COURSE FOCUS: PRE-UNIVERSITY
THE STAR, TUESDAY 30 MAY 2023
Leaving Yangon with big dreams
I AM Wutt Yee Khine and I am a
Foundation in Science (FiS) student at
International Medical University
(IMU). Receiving an offer letter from
IMU was a dream come true and
once my Malaysian visa was
approved, I left my home in Yangon,
Myanmar to start a new chapter in
my life with a heart full of hope.
I am currently in my second
semester of the FiS programme.
There were some challenges that I
had to overcome with the assistance
of my mentor and lecturers.
These included difficulties in
understanding cultural differences
and language barriers as English is
the only language used during
classes. However, the slides
prepared by the lecturers were very
helpful as they were very detailed,
which contributed to my
understanding by just reading
through them. The lecturers also
made our tutorial sessions as fun as
possible by engaging with students
through Kahoot quizzes.
Some of my favourite facilities
provided by IMU include the
collaborative study area (CSA), quiet
study area (QSA), PBL rooms and
student lounge. My friends and I
love to spend most of our time
studying together at the CSA as the
environment is very peaceful with
computers for us to use. We would
also spend our time relaxing and
catching up with each other in the
student lounge playing pool.
The food in Malaysia is
surprisingly very similar to the
food in Myanmar that my
mother makes. Therefore, it acts
as a constant reminder of home
and that is the reason my
friends and I enjoy eating
Malaysian food, especially the
ayam penyet in the IMU
canteen.
Although I have not been in
IMU for very long, I have made
some of my best memories
during the FiS orientation
hosted by our seniors. I am
eternally grateful that I was
given the opportunity to meet
these wonderful people whom I
call family now.
My ultimate goal is to
complete the FiS at IMU with a
high CGPA and pursue my
dream to be a doctor by
applying for a Bachelor of
Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
(MBBS) at IMU. It would be an
absolute honour if I were to be
given a chance to take up the
Partner Medical University track
at IMU where I will have to do
two and a half years of my
degree here in Malaysia and the
rest at a partner university of
my choice, depending on my
CGPA.
The IMU FiS programme gives
its students a direct pathway
into the undergraduate
programme of their choice at
IMU and most of its
international partner
universities.
The FiS programme is
designed to equip prospective
students with the sufficient
knowledge and skills needed to
increase their efficacy to shine
in the degree programmes of
their choice. This programme
has proven to facilitate a smooth
transition of students into the
various degree programmes
which leads towards a
promising career pathway.
The current IMU FiS team
consists of carefully selected,
well-qualified and experienced
staff members with specific skill
sets that make them the ideal
Wutt Yee Khine
overcomes
academic and
cultural challenges
on her journey to
become a
doctor.
“The IMU FiS
programme gives
its students a
direct pathway
into the
undergraduate
programme of
their choice at
IMU and most of
its international
partner
universities. ”
pre-university level
academicians. The team has a
clear understanding of
subsequent undergraduate
degree programme requirements
and is assisted in this regard by
degree-level academics who also
advise students on their
available undergraduate
pathways while in foundation.
Students must be well mentored
with respect to the exciting
career pathways that the FiS
programme provides.
The IMU’s one-year FiS gives
its students an early start to life
as a degree student. Being
offered and conducted in the
same facilities and environment
as the degree programmes, FiS
students adapt to the facilities
and environment at a much
earlier stage.
The FiS has three intakes a
year: April, July and September.
If you would like to apply for this
programme, make an online
application today.
n For more information, call
03-2731 7272, email start@imu.
edu.my or visit www.imu.edu.my.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 30 MAY 2023
GETTING the basics right is a rite of
passage before embarking on the next
step in life. It serves as a rock-solid
foundation before aiming for more
ambitions and higher goals.
This nugget of wisdom is also very
relevant for high school leavers who
would need to make a big decision on
how to achieve their higher education
goals, be it a bachelor’s degree, master’s
or even loftier objectives.
One of the many options to reach those
goals at Tunku Abdul Rahman University
of Management and Technology (TAR
UMT) is via the Foundation programme,
where students dedicate one year to
prepare themselves for their bachelor’s
degree studies.
These foundation programmes are
meticulously put together to help students
adapt to the new academic environment
after high school and set them up with
relevant basics and skills so they can
transition to the bachelor’s degree level
seamlessly. Since its inception in 1969 as
the then-TAR College, TAR UMT has a long
and reliable track record of providing
consistent high-quality pre-university
studies. The Beyond Education
experience imparts students with more
than knowledge and skills, but also
competencies and values that can lead to
a fulfilling life and career.
Comprehensive learning
To help its Foundation students hit the
ground running, TAR UMT has four
programmes to choose from, namely
Science, Arts, Business and Computing.
These options are carefully curated and
designed to allow Foundation students
some freedom in deciding their
bachelor’s degree specialisation later and
also in-depth enough so they can
transition into their chosen field of study
smoothly.
It is this balance that attracts students
like Lau D-Jang to further their studies at
TAR UMT. Lau, who chose the Foundation
in Business programme, has been
adapting well to the tertiary education
life thanks to the TAR UMT experience.
Lau explains, “After my high school, I
did my research on how I wanted to
proceed with my tertiary education. I
realised that I only had a general idea of
what to study and I had no idea what my
future career will be, which is why the
Foundation programme in TAR UMT
became my choice. This way, I can adapt
comfortably to the change in study
lifestyle, and new environment and at the
(From left) Er, Lau and Sim have decided on different Foundation programmes at TAR UMT,
but have all experienced a fulfilling and enriching study life.
Course Focus: Pre-University 2
Foundation to success
interest in any specific course, so my She explains, “The university life here is
parents suggested the Foundation one-of-a-kind. Compared to many other
“These foundation programme option. The decision to take
my foundation has given my parents and I
institutions I’ve explored, TAR UMT has a
lot more sports facilities, clubs, societies
programmes are peace of mind because I can further my
studies in a course that I am interested in
and extra co-curricular activities that
make for an exciting learning
meticulously put without committing too much to a
specialised programme, allowing me time
environment. Students here are not taught
to just study and take examinations, they
together to help to discover my true passion and not
wasting time and my parents’ money.”
are encouraged to develop connections,
find their creativity and live their best
students adapt to student life through a variety of activities
that they can choose from.”
the new academic Beyond the classroom The university offers various financial
As for Foundation in Arts (Track B) aid and merit scholarships for qualified
environment after student Er Jia Yin, the Beyond Education students.
high school and set experience at TAR UMT which allows
students to learn and grow inside and n To find out more about TAR UMT’s
them up with relevant outside the classroom through a vibrant
campus ecosystem is more than enough
Foundation courses and other
programmes offered in 2023 or updates
basics and skills so they for her to recommend TAR UMT’s
Foundation programme to her peers.
on its Open Day dates, call 011-1075 8537
or visit www.tarc.edu.my.
can transition to the
bachelor’s degree level
seamlessly. ”
same time make new friends at TAR UMT.
The syllabus is also well balanced where I
can pick up fundamental skills and
in-depth specialised knowledge relevant to
the general direction in my field of study.
This helps me make an informed decision
of which bachelor’s degree programme to
undertake later.”
Flexible choices
The choice of six different Foundation
programmes at TAR UMT can be a huge
advantage for high school students who
fear they are forced to make a choice they
might regret later, wasting both time and
resources.
Drawing from her own experience of
deciding to take the Foundation in Arts
(Track A) programme, Agnes Sim Mei Yi
says, “Students today are more educated
about their preferences and passions, and
they don’t want to risk choosing the
wrong course. With more foundation
programmes to choose from, it gives
students more options to settle on a route
that they can be happy with.”
She adds, “I did not have a particular