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Social Life at the Institute
Academic achievement is your primary goal in Malaysia, but a good social
life is important, too. Recreation, friendships, and social events all
contribute to a balanced life. Most Malaysians are ·friendly· and appear to be very open when you meet them. You may hear Malaysians refer to others as “friends”. There are, however, degrees of friendship. You will have to make an effort to meet people so that friendships can develop. You may find, at least initially, that you have more in common with other international students than with Americans. If you take the time to meet classmates, get to know your roommates, or get involved with on-campus activities, you will have more opportunities to make friends. 2. Participating in Campus Life One-Way to meet others and make friends is to join one of the many on-campus clubs and organizations. 3. Clubs, Societies, Association and Games All students are welcome to participate in these activities as they form a core part of Institute life. These activities provide a wonderful opportunity for students from different programs but with similar interest to meet and grow. You can join as many as you like. 4. Co-curricular Activities The co-curricular program at Institute Optopreneur consists of those non-credit activities that support academic program objectives and the integral development of the students. The program includes debates, academic presentations, academic contests, public speaking, lecture series, cultural activities, cultural visits, and current events courses. These activities take place outside the classroom and usually involve the whole student body. The co-curricular program promotes dialogue and academic freedom, providing students with the opportunity to examine current events and topics of interest from a variety of angles and viewpoints. The co-curricular activities frequently incorporate and build off of current events in order to help the students increase their awareness and understanding of the modern world and contemporary worldviews. 1. DEBATES The students prepare debates that focus on a specific area of academic study such as, the scope of the retail industry, the issues regarding the other business practices. Through debates, students develop argumentation and judgment skills and expand their ability to communicate. Preparation for debate also serves as training in liberal thinking, as students are required to prepare both sides of the argument. This helps students to develop their own convictions and their capacity to defend the truth. 2. ACADEMIC PRESENTATION
Every class prepares an annual academic presentation for the student body, faculty, and staff. The topic of this presentation will be related to the particular theme of their studies, or to some aspect of the Retail Business Practice, the legal duties and the responsibilities of the member of the industry. The dynamics within the presentations vary from round tables to symposiums, audiovisual presentations, and debates. Academic presentations are formal expositions that provide an opportunity for written, oral and artistic expression, professional creativity, and teamwork. Students have the opportunity to research, write, edit, choreograph and prepare audio-visual presentations.
3. ACADEMIC CONTESTS
Academic contests are offered as a means of supporting and enhancing the general education program. Three contests are held each year on varying themes in the areas of Retail Business and Communication Arts. Over a four to six week period, students are provided with study materials related to the selected areas. Each week the students have a quiz or an opportunity to orally transmit the specific content they have studied. A semi-final contest is held after three weeks, and the final competition closes the contest. Contests often provide students with the opportunity to assimilate, memorize and transmit general information on a topic, or to focus on an aspect of the chosen theme that is of specific interest to them. Academic contests enrich the co-curricular program by helping students sharpen their critical thinking skills and powers of judgment, strengthen their memory, and improve their oral and written communication skills. The different dynamics used, including debates, round table discussion, panels, and interviews make the contests highly enjoyable as well.
4. PUBLIC SPEAKING In addition to the communication classes, students are given various public speaking opportunities throughout the year. They may be invited to present the Institute to the various groups that come for Open Houses or private visits, to present a conference to the rest of the student body, to present different parts of campus life to incoming students during the orientation courses, or to be master of ceremonies or deliver a declamation at a special Institute events. Students are encouraged to use these and other occasions as a means to fine-tune their speaking abilities. Their academic advisers are available to help them prepare and to provide feedback afterward. 5. LECTURE SERIES and SEMINARS A lecture series is offered throughout the year consisting of 4 to 5 lectures by visiting professors from different schools or invited Guest Speakers in the Retail Business and Manufacturing fields. Topics include current issues in the business profession and developments in the field of retailing. 6. CURRENT EVENTS SEMINAR Every month, Institute Optopreneur students receive a Current Events’ Course. These sessions address contemporary issues of, political, social and scientific significance by providing an overview of national and international headlines and by analyzing more in-depth articles on topics of particular interest or importance. In addition to complementing the general education program, the Current Events Course offered at the Institute forms students in critical thinking skills and provides them with a working knowledge of the world, preparing them for future leadership positions.
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