First in Malaysia and Asia - the KDU Diploma in Golf Management

KDU College proudly launched the country’s first ever Diploma in Golf Resort Management on 24 March 2010 at its Damansara Jaya campus.

Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Mohamed Salleh Mohamed Yasin, officiated the launch which also included a friendly 18-hole tee off at Saujana. “Students can benefit from this unique programme as they can meet golf club members and improve their interpersonal communication skills,” said Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Mohamed Salleh in his speech.

“Sustain the quality of this programme to be a centre of excellence as Saujana is the best golf resort. Work with the Malaysian Golf Association, and network with other golf resorts. Be known in the golf industry as the best in the world, and encourage staff of other golf resorts to send their staff to KDU for training. Send the students out of Malaysia too for their training, to gain international exposure,” he advised.

"Be a centre of excellence," says Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Mohamed Salleh

The ice sculpture with the hidden golf club

The breaking of the ice sculpture

Datin Puteri Juliana presents the golf club to Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Mohamed Salleh

The first of its kind in Malaysia and in Asia, this two-year programme is a collaboration effort by KDU's School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts (SHTCA) with Saujana Golf & Country Club with assistance from La Trobe University, Australia.

Teeing-off

The 2 1/2 year programme, which is the first and only of its kind in Malaysia, will ensure that students attain academic and industry knowledge as it bridges theory and practice concurrently. The academic components which are related to hospitality and service production will be taught by SHTCA . Turf Management, golf course management and golf shop management will be taught by specialist lecturers, with training to be provided by Saujana golf resort.

Encik M.A. Halim Ahmad (Group CEO, Saujana) said that this is an opportunity for Saujana Golf & Country Club to give back to the industry through its training for the students. “We need to start growing our talents to fill the needs of the industry. A lot of countries like China and Singapore are tapping our talents. That shows the demand for this course.”

Encik M.A. Halim Ahmad,Group CEO, Saujana.

Sources:

• Managing a golf resort, from Thestar online (Sunday, April 18 , 2010):
http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/4/18/education/6020654&sec=education

• Getting into schools, from Thestar online (Sunday, April 11 , 2010):
http://thestar.com.my/golf/story.asp?file=/2010/4/11/golf/5997371&sec=Golf

KDU Robotic Challenge Final

When you see the word, ‘robotics’, you think that it wouldn’t be that challenging and fun. But for the secondary school teams that participated in the KDU College Robotics Challenge on 20 March 2010, it was FUN as they tried to outmaneuver opposing teams using their brains and reflexes! Champion team, SMJK Chung Ling took the top spot and won RM1000.00 cash prize, followed by SMK Bukit Jambul for 1st Runner Up Prize of RM500.00 cash and SMK Heng Ee for 2nd Runner Up Prize of RM300.00 cash. The Robotic Challenge has been a KDU yearly event, held to guide students to learn and build robotics by using technology, science and ICT. This competition is targeted at secondary school students from the region and it has received good response during several workshops organized to create awareness and interest among students with similar interest in robotics engineering.

Participants used their creativity and technological abilities to create the robots during the workshops, conducted by KDU College’s experienced lecturers, Dr. Gil, Dr. Yeap Gik Hong and Mr. Khor Tze Ping. Students were guided on the basic techniques which include programming, robotic technology and electronic engineering. After the workshop, the students were given a “Classroom Experience” which was a two-hour lecture in one of the Engineering subjects.

Students who participated at the Lego Robotics Workshop concluded their work by competing in the finals of the Robotics Challenge Competition 2010. Visitors and KDU students had an opportunity to interact with participants and their robots. The participants made their robots with built-in light, pre-calculated programmes, ultrasound sensors to manoeuvre the race tract within a specified time frame during the event on Saturday. It was an interactive event where students competed against each other to determine who could make the most reliable and sturdy robot.

This year’s competition which offered RM5,000.00 in total prize money and multi-media gadgets such as Apple iPod Shuffles and thumb-drives attracted over 10 teams from Penang secondary schools. According to the Program Leader from the School of Engineering, Science and Technology, Dr.Gil Barte, “By participating in this workshop and competition, students will be able to learn the science and technology through discovery and apply their new found knowledge through challenges and competitions”. This competition was also part of KDU’s attempt to introduce Electronics and Engineering field to the younger generation in tandem with the industry’s government’s call for more engineers to meet the rising demand. Engineering jobs are now attracting many students as engineers can demand high salaries and they can expect good job satisfaction.

KDU College Penang’s Engineering Department welcomes cooperation with secondary schools and is looking to have more activities such as the robotics workshop and invites the representatives of the schools to call KDU.

For more information, please contact KDU College Penang at 04-226 6368.

Clash of the Titans @ KDU Power Chef 2010

By: Ann Teoh

Malaysian's favourite food fare was given the limelight today at the KDU Power Chef 2010 culinary competition. Teh Tarik and Roti Canai took centre stage as 64 teams representing some 23 schools from the Klang Valley took part. It was indeed a clash of the titans as they battled for round 2.

When asked about the judging criterias, Chef Azmil Haranay said, “Besides good taste, we’re also looking for skills, creativity, presentation styles as well as the hygiene in food preparation.” Those are the tips, competitiors!


Students Tan Sue May and Samantha Yap from SMK USJ 12 were competing for the first time. They have never made Teh Tarik before but eager to demonstrate showmanship in their presentation, they challenged the norm by using a blindfold to “pull” the tea. It was a great effort on their part.

Irena and Siti Hawa from SMK Seafield USJ 2 were very hopeful that their technique in roti canai twirling would earn them a spot in the Preliminary Round 2 which is to be held next Saturday, on 3rd April.

Congratulations to the following teams that have made it to Preliminary Round 2.

School /Team
SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 - BUD4 (1)
SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 - BUD4 (2)
SMK Subang Jaya - D'Olives
SMK Subang Jaya - Smart Chef
SMK Damansara Damai - Didian's Senior Chef
SMK Damansara Damai - Didian's Junior Chef
SMK USJ 12 - Bon Appetite
SMK USJ 12 - Thyme to Eat
SMK USJ 12 - Wok n' Roll
SMK (P) Sri Aman - Placebo
SMK (P) Sri Aman - O'Malley
SMK (P) Sri Aman - Cherry
SMK Seafield - Sensasi Delight
SMK Seafield - Rasa Rasa Seafield
SMK Taman Sea - Scarlett
SMK Taman Sea - Function
SMK Taman Sea - Glory
SMK Taman Sea - G-Girl
SMK Taman Sea - Glow
SMK Katholik - K & R
SMK Katholik - Milo & Kek
Sekolah Sri Bestari - Creative Chef
SMK Bandar Utama - Delicious
SMK Bandar Utama - Yummy
SMK Bandar Utama - Daisy Kitchen
SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (3) - Cahaya
SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (3) - Subway
SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (3) - Epic Delicious Food
SMK USJ 8 - Symphony of Taste
SMK USJ 8 - Creative Art Crew
SMK USJ 8 - Le Amour DE'U8
SMK Sinar Bintang - Eclipse
SMK Bandar Utama - Hot & Spicy
SMK Damansara Jaya - Panhead's
SMK Damansara Jaya - The Sizzlers
SMK Seri Bintang Utara - Sains Geek
SMK Seri Bintang Utara - Art Geek
SMK St Mary - Saint Two
SMK Damansara Utama - SMK DU 1
SMK Damansara Utama - SMK DU 2
SMK Damansara Utama - SMK DU 4
SMK Seksyen 9, Shah Alam - Aluminium 9 Chef
SMK Seksyen 9, Shah Alam - Super Girls
SMK Seksyen 16 - Sweet 16
SMK Seksyen 16 - Bird of Paradise
SMK Seksyen 16 - Sixteen Girls
SMK Seksyen 16 - Power 16
SMK Bukit Jelutung - Chef Abroad
SMK Bukit Jelutung - Chef Mania
SMK Sri Permata - H2O












































Battle it out, Titanic 'Chefs'! See you in the next round!

Gastronomy Delights with Chef Kam

If there’s just one thing that unites our disparate culinary industry, it must be food: the passion of creating exquisite dishes. Students and visitors who recently attended Cooking Demonstration organized by Le Cordon Bleu had a chance to savour several entrees such as Pan fried Cod Fish with Soy Sauce Reduction, accompanied with Cous Cous and Beef Bacon. For dessert, it was the famed Opera Cake that had its audience asking for more.

The excitement and the fact that the food is prepared from scratch had its audience tasting fresh produce and salivating for more! The Cooking Demonstration was conducted at the Bon Appetite Restaurant, KDU College Penang campus and the special preview and cooking session was specially arranged for KDU College’s Culinary and Hotel Management students.

Le Cordon Bleu is a Worldwide Leader in Gastronomy, Hospitality and Management and the chef, Kenneth Kam is a graduate of this prestigious institution, famous for its culinary tradition of excellence in French cooking. Chef Kam has formerly worked in Auckland, New Zealand under the tutelage of celebrity chef, Michael James as well as in Sydney, Australia under Master Chef Raymond Blanc, who is a Two Michelin Star Chef.

With an armful of experience, Kenneth returned to KDU College to lecture in its School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts, where he was previously a student. The KDU Programs attracts students locally and from abroad as our graduates are regarded as some of the best by industry leaders. KDU College is dedicated to setting higher standards in the industry that differentiate our graduates from the crowd. Its faculty members like Chef Kam actively keep up to date with the culinary methodology and trends and constantly innovate by challenging themselves and students to excel in national and international competitions.

In addition, the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts at KDU College has also signed an MOU with International Hotel Management Institute Switzerland (IMI) which enables KDU to offer prestigious Swiss programmes locally. Its unique features prepare students to have exposure with industry placements in prestigious hotels and restaurants where their practical skills are enhanced as they work in real life contexts.

Chef Kenneth advised that, “Training for a culinary competition needs commitment, effort and time from both, the participant as well as the trainer”. By participating in culinary competitions, the confidence level of students increase, especially when they win. This would also benefit them when they enter the industry. When his students win, it is very fulfilling to Chef Kam because many of his students have won numerous accolades and prizes, especially the ones recognized as one of the leading and esteemed culinary competitions in the world such as the Food and Hotel Asia (FHA) Culinary Challenge and the Silverspoon Award. The fact that his students were the only students who competed in the challenge, alongside some of the best chefs from hotels proved their mettle. Students who train under Chef Kam must definitely meet his high expectations. As for himself, Chef Kam has bagged the Bronze medal in the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic 2009 recently. Prior to that, he was awarded Gold in the 2008 Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) Culinary Challenge. His advice to students, “Flair is one thing, but ultimately you need passion and determination to do what you love and love what you do”.

For more information, please contact KDU College Penang at 04-226 6368.

KDU Team Wins in MSC Competition

Two students, both from School of Engineering, Science & Technology of KDU College recently became champions in Business Plan Category Competition organized by Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC) and Institution of Higher Learning (IHLs) in Malaysia.

Team (LEXTRONICS) were thrilled when the results were announced during the final round at Cyberview Lodge, followed by Award Presentation Ceremony recently. Represented by Joshua Yam Weng Thai and Yeoh Huey Ling, the team remains the only college to compete among participants from respective universities. The duo’s innovative winning entry to the competition, a business idea for SMS-Controlled Multi-Socket, greatly impressed the judges who comprised key personnels from Consulting Agencies and MSC status companies. This year’s competition saw a notable participation of ICT enthusiasts, ranging from lecturers, graduates and undergraduates from non-academic or academia personnel.

With this success, the winners are now fast-tracked to be involved in technopreneur and enterprise development programmes such as the Pre-seed Jumpstart Workshop. The Workshop would train participants on how to improve on the current business plan and prepare them for the Pre-Seed Fund. “At KDU College, we not only equip our students with technical skills but also our attributes such as organizational and critical thinking skills in order to stay competitive. At the same time, students learn to merge their ideas and capitalize them into business plan,” added Mr. Gerard Boey, team leader of Lextronics. The team walked away with Grand Prize of cash worth RM7,000.

Both students are currently pursuing their studies in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with our partner-university--Northumbria University, United Kingdom. The courses offered at KDU College enable students to structure their school work and turn them into very viable business proposals. This was part of their school work which was converted into business plan because students are trained to develop organizational and critical analysis, thus making them competent in adapting or developing new ideas in the current market situations. Concurrently, students acquire new technical skills through exposure to technical business venture.

The competition is a collaborative effort by the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC) and Institution of Higher Learning (IHLs) in Malaysia. The objectives of the competition are to inculcate a culture of technopreneurship in IHLs, to provide exposure and knowledge of key competencies to become successful technopreneur, to encourage students and researchers to share their business ideas and form teams that leverage on both technology and business competencies, to identify commercially viable ideas and R & D project with Intellectual Property potential of their development into ICT SMEs.

For more information on the courses provided by KDU College Penang, please contact 04-226 6368 or visit our website http://www.kdupg.edu.my/

Scholarships Galore!

As secondary school students move up the ladder into college life, KDU College is packed with many gaining admission into various courses and getting psyched up for orientation.

KDU Serves
In line with our corporate social responsibility, a variety of different scholarships are awarded to top-scoring students in the recent SPM examinations. The High Achievers Scholarship, the most popular of all KDU scholarships, awards from RM5,000 to RM10,000 to new students enrolled in March (our biggest intake of the year)! Students took advantage of the fee waivers to enroll for their first choices in the Pre-University and Diploma Programmes.

Scholarships are also available for entry into degree programmes for A-Level, STPM and UEC high scorers, ranging from RM1,000 to RM12,000 in fee waivers.

Not the type to score?
We meet many students with different characteristics and various achievements, academically and non-academically. We meet the top-scorer who loves exams and do not mind spending a lot of time studying. Then there is the highly creative one who learns best by doing things and usually excels in sports, extra-curricular activities, coursework and assignments. Scholarships offered are in the form of :

- Principal Scholarship (recommended by School Principals, and covers 50 – 100% of tuition fees)

- Sports Scholarship (National or State level athletes are invited to apply, covers 50 – 100% tuition fees)

- Joint Scholarship (offered with Star Education Fund / Sin Chew Daily Education Fund / Nanyang Education Fund / NST-Mapcu Scholarship)

- Bumiputra Bursary Award (covers 50% of tuition fees for KDU Diploma programmes only)

- Merit Scholarship (this is another popular one!) (awarded based on merit performance to current students, covers part of tuition fees)

Scholarships are a great help to lessen the financial burden of tertiary education. There are more options to this than just scholarships. Financial institutions offer education loans for this purpose. Check out the offers by PTPTN (Government body for education loans) and other government assistance.

Finally, to all KDU students, a warm welcome and all the best in your quest for excellence!