Cardiff Sixth Form College (CSFC) launches ICE programme in M’sia
ON June 23, nine students from the UK’s No.1 independent Sixth Form college, CSFC arrived in Kuala Lumpur for the college’s annual International Citizenship Experience ( ICE) programme.
CSFC currently teaches 39 Malaysian students and the ICE programme is symbolic of the college’s strong connection with Malaysia.
Now in its ninth year, the programme offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience in the area of their future degree subject or desired career, whilst also giving back to the local community.
As students at CSFC aim for high- profile university courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Economics/ Finance and Law, it is essential for them to have as much knowledge and experience as possible before completing their university applications.
Providing a unique combination of academic study, super- curricular activities and fun excursions, the 2017 ICE programme last a total of 17 days, including five days in Kuala Lumpur and eleven days in Kuching.
During the first five days of ICE, the students had three full days in Kuala Lumpur in which to enjoy sight- seeing outings to Batu Caves, Suria KLCC Mall, China Town, Elephant Sanctuary and Sunway Lagoon.
Upon arrival in Kuching, students underwent both simulated and real-life training, and work experience placements at institutions such as Normah Specialist Hospital, Sarawak General Hospital, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak ( Unimas), Sarawak Economic Development Corporation ( SEDC), Thomas, Shankar Ram & Co. Advocates law firm, and a local civil and structural engineering company.
In addition, the students spent time volunteering with the Salvation Army Children’s Home, which gave them a chance to observe fellow young people in a completely different environment to that which they are used to.
The college is donating four mountain bikes to the children’s home, for use amongst the young people.
Whilst in Kuching, the students enjoyed leisure time in which to explore Sarawak Cultural Village and enjoy an evening cruise along Sarawak River, before flying back to the UK via Singapore on July 7.
Speaking about Cardiff Sixth Form College’s ICE Programme, principal Gareth Collier stated: “Our ICE programme offers an invaluable opportunity for both our UK and our international students to obtain work observation placements in high-ranking companies within Malaysia, and for them to be able to see how the real world of work relates to their understanding of academia.
“We currently teach a number of high- performing Malaysian students, who will return to Malaysia in future to contribute to the country and to the economy. We are therefore delighted to have been able to invest in Malaysia as a destination for our ICE programme for the last nine years; it’s a proud association, and one which we hope to continue long into the future.”
CSFC provides scholarship awards of up to 50 per cent of the cost of tuition fees for Malaysian students who achieve a minimum of 8 As in their SPM/ IGCSE examinations.
For further information regarding CSFC, please visit www. ccoex. com or contact our local agent, JM Education Group/ Counselling Centre, 36 Jalan S/ S15/ 8, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, Tel: 603- 5633- 4732.