M A R C H 2 0 1 2 | A L L S T U D E N T S I N U N I V E R S I T I E S O F T H E I R C H O I C E

TAYLOR’SPRE-UNIVERSITY

Showcasing the IB talents

Chemistry experiments under the guidance of Mr

Joshua Cybulskie

Multi-talented IB students gave prospective students and their parents valuable insights into the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) at the IB showcase held at Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas (TCSH). They enthralled the audience with song performances in French; and got the crowd cheering and laughing together with them as they went all theatrical. Guests also had the opportunity to experience life as IB students as they got their hands ‘dirty’ experimenting with chemicals at the science workshop.

� Choir performance by IB French students� Sharing session on how student life is like in

TCSH� One-on-one counseling session with Mr

Frank Meagher, Associate Director, TCSH� Students staged a theatre production

which was a teaser to what they would be presenting on their learning trip to Cambodia.

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The IBDP has so many diff erent elements that tie down to the diff erent cores – within the 6 subject groups. We do a lot

of our work outside of class. Unlike the A-levels the IBDP is

not 100% exam orientated. That said, the exams are tough and require just as much preparation.

Elysa Chen

Choosing IBDP was a natural progression from the IB Middle Year Programme (MYP). I enjoyed the learning experience at MYP and that was one of the reasons why I chose

to continue within the IB curriculum. I am still not sure what career path I want

to walk down in the future but I am very sure the IBDP will help me develop as an individual and when I fi gure out what I want to do, I will be prepared.

Saiyara Shehnaz

IBDP’s Theory of Knowledge component teaches us the foundations of knowledge. It asks what exactly is considered knowledge and gives you an

overview of everything you learn. It really expands your horizons

as it acquaints you with the ‘fi ve ways of knowing’ which are sense perception, reasoning, language, emotion and authority.

Ian Quah

IB Students Share

Cardiff University, Royal Holloway, Manchester University – these were just some of the universities Taylor’s Pre-U students got to rub shoulders with at the recent UK Universities Fair. With 37 participating UK universities and 1,400 visitors at both Subang Jaya and Sri Hartamas, this was the largest placement fairto date.

Representatives from four of the top-ranked UK universities met and spoke to Taylor’s Pre-U students recently. This is an annual visit by London School of Economics, University College London, Imperial College, and King’s College London, to engage with our students.

Mr Nick Wood from the University of Kent, UK spoke to Cambridge A Level students on ‘Actuarial Science and Requirements for Qualifi cation’ recently. According to him, the entry requirements to Actuarial Science are AAA or A*AB with an A in Mathematics.

With 10 years of industry experience under his belt, he dispelled the myth that the industry needs actuaries to work long hours. However, he reiterated that it takes both brains and hard work to succeed.

Welcoming the UKPhotography by Ngui Sui Yang, Student Photographer, Taylor’s Aperture Photography

University of Liverpool has always enjoyed a good relationship with Taylor’s College. One of the reasons why we enjoy working

with Taylor’s is because of its fantastic reputation with high caliber students, who go on to perform very well at university.

Hannah StelmanInternational Offi cer

International Recruitment and Relations TeamUniversity of Liverpool

Students from Taylor’s College are generally high achievers with a good command of English. They integrate very well and adapt

to challenges and changes very quickly.

Helen LytrasInternational Offi cer

Royal Holloway International

PLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS We Get You ThereInsights on Entry into Top UK UniversitiesPhotography by Wong Hsu-Ven, Student Photographer, Taylor’s Aperture Photography

1 March Bond University1 March University of British Columbia2 March University of New South Wales5 March Taylor’s University6 March Curtin University7 March The University of Melbourne 7 March James Cook University7 March University of Western Australia

7 March University of Sheffi eld 7 March International Medical University (IMU) 12 March University of Auckland13 March University of Birmingham15 March University of Bristol15 March University of Kent27 March University of Warwick28 March University of Queensland29 March University of Leeds

Engaging Universities Worldwide

Mr Wood’s Tips – Deciding Where to Study1. Does the course off er exemptions from professional papers? 2. Does it include a year in industry? 3. Are the staff actuaries themselves?4. Is the ‘Prophet’ actuarial software taught as part of the curriculum?5. Does the university or faculty have links to Actuarial Science societies?

Actuarial Science in the UK

University of Liverpool

Cardiff University

Royal Holloway

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTEveryone Has Hope, CPU CSR Project Gets the Spotlight

Teaching Myanmar refugee children the art of photography is not an easy task. Over the past two years, the Everyone Has Hope project by CPU students, led by teacher and photographer Mr Colin Shafer, have dedicated their time every Saturday at the Alliance of Chin Refugees (ACR) Learning Centre. The refugee children document their lives with digital cameras donated by the public, and have been featured in two gallery exhibitions at The Annexe Gallery and KLPac. The next gallery exhibition is taking place on 14 – 27 April at The Cube Gallery, Ampang.

The project recently came under the spotlight when Malaysian TV channel, NTV7 opted to do a documentary shooting on the project. The documentary will be aired on NTV7, 13 May (Sun) at 3.30pm.

Dawn of a New AgeCambridge A Level Principal, Arlene Corrigan, wrote an article for The Edge Weekly which was published in the ‘My Say’ column on 19 March 2012.

She discusses how advances in technology have infl uenced education today by enabling us to interact with information, instead of just acquiring and consuming it. Arlene emphasized that teaching approaches in the 21st Century – termed the Interaction Age – need to be compatible with this to improve student engagement and achievement.

While making the shift is not easy for educators, Taylor’s Pre-U teachers have bit-by-bit begun adopting new teaching techniques such as: • Blended Learning (combining

online and traditional learning environments)

• Informal learning on social media and online platforms for students to discuss and share information

• Creating YouTube videos• With technology, a student’s learning

will take place anytime, anywhere. So, who says it needs to be

confi ned to the classroom?

Everyone Has Hope Project is a life-changing experience for me as it made me feel more appreciative towards life and recognise how it is important for people to support each other, regardless

of race, religion, language and culture..

Anna Sabrina Binti Ahmad SopianCPU July 2011

ompatible with this tont engagement and

the shift is not easyTaylor’s Pre-e U teachers

begun adopting newniques such as: rning (combiningraditional learningts)rning on social mediaplatforms for students toshare information

uTube videoslogy, a student’s learningg

ce anytime, anywhere.s it needs to bethe classroom?

STAFF DEVELOPMENTCreating a Sense of Belonging

Ms Bronwyn Clarke from RMIT University, Australia, shone the spotlight on student engagement when shared about the results of a pilot research entitled ‘The Belonging Project’ with Taylor’s Pre-U staff listening attentively.

The project aimed to create happy students at the university by focusing on student development and engagement activities throughout the semester. A peek into the activities implemented were coordinated orientation sessions, creating informal student spaces, bridging the inter-cultural divide and preparation for the industry.

STUDENT DEVELOPMENTDiscovering IT

38 South Australian Matriculation (SAM) students found out a little bit more about the IT industry when they visited TH IT Resource Centre. Through the visit, SAM students were able to view how an IT business operates and functions. 8 SAM student leaders were also selected prior to the visit, to help in the facilitation of various departments within the company – Work Schedule, Rental Asset Management, Accounting Software (MYOB), Human Resources Management, Accounting System, Term Loan and Overdraft, Hire Purchase and Leasing, and Marketing.

Taylor’s Learning CarnivalThe Subang Jaya and Sri Hartamas campuses were rocked with a carnival atmosphere at the Taylor’s Learning Carnival on 17 & 18 March, which aimed to showcase the Pre-University programmes off ered and student life at Taylor’s Pre-U. Performances and booths spearheaded by students and an Apple store made up the highlights of the learning carnival.

Colourful clubs and societies’ boothCambridge A Level students show off their 3D illustrations of a cell process

Live bands added to the carnival atmosphere

Showcase by clubs and societies – Taylor’s Dance Club, Music Club, Choir Club, Ninjutsu and more.