ALL SMILES: UCSI alumni Joshua Chay (front row, second from right) – now the co-founder of The Spacemen, a production house – celebrating the end of his final presentation for his bachelor’s degree with coursemates.

“People don’t do production because it makes them millionaires; they do it because they’re passionate about it.” 

For Joshua Chay Jing Cheng, his work is his passion. 

As the co-founder of The Spacemen, a production house specialising in videos, photography, and content services, Chay credits his alma mater for shaping who he is today. 

“UCSI University was great because the lecturers were really good,” says Chay, a Mass Communication graduate from the University’s Faculty of Social Science and Liberal Arts (FoSSLA). 

“I’m grateful they understood what I was trying to do back then and encouraged me to express myself freely.” 

Reminiscing the past, he fondly recalls a project that necessitated him to adapt a Hollywood film into a really condensed short film; his very first short film. 

He describes the project as “amazing as it gave him lots of room to explore different scenes”. 

And despite learning most of his skills on his own and through freelancing, it was at UCSI that he learned to channel those skills. 

“Thanks to my lecturers and their classes, I learned to focus more (on my strengths),” he elaborates. 

“For example, if you know how to write very well, but don’t write in angles then you’re not writing good articles, right?” 

Chay’s glowing testimonies show that FoSSLA is strongly committed to create an environment where students can excel in their intellectual pursuits. 

But more than that, the Faculty acknowledges the individual talents of its students and ensures they hone their niche in the right direction. 

In their first year, Mass Comm students are introduced to courses – like written discourse, public speaking, advertising, public relations and journalism, among others – where they learn the basics of the field. 

Year 2 sees them gaining deeper knowledge in various courses and choosing electives that are relevant for their pathway while Year 3 is separated into three main pathways: Film and Television; Journalism; and Marketing Communications. 

Notably, the three-year curriculum has been designed as such so that students would be exposed to many elements in the field and would be able to make the right decision when it was time to choose their major. 

But while FoSSLA’s well-designed curriculum structure is certainly noteworthy, it is the lecturers – many of whom have extensive industrial experience – who should be put in the spotlight. 

It’s all about the experience 

Take for example Nazvi Careem, who has more than 25 years of industry experience in journalism. 

While he keeps his classes fun, interactive and informal, Careem is resolute in his commitment to see his students equipped with the right knowledge and skills even before graduation. 

He ventured into teaching because he wanted students to immediately put to practice what they learned at university to their workplace, be it a public relations company, magazine or newspaper. 

“I know what a student needs to be a good journalist. And that ‘A’ will mean nothing unless they can write an article,” he points out. 

Careem’s classes are popular among the Mass Comm students at the University and Chay – who was also a student in his class – is appreciative of what he has learned there as it was more ‘goal-focused’. 

“It was more about using your own methods to get to the goal. He created an environment for us to learn on our own but at the same time, there was still some ’structure’ so you learn something at the end of the day.” 

At FoSSLA, students enjoy avenues to think creatively, give shape to their ideas and communicate those ideas under the tutelage of experienced lecturers. 

FoSSLA is, notably, a faculty that strives to make a difference in the lives of its students. A faculty that is keen to see its students become creative and confident individuals who are passionate about what they do. 

And if Chay’s success as an entrepreneur is any indication, then the Faculty is certainly moving closer to fulfilling its goal.