SEPTEMBER 2016 - Issue 2 - Edition 78
OMG - Taylor’s University Student Team Win A Place in the
Asia Meetings and Events Youth Challenge in China
A group of events management students have won a place at the Asia MICE Youth
Challenge to be held in Xiamen, China.
OMG Student Team (from left) - Mar Pui Yee, Chai Sze Wha, Thye Wen Yi and Lim Shi Cherng
Two groups of event management students from the School of Hospitality,
Tourism and Culinary Arts (HCTA/TCHT) recently participated in the
Malaysian MACEOS Asia MICE Youth Challenge. The two main objectives of the
challenge are (1) to provide a platform for students to develop their creativity
and present fresh and unique ideas for the industry, and (2) to apply what they
learned in school to gain real-life experience by conceptualising business-testing
and organising a MICE event. As part of the challenge, the students have to
conceptualize one of the MICE components: M (meeting), I (incentive
travel), C (conference) or E (exhibition) and to showcase the distinctive features
and facilities of Malaysia to convince the judges that their destination is the
best to host the created event. The team delivered a convention concept and
pitched to a group of judges drawn from MACEOS (Malaysian Association of
Convention and Exhibition Suppliers and Organizers), MyCEB, (Malaysian
Convention and Exhibition Bureau), SCB (Sarawak Convention Bureau) and ICCA
(International Congress and Convention Association).
The winning
Taylor’s University team, (also known as OMG Productions), consists of four events
students - Thye Wen Yi, Chai Sze Wha, Mar Pui Yee and Lim Shi Cherng. Under
the guidance of their lecturers, the students were able to complete a
comprehensive event proposal and “Wow” the judges from the business events
industry with their presentation. The Taylor’s team, OMG Productions will now be
representing Malaysia at the AFECA (Asian Federation of Exhibition and
Convention Associations) Asia MICE Youth Challenge in Xiamen (China). The
AFECA challenge is open to all students majoring in MICE or Business Events,
Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism related fields. Organised by
AFECA, the federation has 28 MICE association members as well as 98 corporate
members in over 17 countries/cities is a regional organisation representing the
MICE industry across Asia. The AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge 2016 engages
competing teams on their knowledge and understanding of the MICE industry as
well as promote their respective countries as the ideal MICE destination in Asia.
Ms. Lisa Tung, the events programme director said, "We are really pleased with
the achievement of this group of students, and wish them well when they
compete in China”. OMG Productions team will be flying off to Xiamen to
compete with teams from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and
other Asian countries. To find out more about the Taylor’s University School of
Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts click here. – Global Matters
Internationalise Your Education – Articulation Pathway Takes
Taylor’s Biomedical Student onto the University of Adelaide
Taylor’s University planned articulation pathways offer students the opportunity to
internationalise their education, and to gain a degree from a top university overseas.
Khoh Chun Hou at a gift shop in Adelaide
Khoh Chun Hou started his undergraduate studies in biomedical sciences in
the School of Biosciences at Taylor’s University in 2014. He was keen to spend
some time living overseas, and with his academic advisors at Taylor’s University
he started to explore various study options. He has ended up taking advantage
of one of the outbound articulation pathways that Taylor’s University offers to
the University of Adelaide (UoA) in South Australia. Taylor’s University
has outbound articulation pathways to some 43 top ranked universities in
Australia, the UK and NZ, and UoA is one of Australia prestigious Group of Eight
universities. He said that "Adelaide is a nice and tranquil place for study, and you
can tell how fresh the air is once you step out of the plane”. However, "Although
Adelaide is beautiful and surrounded by plenty of nature, I barely have time to
appreciate them because there are always tons of lab works, assignments and
lecture materials to be covered every week”. But the experience of living away
from home has helped him to become more independent , "I personally think
that living independently and away from home is one of the best ways to value
your time more" because you are all on your own. Khoh Chun Hou said, "I must
thank Taylor’s for providing me this precious chance to experience the study life
in Adelaide. Words can never express how grateful I am for having all of my tutors
in Taylor’s and I truly appreciated what I have taught, not only knowledge but
also responsibility. With very helpful lecture notes and lab practical experiences
given by my tutors, my first year of degree in Taylor’s have provided me a very
strong foundation, allowing me to cope with my second year in University of
Adelaide quite effortless". He went onto add that, "Being a former scholarship
holder, Taylor’s have also provided me a lot of opportunities to meet with new
people through all sorts of activities, which gradually boosted my confidence to
speak in front of public. I will never ever forget all the memories and experiences
created among my mates and tutors at Taylor’s University”. Articulation
pathways are just one way that students at Taylor’s University can internationalise
their education. Other options include a semester exchange, short-term mobility
programmes and doing an international internship. For more information on the
School of Biosciences click here and for more information on Taylor’s University’s
articulation partners click here. - Global Matters
"Don't Worry - Be Happy". Taylor’s Students Can Now Spend
an Exchange Semester Studying in Denmark
Denmark has once again been voted the happiest country in the world. Semester
exchange opportunities include partners such as the Business Academy Aarhus where
the courses are taught in English.
(Sitting L-R) : Tina Knuth and Dorthe Jakobsen from BAA
(Standing L-R) : Prof. Perry Hobson and Dr. Frederic Bouchon from TU
Taylor's University continues to expand its range of European international
exchange partners. Dorthe Jakobsen and Tina Knuth from the Business
Academy Aarhus (Erhvervsakademi Aarhus) recently came to visit Taylor's
University. Located right in the heart of Denmark, the Business Academy
Aarhus (BAA) teaches in English and is well known for its applied and industry
relevant business courses. They also offer their students an extensive range of
international study options and partners. Taylor's University has entered into an
MoU with the Business Academy Aarhus, and so far two students from Denmark
have come to study at TU for a semester. We are now exploring an additional
range of short-term mobility options including Tourism & Culture. Why spend a
semester in Denmark? Professor Perry Hobson (Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global
Engagement) noted that, "once again Denmark has been judged to be the
happiest country in the world – and this is for the third year in a row that they
have been in the top three". By comparison, the USA came in at number 13 and
the UK at number 23. He added that, "we are encouraging all of our students to
have an international experience while doing their degree at Taylor's University.
Denmark is a highly developed and environmentally aware country – and
clearly it’s a very happy place too". To find out more about Taylor's Business
School click here and to find out more about our Global Mobility options click
here. – Global Matters
Philippines Seeks Drug Tests for All College and University Students
The government of the Philippines is planning to introduce mandatory drug tests
for all new college students, an official for the Commission on Higher Education
said. The measure is the latest step in President Rodrigo Duterte's effort to battle
illegal drugs in the country. "This was born out of the president's call to make
campuses drug-free, because we see the pervasive effects of drug use," Julito
Vitriolo, the executive director of the Commission on Higher Education, said.
"What's important is for students not to use drugs. It will be a deterrent if they
want to continue their studies". To read the full story see Aljazeera.
Alternative Higher Education Private Providers in the UK
The UK's growing for-profit higher education sector is set to expand as the
government encourages so-called 'challenger' institutions to compete with
established state. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has released
data on 63 of the largest higher education providers outside of publicly funded
universities and colleges. It said there were 50,245 undergraduate higher
education enrolments on designated courses at alternative providers in the
2014-15. Private universities such as BPP, Regent's University London and the
University of Law are included, their students representing 16% of the entire
sample. Observers point out that the 63 are only a sample of an approximately
700 alternative providers currently operating across the sector in the UK. For the
full story read the University World News.
Taiwan’s Higher Education Enrolments Starts Their Downward Slide
The latest figures from Taiwan indicate that 23 of the country’s 151 universities
will face an enrolment shortfall this year. The Ministry of Education officials also
project a 7.4% decline in commencements for the 2015/16 academic
year. After years of low birth rates, the Ministry of Education projects
that university enrolment in Taiwan will fall by about a third through the next
decade. Simply put, Taiwan now has more universities than it needs. Last year,
the Ministry has announced plans to merge or close up to 52 institutions, and the
first such moves are already underway. Some institutions are forming consortia
to combine faculty and resources, including shared or joint programmes. For the
full story read the ICEF Monitor.
PM invokes Sweeping Powers to Reform Thai Universities
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has invoked Section 44 of the interim
constitution to tackle chronic problems in the tertiary education sector, writes
Dumrongkiat Mala for Bangkok Post. The invocation of the sweeping power by
Prayut, also head of the National Council for Peace and Order, was announced
in the Royal Gazette. Under the order, the education minister will be able to set
up a special committee consisting of five to 15 people to temporarily oversee
any university experiencing internal conflict in its governing council, a lack of
good governance, or operating programmes without proper permission. The
panel has the power to investigate and end all activities undertaken by
university council members and can also suspend universities from recruiting
new students. For the full story see The Bangkok Post.