Sunway students attend their very first Model United Nations Conference

Students from Sunway International School (SIS) and the Canadian International Matriculation Program (CIMP) recently attended their very first Model United Nations (MUN) Conference in Singapore. A total of ten students attended as delegates, four from SIS and six from CIMP. The students were accompanied by Heath Kondro, Communications Technology lecturer with CIMP and Brendan Narancsik, Dramatic Arts and History teacher with SIS.

The three-day conference, the first hosted by United World College, South East Asia-East Campus saw the participation of two hundred and forty delegates from eight schools around the region. For the first two days of the conference, delegates were grouped into their different committees which addressed a wide array of issues related to Disarmament, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Human Rights, Politics, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Security Council. On the third and last day of the conference, all delegates were grouped according to the country they represented for the simulated General Assembly. This provided an opportunity for them to work together with other delegates from different committees.

Sunway delegates with Heath Kondro (back row, first from left) and Brendan Narancsik (back row, first from right)

Sunway A-Level students are Top in the World

At the recent Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards (OCLA) ceremony, nine Sunway A-Level students were awarded certificates for their excellent performance in the June 2013 Cambridge examination series.

Students from Sunway College who received the Top in the World Award for CIE AS level were; Daphne Ngan Hwee Ern for Accounting, Ang Eer Yin, Ho Shi Ying, Kuan Wei Jee, Loh Khang Yee and Tan Tee Toon for Mathematics while Leong Wei Cheng and Dawn Soon Lyn Hui from Sunway College Johor Bahru each received the Top in Malaysia Award for General Paper.

Students with their lecturers together with Carol Wong, Director of A-Level Programme and Teo Ee Sing, Executive Director, Sunway College

SUNWAY TES SELECTED AS CAE

Sunway TES has been selected as the Centre for Accountancy Excellence (CAE) by the Government via PEMANDU under EPP 17, which is aimed at transforming Malaysia as the leading Accountancy hub in the Asia Pacific region by 2020. This is part of the government’s ongoing Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) projects. Sunway TES with strategic partners will now champion accountancy programmes at the professional level at national stage.

The ceremony was officiated by Datuk Prof. Dr. Roziah Omar, Deputy Director General (IPTS), Higher Education Department, Ministry of Education, on behalf of YB Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh, Minister of Education II. This makes Sunway TES, the only CAE thus far within the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

Launch of the Sunway TES Centre of Accountancy Excellence – (From left) Lee Weng Keng, Tengku Nurul Azian Tengku Shahriman, Teo Ee Sing and Datuk Prof Dr Roziah Omar.

Second cohort of students and alumni members joined the Sunway Mentoring Programme

Within a year of its launch, the Sunway Mentoring Programme has become the ‘talk of the town’. First launched in April this year, a second cohort of undergraduate students eagerly joined the mentoring programme in October 2013 at Sunway University. The programme launched by Ms Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group, is a one-on-one partnership between members of Sunway Alumni and LEAP Platinum students. Selected students, from bachelor’s programmes are chosen in recognition of their strong academic credentials from the various departments of Accounting, Banking and Finance, Marketing, Management, IT and Psychology. The goal of this programme is to groom students, through coaching sessions in real life situations on core competencies in the workplace. By taking students out of their structured daily classroom setting, the aim is to expose them to the constant changing pace of real life situations and to empower them with the skills and knowledge for professional and personal growth.

The Sunway Alumni mentors are selected professionals from their respective fields who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and expertise. The mentees, top students of Sunway University are equipped with strong academic credentials and classroom knowledge in their areas of study. The pairing of these two parties is hoped to create a win-win partnership that is essential to the success of the programme.

MPOC reach out to Sunway College students on the state of the palm oil industry

250 Pre-University students were recently part of a seminar titled “A gift from nature, a gift for life” seminar that was conducted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), held to create awareness amongst students to understand the oil palm industry which is an integral part of the Malaysian economic growth. Faudzy Asrafudeen, Director of Marketing and Market Development, MPOC delivered the keynote address on the history of the palm oil industry and how it has developed to what it is today. He, together with other speakers from the industry enlightened the students on the scope and environmental impact surrounding the palm oil industry.

Elizabeth Lee presenting Faudzy Asrafudeen with a token of appreciation.

The seminar featured two segments; an environmental talk and a nutritional talk. The environmental talk included a short seminar on environmental concerns and practices by the palm oil industry including conservation related issues. Students were encouraged to participate in an open forum with environmentalist experts and discuss environmental issued concerning palm oil which mattered most to them. They also learnt about the environmental position of other oil seed crop producing countries such as Canada and Europe and how they are facing environmental challenges in those regions. Through the seminar they also learnt real world issues surrounding environmental policies in the palm oil industry in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States and how they affect the global outlook for the commodity.

Jyunichi Washizaki presenting a talk during the “A gift from nature, a gift for life”seminar held at Sunway College recently.

The nutritional talk focused on the technical usage and application of palm oil and its advantages in comparison with other oils in comparison to its nutrition, taste and practical usage. Different cooking techniques like frying and baking were also demonstrated.

Raymond De Gracious presenting his talk to the Sunway College students.

Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group said, “I hope that after hearing from the speakers from this industry, you will be interested and inspired to volunteer, contribute and even consider a career pathway in the palm oil industry. For those who do not already know, MPOC have been working closely with the Sabah Wildlife Society to ensure the survival of the natural habitats. I am sure we have some budding or young environmentalist here who will want to volunteer for such good causes.”

Among the speakers present were Mohd Muslimin Bin Hashim, Manager of the Science & Environment Division, MPOC; Jyunichi Washizaki, Technical Programme Officer at Wild Asia; Raymond De Gracious, Head the new Employee Engagement and Employee Branding Unit under the Human Resource Department of Sime Darby Plantation and Dr Diana Ramirez, Veterinarian from the Sabah Wildlife Department.

Chong Hwa student receives full scholarship after winning VU Business Challenge

Sunway College’s Australian University Programme (AUP) which offers the VU Bachelor of Business degree held the inaugural ‘VU Business Challenge’ event recently.

Sim Yi Qi from Chong Hwa Independent High School, KL emerged champion while Wong Jun Ren also from Chong Hwa Independent High School, KL emerged first runner-up. Second runner-up, Ng Eu Ee is from Hin Hua High School, Klang. Yi Qi walked away with a full scholarship, amounting to RM 69,400 to pursue the three-year VU Bachelor of Business degree programme at Sunway College and the VU Business Challenge 2013 trophy. Runners-up, Wong Jun Ren and Ng Eu Ee were both awarded scholarships amounting to RM 24,000 and RM 15,000 respectively and a trophy to also pursue the VU Bachelor of Business degree programme at Sunway College.

Sim Yi Qi holding the winning trophy and mock cheque with Teo Ee Sing, Executive Director of Sunway College.

Sunway’s AUSMAT student now a nuclear physicist

Lee Boon Quan, a Sunway Australian Matriculation Programme (AUSMAT) alumnus is currently attached to the Department of Nuclear Physics in the Australian National University (ANU).

His research topic involves nuclear physics, atomic physics and medical physics. According to Boon Quan, the research that he is working on may lead to the development of a new kind of molecular radiotherapy that is based on the interaction of Auger electrons with tumours. “Ideally, the Auger ‘electron-based’ therapies only damage the tumours but not the neighbouring healthy cells,” he said. “This is because Auger electrons travel very short distance in the order of nanometre due to their low energy, so they damage only the small volume in the immediate vicinity of the radioactive isotopes.”

Lee Boon Quan standing in front of the Department of Nuclear Physics in the Australian National University (ANU).

The ultimate Cambridge experience for Sunway A-Level student

Ng Zhu Shen, a former Sunway A-Level student has successfully transferred to the University of Cambridge to pursue a degree in Engineering. Having returned after a year for a short break, Zhu Shen relates his experience studying in this prestigious university, “Cambridge is the best university in the world and the highlight would be its strong academic environment. We have lectures, practical and coursework to focus on and are each assigned to a tutor to help us in our studies.” He enthusiastically shared an example of one of his lecturers who threw a boomerang in the middle of a class while explaining its underlying theories and mechanism.

Ng Zhu Shen at the University of Cambridge.

Sunway College’s FIA programme celebrates their 11th Graduation Ceremony

Sunway College’s home-grown pre-university programme, Foundation in Arts (FIA) celebrated the success of 121 graduates during the 11th graduation ceremony held recently. The top three scorers, Soo Zuo Ping, Marcellina Ping Majin and Ng See Yong scored an average of 88.85%, 86.40% and 85.35% respectively.

Zuo Ping said what motivated him to work harder was the scholarship to continue his studies. “Throughout the FIA, I tried to learn from friends who are performing better than me and possess outstanding skills. Teachers who are active, friendly and dedicated made the FIA programme a memorable one. I never would have imagined learning about abortion in China and gun possession in the United Stated during my course of study with the FIA. However, this enhanced my general knowledge and exposed me to issues surrounding the world,” shared Zuo Ping, who will be pursuing the BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance and Sunway University.

The proud Sunway FIA graduates with their teachers.

First recipient of the Sunway Education Group – Elena Cooke Education Fund Scholarship

The first recipient of the Sunway Education Group–Elena Cooke Education Fund Scholarship, Rebecca George Williams K John from Klang, was accepted into the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) course in Sunway College. Rebecca accompanied by her sister Maria, signed the scholarship agreement with representatives of the Sunway Education Group and BBGS Alumni Berhad at Sunway College recently.

In December 2012, the Sunway Education Group and the BBGS Alumni Berhad, which had established the Elena Cooke Education Fund, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation whereby Sunway pledged RM500,000 worth of scholarships to be given to needy and marginalised students to pursue tertiary studies at Sunway College or Sunway University. The scholarships will be offered jointly by Sunway and BBGS Alumni Berhad. The Fund was set up to help underprivileged and needy students, in particular orphans, irrespective of their race, culture and religion, to obtain an academic or professional qualification.

Rebecca George (third from left) with her scholarship agreement and, from left to right, Lee Siok Ping, Elizabeth Lee, Moey Yoke Lai, Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Hashim and Rebecca’s sister, Maria

Lord Mayor of Perth talks to Sunway students

Sunway College recently had the honour of the presence of the Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi as one of the distinguished speakers at its annual seminar in its Career Exploration Programme for its Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) students. Scaffidi led a delegation from several leading universities in Western Australia and officials from StudyPerth and various education-related departments.

This year’s theme, ‘Skills for a future world…..Is Passion or Hard-work more important for your future?” aimed to inspire foundation year students on their future university course and career prospects. Every year, Sunway College students have enjoyed high profile personalities talk to them for this purpose.

The AUSMAT student council met with Ms Scaffidi after the seminar

Double success for SMJK Sin Min

Sunway College’s A-Level Math and Logic Challenge organised for the sixth consecutive year this year was nothing short of success as myriads of students from all over the country showed enthusiasm during this challenge.

The competition was divided into Round 1, an individual test with multiple choice questions and Round 2, a team challenge. The stiff competition saw 21 students emerge as winners for Round 1 with the highest scores. All the winners received Sunway A-Level bursaries, individual trophies and certificates of commendation.

The champions of the competition with Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director, Sunway Education Group and teacher, Tan Bak Chuan.

RAISING ASPIRATIONS OF INNER-CITY, IMPOVERISHED YOUTH

PETALING JAYA, 29 March 2013 – Sunway University and Sunway College, two institutions under the Sunway Education Group (SEG) have collaborated with Teach For Malaysia to launch a project for Sunway students to mentor secondary school students from low-income backgrounds of an inner-city school, to raise their aspirations and become university graduates in, My First Graduate, initiated by two Sunway College alumni.

The aspiring graduates from SMK Segambut with their Sunway University and Sunway College Resource Buddies

Sunway students reach out to refugee kids

A group of Myanmar refugee children have been receiving tuition classes given voluntarily by Sunway students since August 2011.

The students, from Sunway University and Sunway College are all members of the Sunway Volunteer Society who have committed themselves to give classes every Friday morning in Geography, English, Math and Art to the children at a church in Petaling Jaya. There are currently 60 children in the weekly classes and are aged from 4 to 16 years.

Chang (left) with some of the refugee youngsters

Eight Sunway students top the world in MUFY subjects

At the graduation night in December last year, eight students of Sunway College Kuala Lumpur’s Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) achieved the highest score among all providers of MUFY worldwide in subjects covering Accounting, Advanced Mathematics, Biology, Economics, Fundamental Mathematics, Mathematics and Physics. They received a total of ten awards from Monash College, Australia.The recipients were Ashwinee Rvan Ravindran, Ooi Ken Ric, Tee Hsin Yee, Gavin Ong Jon Chen, Vederalage Mohaned Ishrath Ali Badurdeen, Chan Shang En, Elaine Yong Yun Ling and Hong Chin Choong. Two of them, Ooi Ken Ric and Tee Hsin Yee gleaned two subject awards each. These were based on the November 2012 examinations.

Ooi Ken Ric (right) receives his award from Mr Lee Weng Keng, CEO Education & Healthcare Division, the Sunway Group

Exemplary students in the CIMP graduation in Sunway

The recent year-end 2012 graduation for the Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) at Sunway College Kuala Lumpur showcased a number of outstanding students. Malaysian, Cherlyn Tong Ka Lyn emerged as a nominee for the Governor General’s Academic Medal for achieving an average of 98% in her marks which was the highest in her cohort. For this, she was also given the Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Award. There will be another nominee for the award in June 2013 and out of the two nominees, the one with the higher average will receive the medal in the June 2013 CIMP graduation.

Cherlyn, who is awaiting replies from a few UK universities said, “The CIMP was a great experience. It gave us room and flexibility to pursue our diverse interests and tapped our potentials. The lecturers who were approachable and wonderful were integral to the experience. I was always able to turn to them for guidance. I’m really grateful for my time in CIMP.”

Cherlyn Tong (right) receives her award from Mr Robert Burley

High achievement in Sunway AUSMAT students

40 students from the Sunway Australian Matriculation Programme (AUSMAT) were awarded with Special Certificates of Achievement recently. Three students, Koay Fang Xuan, Tan Yun Ru and Joseph Daniel Luke emerged top 1% in the world while 37 students emerged top 5% in the world amongst all AUSMAT providers.

Karen Toh Hui Qi, President of the AUSMAT Student Council was the recipient of the Special Certificates of Achievement for top 5% in the world. Karen Toh, also a winner of the Harvard Prize Book award in 2012 addressed her course mates and the new batch of AUSMAT students, “Each and every one of you here, have a little something that is unique in you, you are the architect of your success. Play to your strengths, never forget integrity in your doings, go on and make a life for yourself. AUSMAT is a beginning, and a wonderful beginning.”

The recipients of the Special Certificates of Achievement with (seated from left to right) Vanitha, Deputy Director of AUSMAT; Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group; Dr Khatijah Khalid, Registrar; Ruma Lopes, Programme Director of AUSMAT.

It’s all about ‘Sharity’ and Unity with MUFY

If anything, the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) students are well-aware and more than willing to be a part of the MUFY ‘Sharity’ Carnival, a charity event organised annually. ‘Sharity’, held at the Energy Hub cafeteria was overflowing with energy as teachers and students made their way over to purchase delicious food and drinks, fashionable clothes, games, beautiful accessories and even pampered themselves with manicures and pedicures.

Lecturers and students presenting a mock check to Prof. Dr. Hany Binti Mohd Ariffin, Senior Consultant Paediatric Oncologist (centre), UMMC.

Sunway CIMP student wins Apple iPad for best essay

The music and lyrics to Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Where is the Love’ was what inspired Farhana binti Farhan Menon’s essay on climate change that won best essay from Sunway College in the Monash Prize Essay Competition. “This is the song that touches my soul every time someone talks about climate change,” she wrote in her essay.

“This war of human against nature has to stop. Most people think that the earth is going to be around forever. But what they fail to realise is that the more we take from earth, the more we lose something, especially when no measure has been done to replace it. We must stop wastage and take responsibility of our own actions,” said Farhana from the Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) who regularly recycles, reuses, and repairs in her daily life.

Farhana receiving the Apple iPad from Aananthi Seventhy, Country Manager, Offshore – Future Students, Monash University, Australia.

A noble act from Sunway CIMP students

Sunway’s Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) students exercised their management skills through a one day charitable fundraiser as part of the requirement of their Business Leadership Management Fundamentals (BLMF) subject. 55 students used their management knowledge to create a company and sold unique products during a sale at the Energy Hub at Sunway College recently.

(From left to right) CIMP Director John Futa, Godfrey Rajalingam, Angie Heng, Lecturers Elizabeth Erskine and Dave Leonard, and Lee Siaw Teng.