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Athabasca University
strengthens relationship with Stamford
From left: Dr Frits Pannekoek
, Dr McGreal, and Dr Fathi at Stamford
Dr. Frits Pannekoek, President,
Dr. Rory McGreal, Associate Vice President (Research), and
Dr. Fathi Elloumi, Associate Professor (Accounting) of the
Athabasca University, Canada's open university, made an
official visit to Stamford College Petaling Jaya on 20 March
2007.
As part of the
delegation's visit, an extension of the agreement was
signed with the Athabasca University (AU) for the Bachelor
of Management programme.
The
delegation took this opportunity to meet the students who
will be graduating this year and hosted them to a tea party.
Dr. Fathi Elloumi, Associate Professor, gave a talk on
"Examination Writing Techniques" to the students who are currently
in the final year of AU programme.
E-Learning expert says there is no higher
education without the Internet
Dr Rory McGreal of the Athabasca University
(pic above -centre) believes the Internet to be the greatest
boon to education. He is the founder of the world's first
e-learning website for TeleEducation New Brunswick in Canada and
one of the world's first metadata learning object repositories,
the TeleCampus. Professor McGreal, currently the Associate Vice
President (Research) at Athabasca University, is both an advocate
and practitioner of e-learning. His Ph.D. degree (1999) in
Computer Technology in Education at Nova Southeastern University's
School for Computer and Information Science was taken at a
distance using the Internet. Mr U.K. Menon, Academic
Director of Stamford College spoke to him during his visit to
Stamford.
Below are some excerpts
of the dialogue.
UKM: The internet has
grown to become a repository of information of such size that it
must be ranked as a world wonder, from any perspective, one of
mankind�s greatest achievements. But apart from the fact that I
can download a lot of pretty screensavers and exotic recipes from
all over the world, does it have any real use in higher education?
McGreal: I would go even
further and state categorically that there is NO higher education
without the Internet. Presently it houses more knowledge than ANY
library in the world and renders it accessible to anyone who can
get to a wired computer. It is better than most university or
public libraries in the world. An internet search is an essential
first step for anyone writing a term paper or embarking on a
research project.
UKM: How would you ascertain that
the information is credible? I am talking mainly about content
that comes through sites that are not established institutions.
McGreal: If you check any
library, including university libraries, you will find dubious
information. Any bookstore will have even more questionable
materials, so the credibility question has been with us for some
time. I would see it as the teacher�s responsibility to train
their students in how to discern the truth from the hypes. Isn�t
this one of the principal roles of instructors?
UKM: I understand that you and
others have been active in creating websites with curriculum and
other learning information for free sharing. Do you think
academics would use the work of others, rather than create their
own? Scholarship is also a vanity, is it not?
McGreal: Many
academics are vain. Many are open and want to share. I believe
that the benefits of sharing will turn many vain academics into
sharing ones. Among the benefits is having a more global reach
with exponentially more readers as well as more citations in
scholarly journals as well as respect from peers enhancing one�s
reputations.
UKM: From what you have said, it
would appear that the WWW and associated technologies would
revolutionise education to an extent to make the teacher or
lecturer redundant. Do you not think that the teacher�s role as an
intermediary is indispensable in the educational process?
McGreal: I believe that if
teachers (or ANY other occupational group) can be replaced by a
computer, they should be and will be replaced. There are some
things that networked computers do better than teachers e. g.,
delivering information; practice and repetition; access to
information, etc. There are some thing people do better than
computers e. g., provide empathy, encouragement, leadership,
emotional support etc. Teachers who do what computers do and lack
the human qualities can and should be replaced by
computers.
UKM: How about the validation of
the qualifications that are awarded from the educational methods
that you describe, how would you legitimate the learning and the
qualification?
McGreal: I believe that
there are many different ways of validating learning such as
invigilated testing. Research projects and papers have been a
standby for evaluation for many years. This can continue. The web
gives us more tools than formerly for catching plagiarism and
cheating. Adaptive testing is also another means of ensuring that
each student gets an equivalent and yet different test.
UKM:
In the 90s people predicted great changes that computers
would bring to education, especially in lifelong learning which is
another aspiration coined at that same period. We have not seen
any great changes, say in adult learning in this country. On the
other hand, what has happened has in fact tended to discredit the
proliferation of educational processes delivered through the Net.
I am talking about bogus universities and mail order degrees which
have proliferated through the Net and facilitated by it, don�t you
think that such developments have made people more suspicious of
the new education?
McGreal: The bogus degrees
have been with us for a lot longer than the Internet. Now we are
becoming aware of them BECAUSE of the Internet and we are catching
people with the phony credentials. This has created the idea in
some people�s minds that the bogus degrees have come with the
Internet. The truth is that they have been with us for a long time
and the Internet is helping us to catch them and so more people
are becoming aware of this. Yes, unfortunately, this makes people
more suspicious, but in the past we lived in innocence and these
bogus impersonators were getting away with it.
UKM: What about plagiarism and the
Net. Many in academia believe that the problem, exacerbated by the
Net, threatens to undermine the foundations of scholarship. What
is your opinion?
McGreal: Plagiarism too
has been with us for many years prior to the Internet. The
academic paper sellers would situate themselves close to a
university where students could buy papers. Now of course anyone
can buy such papers and/or copy blatantly from the Internet. On
the other hand, it has become very easy for professors to check
for plagiarism my doing comparison searches on the Internet of
availing of services such as "Turn-it-in".
UKM: Finally, what is your
favourite prediction? What do you see in your 21 inch digital flat
screen when your imagination runs loose?
McGreal: I see a future
where everyone on earth will have access to the Internet with
their own mobile device whenever they want to. The Internet will
house a world library so that nearly ALL knowledge will become
available to anyone who wants it � when they need it. This will
have a profound impact on the development of human
society.
Occasional Speakers
Series
The Stamford Business School - MBA Occasional
Speaker Series
"Innovation
Management"
The 4th OSS was held
on Wednesday 28 March 2007 at Stamford College
223. The Guest Speaker for the occasion was Encik Ali Munawar, the
Director of Marketing of IBM ( International Business Machines).
Over 80 staff, students and members of the public attended the
talk.
Ali Munawar
receives a souvenir from Dato Halim
The talk focused on
the topic of how companies marketed their products and services
through innovation management, managing the product and being
competitive in a crowded market. It also focused on how IBM
manages its work force and motivates them through various
incentives.
Back to Basics - Stamford College
KL Group
Participants at the seminar
listen attentively
Stamford College Kuala Lumpur
organised a two-day solidarity conference retreat on the 23 and
24 February 2007 at The Glory Beach Resort, Port
Dickson. A total of 50 staff attended the seminar themed
"Back to Basics".
The retreat was organised to
review and discuss current and future marketing strategies to
improve student enrolments for the respective Schools.
Newly-appointed Assistant Centre
Director of SCKL Group, Mr SR Mohan outlined the centre's
three-pronged strategy to his fellow staff, namely; to achieve
projected enrolment of students; to improve the quality of courses
offered; and to cap the operational expenditure to optimum levels
to provide reasonable returns to stakeholders.
Academic Director Mr UK Menon
officiated the workshops and delivered the keynote address. Mr
Menon reaffirmed the theme "Back to Basics". He acknowledged that
the teaching job is not an easy task as it requires planning. With
effective planning coupled with a sense of commitment from staff,
Mr Menon said that the College will be able to improve. He
reinforced that the teaching profession will continuously be in
demand and that Stamford College teaching staff need to develop
their reputation as good teachers and help students achieve their
dreams. "Our primary obligation is to turn students� dreams into a
good experience that will result in reality." Mr Menon said.
The prize giving ceremony and
closing address was given by Mr. Andrew Choo, Stamford College
Group Director of Legal and Administration. Mr Choo remarked that
the activities planned had been carried out are in line with the
objectives of getting "Back to Basics." He said that the
discussions and the activities are not to be mere words but to be
translated into action. Mr Choo added a fourth strategy to Mr
Mohan�s three-pronged strategy which is to "accept responsibility
and being accountable for your work."
"This kind of trip would motivate
staff to perform better and to strengthen relationship between
staff in this organisation." remarked Ms Maizurah, Lecturer in the
School Of Media Studies.
The Staff
conference and trip is the first programme under the Stamford KL�s
"Back To Basics" campaign.
Stamford Administrative
Professionals' Seminar 2007
The Stamford Administrative Professionals' Seminar for 2007
will be held on Saturday 28 April at the Equatorial Hotel, Jalan
Parameswara, Malacca.
Stamford College Malacca will be playing hosts this
year.
Prominent speakers who have wide exposure in commerce and
industry will be speaking to students and staff at the
seminar.
Indian Cultural Society organises
Futsal tournament
The Indian Cultural Society of Stamford College
organised a futsal competition for the college students on the
24th of March. A total of ten teams took part in the
competition.
The participants battled in sunshine and rain with
a large number of supporters cheering them on. "Ecstasy", made up
of second year Engineering students, took the first prize of RM
120. The second place winner, a team of third year Engineering
students, was given RM 90 and the third place, a team from the
Business School, was given RM 60.
Mr U K Menon presented the cash prizes as well as
medals to the winners.
Ecstasy (in white) winning the
tournament
Johor Flood
Victims Relief Fund - Hoteliers being
Compassionate
Stamford College Kuala Lumpur�s School of
Hospitality and Tourism Management Club organised an event
recently in the college to raise charity funds for the Johor Bahru
flood victims. The theme was "Time to Care, Time to Share,
Lets unite to show we care".
School of Hospitality and Tourism
Management lecturer, Mr. Kalairassan presenting the check to Encik
Kadir (in red) Officer of Disaster Management, Malaysian Red
Crescent Society. Present at the ceremony were Encik Sahak Ahmad
(centre) and Adnan Malik President, School of Hospitality and
Tourism Management Club (4th from left) along with the
committee members.
The School of Hospitality and
Tourism Management Club President, Adnan Malik, and his committee
members initiated this noble cause on the 25 January 2007.
Accompanied by his dedicated committee members, the school was
able to raise funds amounting to RM 960. Besides the money,
clothes and non-perishable items such as instant rice and noodles,
Milo, Maggie mee and other food products were collected to support
the event. The donations were collected for two weeks. The
donation was forwarded to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
"We wanted to do something that was
different from other club activities so we decided to do a charity
event as the event was well-timed and matched with the current
situation," said Adnan Malik. "We had little time in our hands so
we planned and initiated this event within two weeks and now we
are happy that this event is not only successful but we have
accomplished what we had set out to do," he
said.
DES students organise 'Uniform
Party'
In keeping with a yearly
tradition, Stamford students of the Diploma in Executive
Secretaryship (DES) were given the task of developing
their key organising skills for the job market.
The
Organising Committee from DES Semester 2, 7/06 (fulltime)
organised a Uniform Party themed "Professions of the
Universe" which was held at Armada Hotel, Petaling Jaya on 23
March 2007. The event was open to all Stamford College students
and staff. The students had the responsibility of drafting a
proposal and organising everything from the venue, food and the
activities planned for the party.
This event acted
as a hands-on training for the students who have studied the
subject, Organising Skills. It helps them apply
theory into practice.
Puan Zilah Othman, the
Organising Skills lecturer, believes that the project will benefit
the students in improving their leadership
skills, learning to work as a team, learning to communicate
with the public and gaining self-confidence.
"The event did
not only benefit us academically, it was also a fun way to know
each other well, make friends with other students from other
courses. It was really enjoyable," said Intan Azzahraa, DES
student and Assistant Group Leader of the Organising
Committee.
 Mrs Ngu, Mr Steven Chan and the 'uniform
party'.
There were a number
of activities that night such as students performances, live
band, muffin dedication, a catwalk by the nominated Best
Uniform King and Queen, Open Dance Floor, and lucky
draws.
At the end of the Party the Uniform King ( Calvin )
and Queen (Nadiah Suhaimi) were chosen and given RM100 cash. The
Dancing King (Daniel) & Queen (Ejean) were given
hampers.
Stamford School of Education
and Law
The Stamford College Law Coordinator Mr
Baljeet Singh and the Law Society President Ms Mae Flor led a
group of law students to visit one of the law courts in Kuala
Lumpur on 15 March 2007.
The next law intake into the
University of London External LLB Hons programme will be on Monday
30 April 2007.
Certificate in Teaching
Course - March 2007
Another eight participants
are taking the Certificate in Teaching Course beginning on 10
March
2007.
The next CITC will be on Saturdays 9, 16, 23, and 30 June
2007.
Seated from L to R:
Ms Belinda Ting, Ms Koh W N, Ms Khubchandani Rina Salim, Ms Amy
Choo. Standing from L to R: Mr Alex Tay, Mr Hung K L, Mr Ng K M,
Mr Kingsley Teo.
Presentation of Certificate in SCKL
Students of English at their certificate
award ceremony
It was a fun-filled
afternoon in Stamford College Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 30 March
2007! The School of Languages organised a ceremony to award
certificates to the Intensive English Programme (IEP) and the
English For Academic Purposes (EAP) students who had completed
their courses. Mr. Mohan presided over the ceremony and
presented the certificates to the 13 students. The staff and the
students performed and entertained the audience after the
presentation of the certificates. The highlight of the day was the
exhilarating debut by an amateur band called BANANA led by Najib
of the EAP programme.
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