Building a solid foundation
UPON completing SPM or O-levels, high school graduates who have decided to further their studies are left to choose between STPM, A-levels or equivalent foundation programmes. Choices are certainly abundant but the one question remains, which will be the best or most suitable selection for them, as they embark on their new journey.
A not-for-profit private university, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), offers high school graduates a quality yet affordable education through its one-year Foundation Programme. The programme is structured to prepare them to progress to the degree programme of their choice.
The foundation programmes are offered by UTAR’s Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS). Students enrolling can choose to pursue in either Foundation in Arts or Foundation in Science. Pursuing a Foundation in Arts will allow the students to choose between Arts and Social Science stream or Management and Accountancy stream. On the other hand, students pursuing the Foundation in Science will be able to choose between Physical Science stream and Biological Science stream.
“The foundation programmes are comprehensive and provide strong fundamentals in the arts, business or science fields. Due to its emphasis in the relevant fields of the different disciplines, students are equipped with background knowledge that is vital in pursuing a wide range of undergraduate degree programmes,” said UTAR Sungai Long Campus
CFS director Melissa Stefanie Netto.
“The comprehensive and up-todate curriculum also stresses on the 21st century competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication. The flexibility in the programme structure enables students to achieve academic excellence and develop their full potential upon completion of the programme,” added UTAR Kampar Campus CFS director Tan Lee Siew.
The well-established programmes are designed to equip the students with necessary fundamental knowledge and essential skills, as well as sharpening their presentation skills and English language proficiency, ensuring a smooth transition to over 110 undergraduate programmes and postgraduate programmes in UTAR.
“Some of the subjects in my foundation programme require students to conduct a presentation. I believe it is important as it will help in building our self-esteem, confidence and improving our communication skills. Surely this will help us in facing the challenges during a job interview or any presentation related tasks at work in the future,” said former Foundation in Science student Pravinden Gunarajan who is currently a Computer Engineering undergraduate.
UTAR has built a strong reputation as a global university with the dedication to achieve excellence in both teaching and research. One such example is providing the students with some of the latest learning technologies and research innovation, as well as advance educational facilities such as laboratories for Computer, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Lay Yi Cong, a foundation graduate who is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Finance (Hons) said, “The lecturers of the foundation programme have provided us with quality teaching as well as understandable guidelines for the subjects related to my finance programme. Joining the foundation programme has certainly helped me gained the knowledge I need to pursue my finance programme. Not to mention, the facilities such as library and computer lab have given convenience to the students to complete their work.”
In line with UTAR’s aim towards excellence, the university offers scholarships and loans to students with excellent academic performance. Students with 7As and above in their SPM result will be automatically offered the Scholarship for Top Achievers which will see their foundation programme tuition fees waived.
Not only limited to lessons from lectures and tutorial classes, CFS encourages students’ participation in outdoor activities with the aim to provide them with the best learning experience possible.
Ensuring the students are not only excelling academically, talks such as “Journey of UTAR student”, “Are You Eating Food or Poison?”, “Thinking and Living Positively” and others conducted by professional speakers were also held, with the purpose to raise the students’ awareness on the existing issues.
UTAR emphasises on their students’ well-being. Counselling services are provided by the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) to the students at their campuses. Qualified counsellors from DSA are always ready to provide advice and guidance to the students.
■ UTAR’s Open Day will be held on Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 at its Sungai Long Campus in Bandar Sungai Long and Kampar Campus in Perak. UTAR has also extended its counselling hours at both campuses daily from 9am to 5pm (except for public holidays).