The best pathway to your field of interest and career goal lies in understanding your passion and learning style.
FOR school leavers who have just completed their SPM examinations, this time now marks the beginning of their exciting journeys into pre-university life.
But, what’s the best pathway to your field of interest and career goals?
The answer lies in understanding your passion and learning style. A good understanding of your preferences will help in determining your next step, so that you can build a strong foundation for a seamless transition to undergraduate studies.
Foundation in Humanities or STEM
When choosing what to pursue, you’ll first have to determine if you excel at and are drawn to either humanities-related subjects or subjects related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Humanities is a multidisciplinary field, with transferrable knowledge and skills across different fields such as business, education, history, philosophy, foreign languages, arts and film, to name a few.
STEM offers a gateway for students into evolving career opportunities.
Alternatively, STEM is a gateway into evolving career opportunities with the emergence of technological advancements in healthcare, food, transportation and manufacturing fields.
It is worth noting that science learners also have the flexibility to opt for the arts and business-based disciplines, if a change is desired further down the line.
The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) offers four pathways in these fields namely, Foundation in Arts and Education, Foundation in Business and Management, Foundation in Engineering, and Foundation in Science.
Pick the best environment for a solid foundation
Once you’ve decided on your pathway, you’ll then have to pick the best environment to support your learning style.
Consider the location, cost and reputation of the institution offering your foundation course of choice.
At UNM, students experience a hands-on approach, from chemistry and biology lab work to computer science programming and psychology experiments.
Research the curriculum, teaching styles and extracurricular opportunities available, and how they match your optimal learning style.
UNM offers foundation programmes that are tailor-made to prepare students for a direct and seamless transition into its undergraduate programmes.
The university’s global reputation, ranked among the top 100 universities in the world by QS World University Rankings 2024, is reflected in its high academic standards, top-notch facilities and experienced faculty who are experts in their field.
Students benefit from personalised attention with small class sizes, and a diverse and inclusive campus environment which fosters cultural awareness and global perspectives with an international student body from over 70 countries.
Students are assessed via a combination of coursework and exams, and have the option to use their foundation year to explore their field of interest through modules designed to help the transition to undergraduate studies.
Furthermore, access to over 80 clubs and societies offers an ideal environment to nurture resilient and well-rounded learners who are passionate about making a difference in the world.
UNM also provides a host of scholarships to support students, such as the High Achievers’ Scholarship, and Sport and Arts Scholarship, among others.
What to expect
The perception that your foundation will be a “honeymoon year” is a misconception.
UNM’s Centre for English Language and Foundation Education head, Saleha Abdul Rahman, advises, “This is the period that students should be most resourceful and take the opportunity to learn about themselves and their learning habits, in preparation for undergraduate life.
“Focus on effective time management, note-taking skills, and study techniques, including critical-thinking. Once a strong foundation is established, the rest of the academic journey should be easier to navigate,” she says.
UNM’s Foundation in Science head, Dr Jaya Kumar Karunagharan shares, “Two important skills students must develop to survive the transition from school to pre-university are independent learning and information literacy, which is knowing where to find information and how to digest that information.
“At UNM, learners experience a hands-on approach from chemistry and biology lab work to computer science programming and psychology experiments. Students also benefit from UNM’s evidence-based teaching approach, backed by research.
“Finally, learners are given the opportunity to be involved in student-led community service projects to develop soft skills in real-world, high-impact initiatives.”
For more information, visit https://www.nottingham.edu.my/.
