Studies in sports science
MALAYSIA’S athletes made the country proud when they emerged as the overall champion of the 2017 Southeast Asia Games and earned the second spot overall in the 2017 Asean Para Games. Malaysia also won four silvers and one bronze in the 2016 Olympic Games, a first in the country’s history.
Following this success, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak expressed his aspiration for Malaysia to become a powerhouse in sports as he saw the potential in young Malaysians to excel in sports.
In Budget 2018, the Government allocated RM1bil to implement various initiatives to turn Malaysia into a sports juggernaut.
This presents vast opportunities in sports-related education to develop trained professionals who can support the country’s aspiration by nurturing and guiding future sportsmen and sportswomen.
At Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), individuals who have keen interest in sports can pursue a diploma or bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science.
TAR UC’s sports and exercise science programme equips students with theoretical and practical knowledge, including overseas study trip opportunities to allow them to learn from experts of other countries and institutes.
In May last year, 14 students and four lecturers from the sports and exercise science programme participated in a study tour to Seoul, South Korea. The one-week study tour consisted of visits to the Korea National Sports University and University of Suwon.
One of the highlights of the study tour was the visit to the Seoul Olympic Park, the home of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which has an impressive sports facility and houses the country’s largest sports arena. The park includes modern, state-of-the-art sports stadiums, an eco-friendly forest and huge fields.
For TAR UC student Aaron Ooi who is pursuing his Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Sports and Exercise Science, the visit to the Korea National Sports University and University of Suwon was an eye-opener and truly unforgettable experience.
“It was an amazing experience to have the opportunity to attend the classes conducted in the University of Suwon. Through this exposure, I gained invaluable experience in Koreans’ study culture. I had the opportunity to communicate with the students there and share my thoughts and views on sports and exercise science.
“In addition, the visit to the Korea National Sports University enabled me to observe the sophisticated and modern sports equipment available there. The experience provided me with insight into sports development in these institutions.
“Visiting these institutions has also deepened my knowledge on the best practices put in place by South Koreans such as their high level of discipline and commitment to excelling in their studies and sports,” says Ooi.
He adds, “I saw this study trip as a great avenue for me to see, explore and learn the developments in sports science in South Korea. It was also a great way for me to compare first-hand the differences between sports science in Korea and Malaysia.”
Another overseas study trip was organised in 2016 by the Sports and Exercise Science Department of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FOAS) at TAR UC, where the group visited the Beijing Sport University and Tianjin University of Sport in China. FOAS will be organising another overseas study tour this year.
Explore TAR UC’s sports and exercise science programme at the university’s booth at all major education fairs.
Attractive academic merit scholarships and sibling discounts are available for qualified students.