Taking Jo the sea turtle out for hand-feeding. Jo was born blind with no eyes and would not be able to survive on her own without aid.

Globalisation and modern media have made it impossible to ignore global crises dotting the world.

UCSI University answers this silent call for help through numerous project collaborations by providing architectural design services to communities in need.

One significant highlight would be the University's contribution to the Juara Turtle Project (JTP), an environmental project which aims to support and increase the sea turtle population of Tioman Island through direct action and education.

30 students from the School of Architecture and Built Environment were enthusiastic participants in the project earlier this year, and were given two months to design a chalet to house volunteers on the island.

The hands-on campaign elicited positive responses from the students.

Yong Fui Kiun, a student involved in designing the chalet, said that it was a rare opportunity to be up close and personal with sea turtles and even feed them.

She added "JTP members were friendly and shared much knowledge with us on various ways to save the turtles. I learned a lot from them."

Jonathan Leong, a Semester 5 student involved in the community service aspect of the project, was also effusive with praise.

"It was a good project that taught me how to save sea turtles and prevent their extinction. It was certainly an eye-opening experience camping on the beach to keep an eye on the turtles when they waded ashore and mingling with volunteers from other countries."

Mohammad Zani Mohammad Zain, Head of the School, commented "We provide students with real-life experience, (exposure to) real-life sites and real-life clients. That is one way we set our programmes apart from others."

He also added that JTP was actively involved in the project.

"They attended the students' design review sessions, graciously hosted them on the island and provided much constructive feedback in terms of design and requirements."

The project provided an invaluable learning environment for the students, in terms of collaborating with industry clients, exposure to industrial practice at actual sites and dealing with architectural materials.

He believes that students should be equipped with a sense of responsibility towards nature and the community, and that studio learning should always be relevant to real-life.

Deliberations are also taking place to raise the level of awareness towards the Orang Asli community in Malaysia. Currently, plans are afoot to design a gallery cum café for them, designed by the School's young learners.

It will be an unconventional promotional approach without using traditional media and will involve students with a higher tier of knowledge, such as those in their second and third year of studies.

Nur Diana Rosli, Head of the School's Interior Architecture department, added that the students would be staying with the Orang Asli for a week to understand their lifestyles and foster creativity among them by teaching them art.

She said "We do not only work on hotel and residential projects; it is not about the glitz and the glamour. Instead, we are focusing on something more meaningful such as giving back to society."

Other community campaigns that the School has participated in include the Pudu community art installation, and conservation and preservation work in Taiping, to name a few.

By encouraging its students to participate in this pool of projects, the School has immersed them in actual industrial exposure and has inculcated a culture of contributing to local communities through Corporate Social Responsibility-themed projects.

These efforts are harmoniously parallel to the University's Praxis model, known in Ancient Greece as the act of applying theory to practice – an approach echoed by the School and other faculties.

Notably, the School is a blend of creativity and imagination, where students constantly challenge their potential by actively participating in competitions.

Last year saw Rudy Kwinoto, one of the School's Interior Architecture students, emerge as the Champion in the "My EVI Kitchen Cabinet and Door Design Contest", which aimed to provide an avenue for local designers to portray their creativity.

Rudy was also shortlisted in the Top 10 for the "MIFF Ideation Awards 2012" national competition despite intense competition from other talented professionals in the industry.

Along its "My Favorite Chair" theme, participants were required to design furniture in seating – single-piece or set – that complemented contemporary and environmentally-conscious lifestyles.

Zani aspires for his students to be empathic to global crises, in addition to being good designers.

"In order to produce better designs, students have to be immersed in experiential learning and happenings around the world – physically, socially or even culturally – instead of merely experiencing the world through websites and magazines."

This, he said, is one of the methods that have been implemented to groom the students to be good designers, architects and interior architects.

To date, the School offers five comprehensive programmes at various levels in Architectural Technology, Interior Architecture and Architectural Studies.

According to Zani, the programmes' key strengths are grounded in the dedication of its staff and delivery of learning methodologies and materials in a creative manner. Emphasis is also placed on providing an all-inclusive practical experience for students.

Hence, the School's "Experiencing Architecture" elective module adds much value as it endorses the concept of organising student trips to various architectural sites in Asia twice a year, such as Bali, Cambodia, Korea and Beijing, among others.

To find out more about UCSI University's Architecture courses and scholarships, feel free to pay us a visit on our Open Day from 21^st to 22^nd July 2012 (between 9.00am – 6.00pm), contact our counsellors at 03-9101 8880 or email us at www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/onlineenquiry for any enquiries.

You may also visit the UCSI University website at www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my.