Raffles, university of the future
RAFFLES University Iskandar (RUI) is on the cutting edge of higher education in both teaching, learning and business practices.
The university’s innovative and stimulating programmes promote doing while learning and learning while doing.
One of the methods that RUI achieved this is through personalised learning, which differs from a traditional university model.
RUI President Prof Graeme Britton explained that the world is a classroom and students basically want to be able to learn anywhere and anytime.
“In personalised learning, even though a student may go into a class and the certain theory component may be the same, each student will then be given different assignments and be expected to do something that is different.
“It is a completely different approach as every project or assignment will receive a different assistance.
“There are special classrooms where students undertake projects under supervision of a lecturer and students also work in teams on certain projects.
“Under the standard education system, everyone in the classroom is taught the exact same material and when they sit for exams, everyone is expected to give the same answers. We want to move away from that,” he said.
Britton added that the learning tailored to each student’s needs would also be provided through small class sizes, which would allow lecturers to spend more time with each student and understand their needs better.
He said all design programmes tend to be very personal because students have to create their own portfolios.
“We’re also looking at bringing in personalised learning into other areas such as business, psychology and accountancy.
“We’ve developed our own unique evidence-based models for problem solving and that is being pushed out into the business courses,” said Britton.
Among undergraduate degree programmes available in RUI are fashion design, interior design, graphic design, multimedia design, business administration, supply chain management and psychology.
These are all three-year programmes except for interior design which has an additional six months.
The university also offers a four-year accounting degree programme.
It is one of the few universities in Malaysia to receive accreditation by the Association of Chartered Certified Accounts (ACCA) which allows graduates to receive exemption from nine fundamental papers.
RUI also offers two foundation programmes – liberal arts and business – and three diploma programmes – interior design, visual communications and business studies.
The prerequisites for foundation and diploma programmes are 5As and 3As in SPM respectively.
Work-based learning is also something RUI provides as all its degree programmes have internships.
This allows students to choose the career path they want.
All RUI students have gotten industry placements and quite a number of its graduates have landed jobs multinational companies locally, in Singapore and other countries.
Britton also revealed that RUI was in contact with the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM), who will come in to accredit the university’s interior designing programme.
If successful, RUI will be the only university in Johor with an LAM accredited internal design programme.
RUI is a joint venture between the Malaysian Government through Educity Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Raffles Education Corporation (REC), a multi-national educational company.
REC was invited to be a partner in EduCity because of its international expertise and reputation in design education.
Excited to be a part of EduCity, RUI is firmly committed to the Iskandar Regional Development project.
The rapid industrial development in Johor provides many employment opportunities for students.
Currently operating from its temporary premises at Menara Kotaraya in Johor Baru, RUI will develop a state-of-the-art campus on a 26ha plot of land in EduCity Iskandar Malaysia.
RUI’s strategic location in Iskandar sets the university in a secure and growing state economy with high potential in both economic and cultural developments.
Students can expect a vibrant and dynamic nurturing experience that will see their transformation into world-class professionals.
Since establishing its first college in Singapore in 1990, REC has grown to provide a full spectrum of education services through a vast network of 26 colleges and univeristies in 24 cities across 14 countries.
For more information, visit www.raffles-university.edu.my.