Enrichment For Life

www.nilai.edu.my

1World Culture 1World Culture Night @ Nilai UCNight @ Nilai UC

New Biotech New Biotech Degree LaunchedDegree Launched

Inaugural FutureInaugural FutureLeaders CampLeaders Campa Successa Success

Inaugural FutureLeaders Campa Success

1World Culture Night @ Nilai UC

New Biotech Degree Launched

Oct – Dec 2009

Enrichment For LifeEnrichment For LifeEnrichment For Life

From thePresident’s

Desk

2

Editor’sVoice

Contact us for more information on courses available: Main Campus, Putra NilaiSMS 012-628 1139, call 06-850 2338 orEmail: [email protected]

Regional Programme Counselling OfficesPetaling Jaya Office : 03-7960 3089Johor Bahru Office : 07-333 2336Kota Kinabalu Office : 088-238 811

FIELDS OF STUDY @ NILAI UC• Actuarial Science • Accounting • Biochemistry • Biomedical Science • Biotechnology • Business • Culinary Arts • Computing • Engineering • Finance • Hospitality • Hotel Management • Management • Marketing • Mass Communications • Medical Lab Technology • Nursing and many more...

What an eventful final semester of the year we’ve had at Nilai University College (Nilai UC)! It’s probably been the liveliest period during my entire time here

and I am truly privileged to be part of so many exciting and colourful events.

Nilai UC recently hosted two major events where students from institutions all over the country took part in. First, there was the 1World Culture event in which international students from universities all over the country participated in a song and dance competition. The colourful costumes, the rendition of wonderful traditional songs and, best of all, the mingling of students from all over the world at Nilai UC was a sight to gladden the heart. This was indeed a great and fun way for students to better appreciate each other’s cultures.

Speaking of cultural understanding, the other event was the inaugural Future Leaders Camp which was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and the World Youth Foundation. This camp was open to students from all private tertiary education institutions in Malaysia and the three-day camp attracted plenty of applications.

The camp featured talks from internationally renowned speakers, grooming sessions conducted by well-known trainers and a parliamentary debate session that gave participants a taste of democracy in action.

All said and done, both events were huge successes in giving students a broader understanding of their peers and the cultures they come from. The fact that these events were open to students from other institutions of higher learning is a reflection of the underlying principles of Nilai UC. We believe in striving for the greater good of not only Malaysians, but also of all students who are currently pursuing their higher education here in Malaysia. To all the staff and students who made these two events a huge success, well done! I can only hope that future events will be as fun, lively and educational as these two.

Prof Emeritus Tengku Dato’ Shamsul BahrinPRESIDENT

I am thrilled to be given the privilege to be the Guest Editor for this issue. This final quarter of the year has seen major developments in Nilai UC with the completion of the Hangar and the Science and Technology building. We are proud to be one of the few private tertiary education hotspots to offer a programme in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and a state-of-the-art Hangar in which students can gain valuable hands-on experience working on our own aircraft (see University Updates page).

On a different note, I am equally excited with the theme that we have chosen for this edition’s book review. We decided to tackle three screenplays by celebrated auteur Quentin Tarantino, a silver screen revolutionary if there ever was one. Reviewing the screenplays provided a unique perspective into the mind of a genuinely talented writer and how he was able to commit his pre-celluloid ideas to paper.

We have set up a section in our resource centre for selected movie screenplays in the hope that these pop culture phenomena will encourage students to pick up the habit of reading.

Matthew Ong Bin HanGuest Editor

ExPLORER – Editorial Board

Guest Editor Matthew Ong Bin Han

Editorial teamAileen Anthony Shariffah Bahyah Syed AhmadDaphne Leong Shoba Rani Panneer Selvam R Bala

CONTENTSAcademic HappeningsNew degree for a new frontier ........................................................... 3British Cambridge education for the young .................................. 4

University UpdatesThe latest developments @ Nilai UC ................................................ 5

Cover StoryWe are the world...................................................................................... 6

Camps & Student ActivitiesCamp declared a success ..................................................................... 8What they had to say about the camp ........................................ 10

Regular PagesRecipe Page .............................................................................................11Book Review ............................................................................................12

AcademicHappenings

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www.nilai.edu.my

Nilai University College (Nilai UC) recently launched its Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology and at the same time created an Industry Advisory Panel. This Advisory Panel is to ensure that students

and academics are constantly updated of the latest developments in this fast-changing field and to allow industry partners to guide the programme towards what the market demands.

This Advisory Panel consists of representatives from Felda Biotechnology (Dr Siti Habsah Roowi), Inno Bio Ventures Sdn Bhd (Dr Zulkefli Zamrod), Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd (Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus), Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (Mahaletchumy Arujanan), and Vivantis Technologies Sdn Bhd (Dr Chee Hui Yee).

With such luminaries guiding the first degree programme to come solely under the Nilai UC banner, parents and students can be assured of an up-to-date syllabus, which meets the industry’s stringent requirements, and its workforce needs.

The future for students in this exciting field is indeed bright as Chairman of the Advisory Panel, Dr Zaharudin, points out that Malaysia has structured itself for growth in the sectors of industry, agriculture and health. The National Policy on Biotechnology which was put in place in 2005 forecasted the field to contribute 5% towards the GDP alongside the formation of 100 world-class biotechnology facilities which will help meet the targeted 300,000 jobs.

“We are well on the way towards exceeding those targets. When that policy was put in place, the targets were conservative,” says Dr Zaharudin which bodes well for the future prospects of graduates in this field.

This is the reason why Nilai UC has launched this biotechnology degree programme to supplement the existing diploma programme. Nilai UC Head of Maths & Science Department, Dr. Alice Escalante De Cruz, states simply that students graduating with specialised courses secure better career prospects and higher numeration. On the new degree programme itself, Dr Alice states that a general degree provides a sound grounding of basic sciences to students who intend to take up courses in such highly specialised streams via a MSc and/or PhD.

“The general degree will also give our students a feel of the different disciplines that make up biotechnology. Students get to choose electives in their third year. So students who are interested in research can choose more science electives whilst students looking to go into business can choose business electives. Students can even choose a combination of both science and business electives,” says Dr Alice.

Intake for the biotechnology degree programme is currently underway and classes will commence in January 2010. This Nilai UC programme will incorporate industry placement and extra co-curricular credits which place emphasis on non-field related subjects such as ethics, public speaking and anthropology. This allows for the development of well-rounded graduates who will be a boon not just to the workforce but also to society as a whole.

New degree for aNEW FRONTIER

Nilai UC’s new Science & Technology block

is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

Nilai UC’s Biotechnology Degree will give students a solid foundation in this field.

Dr. Alice Escalante De Cruz says that the better qualified a graduate, the brighter the prospects, especially in the field of biotechnology.

Members of the Industry Advisory

Panel signing the MoU

Future young pioneers in the local biotechnology scene

Nilai UC launches its new Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology programme with the aim of producing skilled biotechnologists for this expanding sector.

By R Bala

AcademicHappenings

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Nilai Resources Group Berhad further enhanced its already burgeoning education credentials with the new

Nilai International School (NIS) set to open its doors in January 2010. Located next to the 105-acre campus of the 13-year old Nilai University College (Nilai UC), NIS is set to be the largest international school in the country with its 15-acre site.

“After experiencing a steep learning curve for the past decade, we decided it is time for us to bring our unique brand of quality education to an even younger market. Education is a priority for many families and they are prepared to invest at a younger age rather than wait till college or tertiary levels to spend,” says Professor Emeritus Tengku Dato’ Shamsul Bahrin, NIS Director.

“Couple that with the growing expatriate population, especially south of Kuala Lumpur, the growth has been huge with the advent of Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. NIS is being set up as a modern, state-of-the-art school which has safe and comfortable accommodation principally for this segment of the market.”

Set among the lush greenery of the quiet suburb of Putra Nilai, it is the ideal setting for an educational institution, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and its attendant distractions. The fact that NIS is situated in the middle of an education hub boasting three tertiary institutions speaks volumes for the suitability of the location as it has the necessary infrastructure to support a large student population.

With plenty of restaurants, hypermarkets and sporting facilities dotting the area, parents will be relieved to see the landscape of this town unblemished by tons of 24-hour snooker centres, public houses and video arcades.

A Tried and Trusted CurriculumNIS will offer the internationally recognised British Cambridge curriculum from the primary level all to way to Year-13 (A-levels). In January 2010, it will open its doors for student enrolments in the Cambridge International Primary Programme and the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme.

Unique in SEAApart from the British Cambridge International Examinations curriculum, NIS will provide an “Inclusion Programme” for children with special needs. A Special

Development Support Unit will carry out this curriculum. NIS will be the only international school in the Southeast Asian region to offer such specialised facilities.

Besides offering sporting facilities such as basketball and badminton courts, swimming pool and football pitch, students at NIS will also have the opportunity to learn golf from professional coaches and gain access to a 27-hole golf course, five minutes away at the sister companies, Nilai Springs Resort Hotel and Nilai Springs Golf and Country Club.

For more information, please send an email to [email protected] or call 06-850 2188.

British Cambridge Education FOR THE YOUNG

Parents can send their children for an international

education at Nilai International School starting from

January 2010.

Cambridge International Primary Programme

(Key Stage 1, Year 1-2, 5-7 year olds)

The Cambridge International Primary Programme (CIPP) provides young children with a framework to develop strong mathematics, English and science skills. Its tried and tested approach helps educators identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses and through using this information, provide the necessary support needed to guide each child. Educators are also trained to measure a child’s progress and provide structured and cohesive feedback to parents.

Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme

(Key Stage 2, Year 3-6, 7-11 year olds)

The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme (CLSP) builds on the primary stage, and further develops a child’s knowledge and skills in mathematics, English and science. Throughout the programme, students will sit for “check point tests” to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses before they move on to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)/ O level stage.

New Science & Technology Building Up

Complete with the latest modern creature comforts, Nilai UC’s new Science and Technology building is constructed in response to the institution’s expanding range of science-related courses and growing student population. The 5-storey edifice features up-to-the-minute laboratory apparatus, engineering workshops, as well as AV-equipped classrooms and auditoriums. It also houses the School of Allied Health Sciences and the School of Science and Technology.

Kick-off Time Approaches!Nilai UC recently moved its full-sized football pitch to a new site behind the S&T Block. This was to accommodate the construction of the new Nilai International School (see opposite page). The lush green turf is now almost ready for the studs of Nilai UC’s formidable football contingent. Students looking to parade their silky skills on this beautiful pitch can contact the Department of Sports and Recreation (06-850 2338 ext. 292).

UniversityUpdates

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www.nilai.edu.my

Nilai UC Responds to H1N1 EpidemicIn light of the recent H1N1 scare, Nilai UC has taken immediate preventive measures on campus for the well being of its students. Staff and students are encouraged to wear masks to lower the risk of being infected and feverish students are immediately ferried to nearby clinics. Hand sanitizers have also been installed in all administrative and hostel

blocks. A health centre, monitored throughout the day by nursing lecturers, and various temperature checkpoints are in constant operation. Thanks to overwhelming cooperation, there are no confirmed cases in Nilai UC to date. All students are screened

at the main entrance.

Biotech students taking samples from a

laboratory centrifuge.Velvet temptation for the soles

Nilai UC President receives Honorary Doctorate

Nilai University College (Nilai UC) President,

Professor Emeritus Tengku Dato’ Shamsul

Bahrin, was recently awarded an Honorary

Doctorate in Business Administration. This

award was conferred by Nilai UC’s long-term

academic partner Oxford Brookes University,

UK in recognition of Tengku Shamsul’s

outstanding contribution in the pursuit of

academic excellence.

“I am very honoured and proud to receive

the Honorary award of Doctor of Business

Administration from Oxford Brookes University

– a university I have had the privilege of

associating with during the past 12 years. I

would also like to think of this award as an equal

recognition of the successful collaboration

that has been forged between Oxford Brookes

University and Nilai University College,” said

Tengku Shamsul.

Plane Touches Down at Nilai UC’s New Hangar

To the boon of its Aircraft

Maintenance Engineering

students, Nilai UC aces

another mile in providing

students with the most

progressive facilities with

the completion of the

13,000 square feet hangar

and the recent arrival of the

aircraft. The cutting-edge

hangar, set against a lush

green background, is now home to an airplane and is furnished

with attached classrooms and workshops. Aspiring engineers

can now further their academic and spatial endeavours in a

setting designed to give students a more wholesome feel of

the industry.

The aircraft resting in Nilai UC’s

spacious hangar.

Tengku Shamsul: “Honoured”

By Matthew Ong Bin Han

We are THE WORLD

GreenC 100% M 25%Y 100% K 0%

OrangeC 0% M 0%Y 0% K 75%

GreenPantone 356c

OrangePantone 425c

Organised by: In collaboration with:

CoverStory

6

“We have at our very doorstep, campuses with a melting pot

of cultures. As such, we hope 1World Culture would serve

as an active platform to encourage cultural exchange

among tertiary students,” says Professor Emeritus Tengku Dato’

Shamsul Bahrin, President of Nilai University College (Nilai UC) at

the 1World Culture event. Aimed at celebrating the diversity of the

student population in Malaysia, this international students’ cultural

night was organised and hosted by Nilai UC in collaboration with

the Ministry of Higher Education. The VIP in attendance

was Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, the Deputy Minister of

Higher Education.

Resplendent in dazzling costumes, more than a

hundred participants from 20 institutions across

the peninsula arrived in Nilai UC on 10 October

2009 to pitch their talents against one another in

two categories – vocal and dance. It was a battle

of flair and finesse, in which the best four teams

in each category would make it to the prestigious

finals. The preliminary rounds proved to be a boon to

the audience and judges, during which vibrant stories

of people, their land, and their lives, were brought to life

onstage in vivid technicolour – the spring festivities of the

Kashmir Valley, Yemeni war rituals, and the sorrowful refrains

of the Iranian mountains, to name but a few.

“Given the stringent rules of the competition in

which each team can only have one Malaysian

participant, the competing teams truly put

up an incredibly breathtaking show. I am

personally conflicted as to which team

should graduate to the finals,” remarked

judge Rosdan Abbas, a music lecturer

Nilai UC’s 1World Culture was a truly international event

with students from all over the world competing.


Participants arriving at Nilai UC’s

picturesque campus

Ready, Set, GO!

The VIPs leading the Negaraku at the opening of the event.

Graceful, gorgeous and gyra-licious lead dancer from the winning team

Hell hath no fury…like these Nilai UC homegrown dancers.

Undulating Indonesian rice

harvest moves by talents from UM

USM students bringing the exotic tastes of Siam to Nilai UC

We are THE WORLD

CoverStory

7

www.nilai.edu.my

from the National Arts, Culture, and Heritage Academy (ASWARA). By the end of the afternoon,

the teams’ fates had been sealed. Nilai University College, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM),

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UMP) victoriously endured

the vocal battlefield, whereas Universiti Malaya (UM), UMP, USM, and UPM closed the

curtains on the preliminary dance rounds.

Evening saw the arrival of the guests of honour for dinner at Nilai UC’s well-equipped

formal dining restaurant, which features six specialist kitchens and latest front-office

amenities. The finals kicked off soon after everyone adjourned to the President Hall,

with Nilai UC’s 24 Festive Drums Team burning up the stage. With the competition

down to a mere eight teams, the finals were intense and the atmosphere electrifying

with the crowd roaring on their respective teams, replete with triumphant chants and

standing ovations.

Nilai UC’s very own homegrown vocalists were thrilled to be selected for the final round.

“Our team is truly international – consisting of students from various countries from the African

continent, Mongolia, and Malaysia,” says group leader Caleb Kyazze (3rd Semester, Foundation

in Business) from Uganda, who led his fellow songsters in performing a traditional Zulu number,

We Are Growing.

Among the noteworthy dance performances was the Seang Kratib Kao, an exhilarating folk dance that

details the agricultural life of people in Northeastern Thailand. “I am extremely delighted that we made

it to the finals. We had fun. Our hard work has paid off and the final stretch is all that’s left for us to

negotiate,” remarked Nasrin Pakdee and Sunita Rakmoomat from Thailand, lead choreographers and

dancers for the team from USM.

The final round included an all-female Indonesian rice-harvest dance from UM as well as UPM’s

group of rhythmic stomping, body-painted dancers depicting West Papuan hunters. An Iranian

folk song with live music from UPM and a medley of Indonesian tunes by ladies from UMP

were also notable vocal feats. Guest performances feature blues songbird Anthony Cole

Kahaya from Nilai UC and a dance presentation from Majlis Kebudayaan Universiti-Universiti

Malaysia (MAKUM).

The night drew to a close with the following results – UMP emerged as champion of the

dance category with scintillating steps from China’s Xinjiang province. UM took the second

trophy, followed closely by UPM and USM as joint 2nd runner ups. As for the vocal category,

USM claimed victory with their impressive female soloist accompanied by a full troupe of

angklung (West Javanese bamboo instrument) players. In second placing was USM and

finally Nilai UC and UMP.

The event received the thumbs-up from Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, the Deputy Minister of Higher

Education. “I am very impressed by the sterling quality of the performances tonight. Kudos to Nilai

University College for taking up the challenge of hosting 1World Culture, and may many more tertiary

education institutions emulate your example.”

It’s all smiles and laughter for the winners of the

dance category from UMP who hail from China’s

Xinjiang province.

We did it!

This vocal and angklung troupe from USM walked

away with the best vocal prize.

The event was a true amalgamation of cultures.

Campus & Student activities

8

The inaugural Future Leaders Camp was declared a resounding success by the participants and its principal

sponsors. The camp, originally mooted by the administrators of Nilai University College (Nilai UC) as a way to bring students from different cultural backgrounds closer together, was well received by the Ministry of Higher Education, which agreed to sponsor the event. Along with backing from the World Youth Foundation, the camp attracted plenty of applicants from private tertiary institutions all over Malaysia.

Held at Nilai UC’s sister company, Nilai Springs Resort Hotel and Nilai Springs Golf and Country Club, the camp featured a host of activities that was designed to give students a better understanding of cultural diversity and what they can do to break down barriers between students who hail from different cultural backgrounds. Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz, Tunku Besar Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan, who gave the keynote address expressed his pleasure at being able to speak to such a large international audience. He believed that by getting such a diverse group together for a camp itself allowed students to learn more about their peers.

Proceedings started on a serious academic note as students listened to Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin (Founding Director of Institute of Ethnic Studies,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia). Other speakers and guests of note during the three-day camp included Dr Bawa Jain (Chairman, World Youth Peace Summit) and Ramdas Tikamdas (Former President, National Human Rights Society). The latter oversaw a parliamentary-styled discussion on ‘Inter-Cultural Relations in Private Institutions of Higher Learning’. He pointed out that after the voting process had been tabulated, some of the resolutions could lead to draconian laws. However, he commended the students for being able to take part in a parliamentary session in an orderly and civil manner. He hoped that this sample of democracy would lead them to greater things in their home countries.

The participants were also very enamored by Dr Bawa’s speech where he regaled them with many of his experiences of meeting leaders including former US

Participants and MOHE give inaugural Future Leaders

Camp two thumbs up. By R Bala

Camp declareda SUCCESS

Participants paying close attention to one of the speakers

Nilai UC SRC President, Philip leading the students in the Future Leaders’ pledge Students getting the lowdown

on grooming and etiquette

Starting the camp off with a big bang

YAM Tunku Ali giving his keynote address on the first day

(L-R) Abdul Karim Jaafar of MOHE, Varsha Ajmeera of WYF & Prof Emeritus

Tengku Dato’ Shamsul Bahrin of Nilai UC revealing the camp logo

during the opening ceremony

Organised by: In collaboration with: In affiliation with:


9

www.nilai.edu.my

President Bill Clinton. Dr Bawa’s rallying call for students to be leaders now and not just the future was met with resounding approval. Indeed, his session was met with the most questions as students queued up to get an insight into his mission and work which includes being the Secretary General of the World Council of Religious Leaders. In the capacity as the latter, he recounted how a media mogul caused a furor at an international event when he addressed religious leaders from all over the world without following proper protocol. Dr Bawa said this was an important lesson for him as it underlined the importance of doing research on his subject matter. He said that if he had done some homework about the personality, he would have realised the need to have a briefing on the protocol procedure. He implored students to always be prepared by doing the necessary homework on other people’s cultural backgrounds as it could avoid unnecessary pitfalls as well as serve as a useful tool in negotiations.

Students were also exposed to some personal development sessions. The Dale Carnegie Trainers gave students plenty of useful pointers on how to build confidence and to solve problems with a positive attitude. Chapter One Asia treated students to an etiquette and grooming session which pointed out a number of fashion faux paus not acceptable in the corporate sector.

At the end of the three day camp, many students expressed their belief that they are leaving as better persons equipped with essential knowledge which will help them grow into leaders. “I have learnt

so much from the talks and seminars. In these three days I have made so many new friends from all over the world. This camp has been a truly life-changing experience,” proclaimed Ruben Devapatham, student in Nilai UC’s Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme. Similar sentiments were repeated at the Nilai UC-MOHE Future Leaders Camp Facebook site (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136508481094), which is a clear signal to the organisers that the following edition of the camp has a very high standard to meet.

Clear signal as to what students thought of the camp

A truly multicultural performance from Nilai UC students

Dr Bawa Jain had the students’ rapt attention with his anecdotes.

Camp participants arriving at Nilai Springs Hotel

The camp saw eager participation throughout its 3 days.

Hectic schedule made for hungry participants

“This Future Leaders Camp is the culmination of many months of planning and hard work. It is truly wonderful to see that this has come together and to witness students from all four corners of the globe interacting with each other. Job well done to all the organisers, sponsors and the participants themselves for making this such a memorable event.” Prof. Emeritus Tengku Dato’ Shamsul Bahrin, Nilai UC President


10

Aidos KuspanovKazakhstanIntensive English Programme, Nilai University College

“The camp was great! It was a great learning experience as there was no room for any participant to be passive in the heated debates, workshops, and group efforts. This camp was also unlike any regular motivational seminar as there was solid academic substance mixed with a good measure of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Jason Chua Jin JianMalaysiaB.A. (Hons) in Business & Marketing Management, Nilai University College

“An immense success. This camp helped in building my self-esteem and in enhancing my communication skills. More importantly, it taught me mutual respect and understanding and the important role that these values play in intercultural relationships.”

Shivani RachaganMalaysiaA-Levels, HELP University College

“Absolutely awesome. I really enjoyed Dr Bawa Jain’s session on cultural diversity and self-preparation. With such exemplary facilitators, I think this camp effectively helped promote appreciation for intercultural and inter-religious diversity as well as develop appropriate sensibilities and sensitivities for the incumbent differences. My horizons have truly been expanded.”

Nabeelah JogeeZimbabweOxford-Brookes Law, KDU College

“Amazing and inspiring. With regards to my legal studies, this camp has taught me to listen, analyse, think deeply, and not judge too easily. I met diverse people from diverse places here and it’s an experience that I wouldn’t have traded for the world.”

Isaravut IamviriyakulThailandBusiness & Commerce, Monash University

“I learned the importance of integrity and respect in effective networking. Given my field of study, these would certainly help me in my future undertakings, as I will be actively involved in diversifying workplace environments. Kudos to Nilai UC for the incredibly memorable experience.”

Mohd Yusuf KhanIndiaTelecommunications Engineering, Multimedia University

“The grooming and etiquette workshop was one of the most insightful and fun activities in camp. I learned that appropriate dressing has significant impact on how others would perceive you, especially in a professional setting. Clothes really do make a man!”

Viktoriya BoretskayaUzbekistanElectronical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas

“Facilitating a platform for me to experience various cultures and learn from different people was one of the treasures of this camp. I am new to Malaysia and it gladdens me to see great respect practiced among the many new friends I have made here. This was inarguably one of my best weekends ever.”

Benjamin Tsu-Ming ChenCanadaHospitality Management, Berjaya University College

“Come out of your comfort zone, be whom you want to be, and work towards it. That’s what I’ve learned here and it involves dealing with people, situations, and myself well. I had high expectations for this camp and they were all met.”

Philip Emokpare OluwatobaNigeriaBachelor of Computer Science (Hons), Nilai University College

“This camp helped me put things in perspective. For instance, the parliamentary debate was an eye-opener as to how such proceedings are done on an objective and professional level. In my capacity as SRC President, I will certainly take what I’ve learned here to promote greater intercultural understanding in the melting pot of cultures that is Nilai UC.”

Elbegzaya TemuulenMongoliaB.A. (Hons) in Business & Hospitality Management, Nilai University College

“As an international student, I am extremely encouraged by the warmth and hospitality practiced in this camp. Students from all backgrounds were active in their interactions with one another and showed great solidarity. Two thumbs up to the Future Leaders Camp for breaking all boundaries.”

Andrew Zibusiso JubaneZimbabweInternational Business, Limkokwing University

“I want to be an inspiration to others and I’ve met people here who are like me, peers with the same goals and similar aspirations. In this camp, we were not given solutions. We were given keys to open doors. Therein lie the solutions.”

THEY

THE CAMPhad to say about

WHAT


RecipePage

11

www.nilai.edu.my

Ingredients: Castor sugar

415 gm

Butter 250 gm

Eggs 7 nos.

Wheat flour 215 gm

Cocoa powder 75 gm

Soda bicarbonate 5 gm

Almond flakes 125 gm

Chocolate chips 125 gm

Chocolate CreamIngredients:Double cream

100 ml

Cooking chocolate

200 gm

Method:1. Beat castor sugar and butter until fluffy.

2. Add in the eggs one by one.

3. Next, add in flour, cocoa powder and soda

bicarbonate that have been sifted together.

4. Finally, add in the almond flakes and

chocolate chips. Mix well.

5. Bake at 180ºC for 45 minutes.

6. Chill the cake before spreading the topping

cream on the cake.

Method:Bring cream to boil and pour it into a mould

filled with chopped cooking chocolate.

2. Stir until chocolate melts. Mix well.

3. Rest at room temperature until cool before spreading on top of the cake.

AlmondChocolate Cake

By Chef Siti Fatimah Ali

Nilai UC School of Hospitality and Tourism has one of the largest training kitchens among private tertiary education institutions in the country. The 5,046 square feet training

kitchen includes six specialist kitchens as well as a 100-seater demonstration kitchen, all of which service a formal dining restaurant. The school also offers the following programmes:

• B.A.(Hons)inBusiness&HospitalityManagement• BachelorofTourismManagement(Hons),

Thompson Rivers University, Canada (4+0)• DiplomainCulinaryArts• DiplomainHotelManagement• DiplomainTouristGuideOperations• DiplomainTourismManagement• CertificateinFood&BeverageServices• CertificateinHotelOperations

Chef Siti is a lecturer & pastry expert in Nilai UC School of Hospitality and Tourism.

BookReview

12

Inglourious BasterdsThis latest film has put the spotlight back on Tarantino and rightly so. This World War II revenge fantasy saga topped the box office charts a couple of months back thanks in no small part to the pulling power of Brad Pitt’s super square jaw.

But take away the star power; the cooler-than-thou soundtrack and the Technicolour splendour that is Tarantino’s trademark, what we are left with are the words that drive this story. Set in Nazi-occupied France, the screenplay has two divergent stories that meld into one. One follows a young Jewish girl who narrowly escapes the clutches of the sadistic Col Landa – nicknamed ‘Jew Hunter’ - but later has a chance to extract her own revenge. The other follows the exploits of a group of Jewish American GIs – The Basterds - whose mission is to maim, torture and scalp Nazis behind enemy lines. This ploy is to spread dread and trepidation amongst the Nazi troops stationed in France.

What makes this screenplay so worthwhile is that you get plenty of extra scenes which ended up on the cutting room floor. For instance, you get to read how one of the ‘basterds’ came about carrying a baseball bat and why he uses it to bludgeon his victims to death. The violence is central to the appeal of this screenplay as it turns the tables on the perpetrators. Unlike other WWII books and films where the Jews are helpless victims, Tarantino turns them into avenging demons hell bent on extracting every ounce of pleasure from each slaying.

Not quite his best work but still a hugely entertaining read. R Bala

Reservoir DogsMadonna’s hit single Like A Virgin and the practice of tipping. What could be more banal conversation topics? Yet the opening sequence set in a diner was quite simply electrifying. Introducing the colour-coded characters and their personal idiosyncrasies, this sequence highlights the author’s special talent for turning the mundane into screenplay gold. A DVD of Reservoir Dogs recently landed on my desk as a birthday present from a colleague and I almost never finished the film due to some snap judgments but I have since recanted.

Reading this screenplay proves that Tarantino is a bleeding genius. The non-linear timeline adds to the chaos of a jewel heist gone very, very bad and the sense of urgency grows with each dialogue-filled page. Note the film was made on a shoestring budget and relied almost entirely on the quality of the lines and the actors delivering them.

The sheer joy of reading Tarantino’s stream of snappy dialogue makes you want to don a sharp suit and a pair of shades yourself to be part of this crew. And if you have seen the film, you get that extra enjoyment recalling the scenes, songs, and better yet, the droll, deadpan voice of the radio deejay that plays in the background. For sheer impact and ability to inspire, Reservoir Dogs is almost second to none. Well, until you read Pulp Fiction that is...Aileen Anthony

Pulp Fiction‘Royale with cheese.’ ‘Ezekiel 25:17.’ ‘Wake up the gimp.’ Hear any of these catch phrases and the initiated will be immediately sucked back into the hard-boiled world that is Pulp Fiction. This monumental film won the coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars in 1994. Despite having penned a debut as explosive as Reservoir Dogs and the controversial Natural Born Killers, Pulp Fiction is widely regarded as Quentin Tarantino’s finest screenplay to date.

The title, Pulp Fiction refers to mid-20th century pulp magazines and hardboiled detective fiction, known for their graphic violence and incisive dialogue. With a superficially disjointed anthology of three intersecting stories, Tarantino and co-screenwriter Roger Avary manage to mould vacuum into matter in their skilful preservation of the verbal rhythm and wicked playfulness of dialogues while seasoning the script with thick layers of dark ironic humour and pop culture references.

Amidst all the filmic bloodletting, devilishly lurid cinematic allusions, and hair-raising moments of suspense, readers with an eye for detail will be thrilled to no end with the characteristic nonchalance and seemingly inane banter that features prominently in scenes that would usually be expected to require the opposite. But that is what makes Tarantino fun to read – he delivers the familiar with a twist and continually prepares us for another. The man can’t act, but he can sure write a killer script. Matthew Ong Bin Han

The Explorer team sinks its collective teeth into Le Big Mac of screenplays – the works of Quentin Tarantino.

Natural Born Writer

All screenplays featured here are available at Nilai UC’s Resource Centre.

About the author

Tarantino-esque. An adjective used to describe anything reminiscent of Tarantino’s

works. How many directors or screenwriters get to enter the lexicon of popular culture, and after just two films at that!

Named the 12th greatest director of all time by Total Film in 2007, one would imagine that Quentin Jerome Tarantino was a prodigious graduate of a noted film academy. Contrarily, Tarantino dropped out of school at 15 and at 22, held employment at a video rental store where he would spend all day watching, studying, and recommending films to customers.

Captivating actor Harvey Keitel with his remarkable flair for screenwriting, Tarantino’s debut film Reservoir Dogs garnered critical acclaim, earning cult status. His screenplays have since gone on to become bestsellers all over the globe, ubiquitous for their witty dialogues and simultaneous non-linear storylines that saw a boom in independent cinema throughout the 90s.

Celebrated his films may be, it is his screenplays which are being reviewed here. With the success of his most recent effort – Inglourious Basterds – it is perhaps worthwhile to re-examine why his written work has garnered so much praise.

As Tarantino once said, “Well, not to be facetious or anything, but…I’m a good writer!” Amen to that.Matthew Ong Bin Han

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Enrichment For Life