Advocating liberal arts
HAVING made its mark in the fields of culinary arts and hospitality, Berjaya University College (Berjaya UC) is expanding with new faculties, schools and programmes. Societal trends are driving the strategic direction that Berjaya UC is heading in.
New technologies and social media stimulate connectivity and creativity, and there is a need for graduates who can make sense of these and related phenomena, connect the dots, see the bigger picture and understand the changing role of institutions and social practices.
Faculty of Liberal Arts dean Prof Dr Eileen Lee is pleased that Berjaya UC is not the only one that recognises the value of an education in the liberal arts.
“In Framing Malaysian Higher Education 4.0: Future-Proof Talents, it was highlighted that the future of education is not only about information and facts, but a connection of the heart and soul as well. To do this, the curriculum structure and content need to be fluid and organic to allow for a blend of related academic disciplines.
“Accordingly, the field of liberal arts, design and creative technologies has been identified as one of the five trending higher education fields. Liberal arts programmes can provide a strong background for students to work in various areas and prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century,” says Dr Lee.
Supporting this view, head of Berjaya School of Humanities and Social Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Antoon De Rycker says, “Students who are exposed to training in the social sciences and humanities are more likely to develop excellent critical thinking skills and intellectual competencies that will change their life perspectives and widen their horizons across employment sectors.”
At Berjaya UC’s Faculty of Liberal Arts, the essence of its qualified, experienced faculty is the diverse disciplines they belong to that add to the rich learning experience, especially when students take up electives from different disciplines of the lecturers’ expertise such as Korean Studies, Media Studies, Pop Culture, Philosophy, Endangered Languages and Bilingualism.
From this, it is clear that the aim of the faculty is to produce holistic liberal arts graduates that possess interdisciplinary knowledge, are resourceful and can articulate well in oral, written and other media forms. Such attributes are sought after by employers.
For instance, through Operation Phenix by HSBC France, arts and social sciences graduates are employed on permanent contract by HSBC France while studying for a master’s degree in finance in their first year of employment. This verifies the versatility of liberal arts graduates.
As for new programme offerings from the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Dr Lee shares, “In addition to the existing Diploma in Public Relations, we are currently awaiting approval from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency for the Berjaya School of Communication and Media Arts to offer the Bachelor of Communication (Hons) with interesting specialisations.
“In addition, the Berjaya School of Humanities and Social Sciences is awaiting approval to offer the Foundation in Arts and Social Science – an interdisciplinary programme that will prepare students for further studies in almost any discipline.
“We are excited to provide college and university students with refreshingly different programmes that will make their learning experiences informative, interesting, rich and applicable. Prospective students should come and speak to the academic staff of the Faculty of Liberal Arts.”
Plans are in place to develop a new social science degree that will complement the new programmes mentioned.
About the institution
Berjaya UC is arguably Malaysia’s premier university college. It offers programmes in hospitality, culinary arts, business, communications, tourism and event management.
Situated in the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur, the campus is located on the 11th and 14th floors of Berjaya Times Square. Conceptually designed with a five-star hotel ambience, it is equipped with comprehensive, advanced facilities that mirror real-world settings.
Berjaya UC is working to make higher education more accessible, affordable and attainable for everyone. Its affiliation with the Berjaya Corporation Group of Companies allows it to host the Tan Sri Vincent Tan Scholarships and Bursaries 2018, which are available to local and international students.
For more information on Berjaya UC, visit www.berjaya.edu.my