Latest news with #StarEducationFair2025
The Star
18-05-2025
- General
- The Star
‘Speak freely – mistakes and all – to build English confidence'
PUTRAJAYA: Students must have an environment that encourages them to speak English if they are to improve their language skills. That is the first step that Ebright Public Speaking Academy managing director Kevin Khoo Kuan Xiong ( pic ) believes Malaysians must take. 'If they have the right environment, they will speak without fear,' he said when met at the Star Education Fair 2025 at the IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre here yesterday. He said that environmental factors like discouragement from peers are among the reasons why students are reluctant to speak the language. 'Whenever they try to use English, they are condemned or sarcastically mocked. 'That's why we have to get rid of this mentality in the first place,' he said. He stressed the importance of encouragement in helping students overcome their fear of speaking English. 'When we encourage students to speak, we shouldn't nitpick every single word they use. 'Let them speak naturally, and then we can try to fine-tune their grammar. Doing so will improve their self-confidence,' he said. Khoo also advised parents to give their children a platform to shine. 'That means enrolling them in courses, classes or platforms where they have the opportunity to speak in public. 'That will train and boost their confidence in using the language,' he said. Ebright students Dhiya Humaira and Seshasri Rajan, both 12, agreed that having a platform to practise the language is essential. Dhiya said it helps to speak more and read storybooks. 'Other than that, you can ask your friends for help. 'Try communicating with them in English, and read signboards or anything written in English,' she said. Seshasri also recommended joining English courses and competitions such as Scrabble and public speaking. 'I've joined many competitions. I've also learnt from online resources and my mum. My English teacher, especially, helps me improve my English,' she said. The duo, along with team member Sathes Rajan, 13, also an Ebright student, are winners of the World Scholar's Cup Kuala Lumpur round recently. They will be heading to the global round in Bangkok, Thailand, next month.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
UM: Cost not the only reason to pick public varsities
Come one, come all: Fairgoers speaking to a UM representative during the Star Education Fair at IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre in Putrajaya. (Inset) Prof Noor Azuan. — Low Boon Tat and CHAN TAK KONG/The Star PUTRAJAYA: Amid Malaysia's wide array of tertiary options, public universities stand out for their adaptability, accessibility, affordability and industry-relevant education, says Universiti Malaya (UM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman. 'Currently, we have about 1.1 to 1.2 million local students in Malaysia, with 600,000 to 650,000 attending 20 public universities. 'Another 350,000 students are studying at some 309 private universities,' he said at the Star Education Fair 2025 at the IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre here yesterday. He stressed that this trend is not due to a lack of quality in private institutions, which he praised for their excellence, but rather because public universities offer a balanced combination of affordability, relevance and modern infrastructure. He explained that public universities, including UM, are transforming to meet the expectations of a new generation of students. 'The new generation aren't like my generation. They need things fast, beautiful and simplified,' he said, adding that this has pushed public universities to modernise campuses with strong Wi-Fi access and futuristic classrooms. Beyond facilities, Prof Noor Azuan highlighted UM's three-pronged philosophy: community engagement, industry integration and international exposure. He said these integrated strengths make public universities a powerful choice – beyond just affordability. 'Three or four weeks out of the 14-week semester must be taught by an industry professional. 'These weeks are all about sharing their knowledge, experience, expertise and incorporating it into the course content,' he said, adding that students need real-world exposure to understand what is happening beyond the classroom. He also said UM and other public universities ensure their academic programmes – whether in engineering, social sciences or medicine – meet international accreditation standards. 'This means that when our students finish their studies, they can easily work not only in Malaysia but all over the world without question,' he said, adding that a university's core purpose is to create and share knowledge – knowledge that should benefit not only the country but also have global relevance and impact.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Last call for future boost
PUTRAJAYA: Students looking to further their studies should make a beeline for the Star Education Fair 2025, which ends today, to explore numerous scholarships and courses offered by highly-ranked public and foreign universities. Visitors to the IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre here will also get to take part in various activities and stand a chance to win branded digital devices. ORCA chairman Steve Bennett encouraged students to visit its booth, as the company is showcasing a technique it developed to improve cognitive performance by up to 25%, strengthen emotional resilience and support mental wellness. He said this is the first time the company's neurofeedback technology – which addresses common challenges such as stress, tight deadlines and lack of self-direction – is being presented publicly. Neurofeedback, he explained, uses brainwave signals to provide real-time visual or audio feedback, allowing individuals to self-regulate their mental states. 'This allows you to adjust your brainwaves. Repeated training helps rewire the brain to achieve states like focus or relax more easily. 'We're using gaming to train the brain to quickly shift into the right mental state when needed,' he said. Another key highlight is JomCheck, Malaysia's first academe-media-civil society fact-checking alliance. Led by the Centre for Research in Media and Communication (Mention) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and supported by the Google News Initiative, it aims to combat misinformation by teaching Malaysians how to assess information critically. For those pursuing higher education, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is offering two fully-funded bachelor's degree scholarships: the MCMC Legacy Scholarship for outstanding students at local or international private universities, and the MCMC CARE Scholarship for underprivileged students attending local public universities. Both scholarships cover studies in crucial fields such as cybersecurity, data science, media, engineering and law. Also participating is the Asia School of Business (ASB), offering scholarships for its Masters in Business Administration (MBA) programme. These include the ASB Fellowship, and the ASB-Graduate Record Examination (ASB-GRE) Merit Scholarship, which targets candidates with outstanding academic and leadership potential and is open to all nationalities applying for the August intake. Corporate sponsorships from PETRONAS and Bank Negara are also available. Additionally, the Star Education Fund returns this year, offering 214 scholarships worth RM14.25mil from 29 institutions. Promoting sustainability, Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd showcases its Pelangi Sustainability Education Centre, featuring hands-on learning through programmes like Kembara Buku Pelangi (a publishing and touring workshop), Sembang Buku Pelangi (a book club), Ruang Lestari Pelangi (advocacy for sustainable living), and Arena Ilmu (which includes bookstore promotions, knowledge exploration and community activities). Visitors can join programmes, volunteer or become members of the Pelangi Books Gallery. Organised by Star Media Group for the second time this year, the two-day fair offers a range of tertiary study, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) options. The fair, which ends today, features a total of 70 exhibitors occupying 105 booths. The main exhibitors at the fair include Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Multimedia University (MMU), Universiti Malaya (UM) and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT). International institutes like Xi'an Jiaotong University, Liverpool University, German-Malaysian Institute (GMI) and KO Beauty Academy are also featured. New exhibitors include Gadjah Mada University (GMU), Oxford Brookes University, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (Numed), Malaysia Airlines Engineering Services (Mabes) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). Visitors can enjoy talks ranging from veterinary medicine to aviation maintenance, and win prizes like an iPad Air, Nintendo Switch or Redmi Buds 6 during 'Register & Win' sessions. The fair runs from 11am to 6pm. Admission is free, with door gifts for early birds. Now in its 38th year, the Star Education Fair is one of the country's pioneer education exhibitions. For details on the Star Education Fair, visit @stareducationfair on Instagram or email edufair@
The Star
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Early birds flock to Star Education Fair 2025
PUTRAJAYA: The Star Education Fair 2025 is a family affair as students arrive at the IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre with their parents. Azhri Ceysa Putri, 18, and her family were among the early birds, arriving when the doors opened on Saturday (May 17). She said she wanted to explore various tertiary study options offered by local and foreign institutions. "I'm interested in enrolling in an engineering course at Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), or maybe a course in business at Universiti Malaya (UM). "I also think it's important to do proper research before enrolling in a university because when we choose a course, it shapes our future," she said. She added that if students are interested in more than one field, they should explore them carefully and decide which one they are truly passionate about. "Choosing something we're really interested in will make us happier and more motivated to study and succeed," said Azhri, attending the fair for the first time. Organised by Star Media Group for the second time this year, the two-day fair at IOI Grand Putrajaya offers a range of tertiary study and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) options, as well as financial aid, including study loans and scholarships. The fair ends on Sunday (May 18) and features 70 exhibitors occupying 105 booths. Among the main exhibitors are Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Multimedia University (MMU), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), LimKokWing University, Universiti Malaya (UM), and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT). Visitors can also see exhibitors from institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Institut Jantung Negara College, Manipal University College Malaysia, Xi'an Jiaotong University China, Liverpool University, Meatech International College, German-Malaysian Institute (GMI), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), CAE Kuala Lumpur, and KO Beauty Academy. Several new exhibitors are participating, including Miroku Academy, Gadjah Nada University (GNU), Osky Academy, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Ebright Sdn Bhd, Gemological Institute Malaysia, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMED), Combat Coating (M) Sdn Bhd, RM Solutions Sdn Bhd, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Malaysia Airlines Berhad Engineering Services (MABES) Sdn Bhd, GSC Global Solutions (M) Sdn Bhd, Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn Bhd, Oxford Brookes University, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Maaedicare Charitable Foundation, Al-Madinah International University, Asian School of Business (ASB), Travex International College, and Ambitious Academy Sdn Bhd. The fair's highlights include exciting prizes such as an Apple iPad Air, a Nintendo Switch, a Redmi Watch 4, or a pair of Redmi Buds 6 during the Register & Win sessions. Don't miss the exciting lineup of talks today, with insights into building a future in aircraft maintenance, exploring opportunities in the oil, gas and energy sector, and charting a successful career in the beauty and wellness industry. The fair is open from 11am to 6pm. Admission is free. Door gifts await early birds. Now in its 38th year, the Star Education Fair is one of the country's pioneer education exhibitions. It has consistently provided visitors with educational programmes ranging from pre-university, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate to professional and vocational courses from various local and international institutions. For details on the Star Education Fair, visit @stareducationfair on Instagram or email edufair@
