THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

special

COURSE FOCUS

HOSPITALITY, LAW, TEACHING & MASS COMMUNICATION

By IAN JEROME LEONG

THREE weeks ago in an event
that featured international film
stars and video messages from
Pope Francis, Prof Stephen
Hawking and world political
figures, Palestinian teacher
Hanan Al Hroub won the
Global Teacher Prize 2016.
The teacher from the violenceinflicted West Bank stressed that
her role as a teacher and the
well-being of her students
remain her top priorities
declaring that the prize money
will be used to promote her
teaching methods, fund young
educators and support other
Palestinian teachers.
Speaking to CNN, Hanan said,
I tell all teachers: Our job is
humane, its goals are noble. We
must teach our children that our
only weapon is knowledge and
education.
Like Hanan, more than
400,000 teachers in Malaysia
work tirelessly in schools,
centres and homes for the
nations future, nurturing young
minds and shaping the leaders of
tomorrow. Course Focus speaks
to a few inspiring individuals
who have chosen this noble
career via different pahtways.

Endless dedication
Charis Loke, a Brown
University graduate with a
degree in biochemistry and
molecular biology and a
background in illustration,
animation and literature,
decided to become a teacher to
pay forward the effort and
support received during her
studying life.
I will forever be indebted to
teachers and mentors who, in
addition to imparting knowledge,

Be inspired,
be inspirational
affirmed me, held me to rigorous
academic standards, gave me the
freedom to explore my interests
and supported me in my efforts to
learn, says the English and visual
arts secondary school teacher.
Loke began teaching after
undergoing training with Teach
For Malaysia, an independent,
not-for-profit organisation that
aims to end education inequity in
the country by sending teachers
to high-need schools.
Lokes advice to aspiring
teachers: You will need an
unwavering belief that your No.1
priority is the students not the
system, education policies, syllabi,
remuneration, grades nor societal
norms.
Students are humans with
autonomy, opinions and creativity,
who deserve to have control over
what they learn and how they
learn it.

All about passion

Influenced by her family
that included aunts and
grandparents who were
school teachers, Penelope
Dougherty became an
educator almost 30 years ago
and currently teaches
11-year-olds in an
international school.
I love being around children
as they make me feel
young, focused and

constantly keep me on my toes,

says the teacher who obtained her
bachelors degree in education
after her first bachelors degree in
economics and history.
She says, Teachers can
overcome any obstacle or
challenge so long as they are
passionate, love the job and are
genuinely eager to help children
reach their full potential.
When you are passionate about
what you love and show the
children that you care for them,
they will in turn be focused in class
and eager to come to school. Once
you get to know them and they

start to have confidence in you, it

will make for a better learning
environment, says Dougherty.

Creative
implementation

After completing a diploma in

Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages (TESOL) at the
London Teacher Training College,
Gregory Basil began his teaching
career three years ago at a private
learning centre.
Teaching English to students of
different age groups, Gregory has
had to come up with different
ways to better engage his students.
With the older students, I
constantly have to probe them for
answers, have speaking exercises
and make them give presentations
to the class to overcome their
shyness.
I believe that being open, and
honest, and talking freely with
them have allowed the students to
see me more as their peer and be
quite open with me, says Gregory.
Catering to the energetic and
enthusiastic nature of his younger
students, Gregory incorporates
activities that include drawing and
language games such as Taboo or
Scattergories.
He says, As a teacher, you
must always make your lessons
interesting and find new ways to
deliver lessons in an exciting way.

Rewarding
experience

The work of a
teacher often
extends after
working hours, with
duties that include

Teaching pathways
If you have a burning desire
to educate, mould young
minds and are a firm believer
in shaping the future, teaching
may be the ideal profession for
you.
Here are some of the
various pathways to becoming
a teacher in Malaysia.
l Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia >
Program Persediaan Ijazah
Sarjana Muda Perguruan
(PPISMP) > Program Ijazah
Sarjana Muda Perguruan
(PISMP)
l Pre-university/
Matriculation > bachelors
degree in education
l Non-teaching degree >
Teach For Malaysia
marking students work, resource
and lesson planning, supervising
students after school, speaking to
parents and constantly finding
new ways to better interact with
students.
While challenges and failure
are part of the profession, the
industry offers passionate
individuals a deep sense of
self-gratification.
Dougherty finds great joy in
seeing her students blossom
into better human beings and
Gregory gets excited when
students specifically request
to be in his classes.
Loke says even a single
sentence such as I enjoyed
todays lesson, We must not
stereotype people, or The
lesson changed my goals and
views of the world is enough to
keep her motivated.
But among the most exciting
aspects of the profession is that
you will experience an unending
learning curve that will not only
lead you to become a better
teacher but a person who will
leave a lasting impression in the
hearts of many.

The teaching profession offers teachers

a deep sense of self-gratification and an
unending learning curve that make
them better individuals.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

2 course focus

FUELED by people who have a

passion for travel, one of the most
rapidly growing sectors in the
world is hospitality and tourism.
Therefore, there is a need for
educated and trained people who
can be counted on to deliver
first-class services to customers,
ensuring that they feel at home
despite being miles away from
their actual home.
One of Malaysias leading
education providers SEGi
University and Colleges offers
several hospitality and tourism
diploma programmes to groom
future professionals in the sector.
The programmes available at
SEGi are designed to equip
students with the skills and
knowledge that are increasingly in
demand among todays employers.
Students study highly relevant
modules and develop skills in
communication, teamwork,
problem-solving, usage of
information technology and
application of numbers all these
are essential to launch their
careers in the luxurious world of
hospitality and tourism.
The diploma programmes are:
l Diploma in Hotel Management
This diploma is perfect for
people who want to develop
comprehensive skills in hospitality
management.
Graduates of the Diploma in
Hotel Management demonstrate
an advanced knowledge of food
and beverage, housekeeping, front

Passport to hospitality
and tourism industry
l Diploma in Baking & Pastry

office and the general operation of

hotels and resorts.

Arts
The Diploma in Baking & Pastry
Arts offers a broad array of baking
and pastry theory as well as
practical knowledge essential for
anyone seeking a career as a pastry
chef, head chef or baker.
With a perfect balance of
lectures and hands-on kitchen
experiences, this programme
imparts the skills of preparing
pastries, cakes, pies and other
baked goods using a combination
of arts and science to create
delectable pastries.

l Diploma in Tourism
Management
Students who are interested in
making a career in the world of
travel can pursue this qualification.
The programme provides
students with an understanding of
theoretical concepts and strategies
for the tourism business
environment.
Through the programme,
students broaden their knowledge
of the many different service
providers that contribute to the
travel and tourism industry, such
as tour and travel operators, hotels,
resorts, airlines and visitor
attractions.

l Diploma in Culinary Arts

People who have a strong
passion for cooking and aspire to
be the next celebrity chef can
consider the Diploma in Culinary
Arts.
The Diploma in Culinary Arts

SEGi has one of the widest ranges of programmes under its School of
Hospitality and Tourism, including culinary arts.

offered by SEGi provides sufficient

culinary background that is needed
to enter the food service industry
in entry- to mid-level positions and
advance to a variety of related
positions.

At the end of the course,

graduates would have mastered
Asian and European cooking
methods, principles of design in
food production and nutrition
planning.

n For more information on

hospitality and tourism
programmes, call SEGi University
(03-6145 1777 or 1800 887 344),
SEGi College Subang Jaya (03-8600
1888 or 1800 888 622), SEGi College
Kuala Lumpur (03-2070 2078 or
1800 888 028), SEGi College Penang
(04-263 3888) or SEGi College
Sarawak (082-252 566) or e-mail
askme@segi.edu.my or visit
www.segi.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

course focus 3

Assoc Prof Dr Bong says: Most South-East Asian countries are also
highly multiethnic, and that diversity, in terms of religions and cultures,
makes it interesting as a collective. When you study it as a composite
whole, the divergence is what makes it really exciting to explore.

Highlight
on gender
studies
WHETHER or not we realise it,
gender has an impact on how
we experience the world
around us and carries major
cultural implications.
In South-East Asia, the
regions immense sociocultural
diversity means that the
relationships between genders,
sexualities and religions are
uniquely rich and complex.
At Monash University
Malaysia, Assoc Prof Dr Sharon
Bong has developed her
research specialisation in this
area.
In a nutshell, my research
started with womens rights and
religions. In recent years, it has
evolved to include genders,
sexualities and religions. My
work deals with the nexus
between these, aiming to
demystify misconceptions
that the majority has about the
interpretation of religious texts
and cultural practices, which
can be sources of discrimination
or marginalisation for gender
minorities or women at large,
she says.
A foundational
understanding of gender
studies is that all social
processes, large or small,
are gendered. This means
that an individuals gender
influences how they perceive
and are perceived by those in
the surrounding environment.
A lot of developed countries
will be the first to point out that
women seem to have equal
rights because theyre looking
at some indicators while
omitting others such as how
disproportionately women
experience certain phenomena,
including the impact of
globalisation, poverty,
trafficking and gender-based
violence in particular, says
Assoc Prof Bong.
Over the course of the gender
studies major, students learn to
expand and deepen this
framework in relation to a
rapidly changing environment
within South-East Asia and the
rest of the world.

The South-East Asian

connection is a special strength
of the programme, linking back
to the facultys established
specialisation of social
transformations in the region.
South-East Asia, in relation
to both the West and other parts
of Asia, is unique because
cultures and religions still play
quite a pivotal role in social
processes and these may be
gendered or sexed.
Most South-East Asian
countries are also highly
multiethnic, and that diversity,
in terms of religions and
cultures, makes it interesting as
a collective. When you study it
as a composite whole, the
divergence is what makes it
really exciting to explore, says
Assoc Prof Bong.
The programme includes
gateway units on gender and
sexuality studies, followed by
in-depth explorations of
feminist theories, sexuality
studies, masculinity studies, and
the intersections between sex,
gender, class, race and religion.
The major also incorporates a
capstone internship unit, which
students can complete over the
summer semester.
The programme is crafted to
ease students into working life
or postgraduate studies by
equipping them with relevant
skills as well as encouraging
original research projects.
Assoc Prof Bong hopes that
the material covered in this
new major will resonate with
students on the levels of
personal experience and wider
social needs.
It goes back to bringing the
point home that good research
is always political it should
have an impact on society
because it draws from the
reality of marginalised
members of society, she says.

n For more information on the

programmes offered at Monash
Malaysias School of Arts and
Social Sciences, visit www.sass.
monash.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

4 course focus

A successful start
HOW do you start embarking on
your dreams? Where can you
learn how to run a business and
serve your customers well?
Look no further Berjaya
University College of Hospitality
is a specialised institution that
can help you achieve your
dream.
Students are conditioned
into the environment of the
hospitality industry through a
method called the Berjaya
Immersion Methodology that
teaches students both the
theory and practice of working
in a hotel, providing them
real-world opportunities to
use their knowledge in future
careers.
In fact, it is designed to
resemble a hotel so that
students feel completely
immersed in the industry.

Relevance to the
industry
We want to be categorised as

a niche and unique institution.

Our academicians are people
with industrial experience with
years of training in their
respective fields, who pass
down their knowledge to
students, says Berjaya University
College of Hospitalitys head of
the School of Hospitality Yeoh Tay
Boon (pic).
By driving students to
constantly move forward, they
are equipped to be industry-ready
and prepared to overcome future
challenges. Proper training
ensures graduates can provide
guests the best experience
possible.
Through 16-week internship
programmes, students are given
the opportunity to experience
running a hotel first hand.
According to Yeoh, availability
for internship positions is never
an issue as the industry needs
passionate individuals to join
their teams.
The institutions priority
is to supply the industry with

graduates equipped with strong

technical skills and academic
knowledge of the hospitality
industry. Graduates from
Berjaya University College
of Hospitality get priority
employment at Berjaya
Hotel and Resorts and other
business subsidiaries of the
Berjaya Group.
Most of our students look
for internships locally while
some go overseas to places
such as Japan, Singapore, South
Korea and other countries.
That is the beauty of hospitality,
you can work anywhere, he
says.
By joining Berjaya University
College of Hospitality, students
can also embark on exchange
programmes around the world
while paying fees in Malaysian
ringgit.
Students in the Bachelor of
Hospitality Management
programme can spend a
semester abroad in countries
such as South Korea, Poland
and Austria.
Through collaborations with
international universities of the
same standards and syllabus as

Berjaya University College of

Hospitality, students can
experience different cultures
and languages.

Understanding the
business
To understand how to apply
the element of hospitality to a
business, one must understand
how to run a business for
profitable success. The dream
of owning a hotel or caf can
only be a reality if the numbers
match the performance.
Students who dream of
owning such establishments
must be able to pay their
suppliers and staff and manage
costs to achieve a profitable
end each day.
Thus, students who pursue
business-related programmes
can learn about marketing and
strategic planning, which are
just some of the many elements
that ensure that the success of
future investments begins
strong.

n For more information, visit

www.berjaya.edu.my.

Legal doubles
LAWYERS frequently use
some English words that may
have a different meaning in the
courtroom than in everyday
life.
If you are planning to pursue
a law degree, here are some
English words you should know
that have different meanings
when used in a legal context.

The Bar
A bar is usually a long
rectangular-shaped object but
in this case, the Bar is a
collective reference to a group
of licensed lawyers.
The very first lawyers used to
gather at inns and sit at the bar
with a drink to discuss their
days cases. The term bar was
later recognised (and still is
today) as the barrier that
separates the general spectator
area of the courtroom from the
area reserved for judges,
lawyers and court officials.
When a lawyer is called to
the bar, it means that he or she
has the qualifications to appear
in court as a representative of a
client.

Battery
Batteries are mobile power
sources, but in the legal context,
it is the act of intentionally
or voluntarily bringing nonconsensual harm to a person
or a possession that is closely
associated with the victim.
In this context, the word
battery is derived from a club
such as sport equipment known
as a bat.

Briefs
As David Beckham and
Justin Bieber attest, briefs
are a popular form of male
undergarments.
In law, the term briefs, which
originates from the term brevis
(short) in Latin, are written
statements submitted in court
that explain the legal and actual
arguments of the side being
represented.

Chamber
Computer gamers and fantasy
book readers alike may be
familiar with the term chamber
it is usually a large room where
you find a heap of treasure.
This word is otherwise not in
common everyday use except by
lawyers. In the context of law, a
chamber is the office of a judge.
Law graduates in Malaysia
who have obtained professional
qualifications Certificate of
Legal Practice (CLP) or Bar
Vocational Course (BVC) must
undergo a phase known as
reading in chambers or
chambering as a pupil.
This is a nine-month
apprenticeship with a lawyer,
and upon completion, the pupil
will be called to the bar
and be recognised as a lawyer.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

course focus 5

Some of the SOS members from IACT College who took part in the
charity education cause.

Teaching
English
creatively
IACT College (International
Advertising Communications
Technology) is a creative
communications college founded
in 1970.
On Feb 20, its BA (Hons)
Media, Culture and
Communication (BMCC) and BA
(Hons) Advertising and Design
(BAD) students collaborated with
Challenge Accepted Consultants,
a non-governmental
organisation that conducts selfmotivation activities, to organise
a basic English language
workshop for orang asli students
in Standard 4, 5 and 6 from
Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan
Sungai Dua, Bentong.
The IACT degree students
are members of Serve Our
Society (SOS), an all-studentrelated club formed to create
social awareness for the
underprivileged.
Teaching the orang asli
students basic English gave me
pleasant anxiety as it was my
first time tutoring orang asli
students, says 24-year-old BMCC
student Sathisvaran Santhian.
We made the lessons fun.
Everyone made an amazing
effort and gave plenty of
support. Food, prizes and
resources were provided by
outsourced corporations. My
experience teaching has taught
me to appreciate my lecturers
more for the effort they put into
our lessons.
Sathisvaran admires the orang
asli students for their tenacity, as
they insist on going to school to
gain knowledge despite their
lack of basic necessities.
Haezell Alison Claudius,
21-year-old student in the same
programme, also shares her
experience teaching English.
She says, I liked how it was
out of our element having to
communicate, understand and
connect with the orang asli
children as opposed to the
typical home shelter visits.
I am particularly proud of

us because not only did we

educate children but got
coverage from Berita Harian
as well.
This helped create public
awareness on the importance of
English proficiency among all
members of society. Hopefully,
this will contribute in urging the
Government to take action, she
says.
Claudius adds that it was an
enriching experience for the
IACT students involved and they
have bonded as a team.
BAD student Cynthia Niam Tze
Sing, 21, was also part of the
experience.
We chose to carry out free
English tutoring for orang asli
students because it is not among
the usual activities we run for
our club. The experience opened
my eyes to how privileged we
are to have our education in
English and how much we have
been taking so many things for
granted, she says.
The experience has widened
these students perspective of the
basic need for formal education
and to appreciate the simple
meaningful things in life. They
are eager to run such projects
again in the near future.
IACT College lecturers Elyena
Aziz and Esther Hon, who are
also the SOS club advisors, agree
that the experience gave the
students a better understanding
of the hardship faced by others
and taught them humility and
gratitude.
IACT College offers degrees,
diplomas and foundation and
certificate programmes in mass
communication, media,
marketing, advertising,
broadcasting and graphic design.
IACT College is open on
weekdays from 9am to 6pm and
Saturdays and Sundays from
10am to 5pm.

n For more information call

03-7954 1909 or visit www.iact.
edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

6 course focus

IN this years QS World University

Rankings by Subject, The University
of Nottingham sits among the
worlds most elite institutions in
33 of the 42 subjects surveyed.
The new rankings feature 21
Nottingham subjects in the top 100
and six in the top 50.
The university is placed highly in
pharmacy and pharmacology
(sixth), education (28th), veterinary
science (35th), geography (39th),
law (41st) and agriculture and
forestry (42nd).
More than 4,226 universities
worldwide were evaluated as part
of the survey, with 945 institutions
ranked in total.
The QS World University
Rankings by Subject series takes
into account opinions of academics
and employers via a global survey.
It is the only international
evaluation that allows prospective

Founded in 2000, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus makes Nottingham a truly global British university.

Among the best

students to compare universities in

their particular area of interest.
Dr Paul Greatrix, registrar at The
University of Nottingham, UK, says:
To place so highly across so many
subjects out of so many universities
across the globe is a fantastic
achievement and is a reflection of

the exceptional teaching standards

and quality of subjects we offer
here at Nottingham. We are
particularly proud to see that
pharmacy is placed in the top 10
once again.
QS is the leading global provider
of higher education through

independent research.
Its activities span 50 countries,
with more than 2,000 international
universities and business schools
participating.
The rankings are based on
research citations alongside
reputational surveys of more than

90,000 academics and graduate

employers worldwide.
This ranking reflects the results
of the latest High Fliers survey,
which found Nottingham
graduates to be among the top
choices of employers.
The latest report showed that
the university came in second for
the second time in a row in the
list of universities targeted by the
largest number of top employers
from 2015 to this year.
Dr Greatrix adds, This latest
ranking success, coupled with our
placing in the High Fliers survey,
shows that we offer a fully
rounded experience to our
students both in terms of quality
of teaching and work
experience.

n For more information, visit

www.nottingham.edu.my.

IUKL offers a range of communication-related subjects.

Versatility of
communication skills
COMMUNICATION is becoming
one of the most sought-after
programmes as the skills
obtained through the
programme can be applied
to a variety of careers.
Graduates with
communication majors need
not worry about what to do after
they graduate since they can
choose their desired jobs in a
variety of fields, including
business, education, public
relations, media and advertising.
Infrastructure University
Kuala Lumpur (IUKL)s Faculty
of Arts, Communication and
Education recognises the need
for professionals with dynamic
communication skills as well as
effective teaching skills to
support todays corporate,
business and education sectors.
IUKL offers the Diploma in
Corporate Communication and
Bachelor of Communication
(Hons) in Corporate
Communication, which equip
students with extensive
theoretical and practical skills
of corporate communication
such as organisational
communication, managerial
communication and crisis
management.
The Bachelor of
Communication (Hons) in
Integrated Marketing
Communication arms students
with the knowledge of the
various types of marketing
communication tactics and
strategies from basic publicity

to viral marketing.
Those interested in writing
and editing can pursue a
Diploma in English for
Professional Communication
or Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in
English for Professional
Communication, which prepare
students with oral and written
language skills for effective
communication.
The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in
Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages programme is
designed to prepare ESL (English
as a second language) educators
who are theoretically informed
and practically equipped, caring,
committed and competent to
teach English at various levels.
IUKL received SETARA Tier 5:
Excellent as a full-fledged
university in the latest MQA
Rating System SETARA'13.
IUKL is open every day for
extended counselling hours.
Drop by the office on weekdays
from 8.30am to 6.30pm and
weekends from 10am to 4pm.
IUKL is having its last call for
the March intake. You can
become a student at IUKL with
only RM100.
Scholarships and tuition fee
waivers of up to 60% are offered
to students who excel in their
studies. Study loans from PTPTN
and Yayasan Negeri are also
available.

n For more information, call

1800 88 STUDY (78839) or visit
www.IUKL.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

UNITAR International University

(UNITAR) is known for its
leading and innovative social
sciences programmes.
The Faculty of Culinary &
Tourism of the university
offers hands-on hospitality,
culinary and tourism industry
programmes that stay true to the
tagline Driven to Delight.
The faculty emphasises a
variety of traditional and
modern Asean cuisine selections
and cultures and takes it to
another level to be recognised in
the international arena.
The Faculty also works closely
with industry partners such as
Themed Attractions Resorts &
Hotels (Legoland, KidZania),
Boustead Holdings Berhad
(Royale Chulan hotels), San
Francisco Coffee and more to
give students maximum
exposure and practical training
during their studies.
Hence, one of the benefits of
being a UNITAR graduate is that
you receive exposure to the
industry in the classroom, which
prepares you for the workforce.

course focus 7

Diverse options available

UNITAR also offers the
Bachelor of Communications
programme under the Faculty of
Education and Humanities with
its tagline Beyond Education,
which sets itself apart from
other local private universities.
Most of the programmes are
available full-time or part-time
as they are delivered in both
conventional and distance
learning modes.
The main campus is located in
the heart of Kelana Jaya. Its
facilities include a library,
language room, student lounge,
computer laboratory, gym, and
hospitality and tourism facilities.
The latter includes a pastry
kitchen, culinary spaces,
housekeeping suite mock-up,
training restaurant and
cafeteria.
With UNITARs holistic
innovative teaching and learning

BAC prides itself as a provider of the smartest and fastest way to more
than 100 degrees in the United Kingdom.

Fast route to law

BRICKFIELDS Asia College (BAC)
has established itself as the
fastest and smartest way to
more than 100 degrees in the
United Kingdom.
BACs partnerships and
affiliations with 25 universities
in the UK and professional
organisations offers students
access to more than 100
world-class degrees and
professional qualifications
that can be completed either
locally or abroad.
The Cambridge International
Examinations (CIE) A-Levels
allows students to select from a
wide range of A-Levels subjects
that allows progress onto a
variety of degree programmes.
The unique BAC A-Levels
Express Route programme
coupled with BACs UK Transfer
Degree Programme in Law or
Business allows students to
graduate up to two years ahead
of their peers.
The Foundation in Arts
Programme is a one-year
programme designed to provide
students with the academic
literacy, skills and confidence
needed to pursue an
undergraduate degree in
the arts, humanities and
social sciences.
Students can opt to pursue
their LLB (Hons) via the
University of London
International Programmes,
which is the only external law

degree recognised by the Legal

Professional Qualifying Board,
Malaysia. Students can complete
all three years of the programme
in Malaysia.
BAC also offers the UK
Transfer Degree Programme
(Law) where students can either
complete a 1+2 (one year at BAC
and two years at a partner
university) or 2+1 (two years at
BAC and one year at a partner
university) option, depending on
their preference.
Upon successful completion of
the programme, students will be
awarded an LLB (Hons) degree
from the respective university.
Students graduating with a
degree from a partner university
will be accorded UK Qualifying
status, making them eligible for
the Bar Professional Training
Course (BPTC).
Individuals intending to
practise law with this degree can
embark on either the BPTC in
the UK or the Certificate in Legal
Practice in Malaysia.
The UK Transfer Degree
Programme (Business) offers
degrees in business
management, accounting and
finance, and logistics and supply
chain management from more
than 10 prestigious UK partner
universities.

n For more information,

call 03-2274 4165 or visit
www.bac.edu.my.

UNITARs facilities include a training restaurant and cafeteria to nurture

practical skills required in the culinary and hospitality industry.

methodology, UNIEC (UNITAR

Education Core) Learning
Management System supports all
programmes in UNITAR.

Accessing the UNIEC virtual

platform via the UNIEC Tab or
tablet device brings the classroom
to students anytime, anywhere,

allowing them to connect and

engage with anyone.
UNITAR offers RM2mil worth
of scholarships for its
undergraduate programmes. The
April intake is open from March
17 to April 17.
Visit either the main campus in
Kelana Jaya or any of the eight
independent campuses located in
Alor Setar, Ipoh, Johor Baru, Kota
Baru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching,
Malacca and Penang.

n For more information, visit

www.unitar.my or e-mail
enquiries@unitar.my or call
03-7627 7200.

8 course focus

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

Ready for work

STUDENTS looking to venture into
hospitality and tourism can look to Quest
International University Perak (QIUP) in
Ipoh.
To meet the need for well-trained and
capable managerial staff in the hospitality
and tourism industry, QIUP ensures its core
syllabus is market-driven and prepares
graduates to work in a professional and
people-focused environment.
QIUP offers the Bachelor of Business
Administration (Hons) in Hospitality and
Tourism Management, Diploma in Hotel
Management, Diploma in Tourism
Management and the soon-to-be-launched
culinary arts programme to produce
world-class chefs.
QIUP equips students with the skills
necessary to manage diverse operations
within the hospitality, tourism or hotel
management industry.
Its curricula received valuable inputs from
the industry and include both research and
internship components.
Internship involves valuable hands-on
training on the multiple facets of hotel
management at premier local and
international hotels identified by the
university.
To ensure its graduates are job-ready,
QIUP has inked memoranda of
understanding with various hotels such as
Copthorne Hotel in Cameron Highlands and
Syeun Hotel in Ipoh.
At the signing ceremony with Syeun Hotel,
hotel managing director Maggie Ong said
that she was pleased that QIUP was taking a

QIUP equips its hospitality and tourism

students with much-needed skills and
knowledge.

proactive stance to ensure its students are

job-ready upon graduation by equipping
them with necessary theoretical and
practical experience.
QIUP students pursuing the Bachelor
of Business Administration (Hons) in
Hospitality and Tourism Management,
Diploma in Hotel Management and Diploma
in Tourism Management will undergo a
three- to six-month industrial training
attachment as part of their curriculum.
These programmes are also offered on
part-time mode, which is ideal for
professionals who want to upgrade but
cannot commit to full-time study.
The university offers various programmes
at foundation, diploma, degree and
postgraduate levels. The April and May
intake is currently open.

n For more information, call 1800 88 QIUP

(7487) or e-mail enquiries@qiup.edu.my or
visit www.qiup.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

WITH the changing landscape of

the legal scene in Malaysia, there
is a need for legal education
providers to build on the capacities
and abilities of aspiring lawyers to
become more competitive while
providing opportunities to broaden
horizons.
As one of the providers of legal
education in the country, Taylors
Law School offers a holistic
education that allows them to
perform competitively at national
and global levels.
The Taylors Bachelor of Laws
degree was developed in
consultation with leading legal
professionals, the Bar Council of
Malaysia as well as representatives
from top law schools in the United
Kingdom and is fully accredited by
the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency.
Taylors Bachelor of Laws degree
is recognised by the Malaysian
Legal Profession Qualifying Board,
allowing Taylors Law School
graduates to apply and sit for their
Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP)
examinations on completion of
their law degree at Taylors
University.
Taylors University deputy vicechancellor Prof Dr Pradeep Nair
says, At Taylors, we aim to
empower our students with the
best education that makes them
impactful members of the legal
fraternity and in the long term,
solidify the reputation of Taylors
Law School as one of the top

course focus 9

Lawyers ahead of the game

Taylors Law School students are provided with simulated real-world

experiences and groomed to become successful legal professionals.

providers of legal education

in the country.
At Taylors Law School, students
are groomed to become legal
professionals of the future through
an engaging, relevant and highquality education.
Taylors Law School prides
itself in grooming high-achieving
law students who are not only
well versed with the law but also
passionate to contribute to society.
This is attributed to the

curriculum of Taylors Law

School that is built on four
pillars real-world experience,
international outlook, community
outreach and strong industry
linkages.
Students at Taylors Law School
are provided with simulated
real-world experiences and
practices that enable them to
enhance their educational journey
and cultivate a deeper appreciation
for the practice of law while

broadening their world view.

Taylors Law School students are
required to participate in moots as
part of their course, allowing them
to hone their presentation skills
and master the ability to think on
their feet.
In addition to mooting, Taylors
Law School students regularly
network with representatives
from the legal industry, including
through the opportunity to partake
in a centuries-old dining tradition
the Inns of Court in the United
Kingdom.
These events allow students
from Taylors Law School to glean
information from some of the
countrys legal giants and improve
their technical knowledge in a
fairly informal setting.
Students also benefit from the
strong industry linkages that
Taylors Law School has built
through its 24-year history.
Most recently, Taylors Law
School inked two memoranda of
understanding with Messrs Chooi
& Co and Shook Lin & Bok to
establish opportunities for
knowledge transfer from members
of both esteemed legal practices to
students from Taylors Law School.
This will allow students to gain
valuable industry experience from
notable individuals.

Taylors Law School also

organises overseas study trips that
serve to educate students regarding
foreign laws and legal systems as
well as provide the opportunity to
appreciate the differences between
foreign and Malaysian legal
institutions, besides experiencing
foreign cultures and lifestyles.
Taylors Law School also
encourages students to actively
contribute their time and effort
to the communitys needs and
participate in community service
activities such as fundraising and
visits to charitable organisations as
well as providing pro-bono legal
advice.
In 2011, Taylors Law School, in
collaboration with the Bar Council
of Malaysia, set up the Taylors
Legal Aid Centre to cater to the
needs of the surrounding
community.
The Taylors Legal Aid Centre
is the first pro-bono legal aid
centre in Malaysia established
by a private university, which
allows students to gain hands-on
practice in legal activities and
engage in research and
networking.

n For more information, e-mail

admissions@taylors.edu.my or
call 03-5629 5000.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

10 course focus

Alternative law fields

THOSE of you planning to become
lawyers do not have to stick to the
conventional fields of land, company
or banking law.
If you are looking to break out of a
conventional law career pathway,
here are some other legal prospects
you can consider.

Entertainment law
Entertainment law covers a wider
range of issues such as employment,
contracts, immigration, security,
defamation, advertising, criminal,
taxation and insurance.
Entertainment lawyers must
keep up to date on current events
in the local and international
entertainment industry and keep

tabs on issues that may jeopardise

the business or publicity of their
clients.

Animal law
You do not have to be a scientist
or a veterinarian to help save
animals. With new laws being
established to protect animals,
animal law is another avenue young
law graduates could look into.
Your work in this field will include
veterinary malpractice cases, cases
involving wrongful death or injury
to an animal and criminal law cases
on animal violence and cruelty.
Animal law covers the welfare
of pets, livestock and animals in
zoos and animal reserves.

Bioethics

Bioethics is the study of ethical

issues brought about by the
development of biology and
medicine. Ethical questions can be
raised on the subjects of life sciences,
biotechnology, medicine and politics.
Common bioethical debates
include issues such as abortion,
euthanasia and human testing. In
terms of biotechnology, bioethics
includes the scope of cloning, gene
therapy and human genetic
engineering.
Lawyers in bioethics have to keep
updated on developments in the
fields of medicine and biology to be
well versed with the projects their
clients are working on.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

TUNKU Abdul Rahman

University College (TAR UC)
chef and lecturer of the Faculty
of Social Science, Arts and
Humanities (FSAH) Lucas Liao
Shing Jie imparted his knowledge
to students Lim XingYi and Sern
Lai Sheng from the Bachelor of
Hospitality Management (Hons)
programme, who participated
in the Culinaire Malaysias
Malaysian Battle of the Chefs
competition.
They participated in the icecarving category conducted
during the 13th Malaysian
International Exhibition of Food,
Drinks, Hotel, Restaurant &
Foodservice Equipment, Supplies,
Services and Related Technology
held from Sept 29 to Oct 2 last
year in Kuala Lumpur.
The two students and Chef Liao
won the bronze medal each for
their highly creative and artistic
effort in carving ice sculptures at
the event.
Chef Liao has garnered many
wins in culinary competitions
and has a wealth of knowledge

course focus 11

Inspiring students to win

and skills that he shares
with students in the TAR UC
hospitality management
programme.
Since joining TAR UC in 2013,
I have been given opportunities
to excel and grow my passion for
culinary arts. he says.
I mainly teach subjects on
food such as theory of food and
food preparation. Gastronomy
has become an art form and one
has to reinvent the preparation
of food in this industry to keep
producing gastronomical
delights. As such, educating and
inspiring students in current and
dynamic food trends and
knowledge is what I strive to
achieve, says Chef Liao.
Students also undergo an
internship programme during
their semester break, which
paves the way for them to

More
than just
cooking
MOST people think that being a
chef involves only cooking in the
kitchen.
However, it is the modern
chefs responsibility to not
only cook but to create recipes,
supervise, coach individuals
and perform administrative
duties.
Here are some tips on how
you can succeed in your career
as a chef:

Passion for cooking

The fundamental element in
attaining a successful and longrunning career as a chef is
having a passion for cooking.
Being a chef is like being a
magician who mixes and
explores new ingredients, testing
and creating new dishes with
various kitchen equipment.
At Cilantro Culinary Academy,
experienced chefs share their
knowledge with students and
sometimes combine their
findings and ideas to develop
new recipes.

Skill and knowledge

To meet market demands,
chefs must know how to dice,
cut and cook as these are the
basic skills of a chef.
In terms of knowledge, chefs
are expected to know how to use
different types of knives and
which dishes go well with
certain sauces, among other
things.
At Cilantro Culinary Academy,
students are equipped with
quality skills such as cooking
and baking from scratch, all
through the full attention,
coaching and monitoring
they receive from qualified
instructors.

Aspiring chefs must cultivate their

passion for cooking along with the
skills required for success.

Leadership

Leading the kitchen is part of

a chefs job. Hiring, developing,
training and motivating kitchen
staff are the most crucial
responsibilities of an executive
chef.
There are various
administrative and supervisory
responsibilities in a restaurant
kitchen that students learn in
their studies.
For example, students are
trained to order and do stock
checks of kitchen supplies,
develop menus and manage
budgets as part of the course
syllabus.
At the end of their studies,
students have to apply their
skills and knowledge as part
of a project.
If you are still wondering
what programme suits you
best, join the Career Discovery
Programme (CDP) where you
can get the feel of being a
culinary and pastry student.
The next CDP sessions will be
held from April 12 to 15. The
April intake on April 25 for the
diploma in Culinary Arts and
Diploma in Patisserie is open for
registration on a first-come-firstserved basis.

n For more information,

call 03-8023 0555 or visit
www.cilantro.edu.my.

understand new trends and

expectations of the industry.
The experience makes them
highly sought-after graduates as
they possess much-needed skills
and knowledge.
We have a team of passionate
and inspiring lecturers who impart
their knowledge and skills to the
students and ensure that when
they graduate from TAR UC, they
are competent enough to contribute
their knowledge and skills to the
industry, says Chef Liao.

n For more information about

programmes offered by FSAH,
visit www.tarc.edu.my.

From left: Lim (bronze medal winner), Chef Liao (bronze medal winner), Lee (chief
judge of the ice-carving category) and Sern (bronze medal winner) at the Battle of
the Chefs competition.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2016

12 course focus

Quality education and graduates

THE Centre for Tourism,
Hospitality and Culinary
Management (CTHCM) is a wellestablished centre under the
Sunway Universitys Business
School, which is the largest faculty
on campus.
It was awarded
D-SETARA 12 Tier
5: Excellent for
its curriculum,
quality
graduates
and graduate
satisfaction
in the

hospitality and tourism discipline

by the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency.
The centre is offering a new
degree programme the BSc
(Hons) in Conventions and Events
Management.
Conventions and events
management is a global
multibillion dollar industry and
rapidly growing in Malaysia.
In recent years, Malaysia has
been a host to various largeand small-scale conferences,
meetings, festivals, trade shows
and social events.
The Asean Summit was one
of the recently concluded
international level events
that Malaysia celebrated,
reflecting the greater
demand for expertise in
this field.

Head of
Sunway
Universitys
Centre for
Tourism,
Hospitality
and Culinary
Management
Anisha Chai
Mee Fong.

Sunway University
has a consistent
record of nurturing
graduates who are
highly sought after
by employers.
Sunway Universitys BSc (Hons)
in Conventions and Events
Management programme is
designed to equip students with
key skills in this area and a
comprehensive understanding of
business management.
Graduates of this programme
possess skills relevant to the
industry as the programme has
been designed to reflect industry
expectations and standards.
Students develop a solid
foundation in areas of research
and are taught how to write
convincing proposals as well as
plan and manage events.
As with other programmes
offered by CTHCM, this new
programme focuses on strategic
thinking, critical analysis and
industrial exposure.
It aims to provide hands-on
experience to students, further

ensuring their employability.

Students also gain essential
practical experience through an
18-week industry internship.
In the programme development
stage, we have consulted our
advisory board, which includes
industry partners such as the
Malaysia Convention and
Exhibition Bureau (MYCEB), Kuala
Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)
and Hotshoes, for the latest trends
and insights into the industry to
enhance our programme design
and delivery.
In the pipeline, we are also
looking at developing possible
internship opportunities with more
industry players, says Anisha Chai
Mee Fong, head of CTHCM.
Graduates of this programme are
expected to venture into various
positions such as professional
conference organiser, convention
services manager, director of
catering, events planner or
director, events manager,
exhibition services manager,
business development manager,
business entrepreneur and many
more.
The transition of individuals
from university to the aspired
careers can be made smoother
with the high credibility of an

education provider.
Sunway University has a
consistent record of nurturing
graduates who are highly sought
after by employers.
This is proven with the global
accolades that Sunway University
has achieved. Sunway University
was awarded five stars in the
2015/2016 QS Stars Rating System
in the categories of teaching,
employability and facilities.
In the International Student
Barometer Survey Entry Wave
2015 undertaken by i-graduate, the
Sunway Education Group (SEG),
including Sunway University,
achieved high student satisfaction
and was ranked No.1 in Asia in the
categories of learning and
employability.
This is the second consecutive
year that SEG topped the
employability category.
Bursaries are available for the
March intake of the BSc (Hons)
in Conventions and Events
Management.

n For more information about the

new programme and other
programmes offered by Sunway
Universitys CTCHM, visit sunway.
edu.my/university/CTHCM or call
03-7491 8622.