway International School (SIS) students took to the stage to receive their Ontario Secondary School Diplomas (OSSD). 137 students received the Ontario Scholar award and 65 students took home the Community Service award.
In her welcome remarks, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group and Sunway University, Dr Elizabeth Lee commented, ”At Sunway, I am happy to say that when it comes to community service, most of our CIMP and SIS students make the effort to go the extra mile, with quite a few committing more than the required 10 hours.”
Garnering the most awards for the day was Livia Alfian of the CIMP who received the Governor General’s Medal for Academic Achievement; Subject Awards for Analyzing Current Economics Issues, English 4C and Mathematics of Data Management; the Jeffrey Cheah Scholastic Award and the Jeffrey Cheah Entrance Scholarship by Sunway University in collaboration with Lancaster University.
To receive their OSSD, students are required to complete a minimum 10 hours of volunteering. The graduating cohort contributed an average 30 hours individually. CIMP students raised RM28,677 during their ‘Sales Day’ on campus for INSANI (Inisiatif Sokongan Autisme Nouri) Autism Charity, in support of the development of autism centres for low-income families as part of the Business Leadership Community Project. CIMP students also participated in this year’s Multiple Sclerosis Walk where they volunteered and helped create awareness of the disabling disease on the central nervous system.
For volunteering 684 hours in the past year, Alexa Cheah Shen Mae received the Community Service award for organising the Annual Youth Camp, being the Youth Leader and Mentor in the Worship Team and Trainings, being an active member of the Organising Committee for the Youth Conference (Generation Now) and for her participation in the Youth Ministry of SIBKL (Sidang Injil Borneo Kuala Lumpur).
The Maple Leaf Award was given to Raja Imran Shah Raja Amin in recognition of his strong academic performance and active participation in extra-curricular activities. A state level football player in the Selangor PKNS Football Club, Raja Imran participated in the National under-19 football league.
A celebration of the times they have had, Sunway College CIMP valedictorian Yashwenee Selvaraju requested her fellow graduates to use the graduation as an opportunity to change their perception of goodbyes before they embark on greater adventures.
Sunway International School celebrated their first batch of Ontario Grade 12 programme graduates by awarding Nyugen Thu Thao with Subject Awards for English, College Preparation and Mathematics of Data Management together with the Jeffrey Cheah Scholastic Award.
Volunteering 115 hours for teaching, reading and writing to students in a Special Education Programme, Maeesha Farzana Seraj received the Community Service award. The Vice President of the Grade 12 SIS Student Council, Maeesha also assisted at the SIS Library and volunteered in her native country of Bangladesh at a medical college.
Presented with the Maple Leaf Award, President of the Grade 12 SIS Student Council Nicholas Loke Sai Kit served as an active member of the Futsal Club and SIS Model United Nations. A peer tutor for Mathematics and English at SIS, he also volunteered as an English teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Lanjan, working with children of the Temuan people (an orang asli community).
Valedictorian for SIS, Ethan Schewaga asked his fellow graduates to focus on setting the path for change and be examples of the change that they want to see in the world.
Joining in the celebrations for the completion of the Ontario Grade 12 Programme were their teachers, family and friends. Guests for the ceremony included Her Excellency Ms Julia Bentley, High Commissioner of Canada to Malaysia; His Excellency Mr Mohamed Beram, Ambassador to Libya and his family; Puan Sri Datin Seri (Dr) Susan Cheah, EXCO Member, Sunway Group; Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group and Sunway University; Professor Pua Eng Chong, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Sunway University; John Mackle, Director, Canadian International Matriculation Programme, Sunway College and Heath Kondro, Principal of Sunway International School.
Graduates pose for a group photo
Livia Alfian receiving the Governor General’s Medal from Her Excellency Ms Julia Bentley
Alexa Cheah Shen Mae with Dr Elizabeth Lee
Yashwenee Selvaraju and Ethan Schewaga with Puan Sri Susan Cheah and Her Excellency Ms Julia Bentley
Maeesha Farzana, recipient of the Community Service Award with Heath Kondro
Raja Imran, recipient of the Maple Leaf Award with John Mackle
- FACE TO FACE - - MOVERS & SHAKERS -
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THE RIGHT AMOUNT
having to wake up as early as 3am one morning to help organise some of the events conducted by SSV. He had a lot of fun participating in the Ausmazing Race and he thoroughly enjoyed Teachers’ Appreciation Day and I-Care Run organised by the AUSMAT student council.
His time in AUSMAT has enabled him to set priorities, appreciating his parents, lecturers and friends for their help. Studying a little every day, making simplified notes, attempting practice questions, pasting notes on the bedroom wall and jotting down questions to ask his friends or lecturers the next day has been some of the methods of study Sivesham employed during AUSMAT.
His efforts during that one year has seen Sivesham achieving an ATAR of 98.8 for the Western Australian Certificate of Excellence (WACE) in 2017. Sivesham is excited to pursue the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in Monash University Malaysia. On a full government scholarship, Sivesham shared his family is thrilled that he is able to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a doctor and being able to help those who need help. Hoping to eventually become a specialised surgeon, Sivesham thinks learning to be more sociable and managing his priorities better in AUSMAT are key to his doing well in Monash University.
Having a brother who had done the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) and having listened to friends who did the same programme, choosing Sunway College was a no-brainer for JPA (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam) government scholar Siveshan Silvam. The facilities, the talented lecturers and the way the assessments were divided throughout the whole year had Siveshan thinking constant revision throughout the year would enable him to better recall the things he learnt.
Discovering AUSMAT to be an amazing course with many benefits, Siveshan had five lecturers within AUSMAT who made lessons fun and interesting. Time management was tricky for there were many assessments within that one year but Siveshan counts the time hanging out during lunch, free periods and after college with his friends as some of his best experiences in AUSMAT.
For Sivesham, studying just the right amount is necessary and crossing that limit does him very little good. Hence, he got involved in becoming a Chemistry and Physics student mentor. In this role, he would station himself at the AUSMAT hub to do revision and assist any students who had questions related to the subjects or work on Chemistry worksheets and test papers with the assigned mentees.
Sivesham also participated in the International Medical University’s Science Discovery Challenge with two of his friends. They managed to be the only Sunway College AUSMAT group to make it to the semi-final round of this quiz competition. Sivesham also volunteered through Sunway Student Volunteers (SSV) and remembers fondly
INTRODUCING SQL ACCOUNTS
Working together with EStream Software, Sunway College is the first institution in the Sunway Education Group to introduce the SQL Accounts computing software into their Diploma in Accounting programme. To be utilised in the teaching of the ‘Computerised Accounting System’ subject, SQL Accounts is Malaysia’s number one accounting software catering to small and medium enterprises.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) for introducing SQL Accounts was signed between the Executive Director of Sunway College, Teo Ee Sing and Managing Director of EStream Software, Desmond Law. Signed in May this year, the MOU was witnessed by Director of Sunway Diploma Studies, Adawiah Norli Yusuf; Head of Diploma in Professional Accounting and Finance, Sunway Diploma Studies, Lillian Liew in the presence of EStream Software Marketing Manager, Christopher Liew; Education Advisor of EStream Software, Ong Bee Wei; lecturers and students of the Diploma in Accounting programme.
The ‘Computerised Accounting System’ syllabus covers the full set accounts, in-depth practices, zero-rate Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation plus Sales and Services Tax (SST) calculations, handling of foreign currency transactions, stock control accounts and payroll accounts. More than 180,000 companies and over 600,000 accounting and business professionals use the flagship products of SQL Account and SQL Payroll in their daily operations and business transactions.
The Diploma in Accounting programme at Sunway College is designed to equip students with functional and personal competencies while providing a broad business perspective relating to the needs of business organisations. The students are to receive a Certificate of Completion from EStream Software upon successful completion of the ‘Computerised Accounting System’ subject.
Students who successfully complete the Diploma in Accounting can either pursue professional accounting qualifications offered by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Students can opt to pursue the Bachelor of Business, Victoria University at Sunway College or the BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance at Sunway University or other business-related degree programmes.
(from left) Ong Bee Wei and Desmond Law Hoe Yen of EStream Software pose for a photo with Teo Ee Sing and Lillian Liew of Sunway College
- MOVERS & SHAKERS -- FACE TO FACE -
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RULED BY MATHEMATICSEmerging a happier person, more outspoken and more confident, 20-year old Mok Siao Chi from Selangor credits Sunway College A-Level for transforming her life tremendously. A JPA (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam) bursary scholar, Siao Chi learnt about Sunway College when she represented Catholic High School in the Maths and Logic Challenge. Siao Chi came for the Open Day and was impressed by the numerous Physics and Chemistry demonstrations in the laboratory.
Having always wanted to pursue an academically challenging pre-university programme, Siao Chi was surprised to achieve Top in Malaysia for Cambridge International A Level in Chemistry and Physics; and First Place for Best Across Three Cambridge A Level in the November 2017 Cambridge Assessment International Education.
Finding Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Further Mathematics really interesting, Siao Chi derived the greatest satisfaction from solving the challenging, exotic questions in her Further Mathematics tutorials. For Siao Chi, Further Mathematics helped her to hone problem-solving skills and enabled her to think out of the box.
To excel in all subjects, Siao Chi relied on thinking and understanding every single detail of the subject matter. Attempting past papers and trying to make sense of the suggested answers in the marking scheme was another method of study she used. She chose to consult the lecturers for their assistance when unsure and for Mathematics subjects, she chose to comprehend the theorems, then learnt to apply them.
Liking Chemistry theories for explaining many things in everyday life, she found the best bits about the A-Level were the caring, friendly and highly experienced lecturers. Preparing for A2 examinations in 3 months was a challenge as Siao Chi and her friends had to submit their university applications and prepare themselves for university admission interviews at the same time.
Outside of class, Sunway Robotics Club was an opportunity for Siao Chi to learn some basic programming and robotic design. She also participated in the Kangaroo Maths Competition, Australian Maths Competition, Universiti Malaya Competition for Young Mathematicians (UMCYM), Euclid Maths Competition and Olimpiad Matematik Kebangsaan (OMK). The AAA Nightmusical resonated with Siao Chi as it was a hilarious reflection of the A-Level journey she experienced.
At the moment, Siao Chi is currently applying for scholarships. Intending to pursue a Mathematics degree, Siao Chi would particularly like to study at Imperial College London as it offers a rigorous programme comparable to Oxbridge. Impressed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong for their strong academic profile which includes Nobel Prize Winners and Fields Medallist affiliations, Hong Kong is her next preferred option after London.
ENCOURAGING CRITICAL THINKING
At the National Challenge, the participants were judged based on their individual challenge and the 2-member team challenge scores. The top three teams from each participating state took home a certificate of commendation. The second runner-up team came from Hin Hua High School, Klang. Both Lim Ying Chuan and Lim Li Xiang each took home an individual trophy, a certificate of commendation plus a Sunway College A-Level bursary worth RM10,000 and or a Sunway University degree bursary worth RM24,000 for studies in Actuarial Studies or Financial Analysis or Financial Economics. Hin Hua High School, Klang received a cash prize of RM500.
SMJK Sin Min, Sungai Petani received a cash prize of RM600 for being First Runner Up for this year’s Math and Logic Challenge. Their students Lim Gao Tek and Lim Chuen Tek each took home an individual trophy, a certificate of commendation plus a Sunway College A-Level bursary worth RM15,000 and or a Sunway University degree bursary worth RM30,000 for studies in Actuarial Studies or Financial Analysis or Financial Economics.
Adding an additional RM800 cash prize for Hin Hua High School, Klang this year were the champions of 2018 Math and Logic Challenge. Both Kuan Kwok Yong and Kong Yue Xuan each took home an individual trophy, a certificate of commendation plus a full bursary for Sunway College A-Level and or a Sunway University degree bursary worth RM45,000 for studies in Actuarial Studies or Financial Analysis or Financial Economics.
Thanking the students, teachers and school representatives from Peninsular Malaysia for their enthusiastic response to the challenge, Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group and Sunway University also thanked the Sunway College A-Level math lecturers led by Senior Lecturer Lee Lip Seong for helping to set the challenging questions.
Now in its twelfth year, the Sunway College Math and Logic Challenge attracted a total participation of 345 students and the involvement of 76 teachers from 61 schools from Penang, Johor, Perak, Malacca, Kedah, Pahang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan in the initial State Challenge. A yearly event to promote excellence in mathematics amongst secondary school students, the National Challenge finally narrowed down the number of competing teams to 174.
Those present for the National Challenge included Cheng Mien Wee, Director, Pre-University Studies, Sunway College and Executive Director, Sunway International School; Ruth Cheah, Director, A-Level Programme and Chairperson of the Sunway College Math and Logic Challenge; Wong Lei Lei, Director of Marketing, Sunway Education Group and parents.
Winners of the Math and Logic Challenge 2018 with Dr Elizabeth Lee, Cheng Mien Wee, Ruth Cheah Wong Lei Lei, Lee Lip Seong and lecturers from the A-Level programme, Sunway College
First Runner-Up duo Lim Gao Tek and Lim Chuen Tek with their teacher and Dr Elizabeth Lee
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THE ART OF ADULT-ING
like Jason to better prepare their topics, assignments and sitting for the examinations, Jason believes VU suits the preference of a lot of students as it offers options that fits the needs and budget choice of the students. With options for exchange in Melbourne, Australia to summer school in Hansung University, South Korea Jason chose the 3+0 pathway to complete his studies.
A member of the Victoria University Business Club (VUBC), Jason is very grateful for the opportunity to experience carrying out small yet meaningful tasks which connects people and makes a whole event come to fruition. With the VUBC members dedicating 2 semesters to organise the VU Prom, Jason was very touched to see everyone enjoying the night with their friends and rewarding themselves with a pat to their backs. Studying hard and playing hard whilst juggling roles in a team and as a leader, learning new things outside the classroom has had Jason realising the importance of planning a future.
Through meeting and working with different people, Jason learnt to solve conflicts in a more mature manner like an adult. Having graduated in April 2017, Jason has now moved into the world of “adult-ing”. Currently working as a Credit Analyst/Management Trainee in Public Bank, his scope of work has him assessing loan applications and recommending how to proceed with each application. For him, getting a loan approved for a customer and to be greeted with a simple “Thank you” really makes his day.
Discovering the Victoria University (VU) Bachelor of Business programme at Sunway College to be a well-balanced programme with helpful lecturers, 22-year old Jason Tan Yie Jiat from Puchong chose to major in Banking and Finance and Financial Risk Management. Deciding on Sunway College through a process of elimination, Jason factored in the proximity of the college to his home, the variety of food available here and the reputation that Sunway produces excellent graduates in Accounting and Finance.
Loving the challenge of the Professional Development module where students had to pitch their presentations to an external panellist, Jason discovered business conditions were always changing and that could translate into not always having a ready answer when questioned by the panellist. This pinch of experience in starting a business enabled his team mates and himself to work together on a practical level, making it fun for them.
On a Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship, the combination of both coursework and examinations in the programme had offshore lecturers dropping in from VU Melbourne over weekends. Helping students
WHERE EVERYONE IS SIGNIFICANT
The most recent graduation ceremony for the Foundation in Science and Technology (FIST) and Foundation in Arts (FIA) had a total of 212 students enter the next phase of their education journey. Witnessing the students’ achievements were Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway University and Sunway Education Group; Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Vice-Chancellor; Professor Pua Eng Chong, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Professor Peter Heard, Provost; and Professor Hew Gill, Associate Provost (Student Experience) of Sunway University; Cheng Mien Wee, Director of Pre-University Studies and Suzana Ahmad Ramli, Acting Director of Sunway Foundation Programme, Sunway College.
Provided a full scholarship under the Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship, 19-year old Tan Suk Meng from the FIST programme shared that subjects like Academic Writing taught her to write research papers and this has prepared her for undergraduate studies. Advising future students not to procrastinate on assignments, Suk Meng’s efforts earned her the Certificate of Academic Excellence.
Awarded to exceptional individuals who have performed well and obtained excellent results throughout their time in the foundation programmes, the Certificate of Excellence was also given to Loh Wan Chin from the FIA programme. A former SMJK Hua Lian student, Wan Chin also received the Vice-Chancellor’s Subject Award for Introduction to Business: World of Finance, Macroeconomics: The Global View and Mathematics for Actuarial Studies. Having acquired soft skills through training from experienced lecturers and from the assessments in the programme, Wan Chin believes these skills will help students like her to transition smoothly into her undergraduate studies. She will be continuing her studies in the BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Sunway University, with a full scholarship under the Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship.
Having earned a high distinction in FIA, valedictorian Chikonjiwe Zulu from Zambia and the student representative for the Sunway Foundation Programme (SFP) July 2018 cohort is furthering her studies in BSc (Hons) Business Management at Sunway University as a recipient of the Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship.
She spoke of how failure to be on time for her lectures taught her to manage her time wisely. For her, she loved the wide spectrum of learning opportunities within the programme as this allowed her to explore her strengths and weaknesses academically and personally. In her speech, she said “Everyone is significant. We have the power to decide where we stand on life’s scoreboard. Beyond the grades, figuring out who I am is core to the decisions I make and the directions I take in life.”
Top achievers of the FIA and FIST programmes with Professor Peter Heard (second row from left), Professor Hew Gill, Cheng Mien Wee, Dr Elizabeth Lee, Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Professor Pua Eng Chong and Suzanna Ahmad Ramli
Chikonjiwe Zulu
Loh Wan Chin
Tan Suk Meng
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ACCELERATED ACA PATHWAY
A recent ICAEW World Prize winner, Ilyana is further developing her perspective in accounting as she received an additional scholarship to complete her Professional Level tuition fees by September 2018. Other than concentrating on her studies, Ilyana has kept herself busy by participating in the Sunway College Student Council (SCC). Her tenure in the SCC had her serving as Treasurer from January to June 2017 and being the Project Manager for Freshies Night ’17, SCC’s largest annual event. Obtaining sponsorship from Staedtler for the Asia Leadership Conference 2017 was one of the highlights for her when she served as one of the Sponsorship Executives.
As completing her ICAEW ACA qualifications is her main goal, Ilyana finds the programme to be tough, but doable. She recommends the programme for those who are keen to gain professional qualifications and her advice is “Believe in yourself; have faith; work hard for it, then you’re able to overcome it. Always remember to enjoy yourself.”
Intending to complete the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Chartered Accountant (ICAEW ACA) qualification by September 2021, 19-year old Ilyana Ibrahim is on the accelerated pathway for school leavers designed by Sunway TES Centre for Accountancy Excellence (CAE).
By enroling herself into the Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) programme at Sunway TES, fresh school leavers like Ilyana learn the fundamentals of finance, accounting and business. A former student of SMK Aminuddin Baki, Kuala Lumpur, Ilyana was awarded the Sunway-ICAEW Global Accountant Scholarship after obtaining straight As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in March 2016.
With the scholarship covering tuition and examination fees, Ilyana credits her time in CFAB with helping her to build her skills in communications and presentations. Clarifying that time management is key to mastering a subject within the 3-month semester time frame in the programme, Ilyana cites Accounting and Tax as her favourite subjects. For her, the lecturers in CFAB has been extremely helpful as they have the patience to answer all the questions about the syllabus and outside of class. The extra materials, practice questions and guidance from the lecturers have further aided students like herself to develop a better understanding of their studies.
6 CHALLENGES IN MONASH SCIENCE CUP
The Monash Science Cup 2018 attracted a participation of 80 students from various colleges and institutions around the Klang Valley. Making up 20 competing teams for the Monash Science Cup 2018, each of the 4-member teams had to solve 6 experiments within the given time limit. The Monash Science Cup 2018 offered medals, book vouchers, a trophy for the winning college and 35% bursary for the School of Science undergraduate course at Monash University Malaysia to each Grand Award winner.
Emerging as the Grand Award winner for the Monash Science Cup 2018 was the team of 4 students from the A-Level programme at Sunway College. The first ever team from A-Level Sunway College to compete at the Monash Science Cup, Joel Jong Lee Zher, Tsng Hao Yuen, Esther Hoong Zi En and Tan Jia Hui had to complete six challenges dealing with Microbiology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Gene Technology, Food Technology and DNA Fingerprinting. To prep, the 4 of them did their research together and decided to split the topics of study to fully cover the scope of skills for the competition. Acting as their advisor, A-Level biology teacher Sharon Kong had the team members learning techniques and the necessary how-to so they could conduct electrophoresis and genetic engineering experiments.The Microbiology challenge had the competing teams identifying the exact location of a disease outbreak from stories given by 8 members of a family. The Chemistry challenge involved experimental procedures and calculations. Utilising a spectrophotometer to calculate the actual mass of Aspirin in an Aspirin pill, the teams had to plot a graph and come up with a final answer within 25 minutes.
The Environmental Sciences challenge involved identification of the concentration of nitrates and ammonia in 3 different solutions, whilst solving a crossword puzzle. The Gene Technology challenge required arrangement of DNA sequences in the correct order before proceeding to the next segment which involved calculating the differences and the percentage of similarity in the DNA of 6 people. The Food Technology challenge in the fifth round required an experiment and answering 15 multiple choice questions simultaneously. The experiment had the teams determining the best flour for making the largest possible dough.
The sixth and final challenge involving DNA Fingerprinting had subjective questions on the basic knowledge of DNA molecules. The competing teams had to identify the correct strands of DNA with sickle cell anaemia and draw the DNA Fingerprint after the fragmentation of the DNA with sickle cell anaemia.
Throughout the competition, the judges were impressed with the lab skills and the teamwork displayed as the team members were the fastest and most accurate in all the 6 challenges. For Joel, learning to divide the tasks amongst the team members whilst learning to manage their time well in the Monash Science Cup was an important element to his learning about teamwork. For Hao Yuen, discovering that multiple tasks could be carried out simultaneously when working as a team resulting in increased accuracy and speed during the competition proved to be his takeaway from this competition. For Esther, the trust gained and the confidence to move on to the next challenge was her most memorable takeaway whereas Jia Hui learnt to stay positive in tough times when she was competing as part of the winning team in the Monash Cup Challenge 2018.
(from left) Ruth Cheah, Director of Cambridge A-Level programme; Esther Hoong Zi En; Joel Jong Lee Zher; Tan Jia Hui and Tsng Hao Yuen with Sharon Kong
