Lion-dance opening (seated 2nd from left): Dr Lai, Prof Yow, Dr Teh and Ng
Every year the Student Representative Committee (SRC) of the Faculty of Engineering and Science of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) holds its FEStival, spelt with ‘FES’ in uppercase to indicate the organising faculty. The annual event is a platform for encouraging new students to participate in extracurricular activities so that they learn extra skills beyond the classroom. A membership drive for the many clubs and societies of the faculty is also held during the festival.
The sixth annual FEStival this year was held on 30 January 2013 at the faculty in UTAR Kuala Lumpur Campus. It was themed ‘Enter the Snake’ in celebration of the upcoming Chinese New Year.
“As a university that advocates holistic education, UTAR always encourages students to learn beyond the classroom that this is in fact the main objective of holding this festival,” said UTAR Vice President (Student Development and Alumni Relations) Dr Teh Chee Seng, who later officially launched the event on behalf of UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik.
He added, “The distinction of the UTAR’s approach in education goes beyond just imparting knowledge to equip students with the technical competency necessary to enter a profession, but also to strengthen them with the soft emotional intelligence that enables them to outshine their peers in the workplace, and to advance in their profession.”
SRC Chairman, Bryan Ng presented souvenirs to the VIPs
Present at the ceremony from the faculty were Dean Ir Prof Dr Yow Ho Kwang, Deputy Dean (Student Development and Industrial Training) Dr Lai Soon Onn and SRC Chairman year-three Mechanical Engineering student Bryan Ng Horng Heng.
At the festival, there were games, food and drinks stalls. The sales proceeds of the stalls went to fund the clubs and societies concerned. The clubs and societies set up booths to exhibit their activities and recruit new members. Local artistes Orange and Da.Mon.Ster were invited to perform on stage together with song, dance and band performances by students from the faculty. There was also a lucky draw.
“It’s great to see students, clubs and societies are working hand-in-hand to make this event a success. We should keep up the spirit,” said Prof Yow after the launching ceremony.
“Through participating in this festival, I have learnt a lot of skills such as those for socialising, persuasion, marketing and teamwork, which I can’t learn through academic studies,” said year-one Mechanical Engineering student Liew Zhun Yeau, whose booth was selling chocolate-coated marshmallows and ice sticks.
“We came out with the idea of henna tattoo [stall] because two of my society members possess the skills and we wanted to share them with other students and raise fund for our society at the same time,” said UTAR Asian Cultural Society President and year-one Quantity Surveying student Raviraj Jaganathan.
The FEStival ground
Liew (left) and fellow students promoting frozen ice sticks
UTAR FEStival 2013 ushers in the year of the snake