The Malaysia Education Blueprint reaffirmed the student’s primacy in transforming the education system. In tandem with UiTM 2025 Strategic Plan, Faculty of Applied Sciences (FSG) strives to provide a conducive learning environment that produces holistic graduates with entrepreneurial skills who are globally competitive. However, preparing the students to thrive in this complex and ever-changing future necessitates equally exceptional supports from the institution.
FSG has a dedicated team responsible for providing outstanding academic and non-academic support to its 4623 students. A total of 108 virtual activities were conducted in 2021 through collaborative efforts between the Managements, HEP, Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar (MPP), Sekretariat Mahasiswa Fakulti (SMF), and 14 student associations, fostering student’s leadership, entrepreneurial skills, community-based volunteerism, and providing a platform for students to unleash their potential in co-curricular activities related to innovations, e-sports and international linkages.
Encouragement, administrative procedure and funding support are always given to engage with international peers, co-curricular activities and entrepreneurship programs. In 2021, FSG sent 4 students to AIMS mobility programs at Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand and an exchange program at Southern Connecticut State University, USA; 40 students interned at multinational companies, and 2 of which were Forbes 2000 companies; one student was named a UiTM Unicorn Scholar for a start-up company called Sulam Global Enterprise; and one student won first place for 2021 Voice Out Loud competition.
Facing the ODL, FSG welcomed and equipped new students with relevant academic and social information via a virtual Get-To-Know-Day. Tips and sharing sessions about ODL tools were also shared during the event. This initiative aids students’ transition into the university system when they begin. FSG also created a year-round platform for students to express concerns or share ODL feedback via e-aduan. The MPP presented 440 feedbacks to the Management teams which helped improve the ODL session. Consequently, Dean lists increased from 1181 in October 2020 to 1343 in Mac 2021. Monetary incentive was provided to all Dean list students to encourage their academic excellence.
Beyond the academic matter, FSG is deeply concerned with students’ well-being especially in times of anxiety and uncertainty. Unique to FSG, students have access to a telegram group (FSGXCIC) with an in-house counsellor who assists them in coping with any aspect of student life. This platform shares infographics on study tips, mental health awareness, and career paths periodically. Less fortunate students were assisted through faculty welfare funds in addition to zakat and other contributions from faculty members:15 LENOVO smart tabs worth RM 6300 raised through “Tabung Prihatin FSG” were distributed to assist students in their learning, while 140 students stranded in college were given RM 100 one-off via Bantuan Khas Non-Resident during the recent MCO. Following unfortunate events, 43 students involved in the recent flood received flash donations or Derma Ikhlas.
The compassion and support provided enhance trust and sense of belonging, expectation and positive experiences for the current and incoming students. Despite the unprecedented impact of pandemic, students will have the reassurance that FSG cares about their welfare as proclaimed in the taglines #UiTMdihatiku #FSGKuSayang#FSGpadu.