HELP UNIVERSITY TO OFFER CAMBRIDGE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT QUALIFICATIONS

Kuala Lumpur, Friday, 26 April 2019 – HELP University has signed an agreement with Cambridge Assessment International Education to run the Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications (Cambridge PDQ) in Malaysia.

Dr Ben Schmidt, Regional Director of Southeast Asia and Pacific of Cambridge Assessment International Education, Datin Chan Kam Yoke & Dr Gerard Louis, Founding Principal and now CEO of HELP International School

For the first time in Malaysia, HELP University will run the Cambridge International Award in Teaching and Learning (CIATL). The CIATL is an introduction to teaching and learning, which is targeted at those who intend to join the teaching profession as well as existing teachers in private and international schools who need to up skill their teaching qualifications. Cambridge Assessment International Education, was formed by the University of Cambridge over 150 years ago, and was once known as the Local Examinations Syndicate.

The CIATL is equivalent to two-thirds of the Cambridge International Certificate in Teaching and Learning (CICTL). Upon completion of the award, candidates need to complete one more unit to gain the certificate. They may also proceed to further complete 2 modules to obtain the Cambridge International Diploma in Teaching and Learning (CIDTL).

Professor Datuk Dr Paul Chan, President and Vice-Chancellor of HELP University says, “This agreement reflects our strong commitment to teaching quality at our international schools and tertiary institutions. As there is a large number of international and private schools in Malaysia running the Cambridge curriculum we hope to be able to up skill the teachers by offering the Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications (PDQ), so that we can play a role in improving the standards of teaching and learning in private and international schools in the country. The quality of tertiary education can also be improved if the teaching quality of teachers at the lower secondary education is enhanced.” Datuk Dr Paul Chan stresses that teaching excellence in the HELP Group is important. Recently HELP University organized a seminar on Critical Thinking for Teaching and Learning where many academics and experts shared their thoughts, experience, and research findings

Dr Ben Schmidt, Regional Director of Southeast Asia and Pacific of Cambridge Assessment International Education says, “Demand for international education is growing in Malaysia and across the entire ASEAN region. That is why we are pleased to introduce the Cambridge International Award in Teaching and Learning in collaboration with HELP University. It provides a rigorous foundation in classroom practice for those who wish to pursue a promising and satisfying career in international education.”

Dr Gerard Louis, Founding Principal and now CEO of HELP International School says, “The partnership with Cambridge began last year with the running of the pilot of the CIATL for teachers at HIS. This turned out to be a tremendous success. We are currently undergoing a second round of the CIATL at HIS, but this time with our local trainers playing an even greater role in the delivery of the program. This is part of the strategy to build a pool of local Cambridge trainers of the highest caliber who will be at the forefront of delivering the Cambridge PDQ programs in Malaysia. We are very proud of the fact that we have been able to identify and develop local teachers from HIS who meet the very stringent quality assurance standards for teacher trainers of the Cambridge programmes.”

There will be a new CIATL programme conducted for teachers at Crescendo-HELP International School (CHIS) in Johor Bahru this August 2019. This will be the last round of training programmes where the trainers from Cambridge will partner with the future HELP University Programme team to deliver the CIATL. The first intake run by the HELP University team of Cambridge trainers for the CIATL will be in March 2020. The programme will be offered at least five times a year in various locations throughout Malaysia, including in Sabah and Sarawak. It takes about 4 months to complete the CIATL and another 4 months to finish the remaining unit to complete the CICTL.

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About the HELP Education Group

HELP University was founded in 1986 to provide affordable quality educational opportunities for Malaysians. It has since developed into a leading institution of higher learning in Malaysia with an international reputation among universities, research organisations, scholars, business, corporate leaders, and governments. HELP University offers a wide and diverse range of programmes covering business, law, management, economics, IT, the social sciences, and the humanities at undergraduate and graduate levels.

The HELP Group has won numerous awards. It was recognised by Forbes Asia in 2011 as one of the top 200 Top Performing companies in Asia Pacific with capitalization below USD 1 billion. It also won the KPMG Shareholder Value Award in 2010, and was ranked 43 among 1,000 public listed companies on the Malaysian Stock Exchange. HELP was also included in the Malaysian Corporate Governance Indext by MSWG, and won the Brand Laureate Award for Best Brand Award for Private Tertiary Education in 2012. In 2011, Group CEO, Datin Chan-Low Kam Yoke, was named Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.

About the Cambridge International Award in Teaching and Learning

The Cambridge International Award in Teaching and Learning is an introductory professional development programme that provides a rigorous foundation in teaching and learning. It is designed for both new and more experienced teachers who may need preparation for teaching in a Cambridge school.
Learn more! Visit www.cambridgeinternational.org/awardteachingandlearning

About Cambridge Assessment International Education

Cambridge Assessment International Education prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. We are part of the University of Cambridge.
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can shape the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways to offer them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills they need for life, so they can achieve at school, university and work.

Cambridge International is the short name of Cambridge Assessment International Education.
Learn more! Visit www.cambridgeinternational.org

Press Release

HELP’S SCHOOL MAGAZINE WORKSHOP DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP AND SOFT SKILLS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

– By Dharshini Ganeson

HELP University’s Matriculation Centre recently held its 10th school magazine workshop, which saw more than 100 editorial board members from six Klang Valley schools participate in this hands on practical event.

Gurpayal Kaur Taggor, who is currently studying at SMK Bukit Sentosa, KL, said: “I love photography and it is my hobby and passion, so I contribute photographs to my school magazine. I felt that this school magazine workshop, especially the photography session, was particularly useful as I have learned many new and different ideas. I also enjoy the teamwork with other members of my school editorial team. Each year we have to produce the annual school magazine as part of our school project.”

Dhanesh Balakrishnan, Dean, Faculty of University Foundation Studies, said that one of the key components of HELP’s foundation programmes, is to develop leadership skills and confidence in students, as well as to acquire soft skills, such as good communication and teamwork.

“These school magazine workshops are designed along the same lines, so that the school students who participate in these workshops learn to produce a first class school magazine through effective news writing, editorial concept and planning, and photography skills,” Dhanesh said.

He also feels that the workshop provides an excellent platform for students to build up employability skills as they developed soft skills to provide solutions to problems and learned to work as an editorial team.

One of the teachers, Mr Subramaniam Palaniappan, from SMK Bukit Sentosa, Rawang, who also works as a student counsellor, said such initiatives were beneficial to secondary school students as they were exposed to best practices as many were involved in producing an annual school magazine.

Among the many topics students were exposed to during the workshop were sponsorship, editorial concepts, photography and newswriting. The workshop was conducted by senior lecturers from the HELP Matriculation Centre (HMC).

Ms Masliza Mohd Amin, a teacher and advisor on her school’s editorial board, who accompanied her students, said the workshop was beneficial as students not only picked up soft skills but also forged new friendships.

Norzaireen Shamsul Kamar, senior lecturer at HMC, who conducted the newswriting session, felt the workshop enhanced the skills of those who had not mastered the basics of newswriting. The importance of good grammar and writing styles were also emphasized.

The student participants enjoyed themselves at the school magazine workshop, which is held annually as part of HELP’s campaign to train high school students to acquire good communication and leadership skills that will help them in their future studies and career.

 

HELP’s ANNUAL CONVOCATION AND 22nd STRATEGY SEMINAR 2019 CELEBRATING ACADEMIC SUCCESS

– By Dharshini Ganeson

Loh Rachel, 22 years, who obtained a first class honours in the Bachelor of Psychology programme was also the sole recipient of the Tan Sri Datuk Paduka Dr Hajjah Saleha Award at HELP University’s 31st Convocation 2019 and has much to be proud of.

The award is given to the graduate who not only succeeds academically but has participated actively in the extra-curricular activities of the university and has shown outstanding leadership qualities. She not only participated in a project that benefitted farmers in Myanmar and allowed farmers to double their income but she and her team obtained US1 million in funds after winning the Hult Prize to run the social enterprise project. Loh also won the Maybank Go Ahead Challenge in 2017, beating 40,000 participants in the process and obtained an internship to work in Maybank New York as part of the overall prize.

Ashmini K Gnanasegaran, 25 years and winner of the President’s award believes hard work and perseverance were the key ingredients to her success.

“When I first started my studies at HELP, I was not a ‘top’ student and had to work continuously to achieve my targets and my lecturers gave me the motivation by always encouraging me,” said Ashmini. The President’s award is given to graduands with the most outstanding achievements at Departmental level.

Yap Ze Wei, an accomplished piano teacher, who graduated with a first class honours in the Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) degree juggled between her studies and being a piano teacher.  As a President’s award winner, she was pleasantly surprised to be informed she was a recipient.

Datuk Dr Paul Chan, Vice-Chancellor and President of HELP University in his convocation message said HELP had graduated more than 25,000 students and many are achievers in their careers and professions.

“HELP is also transforming itself to become The Analytics-Driven Entrepreneurial University. Our goal is to create the A*Gen (Analytics Generation). We thus make it mandatory for our staff and students to learn the use of analytics skills. For this pioneering effort we received the MDEC Recognition Certificate for teaching our students analytics.

More significantly, for our university wide Analytics Transformation, MDEC has given us the prestigious Digital Tech University Status,” said Dr Chan.

HELP University celebrated its 31st Convocation with 1200 students graduating, of which 94 undergraduates were awarded first class honours, and 10 postgraduate students graduated with distinction.

Each year HELP University recognizes the contributions of individuals to education and national development in its honorary doctorate and leadership awards.

Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Abu Hassan Othman, has had a distinguished career in public service, serving in various capacities and has contributed significantly to improving the quality of higher education in Malaysia. It was Tan Sri’s appointment as Chairman of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) (2013-2018) that he is best known in the chronicles of Malaysian higher education.

Tan Sri Abu Hassan was thus the recipient of the inaugural 2019 Distinguished Academic Leadership award from HELP University.

Dato’ Paul Leong, Chancellor of HELP University congratulated HELP on its achievements and the winner of the Tan Sri Datuk Paduka Dr Hajjah Saleha award, as well as the ten winners of the President’s award for their excellent academic results.

HELP University organized its Annual Strategy Seminar annually in conjunction with the convocation. This year the 22nd Annual Strategy Seminar’s theme was “Thinking in Teaching and Learning: Sharing Experiences”. There were 18 quality papers presented by HELP faculty members and visiting professors. The papers focused on building the components of the institution’s “TEA culture” thinking mind, entrepreneurial attitude and analytics skills – in its students as well as recognizing the importance of critical thinking as a core skill to prepare students for the working world.

 

HELP RECOGNISED AS PREMIER DIGITAL TECH UNIVERSITY BY MALAYSIA DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION (MDEC)

– By Dharshini Ganeson

At HELP University’s 31st Convocation 2019, Datuk Dr Paul Chan, President and Vice-Chancellor of HELP University announced that HELP had been awarded Premier Digital Tech status by MDEC thus solidifying the university’s efforts to transform itself into an analytics driven university.

To support this transformation HELP invested RM25 million in the Business Analytics and Technology Innovation Centre (BATIC), to be used to innovate and incubate techno-entrepreneurship.

In addition HELP has signed up with Bloomberg to set up the largest Bloomberg Finance Lab in Malaysia. This resource facility boosts the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accounting, the ELM Graduate School and the Faculty of Computing and Digital Technology in the area of economics, business, finance and analytics training.

Recently 19 students from the Faculty of Computing and Digital Technology decided to set up an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Club so they could gain exposure in working with industry on AI projects.

Currently, the AI Club students are working with Fabian Bouhier, a Tech advisor from Celebrus Advisory, a blockchain advisory industry partner on a waste management project that would allow the AI students to utilize artificial intelligence and develop a recycling prototype that would enable all types of waste to be composted. Still in its early stages, Dr Fong Pui Kwan, senior IT HELP lecturer and advisor for the club hopes the AI Club students could eventually develop the concept into a real business model thus transforming the project into a profitable venture.

Dr Sien Ven Yu, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Digital Technology said,

“In our efforts to expose our students to latest and emerging technologies, we are currently collaborating with The Star and MIMOS on student final year projects focusing on AI, analytics and IoT. Our student projects with our various industry partners have greatly enhanced student learning in terms of providing students with practical learning opportunities in bridging the gap between classroom instruction and the many challenges facing real-world problems.”

Recently, four Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) students won fourth place in the nationwide SAS FinTech Challenge 2017-2018, competing against students from 200 institutions of higher learning, including finalists Asia Pacific University (APU), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UniTen), Nottingham and University Tunku Abdul Rahman( UTAR).

Dr Sien said,

“We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements. The FinTech students were challenged to think and learn new skills beyond the classroom.”

The HELP Diploma in Information Technology (DIT) is also recognized for entry to the top ranked University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, where the student completes another one and half years to graduate with a University of Queensland BIT degree.

Amraj Singh, who won a UQ scholarship to complete his Bachelor of Information Technology in Australia, is the first HELP Diploma in Information Technology student to be awarded a UQ scholarship.

Currently, the Faculty of Computing and Digital Technology (FCDT), HU offers a total of four programmes, the Diploma in Information Technology and three degree programmes.

The Diploma is a two year programme, which opens up pathways to two top Australian universities, UQ, Australian National University and Cardiff University in the UK.

The three degree programmes are the Bachelor of Information Technology (Hons) as well as the Bachelor of Information Technology (Hons) in Data Analytics and also Mobile Computing. The Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) (Hons), encompasses the Work Based Learning (WBL) component. WBL is a platform that provides students with the opportunities to undertake units of academic study for which credit is awarded through work placements.

The FCDT also enjoys a popular credit transfer arrangement with UQ, which allows students to transfer to UQ for the Bachelor of Engineering, BIT and BIT (Hons), Bachelor in Computer Science programmes.

HELP Diploma in IT students can progress to UQ to complete the BIT in one and half years, and the Bachelor in Computer Science in 2 years.

For BIT, there is a 2+1 credit transfer arrangement with UQ; and a 2+1.5 credit-transfer arrangement for the Bachelor in Computer Science. Students can also pursue their Master in Computer Science under this credit transfer arrangement with UQ.

In January 2018, the FCDT introduced a completely new program, the Postgraduate Certificate in Software Engineering (PGCSE) in collaboration with the International Technological University (ITU), a Western Association Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredited non-profit graduate University in San Jose, California, located close to high-tech companies like Apple, Google, Cisco and Apple.

This unique one and a half year Master of Science in Software Engineering enables students to gain a full year of working experience in the US, where they are paid a salary and gain work experience at the same time.

The pathway requires students to spend six months at HELP University and complete five modules before being accepted at ITU.

For more information on the next intake on 23rd May 2019, please call 03-27162000 or log on www.help.edu.my