A Beyond Education experience
GETTING the basics right is a rite of passage before embarking on the next step in life as a rock-solid foundation is imperative prior to achieving more ambitions and higher goals. This nugget of wisdom is also very relevant for high school-leavers who would need to make a big decision on how to achieve their higher education goals – be it a bachelor’s degree, master’s, or even loftier objectives.
One of the many options to reach those goals at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) is via the foundation programme, where students dedicate one year to prepare themselves for their following bachelor’s degree studies.
These foundation programmes are meticulously put together to help students adapt to the new academic environment after coming from a high school system, and set them up with relevant basics and skills so they can transition to the bachelor’s degree level seamlessly.
Since its inception in 1969 as the then TAR College, TAR UMT has a long and reliable track record of providing consistent high-quality pre-university studies.
Embedded with the Beyond Education experience, students are imparted with values that are more than knowledge and skills, but also competencies and values that can lead to a fulfilling life and career.
In order to help its Foundation students hit the ground running, TAR UMT has six foundation programmes to choose from, namely science, arts, accounting, engineering, business, and computing.
These options are carefully curated and designed to allow Foundation students some freedom in deciding their bachelor’s degree specialisation later, and also in-depth enough so they are able to transition into their chosen field of study smoothly.
It is this balance that attracts students like Lau D-Jang to further their studies at TAR UMT. D-Jang, who chose the Foundation in Business programme, said he has been adapting well to the tertiary education life thanks to the TAR UMT experience.
“After my high school, I did my research on how I wanted to proceed with my tertiary education.
“I realised that I only have a general idea of what to study and I have no idea what my future career will be, which is why the Foundation programme in TAR UMT became my choice.
“This way, I am able to adapt comfortably to the change in study lifestyle, new environment, and at the same time, make new friends at TAR UMT.”
He added: “The syllabus is also well balanced where I can pick up fundamental skills and in-depth specialised knowledge relevant to the general direction in my field of study, so I can make an informed decision of which bachelor’s degree programme to undertake later.”
The choice of six different foundation programmes at TAR UMT can be a huge advantage for high school students who may fear they are forced to make a choice they might regret later, wasting both time and resources.
“Students today are more educated about their preferences and passions, and they don’t want to risk choosing the wrong course. With more Foundation programmes to choose from, it gives students more options to settle on a route that they can be happy with,” said Agnes Sim Mei Yi, drawing from her own experience of deciding to take the Foundation in Arts (Track A) programme.
“I did not have a particular interest in any specific course, so my parents suggested the Foundation programme option.
“The decision to take my Foundation has given my parents and myself peace of mind because I am able to further my studies in a course that I am interested in without committing too much to a specialised programme, allowing me time to discover my true passion and not wasting time and my parents’ money,” Sim added.
As for Foundation in Arts (Track B) student Er Jia Yin, the Beyond Education experience at TAR UMT which allows students to learn and grow inside and outside the classroom through a vibrant campus ecosystem is more than enough for her to recommend TAR UMT’s Foundation programme to her peers.
“The university life here is one-of-a-kind. Compared to many other institutions I’ve explored, TAR UMT has a lot more sports facilities, clubs, societies and extra co-curricular activities that make for an exciting learning environment.
“Students here are not taught to just study and take examinations, they are encouraged to develop connections, find their own creativity, and live their best student life through a variety of activities that they can choose from,” said Jia Yin.
To find out more about TAR UMT’s Foundation courses and other programmes offered in 2023, visit TAR UMT during its January 2023 Open Day from Jan 13 to 15 at the TAR UMT KL campus and/or all TAR UMT branches nationwide.
■ Alternatively, you can find out more about the programmes by visiting www.tarc.edu. my. Prospective students are also encouraged to apply online at www.tarc.edu.my. Various financial aid and merit scholarships are available for qualified students.