Taylor's sets a distinction

Students showing their Taylor’s Distinction Award – a tuition fee waiver given in various tiers to those who achieve 4As and above in their SPM results.

HUNDREDS of students chatted excitedly outside the lecture hall with award certificates in hand. Some were clad in superhero-themed shirts, catching up with friends over cocktail tables and nibbling on finger food, while others posed with capes at photo booths.

Themed Super Heroes, the tea party earlier this year was a befitting celebration for the secondary school leavers who had slogged for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams in hopes of some reward. That reward finally came in the form of a Taylor’s Distinction Award.

The Distinction Award is a tuition fee waiver – up to 100% – given to students who achieve 4As and above in their secondary school exams. Students who apply need not enrol in advance or attend any interview, and award of the waiver is based on trial, forecast or actual exam results.

As the cherry on top, award recipients may also upgrade to other scholarships. These waivers and scholarships would enable students to study in Taylor’s College programmes, namely A Levels, SACE International, American Degree Programme, as well as foundation and diploma programmes.

The celebration began with a sharing session by University Placement Services acting director Michelle Lim, who encouraged the students to gain global exposure and experience through studying electives at Taylor’s University’s 220 partner institutions in 35 countries, should they pursue a degree at Taylor’s.

One of the advantages of the mix-and-match model of Taylor’s degrees is that its students will be able to study an elective or a module abroad up to six months, while paying local tuition fees.

Taylor’s College campus director Josephine Tan urged the students to make the most of their college life and be involved in extracurricular activities, and not forget where they came from at the same time. She shared the importance of having a learning mindset and humility, in order to succeed in life.

The highlight of the sharing session, however, came from Zara Basyirah Md Shah, a Bachelor of Software Engineering student (see sidebar).

Having herself become a SHINE Ambassador, a programme which helps students develop their soft skills, she urged the award recipients to make full use of their time in college and university through participating in workshops, talks and activities.

“At Taylor’s, there are many opportunities to increase your employability by joining career workshops and training programmes. And you may join short summer programmes or exchange programmes, where you learn things outside your field of study. “In my opinion, experience is what matters most, and you would have a story to tell when employers want to know what makes you special. For example, my friends who are studying science degrees are going to Tokyo to learn hospitality modules.”

She concluded the session with three tips: revise your study materials, go beyond your comfort zone, and seek emotional help when you need to.

Taylor’s has provided premier, quality education to over 100,000 youths for the past 50 years. For more information on the Distinction Award, go to university2.taylors.edu.my/scholar or call 03-5629 5000.