Vol 08 Issue 30

CONTENTS

Movers & Shakers The Sunway Education Group

03 Sparking Conversations Sunway College
05 Seek Your Own Path
08 The Future Is No. 2, Jalan Universiti
13 Introducing SQL Accounts Bandar Sunway
15 Encouraging Critical Thinking 47500 Selangor Darul Ehsan
17 Where Everyone Is Significant Malaysia
19 6 Challenges In Monash Science Cup T: 603-5638 7176
E: [email protected]
10 Celebrating Goodbyes And Change sunway.edu.my/college

Face To Face Sunway University
T: 603-7491 8622
04 No Substitute For Hard Work E: [email protected]
06 Exposure To More sunway.edu.my/university
09 Wielding A Sabre
12 The Right Amount Monash University Malaysia
14 Ruled By Mathematics T: 603-5514 6000
16 The Art Of Adult-ing E: [email protected]
18 Accelerated ACA Pathway monash.edu.my

Social Report Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine
07 I-Care Focus On PAWS and Health Sciences
T: 603-5514 6000
UP2 or UPP or Uniquely Purposeful Programmes is a quarterly publication that represents a E: [email protected]
progressive Sunway College. Owned and governed by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, this med.monash.edu.my
leading private institution of higher learning is forging ahead towards the next level
of excellence. Sunway International School
T: 603-7491 8070
Advisor : Dr Elizabeth Lee UP2 is published by Sunway College E: [email protected]
sis.sunway.edu.my
Editorial & : Jerrine Koay Should you have any comments,
kindly contact: Sunway College Johor Bahru
Photography Team Katherine Kee T: 607-359 6880
The Public Relations Department E: [email protected]
Tan May Ling Sunway Education Group sunway.edu.my/jb
T: 603-7491 8622
Concept & Design : Writers Ink E: [email protected] Sunway College Ipoh
www.sunway.edu.my/college T: 605-545 4398
Printer : Gloverin E: [email protected]
sunway.edu.my/ipoh
No 3 Jalan SR 3/7,
Taman Serdang Raya 4, Seksyen 3 Sunway College Kuching
43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor T: 6082-451 221 / 573 251 / 573 252
E: [email protected]
swck.edu.my

Sunway-TES
Centre for Accountancy Excellence

T: 603-7491 8622
E: [email protected]
sunway.edu.my/college/sunwaytes

Sunway International Business
& Management

T: 603-7493 7023
E: [email protected]
sibm.com.my

Shanghai Sunway Financial Training Co. Ltd.

T: 603-7491 8622
E: [email protected]
sunway.edu.my/college/ssft

Sunway Le Cordon Bleu Institute of
Culinary Arts

T: 603-5632 1188
E: [email protected]
lecordonbleu.com.my

Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia
T: 603-7491 8622
jci.edu.my

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed
or implied in UP2 are those of the authors or

contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of

the Sunway Education Group.

- MOVERS & SHAKERS -

SPARKING CONVERSATIONS

Winners of the AUSMAT Pitch Competition 2018

The Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) Pitch Competition 2018 held recently
attracted a total participation of 81 students from various international and
private schools. Each participant had to submit a video of their 3-minute speech
in the preliminary round before proceeding to the finals.

For the finals of the AUSMAT Pitch Competition held at Sunway College, the top Priyaa Thiruventhiran
10 finalists had to deliver a 3-minute speech based on their submitted video to
a panel of judges comprising Vanitha Satchithanadan, Director of AUSMAT;
A. Alagarani, lecturer of Victoria University (VU) Undergraduate Programme,
Sunway College; and Professor Stephen Hall, Head of Centre for English
Language Studies (CELS), Sunway University.

Aimed at spreading prodigious ideas to spark conversations and arouse curiosity
through succinct, powerful, persuasive dialogues; seven consolation prizes of
RM5,000 bursaries each for the AUSMAT programme were given out that day.
Claiming third place with a RM10,000 bursary for the AUSMAT programme,
Megan Elizabeth Teoh-John from Heads Up Academy spoke on “Education”.
Believing exams to be a culprit that hinders true learning, Megan emphasised
the importance of an education system that encourages, inspires and provides
students with the right tools. This will enable them to proceed with what they love
and help to nurture their interests.

Coming in second with his speech, “Am I Stupid?”, Marcus Chai Zhen Yang Marcus Chai Zhen Yang
from Nobel International School said, “Instead of telling us to memorise, make
us understand it. Instead of telling us to get an A, tell us why we should. Instead
of making us study hard, make us fall in love with studying”. In urging Malaysian
educators to revamp the education system, he won a RM15,000 bursary for the
AUSMAT programme.

Winning the heart of the judges with her speech “Stereotyping Body Image”,
Priyaa Thiruventhiran of Sri Desa Learning Centre spoke of the increased
dissatisfaction with their bodies being on the rise for adults and young people.
Asking society to stop putting people down for the features that make them
unique, Priyaa made a plea to end body image stereotyping in order to
put a stop to the increase of dysmorphia. As champion of the AUSMAT Pitch
Competition, the Year 10 student took home a full scholarship to pursue the
AUSMAT programme at Sunway College.

All ten finalists were given a certificate of commendation and individual trophies. Megan Elizabeth Teoh-John

03

- FACE TO FACE -

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK

Having made a visit to England when he was 11 years old, the dream to study in Oxford is now a reality for 20-year old
David Lau Wen Chung. Heading to St.Hilda’s College in Oxford to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence (Law)
end of September, David hopes to spend the next three years being part of something bigger than himself. David
hopes to make a positive difference in the world one day as the development of law over the centuries and modern
law intrigue him. He believes law is his calling as he has always loved reading and writing from a very young age.

For David, the A-Level was a big step up from SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia). The OPEN Day visits David made
to HELP, Taylor’s and Sunway helped him to decide on Sunway as he liked the overall feel of the campus, the
available facilities plus the friendly and knowledgeable student volunteers.

With Psychology being his favourite
subject, David enjoyed the lessons
taught by Ms Ida Ngui as the
classes were kept interesting for
students were often asked to probe
beyond the syllabus and to get to
the crux of any issue. Having learnt
a lot from both his fellow classmates
and lecturers, David began
preparing for the examinations a
few months earlier by drawing up a
study timetable, making notes plus
consulting friends and lecturers on
topics he was unsure of.

A Sunway scholarship recipient in
the A-Level, David chose to quit
the football team as the rigorous
demands of his studies meant he
had less time for football training.
Spending up to ten hours of study
every day during the two months
before his examinations, David felt
the results of his efforts were worth it
as he scored 3A* for Mathematics,
Economics and Psychology plus an
A for Law.

Whilst waiting for his results, David
spent four months of his time
working for a lawyer. By following
the lawyer in his daily routines,
David learnt to deal with clients,
draft letters, reading through
contracts and it was an opportunity
for David to experience the world
of legal practice, outside of law
textbooks and lectures. David
also worked for RC Deaf Missions
which gifted him with a newfound
appreciation for the resourcefulness
and optimism of those who have
hearing challenges.

Having learnt much during his gap
year after completing his A-Levels,
David believes that to go far in
life, there is no substitute for hard
work. Very much looking forward
to beginning his time in Oxford,
David aspires to be the best person
he can possibly be as he wants to
always challenge and spur himself
on to greater heights as a lawyer, a
friend and a member of society.

04

- MOVERS & SHAKERS -

SEEK YOUR OWN PATH

Gathering at the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) graduation to witness 430 achievers complete their first
step on the education pathway, students, lecturers, parents, friends and well-wishers were on hand to congratulate the
graduates of the May cohort.

Amongst all MUFY providers worldwide, MUFY Sunway College Kuala Lumpur topped all eleven subjects offered with Kee
Pei Jiin receiving the MUFY Excellence Award for achieving the Highest Overall Score of 98.63% worldwide. Now in its 19th
year at Sunway College, MUFY has had more than 13,000 students embrace the vibrant, holistic learning environment
offered at the Sunway College campus.

The academic accomplishments of 206 students have made them eligible for Monash University scholarships in
Malaysia or Australia as they achieved an overall High Distinction score. The Monash University High Achiever Awards for
outstanding academic performance were given to 85 students who maintained an average score of 89% and above.
For emerging top among all providers worldwide in their respective subjects, 47 students from the May cohort were given
Awards of Excellence.

In his speech, Lee Thye Cheong, Director of MUFY spoke of the tireless efforts made by the MUFY Student Council in
building the spirit of community through the MUFY Cup, MUFY Talent Quest and MUFY Games. Proud of MUFY students
for using their talents to improve the lives of others through MUFY Sharity Day, inventing a device for the visually impaired
via the Monash Innovation Challenge and through launching a book to inspire others, Lee encouraged the students to
continue to apply themselves to making a positive difference.

In her speech to the graduating cohort, Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group and
Sunway University gently reminded the graduates to be mindful of the words of wisdom that have been shared. As they
celebrate their achievements, Dr Lee shared her concerns about the myth of a ‘perfect life’ which is often showcased
via social media.

With a focus on learning that is relevant to the world, Dr Lee hoped the graduates have come to understand their role
in community with the help of their friends and lecturers. Requesting the graduates to chart their own course in life, Dr
Lee spoke of how graduation is the promise of new beginnings and asked that they be fearless and courageous in their
pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment.

On behalf of the graduating cohort, valedictorian Matteus Lim thanked the lecturers for being the Most Valued Players
(MVPs) in their quest for success. Appreciating the strong support structure provided by Sunway College, he urged his
fellow graduates to continue stoking the fire within themselves so that they may continue to shed a light for themselves
and others on their paths through life.

Kee Pei Jiin receiving the MUFY Excellence Award Valedictorian Matteus Lim
from Dr Elizabeth Lee

MUFY Award recipients

05

- FACE TO FACE -

EXPOSURE TO MORE

With so many different things happening
every day, Sunway Special Scholarship
2017 recipient Rachel Goh Pei Shyuan
appreciates the important role her
Foundation in Arts (FIA) lecturers have
played in helping her to prepare for
her undergraduate studies in Sunway
University.

To help enhance and make a clearer
pathway for herself, Rachel chose the
one-year FIA programme as aspects
like the syllabus, the study environment,
the campus and the people caught
her eye. Knowing how to adapt to
different environments proved to be a
challenge for Rachel, but the exposure
to both academic and practical based
assignments allowed FIA students like
Rachel to experience planning events,
visiting an orphanage and appreciating
Sunway workers, the “kakak” and
“abang” who helped make the campus
cleaner and better.

Becoming more independent and
mature, Rachel has learnt to better
manage her studies, her piano sessions
and the extra activities which required
many meetings and planning. More
patient and understanding of other
cultures now, Rachel was on the FIA
student committee and a committee
member of the Sunway Ambassador
Leadership Trek (S.A.L.T.) handling public
relations. S.A.L.T taught Rachel to frame
the public relations for this event as part of
a bigger picture and enabled her to look
at different perspectives. Being involved in
S.A.L.T made her feel like part of a family,
working together with her team members
and being there for each other.

Having shared her success in “My Sunway Story” feature, Rachel has used the opportunity to contribute her personal
story and give tips to other aspiring students through social media and being featured on the cover of the Sunway
Special Scholarship 2018 magazine.

With all the ups and downs she has experienced in her year in the FIA programme, Rachel believes the FIA lecturers are
the most nurturing teachers on campus so it is only natural she would advise future FIA students to listen to the lecturers.
Be truthful, be thankful, be grateful for the people around you and for yourself is Rachel’s advice; as she envisions that
when she looks back on this in future, she will treasure all these moments.

A recipient of the Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship, Rachel has chosen to pursue the 3-year BA (Hons) in
Communication programme. In making this her choice, Rachel hopes to learn more, excel more through experiencing
new kind of things along with getting to know more people with different backgrounds and stories. She hopes to be
happy and satisfied with her choice ten or twenty years into the future as Rachel is hopeful this pursuit is right for her.

06

- SOCIAL REPORT -

I-CARE FOCUS ON PAWS

PAWS, a non-profit animal shelter in Petaling Jaya recently received an injection of funds from the students and lecturers
in the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) programme. Through their yearly charitable drive at AUSMAT I-Care day, the
students and lecturers of AUSMAT chose to focus their efforts on contributing the proceeds of the day to the welfare of
over 500 dogs and cats under the care of PAWS.

Director of the AUSMAT Programme, Vanitha Satchithanadan commented on the excitement and buzz generated at
this year’s I-Care Day. Thanking the team of lecturers, Organising Chair and Senior Lecturer Hanushia Palpanavan plus
the AUSMAT Student Council for their efforts, the 7-km AUSMAT I-Care Run kicked off at 7am on a Saturday. Campus
security and auxiliary police personnel were on hand to assist with the AUSMAT I-Care Run.

Attracting more than 600 participants, boxer and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter André Loh-Max placed first in the
AUSMAT I-Care Run. Currently in his first semester at AUSMAT, this self-confessed animal lover was happy to participate as
Andre wanted to contribute to a good cause.

In planning and executing the I-Care Run, President of the AUSMAT Student Council Yap Yi June cited teamwork and
communication as essentials to getting things done. Balancing her studies with her Student Council role, AUSMAT I-Care
Day has aided her in sharpening her time management skills.

Secretary of the AUSMAT Student Council, first semester student Olivia Bong Kah Wai shared the Council had fun
planning and organising the entire event from the I-Care Run to the bazaar. Throughout the day, AUSMAT students
volunteered as first aid workers, route marshals, photographers and provided manning for the seven booths at the
bazaar. The booths offered t-shirts for sale, food and beverage plus a photo booth.

Passionate about educating and raising social awareness among AUSMAT students for a chosen charity, Olivia shared
that the Student Council was looking forward to further collaborations with other non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), like a refugee learning centre.

Participants of the AUSMAT I-Care Run AUSMAT students selling t-shirts at one of the booths during the
I-Care charity drive

All set for the AUSMAT I-Care Run

07

- MOVERS & SHAKERS -

THE FUTURE IS

SUNMUN Secretariat

In the span of one and a half months before the fourth Sunway Model United Nations (SUNMUN) conference, the
Secretariat members toiled away at making this year’s conference a noteworthy success for the delegates and
participants. Choosing to be a voice for the youth of Malaysia, SUNMUN 2018 was the result of the efforts by a small
but passionate community of people who believe in a better Malaysia. Gathering a total of 280 delegates, this year’s
SUNMUN “The Future Is” got off to a promising start as the official opening by Yang Berhormat Michelle Ng Mei Sze
inspired many with her New Malaysia speech.

Over the next 3 days of SUNMUN, the debates by the represented councils were lively, productive and occasionally
chaotic. “The Hague International Model UN” format (THIMUN) councils included The United Nations Human Rights
Council (UNHRC), the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nations Women Council (UNWC) and the
World Health Organisation (WHO). UNHRC had a discussion on sex workers and their legalities, as well as human rights
in the context of businesses whereas UNGA discussed issues of biological warfare and the issue of nuclear proliferation
in the Middle East. UWNC discussion was on the prevention of rape culture and equality in education whereas WHO
covered issues of child malnutrition and mental health, as well as the stigmas associated with mental health.

The “Harvard Model UN” format (HMUN) councils differed from the traditional THIMUN councils as the debates
conducted were controlled by the delegates, instead of the Council Chairs. The HMUN councils included the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union (EU), SUNMUN’s unique United States Senate x Youth Assembly
(USSxYA) and the crisis council in the form of United Nations Futuristic Security Council (UNFSC). UNSC discussed the
Rohingya Crisis and the situation in South Sudan whereas EU discussed the reform of the Eurozone and the creation of
an EU army. USSxYA discussed the reform of gun control in the United Nations and the UNFSC took on a hypothetical
situation where the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had been compromised by an unknown threat in the year 2050.

On the evening of day two, the delegates were treated to socials in the evening where games, performances and all
sorts of merriment were created to help the delegates relax before commencing the final day of SUNMUN.

On the final day of SUNMUN, inspired closing speeches by the Secretary Generals moved the delegates and awards for
Best Delegate and Social Kings were given out by the SUNMUN Secretariat. After a thrilling three days of SUNMUN’s “The
Future Is”, the conference came to a close and will remain a beacon of wonderful memories for many of the delegates.

EU UNHRC UNGA Lobbying
08

- FACE TO FACE -

WIELDING A SABRE

Believing that every win and every loss is a part of a greater plan, 18-year old Natania Tai formerly from the
Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) at Sunway College has been involved in competitive
fencing since 2012. Now specialising in sabre which is aggressive, fast and requires split-second decision making;
Natania clinched the gold medal at SUKIPT 2018 (Higher Education Institute Sports Meet), the gold medal at MMU
(Multimedia University) Championship 2018 and a bronze medal at the 2nd ASEAN (Association of South East
Asian Nations) Fencing University Championship 2018.

For Natania, Sunway always seemed to be the best choice for college and university because of opportunities
like sporting support, useful facilities, and a healthy college environment (smoke free campus). Attracted to
CIMP because of the grading system and the subjects she had interest in, Natania shared she works better with
coursework, rather than exams as she has the time to prepare to the best of her abilities.

Citing her breakfast club friends as the
best bits about CIMP, Natania thinks
CIMP taught her to be creative and
manage her time, as the teachers
tended to assign tests and coursework
at the same time. Having to train about
eight hours a week at the fencing club,
Natania has also had to schedule her
school work around her fixed training
times. In fencing, the competitive
culture is filled with respect for the
opponent as evidenced by saluting
your opponent before commencing
the bout and unmasking before shaking
hands after the bout. At times, it still
gets extremely hot for Natania under all
that protective gear, in spite of the air-
conditioning in the competition venue.

With her dad being her biggest
supporter from the very beginning,
Natania has him to remind her that
although winning is great, the fact she
enjoys her competitive fencing makes
him happy. For Natania, screaming at
her fencing matches reminds her of her
purpose in life which is to fight for those
who have given her the opportunities
in life. From her coach and team who
have pushed her to improve beyond
her limits to her family for their moral
and financial support to her religious
beliefs, Natania believes her growth as
an athlete has come from the principles
she learnt at home and in her activities.

Currently prepping for her next bout
of competitive fencing, Natania thinks
she will probably stay in Sunway to
complete her first degree. For Natania,
working on her school work in every
spare moment and not letting the work
pile up has enabled her to manage her
year in CIMP. She advises future CIMP
students to take subjects that interest
them as the passion for the subject will
help them to pull through in their studies.

09

- FOCUS -

CELEBRATING GOODBYES AND CHANGE

Graduates pose for a group photo Livia Alfian receiving the Governor General’s Medal from
Her Excellency Ms Julia Bentley
At the recent Canadian International Matriculation Alexa Cheah Shen Mae with Dr Elizabeth Lee
Programme (CIMP) graduation ceremony, more than
300 Sunway College and Sunway International School
(SIS) students took to the stage to receive their Ontario
Secondary School Diplomas (OSSD). 137 students
received the Ontario Scholar award and 65 students
took home the Community Service award.

In her welcome remarks, Senior Executive Director of
Sunway Education Group and Sunway University, Dr
Elizabeth Lee commented, ”At Sunway, I am happy
to say that when it comes to community service, most
of our CIMP and SIS students make the effort to go the
extra mile, with quite a few committing more than the
required 10 hours.”

Garnering the most awards for the day was Livia Alfian
of the CIMP who received the Governor General’s
Medal for Academic Achievement; Subject Awards
for Analyzing Current Economics Issues, English 4C and
Mathematics of Data Management; the Jeffrey Cheah
Scholastic Award and the Jeffrey Cheah Entrance
Scholarship by Sunway University in collaboration with
Lancaster University.

To receive their OSSD, students are required to
complete a minimum 10 hours of volunteering. The
graduating cohort contributed an average 30 hours
individually. CIMP students raised RM28,677 during their
‘Sales Day’ on campus for INSANI (Inisiatif Sokongan
Autisme Nouri) Autism Charity, in support of the
development of autism centres for low-income families
as part of the Business Leadership Community Project.
CIMP students also participated in this year’s Multiple
Sclerosis Walk where they volunteered and helped
create awareness of the disabling disease on the
central nervous system.

For volunteering 684 hours in the past year, Alexa Cheah
Shen Mae received the Community Service award for
organising the Annual Youth Camp, being the Youth
Leader and Mentor in the Worship Team and Trainings,
being an active member of the Organising Committee
for the Youth Conference (Generation Now) and for her
participation in the Youth Ministry of SIBKL (Sidang Injil
Borneo Kuala Lumpur).

10

Yashwenee Selvaraju and Ethan Schewaga with Puan Sri Susan Cheah - FOCUS -
and Her Excellency Ms Julia Bentley
Maeesha Farzana, recipient of the Community Service Award The Maple Leaf Award was given to Raja
with Heath Kondro Imran Shah Raja Amin in recognition of his
Raja Imran, recipient of the Maple Leaf Award strong academic performance and active
with John Mackle participation in extra-curricular activities. A
state level football player in the Selangor PKNS
Football Club, Raja Imran participated in the
National under-19 football league.

A celebration of the times they have
had, Sunway College CIMP valedictorian
Yashwenee Selvaraju requested her fellow
graduates to use the graduation as an
opportunity to change their perception of
goodbyes before they embark on greater
adventures.

Sunway International School celebrated their
first batch of Ontario Grade 12 programme
graduates by awarding Nyugen Thu Thao
with Subject Awards for English, College
Preparation and Mathematics of Data
Management together with the Jeffrey Cheah
Scholastic Award.

Volunteering 115 hours for teaching, reading
and writing to students in a Special Education
Programme, Maeesha Farzana Seraj received
the Community Service award. The Vice
President of the Grade 12 SIS Student Council,
Maeesha also assisted at the SIS Library
and volunteered in her native country of
Bangladesh at a medical college.

Presented with the Maple Leaf Award,
President of the Grade 12 SIS Student Council
Nicholas Loke Sai Kit served as an active
member of the Futsal Club and SIS Model
United Nations. A peer tutor for Mathematics
and English at SIS, he also volunteered as an
English teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit
Lanjan, working with children of the Temuan
people (an orang asli community).

Valedictorian for SIS, Ethan Schewaga asked
his fellow graduates to focus on setting the
path for change and be examples of the
change that they want to see in the world.

Joining in the celebrations for the completion
of the Ontario Grade 12 Programme were
their teachers, family and friends. Guests for
the ceremony included Her Excellency Ms
Julia Bentley, High Commissioner of Canada
to Malaysia; His Excellency Mr Mohamed
Beram, Ambassador to Libya and his family;
Puan Sri Datin Seri (Dr) Susan Cheah, EXCO
Member, Sunway Group; Dr Elizabeth Lee,
Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education
Group and Sunway University; Professor Pua
Eng Chong, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Sunway
University; John Mackle, Director, Canadian
International Matriculation Programme,
Sunway College and Heath Kondro, Principal
of Sunway International School.

11

- FACE TO FACE -

THE RIGHT AMOUNT

Having a brother who had done the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) and having listened to friends who did
the same programme, choosing Sunway College was a no-brainer for JPA (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam)
government scholar Siveshan Silvam. The facilities, the talented lecturers and the way the assessments were
divided throughout the whole year had Siveshan thinking constant revision throughout the year would enable
him to better recall the things he learnt.

Discovering AUSMAT to be an amazing course with many benefits, Siveshan had five lecturers within AUSMAT
who made lessons fun and interesting. Time management was tricky for there were many assessments within that
one year but Siveshan counts the time hanging out during lunch, free periods and after college with his friends
as some of his best experiences in AUSMAT.

For Sivesham, studying just the right amount is necessary and crossing that limit does him very little good. Hence,
he got involved in becoming a Chemistry and Physics student mentor. In this role, he would station himself at
the AUSMAT hub to do revision and assist any students who had questions related to the subjects or work on
Chemistry worksheets and test papers with the assigned mentees.

Sivesham also participated in the International Medical University’s Science Discovery Challenge with two of his
friends. They managed to be the only Sunway College AUSMAT group to make it to the semi-final round of this
quiz competition. Sivesham also volunteered through Sunway Student Volunteers (SSV) and remembers fondly
having to wake up as early as 3am
one morning to help organise some
of the events conducted by SSV.
He had a lot of fun participating
in the Ausmazing Race and he
thoroughly enjoyed Teachers’
Appreciation Day and I-Care Run
organised by the AUSMAT student
council.

His time in AUSMAT has enabled
him to set priorities, appreciating
his parents, lecturers and friends for
their help. Studying a little every day,
making simplified notes, attempting
practice questions, pasting notes on
the bedroom wall and jotting down
questions to ask his friends or lecturers
the next day has been some of
the methods of study Sivesham
employed during AUSMAT.

His efforts during that one year has
seen Sivesham achieving an ATAR
of 98.8 for the Western Australian
Certificate of Excellence (WACE)
in 2017. Sivesham is excited to
pursue the Bachelor of Medicine
and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
in Monash University Malaysia.
On a full government scholarship,
Sivesham shared his family is thrilled
that he is able to fulfil his childhood
dream of becoming a doctor and
being able to help those who need
help. Hoping to eventually become
a specialised surgeon, Sivesham
thinks learning to be more sociable
and managing his priorities better in
AUSMAT are key to his doing well in
Monash University.

12

- MOVERS & SHAKERS -

INTRODUCING SQL ACCOUNTS

(from left) Ong Bee Wei and Desmond Law Hoe Yen of EStream Software pose for a photo
with Teo Ee Sing and Lillian Liew of Sunway College

Working together with EStream Software, Sunway College is the first institution in the Sunway Education Group to
introduce the SQL Accounts computing software into their Diploma in Accounting programme. To be utilised in the
teaching of the ‘Computerised Accounting System’ subject, SQL Accounts is Malaysia’s number one accounting
software catering to small and medium enterprises.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) for introducing SQL Accounts was signed between the Executive Director
of Sunway College, Teo Ee Sing and Managing Director of EStream Software, Desmond Law. Signed in May this year,
the MOU was witnessed by Director of Sunway Diploma Studies, Adawiah Norli Yusuf; Head of Diploma in Professional
Accounting and Finance, Sunway Diploma Studies, Lillian Liew in the presence of EStream Software Marketing Manager,
Christopher Liew; Education Advisor of EStream Software, Ong Bee Wei; lecturers and students of the Diploma in
Accounting programme.

The ‘Computerised Accounting System’ syllabus covers the full set accounts, in-depth practices, zero-rate Goods
and Services Tax (GST) implementation plus Sales and Services Tax (SST) calculations, handling of foreign currency
transactions, stock control accounts and payroll accounts. More than 180,000 companies and over 600,000 accounting
and business professionals use the flagship products of SQL Account and SQL Payroll in their daily operations and business
transactions.

The Diploma in Accounting programme at Sunway College is designed to equip students with functional and personal
competencies while providing a broad business perspective relating to the needs of business organisations. The students
are to receive a Certificate of Completion from EStream Software upon successful completion of the ‘Computerised
Accounting System’ subject.

Students who successfully complete the Diploma in Accounting can either pursue professional accounting qualifications
offered by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or Institute of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales (ICAEW). Students can opt to pursue the Bachelor of Business, Victoria University at Sunway College or the BSc
(Hons) in Accounting and Finance at Sunway University or other business-related degree programmes.

13

- FACE TO FACE -

RULED BY MATHEMATICS

Emerging a happier person, more outspoken
and more confident, 20-year old Mok Siao Chi
from Selangor credits Sunway College A-Level
for transforming her life tremendously. A JPA
(Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam) bursary scholar,
Siao Chi learnt about Sunway College when she
represented Catholic High School in the Maths
and Logic Challenge. Siao Chi came for the Open
Day and was impressed by the numerous Physics
and Chemistry demonstrations in the laboratory.

Having always wanted to pursue an academically
challenging pre-university programme, Siao Chi
was surprised to achieve Top in Malaysia for
Cambridge International A Level in Chemistry
and Physics; and First Place for Best Across
Three Cambridge A Level in the November 2017
Cambridge Assessment International Education.

Finding Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and
Further Mathematics really interesting, Siao Chi
derived the greatest satisfaction from solving
the challenging, exotic questions in her Further
Mathematics tutorials. For Siao Chi, Further
Mathematics helped her to hone problem-solving
skills and enabled her to think out of the box.

To excel in all subjects, Siao Chi relied on thinking
and understanding every single detail of the
subject matter. Attempting past papers and trying
to make sense of the suggested answers in the
marking scheme was another method of study
she used. She chose to consult the lecturers for
their assistance when unsure and for Mathematics
subjects, she chose to comprehend the theorems,
then learnt to apply them.

Liking Chemistry theories for explaining many
things in everyday life, she found the best bits
about the A-Level were the caring, friendly and
highly experienced lecturers. Preparing for A2
examinations in 3 months was a challenge as Siao
Chi and her friends had to submit their university
applications and prepare themselves for university
admission interviews at the same time.

Outside of class, Sunway Robotics Club was an
opportunity for Siao Chi to learn some basic
programming and robotic design. She also
participated in the Kangaroo Maths Competition,
Australian Maths Competition, Universiti Malaya
Competition for Young Mathematicians (UMCYM),
Euclid Maths Competition and Olimpiad
Matematik Kebangsaan (OMK). The AAA Night
musical resonated with Siao Chi as it was a hilarious reflection of the A-Level journey she experienced.

At the moment, Siao Chi is currently applying for scholarships. Intending to pursue a Mathematics degree, Siao
Chi would particularly like to study at Imperial College London as it offers a rigorous programme comparable
to Oxbridge. Impressed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong for their strong academic profile which includes
Nobel Prize Winners and Fields Medallist affiliations, Hong Kong is her next preferred option after London.

14

- MOVERS & SHAKERS -

ENCOURAGING CRITICAL THINKING

Winners of the Math and Logic Challenge 2018 with Dr Elizabeth Lee, Cheng Mien Wee, Ruth Cheah
Wong Lei Lei, Lee Lip Seong and lecturers from the A-Level programme, Sunway College

Now in its twelfth year, the Sunway College
Math and Logic Challenge attracted a
total participation of 345 students and the
involvement of 76 teachers from 61 schools
from Penang, Johor, Perak, Malacca, Kedah,
Pahang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri
Sembilan in the initial State Challenge. A yearly
event to promote excellence in mathematics
amongst secondary school students, the
National Challenge finally narrowed down the
number of competing teams to 174.

Those present for the National Challenge included First Runner-Up duo Lim Gao Tek and Lim Chuen Tek
Cheng Mien Wee, Director, Pre-University Studies, with their teacher and Dr Elizabeth Lee
Sunway College and Executive Director, Sunway
International School; Ruth Cheah, Director,
A-Level Programme and Chairperson of the
Sunway College Math and Logic Challenge;
Wong Lei Lei, Director of Marketing, Sunway
Education Group and parents.

At the National Challenge, the participants were judged based on their individual challenge and the 2-member team
challenge scores. The top three teams from each participating state took home a certificate of commendation. The
second runner-up team came from Hin Hua High School, Klang. Both Lim Ying Chuan and Lim Li Xiang each took home
an individual trophy, a certificate of commendation plus a Sunway College A-Level bursary worth RM10,000 and or
a Sunway University degree bursary worth RM24,000 for studies in Actuarial Studies or Financial Analysis or Financial
Economics. Hin Hua High School, Klang received a cash prize of RM500.

SMJK Sin Min, Sungai Petani received a cash prize of RM600 for being First Runner Up for this year’s Math and Logic
Challenge. Their students Lim Gao Tek and Lim Chuen Tek each took home an individual trophy, a certificate of
commendation plus a Sunway College A-Level bursary worth RM15,000 and or a Sunway University degree bursary worth
RM30,000 for studies in Actuarial Studies or Financial Analysis or Financial Economics.

Adding an additional RM800 cash prize for Hin Hua High School, Klang this year were the champions of 2018 Math and
Logic Challenge. Both Kuan Kwok Yong and Kong Yue Xuan each took home an individual trophy, a certificate of
commendation plus a full bursary for Sunway College A-Level and or a Sunway University degree bursary worth RM45,000
for studies in Actuarial Studies or Financial Analysis or Financial Economics.

Thanking the students, teachers and school representatives from Peninsular Malaysia for their enthusiastic response to the
challenge, Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of Sunway Education Group and Sunway University also thanked the
Sunway College A-Level math lecturers led by Senior Lecturer Lee Lip Seong for helping to set the challenging questions.

15

- FACE TO FACE -

THE ART OF ADULT-ING

Discovering the Victoria
University (VU) Bachelor
of Business programme at
Sunway College to be a
well-balanced programme
with helpful lecturers, 22-year
old Jason Tan Yie Jiat from
Puchong chose to major in
Banking and Finance and
Financial Risk Management.
Deciding on Sunway
College through a process of
elimination, Jason factored in
the proximity of the college
to his home, the variety of
food available here and
the reputation that Sunway
produces excellent graduates
in Accounting and Finance.

Loving the challenge of the
Professional Development
module where students had
to pitch their presentations to
an external panellist, Jason
discovered business conditions
were always changing and
that could translate into
not always having a ready
answer when questioned
by the panellist. This pinch
of experience in starting a
business enabled his team
mates and himself to work
together on a practical level,
making it fun for them.

On a Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah
Continuing Scholarship,
the combination of both
coursework and examinations
in the programme had
offshore lecturers dropping
in from VU Melbourne over
weekends. Helping students
like Jason to better prepare their topics, assignments and sitting for the examinations, Jason believes VU suits the
preference of a lot of students as it offers options that fits the needs and budget choice of the students. With
options for exchange in Melbourne, Australia to summer school in Hansung University, South Korea Jason chose
the 3+0 pathway to complete his studies.

A member of the Victoria University Business Club (VUBC), Jason is very grateful for the opportunity to experience
carrying out small yet meaningful tasks which connects people and makes a whole event come to fruition. With
the VUBC members dedicating 2 semesters to organise the VU Prom, Jason was very touched to see everyone
enjoying the night with their friends and rewarding themselves with a pat to their backs. Studying hard and
playing hard whilst juggling roles in a team and as a leader, learning new things outside the classroom has had
Jason realising the importance of planning a future.

Through meeting and working with different people, Jason learnt to solve conflicts in a more mature manner like
an adult. Having graduated in April 2017, Jason has now moved into the world of “adult-ing”. Currently working
as a Credit Analyst/Management Trainee in Public Bank, his scope of work has him assessing loan applications
and recommending how to proceed with each application. For him, getting a loan approved for a customer
and to be greeted with a simple “Thank you” really makes his day.

16

- MOVERS & SHAKERS -

WHERE EVERYONE IS SIGNIFICANT

Top achievers of the FIA and FIST programmes with Professor Peter Heard (second row from left), Professor Hew Gill, Cheng Mien Wee,
Dr Elizabeth Lee, Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Professor Pua Eng Chong and Suzanna Ahmad Ramli

The most recent graduation ceremony for the Foundation in Science and Technology
(FIST) and Foundation in Arts (FIA) had a total of 212 students enter the next phase of their
education journey. Witnessing the students’ achievements were Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior
Executive Director of Sunway University and Sunway Education Group; Professor Graeme
Wilkinson, Vice-Chancellor; Professor Pua Eng Chong, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Professor
Peter Heard, Provost; and Professor Hew Gill, Associate Provost (Student Experience) of
Sunway University; Cheng Mien Wee, Director of Pre-University Studies and Suzana Ahmad
Ramli, Acting Director of Sunway Foundation Programme, Sunway College.

Provided a full scholarship under the Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship, 19-year Chikonjiwe Zulu
old Tan Suk Meng from the FIST programme shared that subjects like Academic Writing
taught her to write research papers and this has prepared her for undergraduate studies.
Advising future students not to procrastinate on assignments, Suk Meng’s efforts earned
her the Certificate of Academic Excellence.

Awarded to exceptional individuals who have performed well and obtained excellent Loh Wan Chin
results throughout their time in the foundation programmes, the Certificate of Excellence
was also given to Loh Wan Chin from the FIA programme. A former SMJK Hua Lian
student, Wan Chin also received the Vice-Chancellor’s Subject Award for Introduction
to Business: World of Finance, Macroeconomics: The Global View and Mathematics
for Actuarial Studies. Having acquired soft skills through training from experienced
lecturers and from the assessments in the programme, Wan Chin believes these skills will
help students like her to transition smoothly into her undergraduate studies. She will be
continuing her studies in the BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Studies at Sunway University, with a full
scholarship under the Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship.

Having earned a high distinction in FIA, valedictorian Chikonjiwe Zulu from Zambia and
the student representative for the Sunway Foundation Programme (SFP) July 2018 cohort
is furthering her studies in BSc (Hons) Business Management at Sunway University as a
recipient of the Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship.

She spoke of how failure to be on time for her lectures taught her to manage her Tan Suk Meng
time wisely. For her, she loved the wide spectrum of learning opportunities within the
programme as this allowed her to explore her strengths and weaknesses academically
and personally. In her speech, she said “Everyone is significant. We have the power to
decide where we stand on life’s scoreboard. Beyond the grades, figuring out who I am is
core to the decisions I make and the directions I take in life.”

17

- FACE TO FACE -

ACCELERATED ACA PATHWAY

Intending to complete the Institute
of Chartered Accountants in
England and Wales Chartered
Accountant (ICAEW ACA)
qualification by September 2021,
19-year old Ilyana Ibrahim is on the
accelerated pathway for school
leavers designed by Sunway
TES Centre for Accountancy
Excellence (CAE).

By enroling herself into the
Certificate in Finance, Accounting
and Business (CFAB) programme
at Sunway TES, fresh school leavers
like Ilyana learn the fundamentals
of finance, accounting and
business. A former student of SMK
Aminuddin Baki, Kuala Lumpur,
Ilyana was awarded the Sunway-
ICAEW Global Accountant
Scholarship after obtaining straight
As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
(SPM) in March 2016.

With the scholarship covering
tuition and examination fees,
Ilyana credits her time in CFAB
with helping her to build her
skills in communications and
presentations. Clarifying that
time management is key to
mastering a subject within the
3-month semester time frame
in the programme, Ilyana cites
Accounting and Tax as her
favourite subjects. For her, the
lecturers in CFAB has been
extremely helpful as they have
the patience to answer all the
questions about the syllabus
and outside of class. The extra
materials, practice questions and
guidance from the lecturers have
further aided students like herself
to develop a better understanding
of their studies.

A recent ICAEW World Prize winner, Ilyana is further developing her perspective in accounting as she received an
additional scholarship to complete her Professional Level tuition fees by September 2018. Other than concentrating
on her studies, Ilyana has kept herself busy by participating in the Sunway College Student Council (SCC). Her tenure
in the SCC had her serving as Treasurer from January to June 2017 and being the Project Manager for Freshies Night
’17, SCC’s largest annual event. Obtaining sponsorship from Staedtler for the Asia Leadership Conference 2017 was
one of the highlights for her when she served as one of the Sponsorship Executives.

As completing her ICAEW ACA qualifications is her main goal, Ilyana finds the programme to be tough, but doable.
She recommends the programme for those who are keen to gain professional qualifications and her advice is
“Believe in yourself; have faith; work hard for it, then you’re able to overcome it. Always remember to enjoy yourself.”

18

- MOVERS & SHAKERS -

6 CHALLENGES IN MONASH SCIENCE CUP

(from left) Ruth Cheah, Director of Cambridge A-Level programme; Esther Hoong Zi En;
Joel Jong Lee Zher; Tan Jia Hui and Tsng Hao Yuen with Sharon Kong

The Monash Science Cup 2018 attracted a participation of 80 students from various colleges and institutions around the
Klang Valley. Making up 20 competing teams for the Monash Science Cup 2018, each of the 4-member teams had to
solve 6 experiments within the given time limit. The Monash Science Cup 2018 offered medals, book vouchers, a trophy
for the winning college and 35% bursary for the School of Science undergraduate course at Monash University Malaysia
to each Grand Award winner.

Emerging as the Grand Award winner for the Monash Science Cup 2018 was the team of 4 students from the A-Level
programme at Sunway College. The first ever team from A-Level Sunway College to compete at the Monash Science
Cup, Joel Jong Lee Zher, Tsng Hao Yuen, Esther Hoong Zi En and Tan Jia Hui had to complete six challenges dealing with
Microbiology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Gene Technology, Food Technology and DNA Fingerprinting. To prep,
the 4 of them did their research together and decided to split the topics of study to fully cover the scope of skills for the
competition. Acting as their advisor, A-Level biology teacher Sharon Kong had the team members learning techniques
and the necessary how-to so they could conduct electrophoresis and genetic engineering experiments.
The Microbiology challenge had the competing teams identifying the exact location of a disease outbreak from stories
given by 8 members of a family. The Chemistry challenge involved experimental procedures and calculations. Utilising a
spectrophotometer to calculate the actual mass of Aspirin in an Aspirin pill, the teams had to plot a graph and come up
with a final answer within 25 minutes.

The Environmental Sciences challenge involved identification of the concentration of nitrates and ammonia in 3
different solutions, whilst solving a crossword puzzle. The Gene Technology challenge required arrangement of DNA
sequences in the correct order before proceeding to the next segment which involved calculating the differences
and the percentage of similarity in the DNA of 6 people. The Food Technology challenge in the fifth round required an
experiment and answering 15 multiple choice questions simultaneously. The experiment had the teams determining the
best flour for making the largest possible dough.

The sixth and final challenge involving DNA Fingerprinting had subjective questions on the basic knowledge of DNA
molecules. The competing teams had to identify the correct strands of DNA with sickle cell anaemia and draw the DNA
Fingerprint after the fragmentation of the DNA with sickle cell anaemia.

Throughout the competition, the judges were impressed with the lab skills and the teamwork displayed as the team
members were the fastest and most accurate in all the 6 challenges. For Joel, learning to divide the tasks amongst the
team members whilst learning to manage their time well in the Monash Science Cup was an important element to
his learning about teamwork. For Hao Yuen, discovering that multiple tasks could be carried out simultaneously when
working as a team resulting in increased accuracy and speed during the competition proved to be his takeaway
from this competition. For Esther, the trust gained and the confidence to move on to the next challenge was her most
memorable takeaway whereas Jia Hui learnt to stay positive in tough times when she was competing as part of the
winning team in the Monash Cup Challenge 2018.

19