You are on page 1of 16

nward

A message by Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director, Sunway University and the Sunway Group of Colleges

They say that success is a journey not a destination. It is about keeping up with consistent achievement. The taste of success is particularly sweet now that we have become Sunway University. It is truly a privilege to share the news of this special achievement with you, our alumni. This achievement is an acknowledgement of the quality of education offered at Sunway as well as the tireless efforts of our academic staff, the opportunities in research and postgraduate courses. We shall continually strive to be a leading university in the region. Last year we also saw another milestone on our journey as we became officially owned and operated by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. To Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, his vision is complete as the Foundation is analogous to a ship of dreams that would sail a great number of promising students who are sponsored an education with its ensuing opportunities and possibilities. A total of RM6.9 million was handed out from the Foundation mostly in the form of merit-based scholarships in 2010. These scholarships, given every year, are an investment with far-reaching dividends. By attracting top class students, we not only continually improve as an institution but we attract the best minds that belong to the contributing citizens of the future. Our top scholars have indeed proven their capabilities as they have consistently achieved top marks among their peers internationally year in and year out. The successes of our past students and scholars in their career and professional life are also a barometer of our institutions strengths and achievement. As such, we are always happy to hear how our alumni are doing and our Alumni Office is there for you to continually connect with us. We welcome your visits to your alma mater whether it is to walk down memory lane, reconnect with your lecturers or share a personal story of success with our students. Sharing between, and mentoring by seniors and juniors are an important aspect of learning for students. By doing so, we keep our students inspired and encouraged while keeping the Sunway flame burning. With that, I wish you a year of prosperity and success and I do hope 2011 will be an amazing year for all of us. Happy New Year and God bless.

Why
Elizabeth Lee
Momentum is the energy that keeps us in motion and allows us to continually move in a specific direction. Naming this magazine Momentum symbolizes us taking what we have learned from the past and using that as a force to drive us forward. As Alumni of Sun-U, we hope that you have been able to use the knowledge gained here to propel you to success. It is our sincere wish that Momentum will provide you with much inspiration and enrichment. We encourage you to contribute your articles, time, and knowledge to keep the momentum going.

Contact us:
Drop us a note if your mailing or e-mail address has changed.
Feel free to share your thoughts/suggestions as well! E-mail: Web: Facebook: Phone: Fax: alumnioffice@sunway.edu.my http://alumni.sunway.edu.my The OFFICIAL Sunway Alumni Community www.facebook.com/OFFICIAL.Sunway.Alumni.Community 03-7491 8622 ext. 8021 03-5636 8232

Sunway University (KPT/JPT/DFT/US/B15) Owned and governed by Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (800946-T) No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY


2

Moving On Ahead...
A Message from the Vice-Chancellor
Greetings from Sunway University and welcome to the third edition of the Momentum newsletter. We know that you like to keep in touch with good friends made during your student days and keep up to date with new developments in Sunway, so in this January issue of the newsletter we are featuring the achievements of a number of our successful alumni. You may well know or remember some of them from your time with us. I am sure that you have already heard that the Minister of Higher Education recently invited Sunway University College to accept full University status. You will also be pleased to know that the newly renamed Sunway University continues to grow in reputation and stature. Another notable achievement in 2010 was our rating of Excellent in the national SETARA audit of higher education institutions. This fivestar rating places us in the leading group of public and private Malaysian universities. In October 2010, we conducted our annual graduation ceremony. Our illustrious Chancellor, Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, presented the Sunway degree and diploma certificates. Also officiating at the ceremony was the Chancellor of Lancaster University, Sir Chris Bonington, who presented Lancaster degree scrolls to those graduates who qualified for the dual Sunway-Lancaster degrees. Sir Chris is a renowned mountain climber and professional motivational speaker. On the day before the graduation, he gave an inspirational presentation on his mountain climbing career as part of our Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Distinguished Speaker series of public lectures. In last years issue of Momentum we mentioned that Sunway was about to embark on an extensive building programme. I am pleased to confirm that work has started on our new Art and Design building, which will be located near to the student hostels, overlooking Sunway Lagoon. The campus monorail station has been demolished to make way for a new state-of-the-art postgraduate centre, which will provide a venue for the delivery of a new Global MBA programme, to be offered in collaboration with the Lancaster University Management School. Another innovative development has been the conversion of a section of the existing monorail track into a covered walkway over the Sunway Lagoon theme park. Now that this new Canopy Walk has been completed, the shops and parking facilities at the Sunway Pyramid shopping centre are just a scenic five minute stroll from the campus. We look forward to having you drop by for a visit to see all the new developments and to celebrate with us as the Sunway University campus expands and evolves. With best wishes,

Professor Robert Bignall

sp

tlight on alumni

Growing up in Kuching, I led a very carefree life in a diverse ethnic and cultural environment. I have only fond memories of my childhood years there. However, at age 15, things changed for my family and I when my father passed away. As he was the sole breadwinner of the family, we had to learn to fend for ourselves, which was very tough because we were not prepared for it. When I completed Form 5, my family moved to Ipoh and I started working in factories to support them. We barely had enough each month, but we survived. At one point during those few years, I realized that my family was in a poverty trap; unable to escape. The only escape I could fathom was education. If only I had a degree, I could get a better-paying job, I thought. The reality was that not many companies were willing to hire a Form 5 school leaver. Obtaining a tertiary education became my long-term goal. The Turning Point One day, I was with my boss and saw one of his books entitled In Search of Excellence. It got me thinking that if I wanted to excel in my work and to understand what makes a company great, I should read that book. It also dawned on me that even though I didnt have enough money to further my studies, I could still borrow books from the library to read.

From then on, I actively visited the Ipoh state library every weekend. For me, reading did not come naturally because I did not grow up in an environment where it was encouraged, so I had a slow start. The only form of reading I ever did was to study textbooks. We were never encouraged to read books, magazines or even the newspaper. Thus I found it very hard to concentrate and understand the meaning of words and to decipher what the author was trying to convey in a sentence. I persisted and bought a secondhand Websters dictionary and used it profusely. I made it a habit to underline and jot down the meaning of words I didnt understand. It was slow and tedious. I was reading at a pace of one page a week! I had to reread the same page over and over to understand the flow of thought or argument. It was through sheer persistence and perseverance that I managed to very slowly get the hang of the whole process. It was interesting that after a while, when I mastered a certain number of common words, reading became easier and faster. I suppose all authors tend to use a set of common words. Reading became my joy and passion. This reminds me of the advice of the great Charles Spurgeon on reading, He who will not use the thoughts

of other men's brains proves that he has no brains of his own... You need to read. I find it very ironic that there are so many people today who are literate but do not consider reading even as a hobby, let alone for the purpose of gaining knowledge. People who can read but do not read are no better than those who cannot read. Reading is such a precious skill and I hope more will discover the importance and joy of reading. Education Eventually I saved enough money to enroll in a GCE A Level course. This was to be my stepping stone to a degree. After completing the A Level, my family and I moved to Petaling Jaya where I found a job in a bookstore. It was during this time that I studied a professional degree, the ICSA, under the sponsorship of the bookstore. I feel very thankful for that opportunity. The next opportunity that came my way was an offer to work at MPH Bookstores. It was a dream come true because I enjoyed being surrounded by good books and I loved collecting books for my library, and still do! Due to the nature of my work and because I enjoyed reading books on business and management, I naturally gravitated towards completing a Masters degree in Business Administration. For a few years I shopped around for a good degree that I could afford. I wanted a part-time programme which had some foreign lecturer involvement. Sunway University offered such a programme. There were other similar programmes elsewhere as well but the deciding factor

for me was the well-stocked Tun Hussein Onn Library at Sunway! When I finally started my Victoria University MBA studies at Sunway University in 2005, I already had 5 years of managerial experience. I believe this helped me to better grasp the nuances of issues we encountered and case studies we covered. I strongly believe students should have a few years of solid exposure in managing people and in line management responsibilities prior to joining the programme. I truly enjoyed making new friends while at Sunway and we still enjoy our comradeship today. Future Plans My journey has taken me from Kuching to Ipoh to the Klang Valley. I believe that each of us has something special to offer others from the life experiences that weve been through. For me, because I enjoy reading and writing, I hope to make an impact on others by writing a few more books. Incidentally, it was through my course of studies at Sunway that I met my fellow co-authors for our first book! In addition, I enjoy interacting with students especially on choosing a field of study, what it is like working in the corporate world, and how they can make an impact. I have spoken on these topics before and I find that many are looking for guidance and inspiration. They just need you to tell them what to expect in the corporate world if they were to pursue certain subject areas and how they can make an impact. They are inspired when you impart confidence by telling them how they can succeed. It makes a difference when we paint a picture of a possible and desirable future in their minds. It would be a privilege to work with the Alumni Office to contribute in some ways back to Sun-U and its students. As I look back, I realize that my life has been shaped by the books Ive read and the habit of reading. From having no books of my own to working in a bookstore and building my own library, and now writing books, Im amazed by the journey that life has taken me through. I hope you have been inspired to discover the joy of reading!

reach
Name: Alumnus of: Company: E-mail:

ut
Rodney Toh VUMBA MPH Bookstores Sdn Bhd rodneytoh@mph.com.my

sp

tlight on alumni

unlike many other dreams, this one came true! It took time and hard work, but their perseverance and passion paid off. Mark shares, After graduation, we worked in different industries. I joined Johnson & Johnson while Xanthus joined LOral Professional. There was natural synergy in the partnership as I developed expertise in multiple aspects of company operations while Xanthus headed the PR and Marketing team with an uncanny ability to build rapport with people from all walks of life in a short period of time. While working for our respective companies, we always kept our shelved dream close to our hearts. We attended franchise fairs, met many business owners with the intention of buying a franchise, and even attended a professional course in culinary arts to prepare ourselves for the inevitable leap into the world of entrepreneurship. During this period of time, we kept in touch with a certain individual who was then the owner (now CEO) of an established chain of restaurants. We got an invitation to join his company as potential franchise operators of his new business model. We picked up the tools of the trade during our time in his company and eventually left to start up one of our own. For those unfamiliar with Frames Caf, it has almost pure white dcor, a perfect canvas for the rows and rows of photographs taken by friends, family and associates. It truly allows photography enthusiasts to take in the beautiful images presented in identical black frames.

Remember when you were younger and everything seemed possible? Ideas were limitless and nothing could stop you from dreaming up the most imaginative plans. The quote by Albert Einstein captures it all Imagination is more important than knowledge. For two young men, Xanthus Kong and Mark Foong, their time in Sun-U was exactly that. One night in their dorm room, they sat down and thought about their future, about what it could hold and what they could do to carve out a niche for themselves. Running their own food establishment was a plausible option as they shared the same passion for meeting people and enjoying good food. The rest, as they say, is history. That evening in the dorm room, the dream of Frames Caf was born, and

When our business plan was in its development stages, we knew that our business needed a signature to be recognized and remembered by above other things. From the white branches and bird cages of our previous organization to the lavish use of wood and exposed rugged stone bricks of typical American diners, every successful eatery can be associated with its trademark ambience. The concept of Frames was a fresh take on the ordinary art gallery cafe concept which made perfect sense as the local interest in photography was growing. Besides the dining experience, Frames also provides photographers of all walks of life a place to physically display and perhaps even sell their originals, they share. Running Frames is not all a bed of roses though. Xanthus and Mark faced numerous obstacles when they first set up the company. In 2008, Malaysia felt the shocks of the worlds worst recession in decades, then came the H1N1 scare, and following that, turmoil erupted due to the general elections leading to street demonstrations and such. All this resulted in reduced consumer spending across all sectors.

Frames, they responded, Besides the various marketing and trade operations subjects, Victoria Universitys emphasis on extra-curricular activities to encourage students to have a balanced university life helped a great deal. Being involved in the organizing of events for VU was a blessing as it opened our eyes to the world of events and people management. This experience coupled with a solid education module helped us develop our ability to think critically and test our problem solving skills which comes in handy daily when running your own business. Numerous people in Sun-U had a hand in inspiring and motivating us and to all of you who knew us then, you will be in our hearts forever. To be fair we dare not single out any particular individual, but would like to specially mention that a significant portion of that motivation and inspiration came from the people within VU. This dynamic duo has plans to expand their business and open up more outlets of Frames Caf. We here at Sun-U are extremely fortunate that the restaurant is just a stones throw away in Sunway Pyramid and we are certain that many staff and students have had the opportunity to enjoy the delicious food there. Looking forward, they share these parting words, We are extremely excited about the future and will always remember the people in Sun-U who played a part in molding us into the people we are today.

The service sectors (F&B included) were not spared and we saw many businesses succumb to the ever looming evil called overheads. Thankfully, we were able to pull through the rough period by implementing our pre-planned strategies to ride out the wave. Forecasting a drop in sales revenue, we immediately made changes to our operations to reduce operating costs. We knew that the leaner and healthier we were as a business, the higher our chance of surviving 2008 and 2009. With a 28% reduction in overheads, we managed to pull through the toughest years of any business. If all of this sounds extremely technical, we have the lecturers at the Victoria University programme at Sun-U to thank. Both Xanthus and Mark graduated with double degrees in Marketing and International Trade. When asked how Sun-U prepared them for achieving their success with

Sunway University College is now officially a University. The proud moment took place recently when our Founder and Chancellor, Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, AO, received the official certification from the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin, at the Ministry of Higher Education for the upgrade to University. Vice-Chancellor of Sunway University, Professor Robert Bignall said, Under the visionary leadership and support of our Chancellor as well as the dedication and passion of our academics, management and staff coupled with the excellent results of our students and alumni, we are well-positioned to forge ahead in developing and preparing young minds to be effective and exemplary future citizens and we continue to be encouraged in our endeavour to pursue excellence in education. Sunway University has grown by leaps and bounds from a small college in 1987 to an award-winning institution with a diverse student population of more than 10,000 students. We achieved the elite Tier 5 Excellent Rating in the Ministry of Higher Educations inaugural SETARA rating by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency which places us on par with foreign branch campuses and the best public and private universities in the country. With an established partnership with Lancaster University - a Top 10 UK University - and a new partner in our distinguished list of affiliates, Le Cordon Bleu, we open our doors to the best and brightest. Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, AO says, May this honour continue to inspire Sunway University in its vision to become a world-class institution of higher learning. As a full-fledged University, I firmly believe that Sunway is now in a strong position to further contribute to the national goal of providing quality higher education. All Sunwayians can be proud of this meritorious achievement. You have made the right choice in Sunway!

2010

sp

tlight on alumni

When one first hears of Albert Lims many accomplishments, the thought that comes to mind is How does he do it all?! At the ripe young age of 26, he has already achieved much more than many people twice his age. He runs a company that manages huge events in Melbourne, he has now ventured into real estate, and he even has 20 years experience playing the piano!

His events receive a lot of publicity but you will not find many pictures of him plastered in newspapers and magazines. This is a man behind the scenes, who allows the fruits of his labour to showcase his capabilities. For the year 2010, A breakthrough was the successful execution of Festival Malaysia in Melbourne. Located in the heart of the city, the event was attended by Melbournians and tourists alike. What better way to promote Malaysia in a foreign country than by allowing Australians to have a taste of Malaysia through its food, culture, dancers and popular music acts and comedians. Alive Group hosted the Sarawak contingent where for the first time, Laksa Sarawak was delivered to the people of Melbourne and Australia.

Hailing from Klang, he was a student here at Sun-U in the Australian Matriculation programme, as well as for the first year of his Victoria University programme. Due to his specialized area of interest, he went on to pursue his Bachelor of Business in Marketing and Music Management at the Melbourne campus of Victoria University, and has since then completed his Master of Business in Event Management. It comes as no surprise then that his current portfolio includes managing some of Melbournes biggest events and festivals. His company, Alive Group, has been associated with Melbourne Fashion Week, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, and Sydney Fashion Week. He has rubbed shoulders with numerous supermodels, celebrities and famous personalities. Festival Malaysia gives us a glimpse of the hard work that Albert has put in to building linkages between Melbourne and Malaysia. He hopes that these various events will inspire Australians to travel to his homeland for a visit. The Malaysian Tourism Ministry should thank him for all his efforts!

10

At the end of October, we sealed and completed the vision where on the 26th of January 2011, Malaysians will parade alongside with Australians on the main streets of Melbourne for the first time in Melbourne History. This event will put Malaysia on the map especially since a showcase of Malaysian culture at the Royal Domain Gardens will become one of the major highlights on Australia Day in Melbourne. At the rate hes going, hell likely take on the world! Therefore, kudos to him that even with all his high profile events and clients, he has not forgotten what life was like as a student. He travels back to Malaysia

about sharing and giving back to those who have supported, cherished and created you to be who you are and Sunway has done that through the successes shown by Alive Group. Sharing his future plans, Albert says, Alive Group aims to have bilateral sharing of culture, products and services between Australia with Malaysia, Singapore, China and Vietnam. This will include business opportunities like distributing and sharing real estate from Australia, organizing Australian fashion weeks in Malaysia & Singapore, Art expos in Malaysia/Singapore, having property seminars to assist investors in all 4 countries guiding them on how to invest in Australia through our property partners in each respective country. On the Australian front, we hope to expand our Malaysian cultural events like Festival Malaysia, Australia Day parade and showcase to Sydney, and Queensland. Alive Group also seeks products, services and other business opportunities from Asia Pacific to be presented to us so that these can also be shared amongst the Australian people. With that, we look forward to seeing more of Alive Groups events here in Malaysia!

several times a year and each time, he meets up with old friends and former classmates. During his last visit in July, he came back to campus to share his experience and knowledge with a group of budding young entrepreneurs. They learned a lot from the session where he shared many stories and tips for those interested in starting their own business. Heri Gunawan, one of the students in attendance, said, I learned the need to create the right environment to achieve our success, to be surrounded by like-minded, positive and energetic individuals. Albert credits his success to Sunway University and Victoria University alumni, mentors, teachers and also business individuals who have motivated him, providing him with the opportunities and tools to expand Malaysian products and services overseas to Australia. Life is all

reach
Name: Alumnus of: Company: E-mail:

ut
Albert Lim AUSMAT & VU Alive Group albert@alivegroup.com.au

11

sp

tlight on alumni

Jagadesan C. Mohan is a recipient of the Tun Dato Seri Omar Ong Community Scholarship which is awarded to individuals from the community with budding potential between the ages of 18 and 25. This scholarship covers the recipients full tuition fees, accommodation, and book purchases. He graduated in 2009 with First Class honours. Firstly and most importantly, I would like to thank Sunway University for awarding me the community scholarship. Completing my studies at Sun-U was truly the opportunity of a lifetime. When I first joined Sun-U, my intention was to do a Diploma in Information Technology. I really enjoyed my studies and therefore, with the help of Mr. Kanendran and Mr. Cheang Meng Wai, I continued on to pursue my BSc (Hons) in Information Technology. I even worked as an ICT R&D Associate on campus, which helped me a lot in my studies and personal life. I am grateful to Ms Jayanthy Maniam for giving me the opportunity. It was not an easy journey during my course of studies. The lecturers were really good and helped me out whenever I was down or was unable to concentrate. I was experiencing something totally different than what I was used to. I had grown up in Kampung Ganapathy in Port Dickson with my 5 siblings. My mother was a cancer patient while my father passed away in 1998. Thus, I had started working immediately after my SPM exams, but Malaysian Care and Sunway University changed all that. Thanks to all the help given to me, I persevered and succeeded in my studies! Being the first in my family to get a degree, I was overjoyed!

My journey with Sunway was far from over though. After graduating, I ventured into a small information technology solutions company where I learned a lot about market needs and trends on software development. Many of the issues that I had with my clients were solved with the help Dr. Lim Tong Ming, the head of the School of Computer Technology. He contributed a lot to my business development and even taught me how to charge my clients as I was very new to the industry. Without a proper business background, stepping into business resulted in a tough time managing my financial needs. I decided that it was important to learn the theoretical aspects of business by furthering my studies, and the practical aspects through my personal experience. I was a given an opportunity to pursue my MBA with a scholarship from University Tun Abdul Razak, thanks to my achievements in Sunway University. These achievements also led to me being given a government project where I was asked to develop a system for them. Even though it was a difficult time for me and my team, we managed to excel and finish the project with the government agency. Currently I am also involved in projects in Sun-U because many of the lecturers are giving my company the opportunity to do their projects. After completing my MBA, if given an opportunity, I would like to work for Sunway Group for at least 2 years to sharpen my business skills while contributing back to this corporation. I always believe in contributing back to the society in any way I can and thats the reason I engage myself in Sunway Indian

12

Cultural Society events either as a sponsor or a participant. I would like to thank Sunway Indian Cultural Society for giving me the opportunity to still participate even though I have graduated. Let me take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the lecturers, Malaysian Care and the staff of the Student Services Department who have been very supportive of me. Im also grateful to the book vendors for their book donations as Im still using those books today. Without all of you, I would not have achieved this success. I hope that, coming from the background that I had, I can be an inspiration to others like me, to work hard in their studies. My advice to them is that, in spite of problems, we should not give up easily or waste opportunities. Choose your friends wisely as they will be your moral support. Do not give in to peer group pressure as you may not be able to cope. Last but not least, to all my fellow friends and alumni, Sunway is a very good platform for your bright future. Use it properly and you will shine.

reach
Name: Alumnus of: Company: E-mail:

ut
Jagadesan C. Mohan SCT Mitra Group jagadesan@mitragroup.com.my

13

sh utout! Deserving Students Get RM6.9 Million


In October, 380 students received their scholarships totaling RM2.9 million. Besides the usual scholarship categories, need-based scholarships were also presented. The Tun Dato Seri Omar Ong Community Scholarship has been presented since 2002 and is specifically for those from economically challenging circumstances or who are residing in charitable homes. There were 9 recipients of this scholarship during the ceremony. At the other end of the scale, Sunway also affirmed outstanding academic achievers. The prestigious Chancellors Scholarship is one such category. The award covers full tuition fees and a two week study visit to Lancaster University including air passage. Recognizing the achievements of deserving students is vital in attracting the best and brightest to our institution. They are an integral part of the legacy that Sunway University will leave behind. In 2010 alone, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation gave out RM6.9 million in scholarships. Around RM60 million worth of scholarships have been given out to-date from the Foundation and its predecessor entity, the Sunway Education Trust Fund. Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director, said Scholarships have a way of touching people and encouraging academic excellence. I hope our present scholarship recipients will find inspiration in this ceremony and they should believe that with hard work it is possible for them to achieve their dreams.

Graduation 2010
On October 1st 2010, the Graduation Ceremony was held to confer degrees and grant diplomas to 378 new alumni. The Chancellor of Lancaster University, Sir Chris Bonington, and the Chancellor of Sunway University, Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AO, were present to give away the scrolls. The graduates received two scrolls each, one from Sunway and one from Lancaster University. This graduation saw the first cohorts of 16 B.Sc (Hons) International Hospitality Management and 4 B.Sc (Hons) International Tourism Management graduates. The ceremony also saw the first cohort of graduates with a B.Sc (Hons) Accounting & Finance. Valedictorian, Jet Chan Yung Mun who achieved a first class honours in this degree, was a Chancellors Scholar, President of the Sun-U Student Council, and an active member of the Sunway Toastmasters Club. There were 3 other Chancellors Scholars who graduated with first class honours at the ceremony namely, Joyce Oo, Chan Jinn Yep and Tay Ee Lin.

Sir Chris Bonington said he was impressed with the number of first class honours graduates which reflected the quality of Sunway University as a provider of higher education. He said, Lancaster values its partnership with Sunway University as Lancaster aspires to become an internationally known university. The relationship between Lancaster and Sunway is growing from strength to strength and we regard Sunway as our equal in this partnership.

14

U P DAT E S
JEFFREY CHEAH FOUNDATION:
Four enterprising MBA alumni - Benson Wong, Rodney Toh, Lenny Chiah and Steven Shim launched their third book, MBA Edge Unlimited at Sunway University last September. The four were among the first cohorts of the Victoria University MBA at Sunway University in 2004 and early 2005. The book launch represented two significant achievements for these alumni. The first achievement was of course the unveiling of their MBA Edge Unlimited book to the public, officiated by YB Dr. Hou Kok Chung, the Deputy Minister of

VU MBA Alumni launch their third book


Higher Education. The second was the donation of the total book sales at the launch towards the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation in view of their strong ties with their alma mater. It was in his speech at this event that Dr Hou directed an idea to the four authors to consider starting an MBA Registry to develop a database of genuine MBA holders. He added I am confident that general public and even the Government can turn to it with confidence to seek authenticity of holders. Elizabeth Lee, the Executive Director of Sunway University said, Benson, Rodney, Lenny and Steven are our notable alumni who should be congratulated for not only coming back to our campus to share their knowledge through their book but they have contributed towards the community through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. MBA Edge Unlimited is a guide for undergraduates, executives, managers and aspiring managers who wish to pursue an MBA. Some of the topics that are elaborated in the book are the mindset and priorities of an MBA and CSR.

Cutting for a cause

more days at Sunway Pyramid. The goal of the fundraiser was to attract a large crowd and provide them with a haircut priced at RM 10. Proceeds of RM 14,000 gathered from the Pre-Cutathon and Cutathon were all donated to the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. The Cutathon was not just a fundraising event but a window of opportunity especially for Sun-Us YES to experiment and learn while gaining exposure and experience in the business world. Ms. Winnie Loo, the Founder and Creative Director of A Cut Above, expressed that she had chosen the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation because just like A Cut Above Academy, it is dedicated to providing educational opportunities -- The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation aims to provide education to deserving individuals who cannot afford an education. A Cut Above Academy also aims to provide education to the younger generations by educating them vocationally. We believe that education is the basic foundation of an individual; hence, we decided to contribute the charity funds to the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation.

There are many things you can expect from the creative minds of youths and young entrepreneurs today but to combine creativity, customer satisfaction and do it for a cause is a whole different ballgame. The Pre-Cutathon held at Sunway University (Sun-U) accomplished all of the above. A Cut Above Academy collaborated with Brian Lee, Sunway alumnus, as well as Sun-Us Young Entrepreneur Society (YES) to host this fundraiser. Their vision was simple; to use expertise and skills, deliver customer satisfaction and most importantly set the benchmark for Malaysian citizens to start giving back to the community. The Pre-Cutathon, an extension of Cutathon 7 (Season II), started with a punch at Sun-U and continued for 3

15

sh utout!
Sir Christian Bonington greets new alumni
On 2 October, the day after the Graduation 2010 event, Sir Christian Bonington, Chancellor of Lancaster University, and Professor Robert Bignall, Vice-Chancellor of Sunway University, spent an afternoon getting to know the newest members of the Sunway Alumni community. A reception was specially planned to coincide with Sir Bonington's visit to give our Lancaster University-affiliated graduates an opportunity to meet with him and other senior staff from LU. The event was made even more special as it also served as an alumni reunion for those who graduated from Lancaster University itself. One alumnus graduated way back in 1971! It was a unique occasion which allowed past graduates to mingle with the fresh young graduates from Sun-U, to pass along their wealth of information to the next generation.

Viva Victoria!
The VUMBA students hold a dinner gathering annually and this year, it was an all white affair! Attendees wore white outfits in a restaurant with white dcor. It was a fun event for students, staff and alumni at Fullhouse in Sunway Giza with good food, good conversation and good prizes. Puan Sri Susan Cheah graced the occasion and shared a few words before opening the event with a multi-colored bang! The evening closed with the best dressed male and female awards, with Wilson Wong, VUMBA alumnus, winning the best dressed male award! Looking forward to next years event!

Jungle Rumble - Sun-U Staff Party 2010


Sun-U staff rumbled the jungle last October with costumes that blended everyone right into the shrubbery. Although the event was mainly for staff, it was not short on alumni participation! Hanniz Efni, ABE alumnus, served as the event manager of the evening and the decorations were amazing! She helped the event to run flawlessly. Several other alumni were also invited to join us and they got to see their old lecturers and administrators let their hair down! It was fun!

You might also like