Diploma students at UOW Malaysia KDU are able to learn the fundamentals in detail and not just jump into the specifics of the discipline too quickly.
AFTER completing their SPM, students have to make a decision on their pre-university studies.
Whether or not to select a foundation programme, A-level, or a diploma programme to start one’s tertiary studies might be best answered by an analogy on learning how to bake a cake.
Which is better? Spending four weeks learning to bake a cake or two weeks?
“If you have already decided on pursuing a degree, it is advisable to go through the foundation route, ” said UOW Malaysia KDU computing and creative media head Prof Dr Tan Chin Ike.
The difference is in the learning, he explained.
“As a diploma programme prepares you for work, it has to quickly delve into the specifics
of that discipline, and because of its duration, the fundamentals are sometimes not covered in depth, ” he said.
To illustrate his point, Dr Tan used the example of learning computer science.
“If it is computer science, then the fundamentals are probably mathematics, algorithms
and logic. These fundamentals are more important than the work of programming itself.
“In a two-year diploma, it is most likely that the fundamentals would be covered during six months of the programme while the remaining time would be utilised to equip you with the right skills to get the job done, ” he said.
UOW Malaysia KDU Communication students experience holistic learning such as hands-on media production and broadcasting instead of fully examination-based learning and theories.
The focus in any diploma programme, Dr Tan said, is to get a person trained and qualified for a particular job.
It is different in a foundation programme, which typically lasts a year.
“That year is focused on getting the fundamentals in place together with other aspects of tertiary education.
“After that, you will have around three years to learn all the required knowledge, attributes and skills to get ready for the job market, ” he said.
Dr Tan said the institution’s foundation programmes provide the most flexible pathway of all pre-university options.
“Most foundation programmes are geared towards specific degree programmes, but our foundation programmes offer the flexibility of choosing from a wide range of subjects.
“This enables students who are uncertain about which specific discipline to pursue for their bachelor’s degree programme the flexibility to commence university study without being locked in to a discipline.
“These foundation programmes are based on holistic learning, where students of many disciplines learn from each other," he said.
Another edge that the foundation students would possess is that they are conditionally guaranteed a place in University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia.
Ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide, UOW in New South Wales is located in a seaside city which is an hour's drive from Sydney and offers an exemplary overseas study experience for tens of thousands of students from around the world.
But Dr Tan pointed out that diploma programmes are still favourite choices for those who want to enter the workforce early.
They have a lower entrance requirement of a minimum of three credits in SPM or O-Level, and unlike most foundation programmes, are eligible for National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans.
Those who move on to bachelor’s degree programmes after getting diplomas will enjoy a shorter duration to earn their degrees.
There are other routes, such as Cambridge A-Level.
Tan said while this is accepted by many universities worldwide, it is geared towards those who are academically inclined and prefer 100% exam-based assessments.
“It is markedly different from foundation programmes, which tend to be combinations of project-based assessments and internal semester exams, which are similar to many degree programmes, ” he added.
There is also the option of the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) which has the obvious financial advantage of being government-funded.
Dr Tan said STPM gives flexibility for students to enter most public and private universities in Malaysia, but points out that it is entirely examination-based and is 18 months long.
There are other pre-university options ranging from matriculation to American degree transfers, Canadian pre-university programmes and a few more.
“Ask yourself this, ” said Dr Tan, “where do you intend to study and what are your preferred learning styles?”
He stressed that students must see pre-university programmes as helping them adapt to university life – making the transition from secondary education to tertiary.
“Choose a programme that focuses on increasing your academic knowledge and study skills as well as improving your soft skills, ” he said.
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