UCSI represents the Malaysian Pepper Board in promoting the world's most traded spice and wins big at the Battle of the Chefs UCSI Education Sdn Bhd (185479-U) VOLUME 07 KDN:PQ/PP/1505/(18824)-(8) ® ucsiuniversity.edu.my UCSI University CONTENTS UCSI WELCOMES THREE DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HEATING IT UP UCSI represents the Malaysian Pepper Board and wins big at the Battle of the Chefs UCSI CELEBRATES 29TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY PERSON OF THE MONTH Dr Joanne Yeoh HANDS OF HOPE Gifting refugee children with free education WRITE RIGHT Jason Kwong Insights from some of Malaysia’s most experienced authors and journalists Publisher: UCSI Education Sdn Bhd (185479-U) Nets Printwork Sdn Bhd (KDN:PQ1780/3379) No. 1, Jalan Menara Gading, UCSI Heights, Taman Connaught, No. 58, Jalan PBS 14/4, Taman Perindustrian Bukit Serdang Cheras 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. T +603 9101 8880 F +603 9102 2614 T +603-8213 6288 F +603-8959 5577 ucsiuniversity.edu.my 03 MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT WELCOME TO OUR NEW STUDENTS. As the curtain rises for the next important stage of your life — university — you must be going through a period of mixed joy, excitement and anxieties. I believe that this chapter is going to be a little different. The preceding ones were largely written for you by others — your parents or guardians, families and teachers. Now, you are the leading author and you will be helming the direction, plot and height of your story. Daunting as it may be, do rest assured that all of the members of the UCSI University family will be there for you as you navigate the opportunities and challenges in the course of your studies here. As we celebrate UCSI’s 30th anniversary in the education industry, we are setting new goals to realise and targets to attain. We are constantly subjecting our programmes to rigorous revision and revamp while introducing new courses each year to ensure that we continuously cater for the human talent needs. Under our Star Trek programme, our Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment has sent students for research attachments at Imperial College London and Tsinghua University in China. And they intend to send more, in particular to France and Germany, the world’s best in engineering innovations. Going toe to toe is our Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, who will be sending more of their students to Harvard and University of Melbourne, and will be linking up with established labs such as the Ministry of Education’s Higher Institution Centre of Excellence and UM’s High Impact Research. University British Columbia in Canada will soon be receiving our Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Star Trek students. The faculty’s research prowess will also receive a boost from the UCSI research lab networking endeavour, with upcoming collaborators such as the Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals's iPharm Animal Research Facility. Second to none in musical calibre is our Institute of Music and they will be reaffirming their stronghold with new courses in music teaching and music performance. They are also enhancing performance opportunities and support collaborations to create transformative experiences for their students. Our Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management is sinking their teeth into driving the MyCenTHE national initiative further with the impending completion of UCSI Hotel. Enhancing the career prospects of our students even further by providing additional recognitions from bodies such as the Malaysian Institute of Accountants, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and Finance Accreditation Agency is our Faculty of Business and Information Science. It is also worthy to note that UCSI’s Actuarial Science programmes under this Faculty have been granted module exemption for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) Fellowship and CAA exams, making UCSI the only private university in Malaysia to gain this prestigious recognition. Other faculties in UCSI such as our Faculty of Applied Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, and De Institute of Creative Arts and Design will be enhancing the learning experience of our students by increasing student mobility with leading universities across the globe, stepping up our industry-academic partnerships as well as introducing new programmes. Thus, our roadmap is set for the next five years. With a defined path to follow, we aim to become Malaysia’s top private university by the year 2020. Our focus on innovative teaching, practical learning experiences and impactful research across all disciplines will certainly move this university higher and further. UCSI also stands out as a melting pot of diversity; we are home to 10,000 students from more than 110 countries. Take this opportunity to embrace the difference and diversity. Get to know someone from a different part of the country, or from another country, of a different ethnicity, a different religion, who has different views to you, or who has different interests and perspectives. A keen sense of cultural appreciation is a vital trait in today’s borderless world. Remember how the saying goes: If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place. So sit up, take a deep breath and: Go beyond; Be profound: Make a difference. Senior Professor Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff, FASc. Vice-Chancellor and President UCSI University DPSK, PSK, MBBS (Melb.), DMedSc (honoris causa) (Melb.), MRCP (UK), FRCP (Lond.), FRCP (Glasg.), FRCP (Edin.), FACC (USA), Hon. FRACP (Aus.), Hon. FPCP (Phil.), FIAS, FNHAM, FMSA, FAMM THE UCSI GAZETTE MAGAZINE INSIDE UCSI 04 Left to right: Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Salleh Bin Mohd Nor, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Omar Abdul Rahman and Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak UCSI welcomes three distinguished University Council members UCSI University has recently appointed higher echelons of higher education,” he Well-known for his passion for the Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Omar Abdul said. environment, Dr Salleh served as the first Rahman, Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor and Director-General of the Forest Research Professor Tan Sri Dr Dzulkifli Abdul Razak “They have made many important Institute of Malaysia. He had served as as members of its University Council. decisions that benefit society and their the Malaysian Nature Society President contributions to the nation cannot be from 1978 to 2014. His contributions All three are Fellows of the Academy of understated. UCSI will benefit immensely have influenced national policies on the Sciences Malaysia (ASM). Professor from their thoughts and insights.” environment and wildlife conservation. Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Omar Abdul Rahman and Professor Tan Sri Dr Dzulkifli Abdul Prior to joining UCSI’s University Council, Dr Salleh is a former ASM secretary- Razak are Old Boys of the Malay College the trio served with distinction in general and the former President of the Kuala Kangsar, while Tan Sri Dr Salleh academia and policy making. International Union of Forestry Research Mohd Nor is an Old Boy of the Royal Organisations. He is distinguished for Military College. They hold important Professor Emeritus Omar was Malaysia’s being the organisation’s first President to positions in national and international hail from a developing nation. He is also first Science Advisor to the Prime Minister organisations and they have contributed the former Pro-Chancellor of Universiti from 1984 to 2001. He had served on the greatly to the nation’s progress in science, Teknologi Malaysia. United Nation’s Council for Science and technology and education. Technology for Development, as well as on Professor Dzulkifli is the former Vice- various UNESCO committees. He stands As council members, they will be part of Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia the University’s push to be the leading out for being the ASM Founding President (USM). He oversaw the effort that led to private university in the country. and the past President of both the USM’s selection as Malaysia’s Apex Federation of Asian Scientific Academies university and he is a firm advocate of Announcing the appointments, UCSI and Societies and the Third World sustainable development. Vice-Chancellor and President Senior Network of Scientific Organisations. Professor Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff said that He is also the 14th President of the they would have a major role in further He began his professional career in 1960 International Association of Universities accomplishing the University’s goal and in veterinary research. He joined — a UNESCO-affiliated organisation, a ideals. Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1972, where he Fellow of both the World Academy of Art served as the Founding Dean of the and Science and the Malaysian Institute “I’m delighted to welcome them to Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and of Management, as well as an honorary the Council and I’m certain that their Animal Sciences and later as its Deputy lifetime member of the Asian Academy contributions will propel UCSI to the Vice- Chancellor (Academic Affairs). of Management. THE UCSI GAZETTE MAGAZINE 05 INSIDE UCSI UCSI INSPIRES PASSION TOWARDS STEM FIELDS INNOVATIVE: Students selling a healthier spin on local cuisines during ALL SMILES: Secondary school students were invited to visit the booths and attend workshops the annual Applied Science Week. organised throughout the event. UCSI University’s (UCSI) Faculty of Applied always the provision of quality higher science and nutrition students in 2012. It Sciences (FOAS) recently organised its 4th education for our citizens. In this light, has been held annually since 2007. Profits Applied Science Week (ASW), which was it is very comforting to know that private generated from the event was channelled attended by prominent figures namely, universities like UCSI are performing to Yayasan Sunbeams Home.