Migin explains that the Faculty’s focus on giving an edge to its students has led to the addition of a finance component to its popular business programmes.

Exemplifying determination in the face of adversity, the Faculty of Business and Information Science’s student, Tiew, was awarded the inaugural Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award during UCSI’s recent convocation.

Exemplifying determination in the face of adversity, the Faculty of Business and Information Science’s student, Tiew, was awarded the inaugural Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award during UCSI’s recent convocation.

Tiew Kee Yee is no stranger to adversity. And he is also no stranger to success. His stellar academic and co-curricular achievements stem from an ironclad determination to achieve, regardless of the obstacles in his way. 

Diagnosed with Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy disease, which causes the weakening of muscles, Tiew depends on a wheelchair to get around. Nonetheless, he did not let that stop his pursuit of an education. He states matter-of-factly that his condition will not improve. 

“Knowledge is my only choice to ensure I have a competitive advantage,” he says with a smile without a hint of self-pity. 

His resolve to earn a degree saw him enrolling in UCSI University’s BA (Hons) Accounting degree under the Faculty of Business and Information Sciences (FoBIS). His years at UCSI from foundation to degree are marked with achievement after achievement. In 2009, he was awarded the MERIT Scholarship Award, and he was on the Dean’s List for two years in a row for 2011 and 2012. 

To cap it off, during UCSI University’s 27th Convocation ceremony held in early August this year, he was announced as the recipient of the inaugural Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award – an honour on par with that of the valedictorian. 

When asked how he feels winning the award, he flashes a grin and said “surprised”. Slightly hesitant, he adds it also gave him a sense of “peace and contentment” knowing that his efforts are recognised by others. 

Balancing his studies with his aspiration to carve his own place in the world, Tiew made a conscious effort to step out of his comfort zone as much as possible. This saw him setting up the Accounting and Finance Student Association as the founding president and participating in various competitions and forums organised by the Faculty. 

Recalling his time at UCSI with much pride and fondness, Tiew is thankful that his experience has helped him evolve from a boy who had difficulty expressing himself confidently in school to a young man who speaks animatedly to anyone about his passion – tax. 

“I’m glad for my time at UCSI. It showed me that my presence means something.” 

An Edge with Finance 

To ensure its students like Tiew are equipped with a competitive edge for the working world, FoBIS periodically reviews its programmes. 

Going to the source of student employment, the academic staff members touched base with industry practitioners and realised that all of them had the same request. 

“The industry leaders we spoke with said that they needed graduates with financial knowledge,” reveals Melissa Migin, the dean. 

Interestingly enough, the industry feedback is not that it needs graduates of finance degrees; it needs graduates with knowledge of finance in addition to a conventional business degree. 

Migin credits this demand for finance expertise on top of a traditional business degree to the flexibility such a degree provides. Both the student and employing company have the option of utilising either skill depending on the career opportunities and department needs. 

Industry feedback coupled with the fact the financial services sector is targeted to raise the country’s Gross National Income by a staggering RM121.5 billion by 2020, led Migin and her team to realise that the time is now to equip their students with financial knowledge. 

Thus, FoBIS has designed a new range of programmes that incorporates the trusted business degree with the growing finance potential. 

These are, Bachelor of Financial Economics (Hons), BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance, BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science & Finance, BSc (Hons) Finance & Investment, and BBA (Hons) Islamic Banking & Finance. 

This foresight by the Faculty also means that UCSI is one of the few private tertiary education institutions offering these degrees. 

To ensure its students excel academically as well as in the working world later on, the Faculty emphasises hands-on learning. This is in line with UCSI’s Praxis University® approach that advocates the application of theory to practice. 

While its two-month Co-Op attachments for every study year send students to intern with some of the best names in the industry, FoBIS also brings the industry to the students. 

It does this through the presence of adjunct professors – industry professionals who deliver lectures to students on the ins and outs of the industry. Additionally, the Faculty also organises forums, seminars, workshops, and talks by key industrial partners such as the Securities Commission, Apple and Tricor. 

As a testament to its esteem, FoBIS also has an excellent relationship with accrediting and professional bodies like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA), Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) Australia, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM). This has resulted in professional papers exemptions for many of its business degrees. 

All this is done to give its graduates the competitive edge for a successful future. 

To find out more about the UCSI University Faculty of Business and Information Science’s new programmes, contact us at 03-91018882 or email www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/onlineenquiry.