Sunway University receives books from Soka Gakkai Malaysia

Last month, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) presented a collection of books to the Tun Hussein Onn Library of Sunway University. The collection of forty five books, authored and co-authored by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, President of Soka Gakkai International were presented to Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Vice-Chancellor of Sunway University by Johnny Ng, Chairman of Soka Gakkai Malaysia. The book donation was in conjunction with SGM’s on-going Book Donation Campaign involving 30 institutions which was launched in 2013.

University Students Armed with Bigger Bytes for 2014

SAS and Sunway University Partner to Meet Rising Demand for Data Scientists in Malaysia

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SAS Centre of Analytics and Sunway University was signed to embed an analytics focused programme from SAS for students undertaking a BSc (Hons) in Information Systems. The MoU will include a hosting of large scale datasets and analytical models where Sunway University will provide the infrastructure and facilities to proliferate Business Intelligence & Analytics (BIA) skills across students, faculty, and industry professionals. Such capabilities will support academic research in the development of new concepts, methods, systems or applications for BIA skills.

Andrew Tan, Managing Director for SAS Malaysia is confident that the partnership between SAS Malaysia and Sunway University would bring great benefits to not just the students but also Malaysian businesses and organisations. “We can certainly see a strong demand for Big Data technology and analytics in Malaysia over the last few years. Many businesses are starting to realise that they need advanced analytics solutions to stay ahead of the game,” said Tan. “This of course means that the need for big data experts with data mining skills is only going to increase,” he added. According to studies by the International Data Corporation (IDC), emerging markets, which includes Malaysia, only accounted for just 23% of Big Data generated worldwide in 2010. In 2014, IDC predicts that this amount will grow to 40%and exceed 60% by the year 2020. The study also reports that businesses will direct significantly larger amounts of resources towards Big Data analytic tools and solutions, with worldwide spending in 2014 likely to grow by 30% and pass the USD 14 billion mark.

(From left) Lee Munloong, Head of Academic, SAS Malaysia; Andrew Tan, Managing Director, SAS Malaysia; Lee Weng Keng, Chief Executive Officer of Education and Healthcare Division, Sunway Group; Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Vice-Chancellor, Sunway University; and Professor Poh Chit Laa, Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sunway University.

Arched-rivals pit their arguments at Sunway University

Malaysian students from two oldest universities in the United Kingdom, University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, enthralled the audience recently in a debate hosted by Sunway University. The topic of the day was “The house believes that university education should be free.”

The speakers from University of Cambridge, Loo Han Rong, Ian Beh and Shawn Tan stood by the argument, education should be free while Shivy Siva, Jish Lim and Halian Fadzli Shah from University of Oxford vetoed the argument. Both teams raised strong points to support their arguments but the team from Cambridge emerged winners and walked away with the Goh Cheng Teik Cup.

(From left to right) Ian Halsall, Loo Han Rong, Ian Beh and Shawn Tan with Tan Sri Dr Lin See Yan and Dato’ Dr Goh Cheng Teik.

Sunway students’ WHAT bazaar in aid of Women

Following the biggest trend in town, Sunway University’s Diploma in Events Management students organised a bazaar to raise money for women who are suffering from mental, emotional and physical abuse and financial issues. The event titled WHAT Baazar, that stood for Women Hoping for A better Tomorrow showcased a range of activities that were fashion and art centred.

Held at Jaya One, some of the activities that took place included the fashion show, live bands, make-up tutorials, martial arts demonstrations, talks, lucky draws and interviews with celebrities such as Sazzy Falak and Dina Nadzir. According to the Head of Sponsorship of the project, Dayangku Selviah, the interview with both these celebrities were enlightening and fun. “Just five minutes into the interview with these amazing personalities was enough to give us insights into how these modern women stayed fabulous despite their hectic lifestyles,” she quipped. Sazzy and Dina also shared their thoughts on society today and shared some advice to listeners.

Adeline Kok (in red) with the Diploma in Events Management students at the WHAT bazaar.

SUNWAY INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP ESTABLISHED AT SUNWAY UNIVERSITY

Sunway University, owned and governed by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF), recently set up the Sunway Institute for Social Entrepreneurship (SISE). The Institute aspires to be a leading and influential centre for the advancement of social entrepreneurship in Malaysia. It drew inspiration from the JCF which is the largest social enterprise in Malaysia with a unique operating model.

SISE was established as an extension of the socially entrepreneurial vision of JCF’s founder, Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah to give back to society and to leave a lasting contribution that makes a real difference in people’s lives. It was approved by the Academic Senate of Sunway University in September 2012.

From left, Associate Professor Dr Foo Yin Fah, Director, Sunway University Institute of Social Enterprise; Serena Cheah, Managing Director, Group Strategy & Corporate Development, The Sunway Group; Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director, Sunway University and the Sunway Education Group; Lee Weng Keng, CEO, Education & Healthcare Division, The Sunway Group; Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah; Datuk Seri Razman M. Hashim, Pro-Chancellor, Sunway University; Tan Sri Dr. Ramon Navaratnam, Pro-Chancellor, Sunway University and Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Vice-Chancellor, Sunway University

Sunway’s Events Management students campaign a hit

Sunway University’s Diploma in Events Management students recently organised an event titled ‘Childhood Memories Night’ in conjunction with Hope Campaign, to create awareness and educate students on child sexual abuse. The theme of the night was influenced by what the students believed in, which is “Every kid has a right to a happy childhood.” This night allowed all guests and participants to take a step back from their lives and recollect the memories from their childhood days, as they enjoyed a series of activities including exhibitions, performances, games, a scrumptious meal and a lucky draw. The ultimate aim of the night was to remind people of the memorable childhood they had and how some children are robbed of their childhood, as they are victims of child sexual abuse. 150 people turned up for the night in a show of support for the cause.

The students sending out messages to the public to help create awareness on child sexual abuse.

Sunway University wins Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand Gold Award second time running

Sunway University has won the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand 2012 Gold Award in the Malaysian Private University category. In accepting the award, Ms. Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director, Sunway Education Group said, “As the Sunway Education Group celebrates its 25th Anniversary it is indeed extremely meaningful to receive this significant award which reaffirms our commitment to providing quality education to our students and to shaping the education landscape in Malaysia”.

“Through the years, Sunway University has grown from being just an educational institution to one that also brings life experiences to thousands of graduates. At Sunway University, success is measured not just by the number of graduates that it has produced but also by the way its graduates think and go on to make a difference in our country and the world” said Professor Robert Bignall, Vice-Chancellor, Sunway University.

The Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia, Y.B Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed presented the award to Sunway University witnessed by Walter Beyleveldt, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Reader’s Digest. Sunway University clinched the same award in 2011 from Asia Reader’s Digest.

A spellbinding event for the environment

The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Management (SHTLM), Sunway University organised a charity dinner recently to raise funds and awareness for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia as part of the B.Sc (Hons) International Hospitality Management students’ assignment. The dinner was held at SHTLM’s training restaurant and supported by the newly renovated kitchen which was done in accordance with Le Cordon Bleu’s specifications.

Volunteering for a Cause

After facilitating the exciting business simulation game and planting 150 “Tengek Burung” trees at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve, the enthusiastic Lancaster University students were hard at work behind the scenes at the Dewan Sivik, Petaling Jaya for two days in preparation for the “I Believe” Benefit Concert organised by StART Society recently.

The Sunway–Lancaster Exchange students who are here for the Summer Programme together with an International Opportunities intern from Lancaster University who chaperoned the British students to Malaysia were present on both the 12th and 13th of September to help the StART Society with the ticketing booth, lighting and sound, distribution of programme booklet, props, ushering, food and beverages, taking care of the children, as well as sales of t-shirts.

Lancaster and Sunway students enjoy a game

Bright-eyed exchange students, 28 to be exact, from Lancaster University who were in Sunway University on a Sunway-Lancaster Summer Programme (Sep 4 – 24) this year, found themselves in a game during their stay at Sunway. It was a Business Simulation Game that they facilitated for a group of younger students enrolled in the Foundation in Arts (FIA), a Pre-University programme which is the foundation programme tailored for the Lancaster collaborative degree programmes offered at Sunway University.

The aim of the game was to develop communication, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills around challenging yet hypothetical activities of buying and selling as well as coming up with solutions to real-life problems and situations that can be found in Kuala Lumpur. It forced the FIA students to think in a business way to come up with solutions. The groups had to present their ideas to the rest of the participants at the end of the game.

JEFFREY CHEAH FOUNDATION HOSTS CHARITY RECITAL

Featuring the International Ensemble of the Perak Society of Performing Arts

Bandar Sunway, 26 August 2011 – Around 800 people packed Sunway University’s Multi Purpose Hall on Friday, 19 August to attend a charity recital entitled “A Celebration of Music: Butterfly Lovers and Love Songs” hosted by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF). In conjunction with the recital, MasterClass Workshops were held on Saturday, 20 August for members of the public where 79 people attended the workshops.
The recital was organised to share the beauty and discipline of music with a wider audience beyond the confines of the university community.

In his wecome message, Founding Trustee, Tan Sir Dato’ Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah said, “This recital is very much aligned to the spirit of the Foundation as music and arts are inextricably linked to education, enriching and nurturing lives towards the total development of individuals”.

Sunway University clinches Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Awards 2011

Sunway University struck gold when it received the Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Gold Award in the Malaysian Private University Category for 2011 at an awards dinner on 1 June.

Mr Lee Weng Keng, Chief Executive Officer of Sunway Education Group who accepted the award said, “Sunway University cherishes and values this award as it is based on savvy Reader’s Digest consumer preferences. It is particularly significant that respondents were not prompted on the name of the University, and that it was based strictly on top-of-mind recall”.

Mr Lee Weng Keng (left) receiving the award from Christopher Axberg, Publisher and Managing Director, Reader’s Digest Asia

Calvin Lee win Second prize for Perdana Leadership Award

Calvin Lee Eng Siong, a final year student pursuing his BSc (Hons) in Business Management, Sunway University won the second prize for the third Essay Competition “Nurturing the Minds of Future Leaders” jointly organized by Perdana Leadership Award and MPH group. Calvin bagged RM1, 000 in cash, an e-book reader, an iPod Nano and RM250 in book vouchers for his essay on Malaysia in a Globalised World: A High-Income Status through Human Capital Development. The Essay Competition that took place between May and October 2010 also saw entries on “Vision 2020”, “Global Competitiveness” and “A High-Income Nation” as part of the competition’s theme, “Malaysia in a Globalised World”.

The winners were arbitrated by Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Khoo Kay Kim, Tan Sri Hashim Makaruddin and Dato’ Hardev Kaur.

Calvin (centre) with Associate Professor Dr Foo Yin Fah, Head of School of Business and Grace Tay.



Lost cash returned to student

The term” finders keepers” did not have any significance to Wong Yeng Hui and Yeo Suk Lyn as they immediately surrendered a stack of RM600 they found lying on the canopy walk to the Security Department. The two Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) students who were returning from the Sunway Pyramid Mall to Sunway University (Sunway) found the money lying on the canopy walk at 2:13 pm on 4 April 2011. At 2:20pm the same day, they made a report at the Security Department and surrendered the money to Mr Gopal Kandasamy, Manager of the Security Department.

As it was harder to identify who the owner of the cash was, the security department inspected the CCTV’s installed at the canopy walk to identify the moment Wong and Yeo picked up the money. They then backtracked and found Ngu Mei Siang, a Sunway BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance walking through the canopy walk with two friends not realizing her money had fallen out of her bag.

Mr Tan Kheng Loon, Mr Gopal Kandasamy, Ms Elizabeth Lee, Lim Jew Jean, Ngu Mei Siang, Wong Yeng Hui and Yeo Suk Lyn.

RM 5.7 Million Worth in Scholarship for Deserving Students

Sunway University (Sunway) was proud to honour over 1000 students during the recent Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah Scholarship Award Presentation Ceremony in May 2011. Sunway awarded RM 5.7 million in scholarships through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation making the total amount of contributions so far RM 66 million worth in scholarships since it was incepted in 1997 through the Sunway Education Trust Fund. The Sunway Education Trust Fund was converted to the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation in 2010 to further solidify our Founder and Chancellor's belief to transform the lives of many through the benefits of education. The recipients of the scholarship was awarded the Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah Entrance Scholarship and The Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship.

Recipients of the Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship waiting in line to receive their award from Mr Lee Weng Keng.