HELP University offers two Foundation programmes
AS a preparation for university study, they are no less rigorous compared to other pre-university courses. In fact, they offer some clear advantages.
They include modules like Study Skills, Critical Thinking Skills, Personal Development and Leadership, and Culture, Arts and Politics. They provide academic knowledge as well as develop thinking and critical minds, personal and leadership qualities and wellinformed individuals who are cognizant of contemporary culture, arts and politics.
Another advantage is the diversity in the type of electives to prepare students for admission into subject majors in the university.
In the Foundation in Arts, they include Legal Studies, Psychology, Accounting, Business, Economics, Early Childhood Education, TESL, Communication, Maths, Calculus and Programming.
The Legal Studies elective is a popular choice for students who intend to read for a Law degree at HELP.
“For students interested in Law, the best way is to take the Legal Studies module at the Foundation level”, said Dhanesh Balakrishnan, Dean of University Foundation Studies at HELP, who is a lawyer himself.
“It can be taken in the second or third semester. They will experience at first-hand what the study of Law is really about. Students who did not consider doing law have opted to do so after doing the module at the Foundation level.”
Dhanesh cites the classic example of Emeline Khoo who had not planned to pursue a law degree until she sat in his class and found the subject fascinating.
Emeline went on to join the UK Law Degree Transfer Programme at HELP’s Faculty of Law and Government and completed her studies at the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE), graduating with First Class Honours. Emeline also won the prestigious Lord Templeman Scholarship tenable at UWE.
“The Foundation in Arts helped me to decide my career path in Law”, Emeline admitted. “I met some of the most dedicated and passionate lecturers who were not only concerned with the syllabus and academic materials, but also ensured the development of soft skills so essential at the workplace”.
In view of the current pandemic, HELP currently offers a special package for students if they enrol in the Foundation programme and complete the 3year HELP LLB.
Welcoming this arrangement, Dean of the Faculty of
Law and Government, VasanthaPunniamoorthy explains why the HELP LLB is an apt choice for aspiring lawyers:
“Building on the strong basis provided by the HELP Foundation, we provide an education that prepares students to take their places as honourable members of the legal profession. We provide high quality teaching and our faculty members are experienced, dedicated and qualified. Some were former practitioners who have turned to full-time teaching. We believe that great careers are built on firm foundations”.
The students’ knowledge and skills are also strengthened through two modules: Legal Skills and Legal Practice.
They impart skills such as legal research, drafting, advocacy, client counselling, opinion writing, negotiation and mooting. Ethical principles are also emphasised.
All these are an essential part of the Faculty’s pedagogical excellence and are aimed at fulfilling the legal profession’s demand for competent, ethical and immediately employable law graduates. The Faculty provides other learning and practical experiences designed to strengthen students’ competencies.
It publishes the HELP Law Review and the HELP Student Law Journal which function as incubators of knowledge and ideas to sharpen legal thinking and encourage research, writing, publishing and collaboration amongst the faculty members, students and members of the legal fraternity.
HELP’s special package for Foundation students to continue into the HELP LLB for RM60,000 is payable over the 4 years’ duration of the two programmes.
Enquiries: marketing@help. edu.my / 032716 2000.