How Young Malaysian Students Are Pursuing Higher Education To Achieve World Peace
Malaysian students proving that not all hope is lost.
By Janelle Tai — 07 Dec 2015, 09:51 AM
To some, Malaysian students just don’t fare up to international standards. Reason being the shocking news that our public universities didn't even make the Times Higher Education Supplement’s Top 400 World University Rankings (THE).
“This indirectly affirms the wrong perception that our local graduates are not as good as foreign graduates thus will lead to the prejudice towards local graduate when it comes to employment,” four student groups from UM and UKM said.
themalaymailonline.com
However, our Malaysian youths didn’t let this reflect in their ambition to pursue a more wholesome education overseas, and have undergone a rigorous selection process to be selected for a scholarship under the United World Colleges (UWC)
Their desire to work alongside the top international students all around the world who have the same desire - to achieve world peace - became a reality after months of written applications and personal interviews, besides an examination, teamwork exercises, community service projects and an excursion or camp.
Jurleo from MRSM Kuching having a Global Politics lesson at the Atlantic College castle.
Image via Jurleo/UWCJason Wee from SMK Damansara Jaya, now at UWC Costa Rica says that he "wouldn't settle for less" when his high school senior who had attended the UWC in Hong Kong told him about it
Jason celebrating Costa Rica Independence Day with friends from Zimbabwe, The Netherlands, Costa Rica and Swaziland.
Image via Jason Wee/UWCWhile speaking to SAYS, Jason said he was instantly hooked when he was told "incredible stories about the amount of diversity experienced."
"After UWC, you stop seeing countries as just countries. Every nation now has a face attached to it and I think that’s incredibly valuable when it comes to understanding issues that are happening around the world," says Jason when asked about how his experience at UWC has shaped his understanding of international events.
"When you hear first-hand an Israeli and Palestinian fighting or have a Mexican explain to you the kidnappings in his country, you become personally involved with the world," Jason told us
One minute you may be discussing the latest conspiracy in stem cell therapy, the next discussing the gender inequality movement with someone from Egypt, Russia, or Serbia.
Demanding as it sounds, students have plenty of time to socialise and pick from an array of extra-curricular activities such as clubs and sport.
Wilderness crew taking over a Pearson-made voyager canoe over the college lake.
Image via http://i.imgur.com/i7UEXrS.jpgWhen it comes to fitting in, Jason admits that government education has toughened him up, educationally and socially, which probably is the case for our other Malaysian UWC students
Seet Rui Xi from SMK Canossa Convent, Malacca celebrating Holi festival in UWC Robert Bosch College, Germany.
Image via Rui Xi"Strict teachers and an ugly school uniform develop character. Surprisingly, all the hours trying to cram our Sejarah textbooks were pretty useful in developing memory retention!" says Jason.
Being an international student allows Jason and other Malaysian UWC students to relinquish their #malaysianpride in front of foreign friends
"Thanks to being a Malaysian in a foreign land, I can brag about our food to others and later on cry for not being able to eat them," says Jason.
Khairy Jamaluddin, Federal Minister for Youth and Sports is an alumni of the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore
Since then, he has put those skills to use as President of the youth wing of the United Malaysian National Organisation and Member of Parliament for Rembau, Negeri Sembilan.
Malaysians looking to jump onboard this opportunity can do so by applying for one of UWC's scholarships
Every year, the Malaysian National Committee will offer a varying number of places to students who are interested in the pre-university IB Diploma. They will consider the best candidates to attend one of the 14 United World Colleges via a tough selection process.
Malaysians who are interested in the pre-university IB Diploma will be selected by the Malaysian National Committee via a tough selection process.
Hurry - applications close 8th January.
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