Charity visit to the Myanmar Refugee Learning Centre

The Myanmar Refugee Learning Centre (MRLC) located in Jalan Cheras was very much in the hearts of the A Level students since January this year. Knowing the plight of these 105 students and teachers, they were moved to do something about it. With this in mind they began preparation for Biz Week 4 and their visit to MRLC. The theme of the entire project was “It is great to be blessed but it is better to be a blessing”.

A group photo before going to MRLC

The A Level students put their heads together and ran a week of sales of various items and began collecting an array of food items and clothes for the children and their families. After much effort, we were able to raise RM1,400 in cash and around 45 boxes of food and personal items.

On 13 April 2013, 40 Stamford students and staff made their way to MRLC to share their love with them. It was a day filled with fun and excitement as we spent half the day with songs, dances, games and lunch. Our students’ eyes were opened to the reality and plight of the refugees from Myanmar and their journey towards a better life. After our visit to MRLC, we then made our way to three homes where we presented the families with gifts.

MRLC singing their Myanmar song to welcome us

The competition “passing the rubber band”

between our students and MRLC children

She is the winner for the musical chair game

Dr Cheng and A Level Club’s President,

Kok Yan Yee presenting a cheque to the

Principal, Ms May Kow

Many hearts were touched by this event and their lives were changed forever.
It was a day of forgetting ourselves and loving those who needed to be loved and blessing those who desired to be blessed. The purpose of the entire trip was to help people understand that we should use our lives to touch others and in the process be touched as well. It is great to be blessed but it is better to be a blessing.

A group photo of MRLC with our students and staff

Visitors from Qinhuangdao Experimental High School

The Principal, Mr Mu Dongbao, the Foreign Affairs Director, Mr Jin Yumin and the Director, Mr Pei Chunfu from Qinhuangdao Experimental High School, China, visited Stamford College on 11 April 2013. Mr Mu signed a Memorandum of Understanding with our Senior Director International, Mr Andrew Choo on collaboration between the two instituitions.

They were taken on a tour of our campus and also the students’ hostel in Ken I Damansara. They also visited Stamford College Malacca on Saturday, 13 April 2013

Principal of Qinhuangdao Experimental

High School, Mr Mu Dongbao exchanging

MOU with Senior Director International, 

Mr Andrew Choo

Mr Andrew Choo presenting a memento

to Foreign Affairs Director, Mr Jin Yumin

A Group photo

Visitors from Jim Business Group

The Managing Director, Mr Oje Aferhuan, and a colleague of Jim Business Group visited our campus on 11 April 2013. They were received on arrival by our Senior Director International Education, Mr Andrew Choo, and were given a briefing by our Group CEO, Mr UK Menon. Aslo present at the meeting were our Director of CAE, Dr Chew Sing Buan, Head of Programme Development, Dr Halimah Awang and Academic Adviser for the School of Business and Accounting, Dr Chew Teck Ann.

Our Senior Director, Mr Andrew Choo

welcoming the MD of Jim Business

Group, Mr Oje Aferhuan

The Senior Management of

Stamford College having a discussion

with Mr Oje Aferhuan

China Students Council Election

At an election held at the Auditorium Stamford College PJ Jalan 223 on 3 April 2013, new office bearers were elected for the China Students Council which is responsible for organising activities for the China students and taking care of their welfare.

Gao Peng, a ACCA student from Xinjiang, was elected the new chairman. Other office bearers included Deputy chair-person, Zhen Xin Mei, Secretary-general, Ning Qin, Treasurer, Xiang Guo Li, Organising Director, Shao Wei and Arts Director, Chen Yu Xuan.

The new President CSC,

Kevin Gao Peng

Group photo of the newly elected China

Student Council members 2013/2014

SOBA Career Day

The School of Business and Accounting conducted a Career Day on Thursday, 28 March 2013 at the SCPJ Jalan 223 campus to assist the graduating students to be gainfully employed upon graduating from the College.

Representatives from three companies held talks to provide information regarding their respective companies and the entry positions available in their organisations. These were followed immediately by on-site interviews for our students. Apart from SOBA students, students from the other schools were also invited to attend the talks and interviews.

Head of School, Mr Robert Cheong, welcoming

our guests, Senior Manager, HR, Mr Jack Hui

and Senior Manager, Technical Services Centre,

Mr Chee Hong Lee of Crystal Group, Hong Kong

The Career Day kicked off in the morning with the early arrival of five representatives from Crystal Group of Hong Kong headed by their General Manager Mr L. T. Cheng. This multinational company is in the branded garment/apparel manufacturing business and had a total turnover of USD1.3 billion last year. It employs Sales Associates (SAs) through its subsidiary Elegance Industrial Co. Ltd. These SAs shall be stationed at its production centre in Dongguan, Guangdong, China and draw a salary equivalent to RM 6,200 per month with hostel lodging provided. They brought along two Malaysian employees to relate their experiences with the organisation to the students.

The afternoon session commenced with representatives from Jazzcapital Financial Services introducing their organisation and their business model to our students. Jazzcapital basically provides outsourcing services to some financial institutions in securing customers for their financial facilities. They are basically looking for full-time as well as part-time agents, and compensation is through commission earned.

Our students listening attentively to the speaker

from the Crystal Group, Hong Kong

The last slot for the day was taken by representatives from a blue chip company, Ann Joo Resources Berhad, which is very strong in the local steel industry – both upstream and downstream. They’re looking for diploma and degree graduates from business, computing and engineering disciplines to fill the various entry positions available in the organisation (including private secretarial positions).

A talk on Reform of the Electoral Process in Malaysia by Dato’ Ambiga Sreeneevasan

Stamford College Students’ Council invited Dato’ Ambiga Sreeneevasan for a talk in Stamford College Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 28 March 2013. The topic was on ‘Reform of Electoral Process in Malaysia’.

The President of Stamford College Student Council, Dinesh Kumar Pillai, gave a welcoming speech expressing appreciation to the Guest of Honour, Dato’ Ambiga Sreeneevasan.

Dato’ Ambiga Sreeneevasan

delivering her speech

Dato’ Ambiga Sreeneevasan gave an inspiring talk and raised awareness of the upcoming General Election 2013. She emphasized on ‘Free and Fair’ election and alerted the audience to make a decision to vote for the future and integrity of the country. She gave a clear picture about voting rights, and the role of parties in a democracy. She highlighted that the existence of opposition parties is not necessarily a bad thing. Dato Ambiga encouraged the audience to make their own choice, be aware of what they want and be unafraid of changes, which is the only way for improvement. There was a Q &A session after the talk.

It’s time for questions from the

audience

A group photo of the organising

committee from the Student Council

A group photo for sweet memories

News from the Indian Cultural Society (ICS)

The Stamford Indian Cultural Society held their annual election on 22 March 2013 at the Auditorium in Stamford Jalan 223 to elect the new ICS committee members for year 2013/14. The event started off with a short speech by the Chief Adviser, Ms. Sarina Nair. After the short speech, the election committee members comprising Mr. Suresh Balasingam, Ms. Puvaneswary Kandasamy, and Ms. Maniyarasi conducted the election. Mr. Suresh who headed the election drive invited all the nominees onto the stage to introduce themselves to all the students present at the event. After the brief introduction of the nominees, the election was held and administered by the election committee members.

Lecturer-in-charge, Mr Suresh Balasingam

explaining the position of the council members

The following members were elected to head the Stamford Indian Cultural Society for year 2013/14:

1. President – Vimal Kumar
2. Vice-President (Jalan 223) – Sharrma Selvam
3. Vice-President (Jalan Barat) – Kamala Seerangam
4. Secretary – Vaesaline Muthukrishnan
5. Vice-Secretary – Nigel
6. Treasurer – Sunder Renganathan
7. Vice- Treasurer – Saarminie Krishnan

Exco members:

• Ashwini Gobal (UEL- International Business)
• Ramanan Maniam (UEL – International Business)
• Diliban (UEL – Computer Network)
• Geetha Krishnan (Diploma in IT)
• Puganeshwaran (Diploma in IT)
• Sivanesh (Diploma in IT)
• Shankari Sundrasekaran (Diploma in IT)
• Naveen Raj (Diploma in Media Communications)
• Thanusha (Diploma in Corporate Administration)
• Vikneswary Thangarasa (Foundation Studies in Business)

The newly elected President of the SC Indian

Cultural Society, Vimal Kumar and the Vice -

President, Sharrma giving their speeches

The newly elected committee members

Limelight Talent Show V2 on Thursday, 21 March 2013

This year’s talent show was held on Thursday, 21 March 2013. The limelight event was organised and planned by the Student Council with a vision to encourage students to explore and express their hidden talents, to build up their creativity skill and self-confidence in the spirit of competition.

The show aimed to kindle and foster interest in art and culture among the youth who may over the years hone their talents. Besides this, it also helped the college to create more talents for future events.

This year a record number of 13 contestants wowed the audience who had gathered together in the auditorium. The Talent Show boasted more than sheer entertainment value. It required an enormous amount of time on the part of the Student Council Executive Committee to organise and hold auditions. It required great courage for many of the students. Just imagine a 1st grader stepping up to the microphone and sharing his talents with an audience of 40 in the college auditorium. It gave our audience the opportunity to support their college mates sincerely and generously.

Amanda singing “Lady Marmalade”

Limelight V2.0 was officially launched at 2.00 pm with a welcoming speech by Dinesh Kumar, the President of SCPJ Student Council. Beside providing a talent search platform, Limelight v2.0 paid tribute to our English lecturer in SELC ,Mr Leon Maurice Connelly, the Limelight Committee Adviser, who had recently passed away.

Chris Jules playing the guitar and singing “Fall for you”

Comments on the overall performances and judging criteria were given out by the Judges, Ms Priscila Low from the Student Services Department, Ms Maniyarasi, the Adviser of Stamford Performance Art Centre and Ms Joanne Chin from the Student Support Centre. As mentioned, positive attitude of all contestants and future improvements are the most important concerns of the Talent Show.

A group photo with all the participants

After that, the Chief Executive Officer of Stamford College, Mr. U.K. Menon inspired the audience with a speech regarding overcoming shyness and believing in talents within every individual. The winners for the talent show were as follows:

Winner:  

Christopher Gerald Jules

1st runner up: 

Mun Yee

2nd runner up: 

Amanda

Consolation prizes: 

Anthony

Sharmila

Kevin

Participation prizes: 

Randy

Chong Che Kin

Katheryn

Aizin Aisya Bt Toreq

News from the School of Secretarial and Administrative Studies

ICSA Pathway workshop by Mrs Ngu, Deputy Education Director, MAICSA

The School of Secretarial and Administrative Studies organized a workshop for the DCA students, lecturers, counseling and administrative staff on Monday, 4 March 2013. It was held in the Activity Room, 1st Floor, SCPJ. Twelve DCA students, six DES students, four lecturers, one counsellor and two administrative staff attended the workshop.

Mrs Ngu, the former Head of the Secretarial School and currently the Deputy Education Director of MAICSA was invited to conduct the workshop. The objective of the workshop was to educate and to create a better awareness amongst the students and the staff on the ICSA pathway as an alternative route to the completion of the DCA programme.

Mrs Ngu started with an introduction of MAICSA as the Malaysian chapter and the countries where the ICSA examinations are offered. According to the latest statistics, there are 4,000 members, 3,000 students and 800 affiliates in Malaysia. She further added the ICSA is a professional qualification equivalent to any honours degree and that ICSA graduates can become company secretaries who are actually legal advisors to boards of directors on legal matters pertaining to companies.

As for career prospects, Mrs Ngu was very optimistic and emphasized that the prospects are very good. ICSA graduates can become Human Resource Managers, Chief Corporate Advisers, Corporate Managers, Corporate Administrators, Tax Agents, Management Consultants Company Secretaries and Chief Governance Officers.

Mrs Ngu also briefed the students on some of the main duties and responsibilities of Company Secretaries which include:

• Advising the Board and Management on Governance issues.
• Ensuring compliance of listings and related statutory obligations.
• Attending Board, Committee and General Meetings and ensuring the keeping of a proper record of minutes.
• Ensuring proper upkeeping of statutory registers and records.
• Assisting the chairman of the board in the preparation and conduct of meetings

She also pointed out that the DCA programme in Stamford College is the only programme in Malaysia where the students are given the most number of exemptions.

For ICSA graduates wishing to pursue a post-graduate qualification, Mrs Ngu said that they could do the MBA in Corporate Governance which is offered by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Finally, she explained how the students could acquire an ICSA qualification using the DCA route which covered the following:

• The number of exemptions given on completion of the DCA programme.
• The need to pass the Business Strategies paper in order to qualify for the PDCA qualification and to proceed to the next level which is the IQS.
• How to become a member.
• When and where the ICSA examinations are held.
• Schedule of fees – membership registration and examination.

The students and staff raised a number of questions and found the workshop very informative and useful. Mrs Ngu passed some useful brochures and handouts on the Membership and Examination Fees and Schedule, Business Strategies Syllabus and Reading list as well as the ICSA pathway to the students and staff.

Refreshments were served at the end of the workshop which ended at 5 pm. The lecturers, staff and students thanked Mrs Ngu for conducting an informative and memorable workshop

News from the School of Business and Accounting

The University of Malaya Malaysian Centre of Regulatory Studies (UMCoRS) organised the Khazanah National Chair Public Lecture on 27 February 2013. The topic was “Competition policy, market power and trade prerformance: The state of competitiveness in Malaysia’s Manufacturing Industries”. The speaker was Professor Dr Rajah Rasiah, the first holder of Khazanah Nasional Chair.

Twenty-five Year 3 UEL students pursuing the BA (Hons) International Business and BA (Hons) Marketing degree programmes conducted at Stamford College Petaling Jaya attended the talk. Mr Robert Cheong and Mrs Haema were also present.

These students subsequently received individual letters from UMCoRS thanking them for their participation. The speaker was well versed with the topic and our students were given the opportunity to listen to a lecture in Lecture Hall 3, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya.