-NiE ,
ADVANCED
What’s next?
Your career path
Activity
11
THINKING about life after the SPM may seem like a daunting task. You may be overwhelmed by the amount of choices available, unsure of the best career path for yourself, or burdened by the price tag that comes with a quality tertiary education. Whether you are in Form Four or Five, it’s a good idea to start thinking about where to go for your tertiary education.
What criteria do you find most important in a college or university? Rank them in order of importance
First things first
1 – Most important; 10 – Least important).
(
Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason
● Organise
Communicating
Affordable price
Quality of lecturers
Central location/near home
Wide range of clubs and societies
Facilities
Well-connected with reputable companies across different industries
Having friends in the same college/university
● Oral
Local/foreign
● Contribute respectfully
In groups of four, discuss your top two and bottom two rankings, explaining the reasons for your choice. Work together to come up with a revised group ranking of the top two and bottom two criteria.
Well-known for the course of my choice
Public/private
Collaborating ● Listen
14 JUNE 2017
Was “Public/Private” one of your key considerations in choosing a university? For many, it appears to be a big factor. These are some comments from two articles that appeared in The Star.
Angie Lee, 38, can afford to do her PhD in any private institution but she insisted on having it done in Universiti Malaya because of its prestige. A good education, she feels, is so much more than just fancy auditoriums or Olympicsized pools. “Lecturers in public varsities are there because they’re passionate. They aren’t there because of big, fat pay cheques. In private institutions, money talks. It’s different with public universities – you either make the cut or you don’t.”
Education has changed. In the past, parents and their children felt that the only way to get a good education was via public varsities; today, they see private institutions as the only path to a bright future.
Cheaper fees is why Farah Anisa Mohd Ghazali chose to study at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. “Private institutions are so expensive. But when I speak to my private uni friends, it seems like their lecturers are more concerned about them and their studies. The lecturers talk and explain things to them and counsel them about their work,” she laments.
“Many feel like the only way to get a good education is to go to a private institution because they’ll only invest in the best facilities, equipment and talents. Hiring in private varsities is based on merit so parents know that they’re paying for the best educators to teach their children,” says former secretary-general of the National Union of the Teaching Profession Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam.
NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason
● Measure ● Organise
Problem solving ● Question
● Research
Communicating ● Oral ● Written ● Non-verbal ● Aural
Collaborating
Navinjeet Kaur, 18, says public varsities are as good as the private ones, but students in the latter have more exposure to what’s out there. Looking to do a degree in software engineering, she thinks private varsities are more widely recognised if you want to study or work overseas in the future. (The private-public dilemma, Sunday Star, Jan 15, 2017)
Based on the above comments, do the following:
“Parents looking to send their children for tertiary education only have two questions: Will my children be employable? Will a degree from this university open doors?”
NiE Activity 2
● Identify
3. SUMMARISE Write a summary statement from one of the comments. For example: Private institutions are the only path to a bright future.
Problem solving
Critical thinking
Which opinion do you agree with? Why?
From the comments, identify the problems of tertiary education in Malaysia.
● Reason
● Question
● Research
Communicating ● Written
The Star Education Fair was held on June 10 and 11, 2017 (Sat and Sun). Look in The Star for an article about the education fair or an advertisement on college and university courses. Highlight three types of courses that you think might be suitable for you.
What are the possible jobs upon graduation?
1.
4. DEBATE Form groups of four and draw lots – one pair will agree with the statement, while another pair will disagree with it. Take some time to write down your points, backed up by evidence – you could look for articles in The Star to get some ideas. Take turns to debate your points.
● Contribute respectfully
(Paying more to learn, Sunday Star, Jan 15, 2017)
1. DISCUSS
2. ANALYSE
● Listen
2. 3.
Refer to your completed target chart on the previous page. Based on the information you have gathered about the three courses, consider how they match your passions, values, strengths and skills. For homework, look at scholarship options from colleges and universities.