SPM, High School - Youth Science Camp 2006

The annual Youth Science Camp (YSC) is a 5 day camp to promote science to youths. This camp is known as the unofficial National Science Camp, as the Ministry of Education is still sorting out some issues. The date and venue of this year's program is as below :

16 - 20 June 2006
Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
81310 UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

The Youth Science Camp will provide an environment in which participants are exposed and challenged academically through exciting lectures, visit to hi-tech laboratories and hands-on experience. The participants have the opportunity to challenge themselves physically and mentality in an extensive outdoor recreational activities and motivational programmes as well as to share their knowledge and experiences. They will have the opportunity to interact and communicate with a diverse society of guests, academics, researchers and other participants as well as establish interaction with others.

The emphasis of this programme is on the importance of social values through thoughtful scientific leadership and career.

Activities of the program are :

Academic Programs :
Physics, Mathematics, Bioscience & Chemistry Modules & Forums.
Educational Tour to Marine, Robotic, Nano & Solid State Chem. Lab.
Outdoor Recreational Programs :
Morning Exercise, Kayaking, Horse Riding, Abseiling, Orienteering & etc.
Motivation Programs :
Color & Personality, Career Forum & Strees Management.
Special Events :
Talk & workshop with invited speakers

The goals of the program are :

The Youth Science Camp seeks to honour, reward and encourage excellence in science and to create an environment where young scientists of diverse backgrounds and interests may reap maximum benefits from interaction with one another and with scientist and researcher from University Technology Malaysia.
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I was fortunate enough to be attend the YSC 2005. Each year, they will select about 45 to 50 students to attend this event. The students chosen are normally students who have demonstrated an interest in science and have achieved good grades.

The camp will be held at the Ibnu Sina Institute (IIS) for Fundermental Science Studies. The IIS was established in 1997 to stand at the forefront of the university's aspiration of being a research university by the year 2010. (How true this is I cannot vouch though)

I must point out that the IIS has a lot of high tech facilities though. Some of the facilities are the only ones in Malaysia :


Research Laboratories

- Ibnu Rusd Computational
Laboratory
- Nanostructure and nanophysics laboratory
- Einstein Gravitational Wave
Laboratory
- Photonic laboratory
- Nanochemistry Laboratory
- Molecular Chemistry Laboratory
- Inorganic Synthesis Laboratory
- Chemical Analysis Laboratory

Research Equipments

- 400 MHz Solid State MAS NMR
Spectrometer
- 300 MHz HR NMR Spectrometer
- HR X-ray Diffractometer
- Scanning Probe Microscope
- Electron Spin Resonance Spectrometer
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass
Spectrometer
- Capillary Electrophoresis System
- Diffused Reflectance UV Spectrophotometer
- Supercritical Fluid Extraction System
- Catalyst Characterization System
- Glove Box Workstation
- Cerius 2 and Materials Studio Modelling System and Softwares

This centre is headed by Professor Dr. Halimaton Hamdan, a Ph.D holder from Cambridge.

Needless to say, participants will be directly exposed to these equipments. It will really be an eye opener, as most of the secondary school students have never gotten the chance to see them.

During the camp, we will be lectured on some topics which are out of the secondary school syllabus. We will then be required to apply them directly in some of the modules and activities which we will participate in. The modules are very intellectually challenging and fun. This will provide you the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities, as special prizes are up for grabs too.

An example of this is the Mathematics module. One of the modules was to calculate the time required for a car to travel around a race track. We were given a model car (which could only travel forward and turn) and a stopwatch. The complication surfaced when we tried to assume the time the car would take for turns. In the end, my method of using angular momentum (not taught in secondary school) was chosen as the best method.

The outdoor activities are also fun. We had the chance to kayak, absail and ride horses. The morning jogs were a bit taxing on some participants though, as we had to wake up about 6.30 and jog 3 km. :P

The food and accomodation of this programme is taken care of by the way. We will be given about 5 meals a day, and stay at the student hostels.

All in all, this program is definitely good for aspiring scientists/ science aficionandos. The first hand experience of handling these equipments as well as seeing and participating in research works will definitely ignite the love for science. Lastly, the certification received will also help you stand out.

More information can be viewed at the YSC website. The application form can be downloaded here (pdf) and here (doc).

Do hurry as the registration dateline is 26 May 2006.

By Lim Yangli
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Lim Yangli is currently temporarily enrolled in college to attend economics classes when he feels like it. He will be going to UWC Costa Rica this fall on a full scholarship. In the meantime till then he will be travelling and bumming around a lot. He is a former student of Wesley Methodist School (sadly) and MJSC Jasin (now known as Tun Ghaffar Baba MJSC). Contact him at limyangli at gmail dot com.

Post-SPM, Post-Grad - Fujitsu Asia Pacific Scholarship - Diploma and MBA (Oahu, Hawaii)

Want to spend 3 months or a year in the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii? Read on then. This is an opportunity most suitable for school leavers with at least one year of work experience, though a candidate of 3-5 years work experience would stand a greater chance for the scholarship, especially for the MBA selection. Though, I always believe if you submit a well written personal statement with a striking first paragraph, the scholarship committee would always spend a little more time to read the application further and may decide to grant the applicant the chance to convince them of his/her competence at the interview. And I know the dean who will be in the scholarship selection committee and she does select based on her gut feeling.

JAIMS Scholarship
Every year, a scholarship is given to a Malaysian to pursue either a 3 month leadership and business diploma course ICMP (Intercultural Management Program) in JAIMS, Oahu with a 5 day tour of Fujitsu facilities in Tokyo, or a 15 month MBA postgraduate degree in University of Hawaii at Manoa, Oahu that comes with a 3 month internship in either China or Japan and later a 1 week graduation ceremony in Tokyo. There have been instances where two Malaysians are chosen in a year, one for the ICMP program and another for the MBA program. Also, if there is unfortunately no promising candidate for that year, the selection committee will select more candidates from other South East Asian countries. The scholarship comes with airfare to and fro, a monthly allowance and books for your program. Check out more information at this website.

This scholarship was started in 1985 to commemorate Fujitsu's 50th anniversary. By selecting bright and team oriented students from Asia, the program is enriched by diversity. Both the ICMP and MBA program is coordinated by an education organization named JAIMS (Japan America Institute of Management Science) established by Fujitsu in Oahu, Hawaii as a training ground for East-West exposure. Check out the JAIMS website.

The ICMP and MBA programs
The ICMP program is a program that is well attended by many Fujitsu employees from Japan to learn American management skills as well as an opportunity to study abroad and improve their English skills. The group is comprised of around 30-40 students. It is an intensive program of day and sometimes night classes, packed with many presentation sessions and hands on learning. All classes are held in a nice school in suburban and beautiful Oahu.

The MBA program of which I am a recipient of the scholarship for 2004/2005 has a Japan or China portion that the applicant needs to select to specialise in. This is not just a financial MBA program, but it comes with a 1 year intensive language program in either the Mandarin or Japanese language. If you are already well versed in Mandarin, the dean will advise you to take the Japanese classes, but you can still choose to specialise your MBA as a China focused MBA and take the Chinese portion subjects such as Chinese Marketing, Chinese Law or Chinese Management and then later do your internship in China. For me, I took the Japan focused MBA and studied from scratch my nihongo and later did my internship in Tokyo for 3 months. I am currently working in Tokyo since December 2005 after my graduation to take advantage of the economic growth in Tokyo. Check out my photo blog of life in Hawaii and Japan here.

GMAT and GRE
To qualify for the MBA, one needs to take the GMAT exam and this is what differentiates the applicant for the ICMP program and the MBA program. The GMAT exam is an entrance exam for most business schools, though sometimes, the selection committee may consider a GRE entrance exam score if you have one already or if a scheduled GMAT test date is not possible. An applicant for the ICMP program only need to demonstrate that he or she has completed a degree.

Let me go into a little more detail about entrance exams for MBA courses. Most business schools would want to assess the quantitative and English language skills of the applicant. This ensures the prospective student is able to handle accounting and finance subjects as well as subjects that require critical thinking offered by the business school. The exam would have a section with A-levels (pre university) mathematical questions and some IQ questions. There would also be essay writing and comprehension. To read more about GMAT, go here. GRE is a more general entrance exam for any discipline. Hence, some business schools may be strict on the requirement for prospective students to take GMAT instead of GRE. Check out the website.

Tips on Applying
I have noticed that most recipients of the scholarship for the MBA portion demonstrate that they have an international exposure, preferably from their work or a pleasant personality to withstand the 1 year intensive drill which is shorter than the average length of a MBA program. The group is comprised of 40-50 students and there are many students from USA in the program who have plans to specialise in Asia.

I thought it would be helpful to list the attributes that the scholarship selection committee may be eyeing.

1. Job experience - while anywhere above 1 year may be desirable, I have a feeling any experience that adds value to your knowledge of the working world will count. The committee may be less strict on applicants for the ICMP program. So, if you share that you have part time work experience during your vacation and possess other attributes in this list, you may well qualify depending on the competition of capable candidates for that year.

2. Team builder and mentor - to be able to motivate others, have a kind outlook towards helping others in the team in their assignments and working together well to achieve team objectives. There will be certain members in the team who may have weaker English language abilities and if you impress the selection committee to be a person who is kind, helpful and cheerful, you may fit in well deserve a scholarship.

3. Leadership skills and participation in extra curricular activities - this would demonstrate team building contributions.

4. Overseas exposure - working in projects or participating in extra curricular activities outside Malaysia. This demonstrates the ability to work in cross cultural settings.

5. Language abilities - demonstrate your abilities even in Chinese dialects and any previous endeavours to study other foreign languages (even if it was a small endeavor).


It was a beautiful 15 months for me in both Hawaii and Japan. While University of Hawaii at Manoa is not one of the top USA universities, it has good resources in studies in Asia. The school at JAIMS has good connections with Japanese and Chinese companies which can land you a good internship and maybe a good career after that. Hawaii is not only a beautiful island, but also a land of peaceful coexistence with the environment, tolerant of diversity and different ethnicities and it has been successful in coming up with many researches for mainland USA. I managed to save enough from my scholarship allowance to visit the other islands in Hawaii besides the main island of Oahu which proved to be a worthwhile experience. Also, I participated in many co-curricular activities in the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Read about my business plan competition win at the JAIMS website here.

Feel free to write to me after reading the materials on this website. All the best! Carpe Diem!

by Philip Lee Chee Hoong

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Philip Lee, an ex-Sea Parkian, is currently working as a Business Analyst in an IT consulting firm in Tokyo. He has various interests, including publishing research papers for international conferences to attending networking events and meeting new friends in Tokyo. You can contact him at philchlee[at]gmail[dot]com.

Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience 2006

Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience 2006

From the Star 08/05/2006,

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/5/8/central/14138940&sec=central

After participating in the Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience (CXIWE) last year, Ng Pei Ying and Ong Szu Mei have become changed persons.

They are more aware of the values of conserving and preserving the environment. Besides broadening their knowledge of the world, Ng and Ong also had the opportunity to meet like-minded youths and learn from each other's cultures.

Two lucky teenagers will get their chance to participate in the wilderness experience this year as Cathay Pacific Airways Limited has launched the 12th chapter of CXIWE project yesterday.

Two Malaysian youths aged between 16 and 18 years old will be selected for this project, which will take place from Aug 22 to 30 at Botshabelo, South Africa.

The Malaysian ambassadors will be flown to the South African wilderness to join more than 50 youths from South Africa and Asia Pacific Rim countries for the nine-day ecological project.


What Is The Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience?
Cathay Pacific is committed to the communities we serve and to Hong Kong. We accept our responsibility towards the environment and are very aware that its future depends on the young people who are going to be the decision-makers of the future.

It is in this spirit that Cathay Pacific has sponsored several hundred specially selected young people to participate in the Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience since 1994.

There you will have the unique opportunity to make friends with delegates from other countries with cultures very different from your own. You will be exposed to the natural, unspoiled environment and will begin to understand the impact that man has made on the delicate ecological balance of the earth. Through this experience it is hoped that you will take home the messages learnt and apply them in your own life and home country.

The Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience widens the horizons and expands the world view of the young people who have taken part. If you would like to join us on this voyage of discovery, if you are keen to raise your self-awareness and self-confidence, if you would like to act as an "Ambassador" for your country, then we invite you to apply right away.

Application
Application for the Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience 2006 opens now! Young people between 16 and 18 years old from the following countries are invited to join. For more information, please click on the following link according to your residence for local application details:

http://www.cathaypacific.com/my/aboutcx/community/0,,109751,00.html

I applied for the CXIWE some time in April last year, and was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the three participants to represent Malaysia to the 2005 edition from the 27th of July to the 5th of August. Prior to that, a one day selection camp was held at The Farm, Lenggong, Negri Sembilan.

The build up to the event was tedious. We had to discuss about what items to bring as well as how we would present Malaysia. We even had to go to one of the CX staff's house to be judged on our cooking.

The CXIWE event was very fun. We had the opportunity to go on wilderness rides, see real life wild animals (including the Big 5), sample the cooking of other countries' delegates as well as hear them present their country. Other activities conducted includes a mock wedding, a mud fight and campfires.

All these aside, attending CXIWE will be an unforgettable experience. Lifelong friendships will be forged, while knowledge will be gained and views expanded through the discussions of world issues with other delegates.


By Lim Yangli
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Lim Yangli is currently temporarily enrolled in college to attend economics classes when he feels like it. He will be going to UWC Costa Rica this fall on a full scholarship. In the meantime till then he will be travelling and bumming around a lot. He is a former student of Wesley Methodist School (sadly) and MJSC Jasin (now known as Tun Ghaffar Baba MJSC). Contact him at limyangli at gmail dot com.