ICPU Today

AUKU's Latest Amendment

2012-05-06T02:48:00.002-04:00

The Star | May 6th, 2012 The latest amendment to the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) will apart from allowing students to have political affiliations, pave the way for them to enrich their attributes and facilitate their personal development. STUDENTS can be actively involved in politics off campus and in peaceful rallies without worrying about getting into trouble with their universities, in the weeks ahead. Paving the way for this change of landscape is the latest amendment to the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) which the ministry said was an attempt to add more elements of natural justice to the Act known by its Malay acronym AUKU. The amendment was passed by the Dewan Rakyat via a voice vote on April 19, and will be tabled at the Dewan Negara on May 10. Over the last four decades, students have not been able to take part in politics or rallies and faced a multitude of actions such as suspensions or even expulsions. Universiti...

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Govt scholars must work locally after graduation

2012-04-24T14:03:00.005-04:00

The Star | April 24th, 2012 PUTRAJAYA: Beginning this year, the award of scholarships will be based on the need for scholars to meet their bond obligations upon graduation, by securing employment either with the public sector or an approved private sector company in Malaysia, the prime minister said. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was confident that with the move, the Public Service Department (JPA) and Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp) would optimise the nation's best and brightest, to ensure a strong pipeline of top scholars for the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) and Economic Transformation Plan (ETP). He said Malaysia could not be on the road to a knowledge-intensive and innovation-led economy without the talent to drive it. "Malaysia has talent, indeed we have global talent, the only problem is that the world knows it and therefore Malaysia has to compete for its own talent," he said. Najib said in terms of engaging fresh graduates entering...

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Grads: Skills to Pay the Bills. That's It?

2012-04-12T04:50:00.001-04:00

Source: Of grads and rewarding jobs THE difficulties faced by graduates to find jobs, especially one that is related to their fields of study can be quite a task and has drawn much debate. This seems to be a global problem. But the intensity of the debate here indicates that we, as a society, feel the issue is an important one. There was a recent report about the education system not producing thinking graduates and it is no doubt a serious issue. My analysis in this article arises from my experience as a businessman since I often meet entrepreneurs, and also as a visiting lecturer, where I am in contact with university students regularly. To me, Malaysian graduates do not lack technical skills or qualifications. But what makes them less prepared for the job market is their lack of “humanistic” education. Malaysia has a large number of technical and technological colleges where the different science disciplines are offered and taught. A technical-oriented...

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Midwest Games International

2011-07-25T21:49:00.003-04:00

embed from midwest facebook page Midwest Games has become an annual grand event for gatheting malaysian around middle west area of North America. Since 1970, Midwest Games has successfully gathered students from universities in the States and last year midwest has been brightened up with a team from Canada led by Mr Khamsani or also known as flyer. Rumours say that next year there will be Malaysian team from Mexico (lol) and this will further recognize the renaming of Midwest Games to Midwest Games International in 2010. Midwest Games will be mainly focusing on sports events: soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, sepak takraw, ultimate frisbee, tug of war, kayak, bowling, pool, tennis, table tennis, track, golf, online games and various games depends on the organizer. There is also sukaneka for children. Midwest is not all about sport, there are events such as leadership development forum, career day, social night, mamak night, midwest banquet, and midwest night with malaysian...

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US VISA Clarification

2011-07-24T02:06:00.001-04:00

After meeting with some fresh ex-CPU students, I heard that Mr Azri recommended that US VISA should be done in Canada because it takes up to 8 week for completion. I would like to mention that there were about 4 to 6 first year malaysian students who applied US VISA in Canada and got rejected because they required the students to stay in Canada for 1 year and half. (Source: Friend who applied last year) Regarding the time it takes to complete US VISA. It depends on the officer, interview and your luck. You can get: 1. As fast as on the next day (most probably) 2. within a week 3. within 2 weeks 4. within a month 5. within 3 months 6. wait zzz 7. rejected Some of you will plan to make US VISA next year when they come back to Malaysia. However, you should consider this: 1. you plan to do summer course or repeat some course during summer 2. some flight tickets and relatively cheaper from US 3. you spend a lot of money on accessories until u have no money for...

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Quick Guide to Canada 2.0

2011-07-21T10:38:00.001-04:00

Important Documents (must be kept with you at all times) Passport Financial affidavit Acceptance letter from the university Boarding pass Phone and banks Your seniors will help you open up a bank account and set up a phone plan. It is unnecessary to worry about them before your flight. You have two less things to worry about. Yay! Clothing You will arrive in Canada during the fall season. It will feel like being in an air-conditioned room. A typical Malaysian sweater (or the JPA blazer) will suffice. Buy your winter clothing in Canada. Canadians know Canadian weather best. Hence, they know how to produce the proper winter attire. Money Keep your traveler’s cheque safe. The pocket money given by JPA is enough for your journey to Canada. Convert some of that money to USD because it is acceptable worldwide. So you can shop wherever your transit stop will be. Bring Canadian coins in case you need to use the public phone. Electronics If you’re bringing a laptop,...

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McGill University (From a Male Point of View)

2011-06-26T21:41:00.000-04:00

Accommodation During my first year, I didn’t have the opportunity to stay in the on-campus housing as I was pretty sluggish in doing the application for the residence. But it was a no problem for me as Montréal offers variety of housing whether near or far from campus. I did find a 700$ per month apartment situated quite near the university and believe me you can find even better because I did find one in my second year. I found a 400$ apartment only 2 mins away from university, sounds like too good to be true doesn’t it ? You guys can check website for offcampus housing, Montreal craiglist, kijiji montreal and the mcgill offcampus housing is a good one too! Food There are quite variety of dishes in Montréal from Asian to middle east type of food. It’s easy to find Asian food as the Chinatown is quite big but don’t put your hope too much as there’s no maggi curry but we do have sayur kangkung , tom yam paste. For muslim, halal food also is not much a hassle to find in Montréal....

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McGill University (From a Female Point of View)

2011-06-18T15:15:00.004-04:00

What you should know when going abroad for studies Firstly, McGill has 2 campuses – downtown and McDonald Campus (I’m at downtown campus so I don’t really know anything about the other campus) Accommodation On the norm, first years would normally stay on campus (move in - late august, move out – end of april the following year) You will start searching for off campus housing as early as February for a lease that begins in May. However, sometimes students miss on the on campus residence application and hence will start off your university staying off campus. (This is very troublesome because you’re not there to house hunt and will need to do everything online and through phone calls, etc.) Food: On-campus – If you’re in a residence that comes with meal plans, there’s always vegetarian and seafood option. As for chicken and meat, Halal ones are made available once in a blue moon (they will have the “halal” label). If you’re at residences without meal plans, you’ll be responsible...

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U of T - Tribute to the Graduating Class of 2011

2011-06-16T05:21:00.001-04:00

They are Arif Makhdzir, Jin Yong Yee, Mubeen Muhtar, and Mohd Safwan Ahmad Nadzri. The four students who first stepped into the gate of University of Toronto St. George among the Malaysian students here. Consequently, they are also the first ones to graduate. Among them, Arif and Safwan started the Malaysian Student Association of University of Toronto (MASAT).

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University of Toronto Scarborough

2011-06-15T03:57:00.001-04:00

University of Toronto at Scarborough is another campus of University of Toronto located on the eastern side of Toronto in Scarborough. The buildings and facilities are still pretty new and improving day by day. However, due to the nature of the location of the campus, moving about within Scarborough might be a bit of a pain. One good thing, the campus is not as big as St. George and it suffices to just walk your way around campus . It’s a pretty good place to study too if one prefers a serene countryside atmosphere. Classes are pretty normal with 250-300 students per session. Tutorials and labs with 25-30 students per session. The facilities are pretty awesome with 24/7 library and computer labs which offer their services earlier in the school session. The teaching assistants are also pretty nice and helpful. And it’s usually normal that these TAs offer free study sessions before tests and exams. So grab those opportunities. Student centre houses the ISC, food vendors, ATM...

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Extreme Engineering - UofT

2011-06-14T12:10:00.004-04:00

The end of the coffee tower. You have serve us well my friend. Now, you may rest in pieces.

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Get to Know Bed Bugs Before You Sleep With Them

2011-06-10T20:35:00.001-04:00

Photo credit: pestcontrolcanada.com Over the last couple of years, Toronto Public Health has received an increase in calls regarding bed bugs. It is possible for anyone to become infested with bed bugs, which are small biting insects that multiply quickly and travel easily. An infestation can cause anxiety and a feeling of shame. They can also cause secondary infections, allergic reactions and financial hardship. For more information, click here. "You don't usually have mosquitoes or roaches to worry about. But you do have bed bugs. Get educated about them so that you may prevent them from coming into your homes in the first place. Because when they do, it'll be hard to kick them out. Prevention is better than cure. Seriously, it is. It hurts less too." - Someone who speaks from experience

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Attitudes of an Excellent Student

2011-06-08T05:30:00.000-04:00

Do not skip classes! There is a reason why we have teachers. Their explanations and interactions make it easier for us to understand, and often those suffice for passing with a good grade. Moreover, class assignments help to put our knowledge into implementation. Class attendance may also carry bonus marks. Follow the class instructions strictly The rules are there to ensure a smooth conduct of classes therefore it doesn’t help if you spend half the year not knowing what the rules and regulations are! Do not be a back-bencher Back seats are usually occupied by those who have absolutely no interest in the class. They sit there so that they can avoid interactions with the teacher or avoid being caught doing something which is not allowed in class, such as sleeping, studying for another course, playing games on their phone, talking, etc. Therefore, try to sit somewhere in the first two rows. This is also good for hearing the teachers loud and clear, it might even keep you...

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University of New Brunswick

2011-06-03T05:34:00.002-04:00

Photo credit: smr.newswire.ca Assalamualaikum dan Salam Sejahtera kawan-kawan ^_^ Mengenai University of New Brunswick, sila layari website www.unb.ca untuk keterangan lanjut. Ni pula info tambahan based on pengalaman kami di sini: Basically Fredericton ni pekan dan populasi pokok lebih banyak dari penduduknya, tapi up sikit la dari kampung. Kehidupan ‘Slow pace’: Tak sibuk macam kat bandar-bandar besar. Penduduknye friendly dan senior-senior pun peramah. Suasana belajar kat sini Saiz kelas kecil: Kebanyakan kelas di sini bersaiz kecil (50+). Hanya subject-subject yang melibatkan banyak faculty atau kurang guru, kelas akan dibuat dalam auditorium. Kelebihannya prof dapat beri lebih perhatian kepada pelajar, prof tahu kebanyakan nama-nama pelajar, pelajar tidak segan bertanya dalam kelas, dan pelajar senang mengenali rakan sekelas. Conducive untuk study: Suasana amat sesuai untuk study. Tak banyak gangguan. Tempat shopping pun tak complex sangat. Entertainment kurang....

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Ryerson University

2011-06-01T23:26:00.002-04:00

Website: ryerson.ca Let me start off with the location of the campus. Ryerson University is located at the heart of downtown Toronto. It is all about city life surrounded by lots and lots of buildings. It is a very happening place. If you Google map the university you will notice that it has a pretty small campus, well size doesn't really matter! :) Before I say anything else about Ryerson, if you are a student who is very concerned and particular about the University ranking and all that, you probably won't even know about the existence of Ryerson and not so interested to look at it at all. Just a tiny bit of advice, choosing a university is not all about the ranking it is about the experience that you get in the 4 years or more of your undergraduate life. Also, the value of your scroll will not really matter when you graduate, it will be your personality, character, experience and skills that you have carved in you that will save you in the corporate world. Enough wisdom...

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How to Get Your US Visa and Why You Should Get One

2011-06-01T13:45:00.002-04:00

Photo credit: topnews.in For those of you coming to Canada, I advice you to apply for a US visa as well and complete your application in Malaysia. The earlier the better. The time for completion varies. If all goes well, you might get your visa within a week. You'll need a visa or a US passport (if you're born the US) to get into the US. Why Malaysia and why bother making a US visa at all? Well, there are a few points here that I would like you to consider: Applying for US visa in Malaysia is much easier especially is you're a Muslim and more specifically if you're name has "Muhammad" or "Ahmad". I think you know why that is. It is unfortunate that the acts of an ignorant few cost the overwhelming majority of Muslims to suffer the consequences but that is the reality that we have to live with. Hopefully it'll change in the future. If all goes well, you can get your visa within a week. It's simple: go to the Malaysian US embassy's website (click on category B1/B2), pay the...

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Introducing Education Malaysia Canada (EMC)

2011-06-01T13:26:00.000-04:00

Education Malaysia Canada (EMC) - formerly known as Malaysian Students Department (MSD) - is located at the High Commission of Malaysia office in Ottawa. They serve Malaysian students in Canada in order to make sure that the students are taken care of. High Commission of Malaysia office in Ottawa Don't forget to register with EMC! This makes it easier for them to keep track of Malaysian students in Malaysia because we're technically under their responsibility so if anything happens they'll get the heat. They have a lot of useful information on their website especially for new students. You should definitely check it out. Our Education Attache in Canada is Mr. Azriey bin Mazlan. He will be looking after Malaysian students in Canada. You can consult him through his email azriey.mazlan@jpa.gov.my or via phone 011 603 8885 3386 (office). For more information, visit their website at msdcanada.ca.

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Tax Return

2011-06-01T12:38:00.002-04:00

Here in Canada the taxes are CRAZY! In most areas, you have to pay 14% tax for most of the things you buy. Thankfully there's something called "tax return" which basically means that you can get some of your money back. But, you have to remember to file your tax every year! How to file your tax? Photo credit: varsityproperties.com Tax Clinics The university might provide the students (especially first year students) tax clinic to help them file their taxes. Find out if the university you're at provide that service. All you have to do is show up with some documents. Click here to see the list of documents that University of Toronto Mississauga students have to provide in order to file their taxes, so that you can get an idea of what to bring. I think the documents to bring are the same for all students from all universities but since I'm not sure I won't make that assumption. Online You can also file your tax online at ufile.ca. How much will you...

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5 Things To Do As Soon As You Get Paid

2011-04-11T07:28:00.003-04:00

I know that we get super excited whenever our scholarship money (or any form of income) get deposited into the bank. But before we march straight to the nearest shopping mall or log into eBay, we should definitely go through these 5 important things first so that you don't run out of money when you need it the most. By Navin Siddiqui, Founder of UnDebtMe 1. Set Aside the Core Amount: Earlier in the article you will have calculated your Core Amount. This amount might not all be due yet so to ensure that this amount remains undisturbed, subtract it from your total pay and work from whatever amount that is left. Photo credit: chrisd.ca 2. Save: A basic rule of thumb is to save 10% of your pay. Work out what amount is right for you and stick to it. Put it aside immediately. By putting aside your savings earlier on you are eliminating the temptation to use that money for something else. 3. Charity and Sadaqah: There is no denying that there is...

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Handwriting Practice Could Improve Your Cognitive Abilities

2010-10-13T21:45:00.002-04:00

Photo credit: pics.myspew.com Typing is certainly a lot more efficient, but discarding handwriting entirely might not be such a great idea. Picking up a pencil and a pad of paper to write out your ideas could aid your thought process and learning ability. If not just for the level of focus you get from having nothing but a pad of paper in front of you, you might benefit from the actual act of writing by hand. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at how this is an important developmental skill for children, but how it also applies to adults looking to keep their minds active. The idea is that the actual act of writing out the letter takes a little more work in your brain than just typing the letters on a keyboard, and that extra work keeps your mind sharp. Adults studying new symbols, such as Chinese characters, might enhance recognition by writing the characters by hand, researchers say. Some physicians say handwriting could be a good cognitive exercise for baby boomers working...

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It’s Taylor’s University now

2010-09-30T00:28:00.001-04:00

Source: The Star Online PUTRAJAYA: Taylor’s University can play an active role in helping the nation achieve a knowledge-based society by offering quality programmes to students, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said. He said the institution could perform well if it focused on niche areas such as hospitality, business management, engineering and technology. Previously known as Taylor’s College, it will be known as Taylor’s University effective yesterday. “The elevation is a recognition of the institution’s development and excellence, especially its quality and research,” he told reporters at the ministry before presenting documents for the elevation of university status to Taylor’s University vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Hassan Said. A milestone: Mohamed Khaled presenting the status elevation papers to Hassan while Taylor’s chairman Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim looks on. Photo credit: thestar.com.my A milestone:...

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Studying Can Be Relaxing

2010-09-22T08:11:00.002-04:00

Photo credit: cte-blog.uwaterloo.ca Hi guys. My Psychology professor gave me a good advice about studying. You should study uninterrupted for one hour and take a break before continuing your study for another hour (and the cycle goes on). This is unquestionably better and more efficient than cramming for 5 hours straight. Plus, you'll retain more information with short one-hour sessions. That's one part. But what to do when you take a short break in between those one-hour sessions? Usually we tend to drift off when we take breaks between our studying time. Sometimes it can be so tempting that you decided to take a break from the studying altogether. You got to have more willpower than that. Anyway, this is one suggestion of what to do during that short time: Hourly Desk Stretches Relax Your Brain and Body

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How to Pack Your Bags Like a Pro

2010-09-17T01:57:00.007-04:00

Greetings fellow readers! Other than studying, we Malaysian students like to travel right? Even if you don't like traveling, at least you would go back home during summer break. Packing can be a hassle for some people and they have these huge gigantic bags that can fit an elephant. If you need that big of bag, that's fine. But if it's unnecessary, wouldn't you just love to travel as light as possible? Photo credit: limited40.net This guy in the video below packed a month worth of clothes in a small bag. Watch how he does it!

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Change Up Your Study Spaces for Better Recall

2010-09-07T10:30:00.001-04:00

Photo credit: librariansmatter.com It seems like age-old advice to find a quiet, clean space and stick with it to do real studying. But cognitive scientists are finding that varying your environment while trying to learn helps you retain knowledge. A New York Times article on learning and study habits picks apart many of the truths that teachers and parents have held as self-evident through the years, including the ideas of "learning styles" (visual, auditory, and the like) and the concept that everyone should have a dedicated study area: ... Many study skills courses insist that students find a specific place, a study room or a quiet corner of the library, to take their work. The research finds just the opposite. In one classic 1978 experiment, psychologists found that college students who studied a list of 40 vocabulary words in two different rooms - one windowless and cluttered, the other modern, with a view on a courtyard - did far better on a test than students who studied...

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When is the Time to Book the Cheapest Flight?

2010-08-31T20:46:00.001-04:00

Photo credit: cheap-hotels-guide.tk That is a good question. Buying flight tickets is not like buying Coach handbags. Economist Makoto Watanabe worked out a formula designed to calculate the best time to buy an airline ticket if you're looking for the lowest prices. The answer, according to his formula: eight weeks before your flight. Like any such rule, I'm sure you'll find plenty of exceptions, but if you don't enjoy spending a lot of time agonizing about when to buy an airline ticket, it's a good rule of thumb to have on hand. In addition to the eight-week rule, Watanabe's formula also suggests that tickets are cheapest in the afternoon, according to The Observer. More at Lifehacker.com

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