Latest news with #UCSI
The Star
6 days ago
- General
- The Star
Good homes not just for the rich
Proud moment: Chan receiving the valedictorian award from UCSI chancellor Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin. A PASSIONATE advocate for community architecture, sustainability and grassroots impact, Joanne Chan Wen Hui is on a mission to make life better for the marginalised. Addressing the Class of 2025 as valedictorian at UCSI University's first convocation ceremony of the year, Chan spoke about her mission to serve underprivileged rural communities through architecture. These families often have to live in environments that lack dignity and are poorly designed because they can't afford better, more comfortable spaces, she said. Good design should not be a luxury reserved only for the rich, she said, when delivering her speech at the varsity in Kuala Lumpur on May 10. That belief guided her tertiary education journey as she actively volunteered and contributed to various causes – serving people, communities and even animals over the past three and a half years at UCSI. In her first semester, Chan joined COLLAB, a student-led initiative advocating for architecture's civic responsibility. Through COLLAB, she helped build a kindergarten for refugee children. 'The children wanted to learn so badly despite their underprivileged circumstances. Seeing them affirmed my desire to use architecture to drive meaningful change for those in need,' she said. Since then, the aspiring architect has spent every semester break on COLLAB projects, including building affordable homes in remote highlands. She also collaborated with Paw's Eden, a local NGO and animal shelter housing over 200 stray cats and dogs. Through crowdfunding, she and her team raised over RM11,000 to customise wheelchairs for 20 mobility-impaired dogs. They also built a bamboo hut and improved the shelter's outdoor playground. Apart from dedicating herself to volunteer work, Chan also initiated the Study Buddy system to foster peer mentorship, cross-year collaboration and student-led workshops. She also served as president of Makelab, UCSI's architecture student society. 'My experiences as a student affirmed what I have always believed – that everyone deserves access to thoughtful, inclusive spaces. It is a necessity, not a privilege.' Driven by this ethos, Chan turned down higher-paying offers to work as an assistant architect at a local startup focused on sustainable and socially conscious design. She plans to pursue her master's degree, sit for the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia III Examination and eventually establish her own firm to revitalise rural and educational spaces through culturally sensitive, sustainable design. Moved by Chan's choices and desire to make a change, UCSI vice-chancellor and president Emerita Prof Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir said, 'I'm proud to share that today, she is doing the work she believes in.' The university's 38th convocation ceremony also marked the installation of Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz as UCSI's second chancellor, following his tenure as pro-chancellor since 2021. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of 898 graduates in the presence of UCSI University council chairman and founder Datuk Peter Ng and UCSI Healthcare Group chairman Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Malaysian students' Ivy League dreams hit pause as US freezes visas
KUALA LUMPUR: The future of Malaysian A-level students bound for Ivy League universities on scholarships has been thrown into uncertainty following the Trump administration's decision to suspend student visa processing amid heightened social media vetting of international applicants. UCSI College president and chief executive officer Associate Professor Dr Mabel Tan Hwee Joo, said many students were concerned about being caught up in the sweeping new policy, despite having no links to political discourse or criticism of US foreign policy. "Some of our sponsors have already indicated that they are exploring alternatives with universities in the United Kingdom," she told the New Straits Times. Nevertheless, she said UCSI had yet to receive any negative feedback from students since US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the suspension on May 28. "For our upcoming batch of students, I personally don't believe they will be significantly affected, as they are still in the midst of applying to universities. "Should visa applications be rejected, our placement unit is ready to assist by connecting students with partner universities in the UK, Australia, Singapore, and other countries. "As for UCSI, we are not overly concerned. Shifts in US policy could, in fact, open new doors for Malaysia and other countries," she added.
The Star
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
A spotlight on gender barriers
Empowering women: (From left) Rebecca Fatima, UCSI Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts Prof Dr Chan Nee Nee, Prof Siti Hamisah, Tunku Zain Al'-Abidin, Tengku Dr Naufal, Mahuran Saro and UCSI Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts dean Prof Dr Rogayah Razak posing for a photo at the conference. Malaysia could take up to 100 years to close gender gaps if meaningful actions are not taken now, said Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) director Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria. Citing data from the World Economic Forum, she said while Malaysia had made commendable progress, much more needs to be done to bridge the gap and overcome barriers. 'Malaysia is ranked the lowest among nine Asean countries for political power and representation – particularly in Parliament 'Only 13.5% of our elected representatives are women,' said Rebecca Fatima, who is the former Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) secretary-general. Speaking at UCSI University's 'Women Empowerment Conference: She Shines – a Celebration of Women's Voices' on April 11, she stressed the importance of giving more visibility to women who often go unheard. 'There are structural and cultural barriers that must be addressed if we are to give wings to the ambition and drive of our women and girls. 'This includes enacting laws that strengthen a better and more balanced ecosystem,' she said, adding that universities are well-positioned to support policymakers through objective, data-based evaluation of public policies and programmes. The conference also saw the staging of a play titled Women of Nusantara: Their Seen and Unseen Worlds. The brainchild of Wilkes University Fulbright programme adviser Prof Dr Gina Zanolini Morrison, the play explored the spiritual beliefs and practices of working women in the Malay Archipelago. Based on her three years of fieldwork in the region, the play's delivery showcased a dynamic two-way academic exchange between Eastern and Western perspectives. 'The people of this region have taught me so much and I want to share my research findings differently,' said Prof Morrison, who thanked UCSI vice-chancellor Emerita Prof Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir for her support over the past 17 years. 'She encouraged me to embark on this research and gave me the space to transform it into art. 'That's what women who empower other women do,' she said in a press release from the varsity. The event was officiated by UCSI pro-chancellor Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, who paid tribute to Malaysian women like Malaysia's two-time first lady Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, squash legend Datuk Nicol David and former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz. 'These remarkable women and countless others across our nation are not just participants but drivers of change, catalysts for progress and role models for future generations of Malaysian women and girls. 'Let us move beyond outdated perceptions and recognise women as equal leaders in shaping a just, equitable and prosperous future,' he said. The conference also welcomed panel speakers including DTE Consult founder Tengku Dr Naufal Tengku Mansor and TalentCorp Malaysia senior vice-president Mahuran Saro Sariki.
