echo Echo is back with another instalment of Sunway Scoop! In the third edition of this series, Echo explores the world of business and innovation through the eyes of lecturers and students. Welcome to Sunway Business School, where future auditors, finance managers, entrepreneurs, and innovators are raised by star-studded lecturers.
Encompassing five departments: the Department of Accounting, the Department of Business Analytics, the Department of Management, the Department of Economics and Finance, and the Department of Marketing Strategy and Innovation; it is safe to say that Sunway’s Business School is one of the biggest schools in Sunway. With thousands of students enrolling each year, it has certainly amassed plenty of accomplishments to marvel at!
Here are a few interviews conducted with the lecturers and students of the acclaimed school!
Dean of Sunway Business School
Of course, we cannot begin this article without a few words from the dean himself!
Tell us about yourself
I am quite a recent addition to Sunway, having just joined the school in September. I was previously in Australia for about six years. I am originally from Penang and came here to Subang to study and gain a little work experience. Then, I went to Sarawak but decided to come back here after the whole pandemic. Sunway reached out to me, and now I’m here. Sunway’s efforts towards the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and planetary health were one of the main reasons I was attracted to Sunway University. Besides that, Sunway’s Business School is notably the biggest school in Sunway.
Could you describe your experience as Dean along with your first impressions of the staff and students of the school?
So far, it has been great. The campus is clearly vibrant and active. I have been invited to a few events by clubs and societies such as SIBS (Sunway International Business Society) and SUGSC (Sunway University Global Supply Chain). I am thoroughly impressed with how students are bringing the industry to the classroom. One of my first impressions would be how the second and third-year students are especially vocal and proactive. Lecturers and students often collaborate with each other too. It’s nice to see lecturers be enthusiastic both inside and outside of the classroom.
What sets Sunway’s Business School apart from other business schools in the region?
There are a few existing factors, one of which is how a majority of the lecturers, myself included, are Ph.D. holders who have prior experience in the industry itself. Hence, they are able to bring knowledge of the industry into the classroom. The students are able to gain first-hand insight into how things are carried out in the industry; the real world out there. There are lecturers who write journal papers, case studies and produce research papers as well. Students get to learn from the authors themselves. And obviously, the magnitude of the Sunway brand itself. It’s a whole ecosystem with Sunway University at the very heart of it.
What are your hopes for the school in the future?
I hope to bring in more international students to the school; to bring the world to Sunway University. It’s crucial to build an international network not just for the sake of diversity but to aim for a larger market. Countries in the Middle East, South Asia along with other countries such as China and Indonesia are examples of this larger market. We have to build our connections with UNESCO and carry out research collaborations with international universities. Lecturers have the opportunity to bring these partnerships to life with exchange programmes and so on. Students don’t need to travel overseas but can learn from qualified foreign lecturers right here. This also encourages international students to come here in partnership with other universities.
Moreover, we should introduce programs that are industry relevant. This is in mind to help the students’ readiness for the industry itself. Business graduates are able to enter any industry and there are three aspects that set apart excellent business graduates: Analytics, Sustainability, and Technology. To embed these aspects, industry-relevant programs have to be brought forward.
How is the school handling the transition to a post-pandemic era?
Before the pandemic, classes were wholly physical. During the pandemic, however, everything shifted online. There was an accelerated adoption of technology in carrying out lessons, a large-scale digital transformation. Although we are now in the post-pandemic era, we cannot completely return to pre-pandemic ways. There’s a leverage on lessons learnt during the pandemic. As such, we must create new blended learning environments for students where they are free to learn both online and on campus. Although online classes are convenient, with no need for travel and being able to replay recordings, it does not compare to the effectiveness of physical classes. Lecturers are able to read the gestures of students and keep track of them better. After all, we are naturally social creatures.
What kind of guiding principles or impressions do you hope are adopted and left by the graduates?
I hope they learn the importance of being ethical; of differentiating between what is right and wrong. What I want is for them to always have a positive mindset when facing issues or challenges. They should embark on actions that will make a difference and be resourceful. Instead of blaming the things and people around you, bring about change by taking action. I hope as well, that the school is remembered in a good way by them. When reflecting back, they should feel proud and happy of how far they have matured to become better versions of themselves; that this relationship with the school is everlasting.
Are there any messages you would like to relay to the students?
To be active and think outside of the box to come up with better ideas. Let us shape our future and prosper together!
Department of Accounting
Welcome to the largest department in Sunway Business School! We are home to the BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance programme which aims to produce future-ready graduates who are highly sought after by top employers. From our humble beginnings as a department with less than ten students, we have climbed the ranks to become a world-renowned department with more than a thousand students. And, this is by no accident as our programme is industry-relevant and recognised by professional bodies across the globe. Our key areas of focus include corporate reporting, financial control, auditing, treasury, and more. So, read on as our lecturers enlighten you on what goes on behind the scenes and bust the ancient myth about accountants being boring!
Tell us about yourselves
Dr. Chang: When I first joined Sunway in 2010, it was just a college. Now, it’s one of the fastest-growing universities in the world. And, when the BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance (BAF) was launched, only eight students were enrolled in the programme. Today, we have more than a thousand students. So far, I have taught every accounting subject except auditing, – which I’m personally not a fan of – and my current area of specialisation is taxation.
Dr. Jaspal: I have more than 20 years of teaching experience and joined Sunway University in 2018. I was drawn to Sunway University as it is all about giving back to society, whether it’s by offering scholarships to students or raising awareness on sustainability issues. I think this is a very noble cause and sets us apart from other private higher education institutions in Malaysia. During my time here, I’ve had the privilege of teaching every accounting subject except taxation, although I have to say that I’m also not too fond of auditing. Presently, I teach advanced management accounting, advanced financial accounting, and cost accounting.
Dr. Foo: I’m relatively new to Sunway University, having joined just last year after spending almost 14 years teaching at the neighbouring Monash University. I came to Sunway University as I sensed its potential and strongly believed that it would hold exciting new opportunities for me. My area of expertise is financial accounting, having worked as an accountant in various multinational and public listed companies prior to my academic career. And, although I think that accounting is a very holistic programme where students should attempt to understand every area, I have to admit that taxation is probably my least favourite subject.
How do you think your students would describe you?
Dr. Chang: To be honest, the students’ impression of me is probably the direct opposite of how they view Dr. Foo and Dr. Jaspal. And, I think this ‘tough guy’ image can be attributed to the subject I teach, advanced taxation, which is a third-year subject notorious for its difficulty. So, perhaps if I taught first-year or second-year subjects, they’d be a little less afraid of me.
Dr. Jaspal: Based on our face-to-face interactions and student evaluations, I think they tend to find me approachable. I always tell my students that there is no such thing as a silly question and try to put in the same amount of thought when answering their questions, regardless of the level of difficulty.
Dr. Foo: ‘If you had been my first accounting lecturer, I would have never given up on accounting’. This sentiment has been echoed by many of my students and I think it is because they can sense my love for the subject in every lesson I teach. Students may also describe me as approachable as they never hesitate to come to me, whether it’s to ask a question or to just share what’s going on in their minds.
What are your hopes for the department in the future?
When someone asks you, “Where can I further my studies in Accounting”? We want “Sunway University” to be the first thought that pops into your head. We aspire to make Sunway University the preferred choice for students who are interested in the field of accounting. It is no secret that the number of students in the Department of Accounting surpasses all of the other departments in the university. Currently, we have more than 1,000 students enrolled in our programme and at our peak, we had approximately 1,500 students. But, at the end of the day, the numbers don’t really matter and we just want to provide our students with a first-class education. So, it is by strengthening the quality of our programme that we hope to take the department to even greater heights.
What are your plans to promote the growth of the department?
Instead of resorting to cheap tactics like aggressive advertising to encourage the growth of our department, we plan on revamping the programme itself. Times are changing, and so must we. We no longer want to stick to teaching conventional subjects and intend to expand our repertoire to include subjects that will be relevant in the future, such as data analytics, big data management, cryptocurrency, and more. To support the growth of the student body, we will also strive to staff our department with only the best talent we can find.
What is the biggest challenge the department has faced? How did you overcome it?
The Covid-19 pandemic was definitely the biggest challenge we’ve ever faced. It was uncharted territory for us as we had never experienced anything like it before, and I hope we’ll never have to experience it again. Sure, it wasn’t a complete surprise to us when the lockdown was announced but no one could have anticipated the gravity of the situation. We had all assumed that it would just be temporary. However, once it became clear that Covid-19 was here to stay, we knew we had our work cut out for us. Teaching online lessons was somewhat manageable, but we had a tough time figuring out the logistics of carrying out online assessments. There was also added pressure on our department as we’re usually at the forefront of every situation, which means that the other departments in the school tend to follow our lead. To overcome our issues, we encouraged open and honest communication among our staff, taking into account everyone’s suggestions. Admittedly, those first couple of months were pretty overwhelming, but we managed to overcome the obstacles as a team and bounced back from the pandemic as a far stronger department.
What is your impression of the students in the department?
We don’t consider our students as the ‘customers’. Instead, we see their potential employers as the ‘customers’ and take it upon ourselves to shape our students into ‘products’ that will be in high demand in the future job market. Thus, we strongly believe that each and every one of our students has the potential to hit the ground running once they graduate.
Do you have any interesting stories/anecdotes about the department?
Dr. Chang: A couple of months ago, I bumped into some of my former students in Sunway Pyramid. Since my appearance had changed quite dramatically since the last time they saw me, they were reluctant to approach me at first and just stared at me for a while. Eventually, they came up to me and asked, “Are you Dr. Chang”? Then, we started talking about all the things I taught them and the jokes I used to crack in class. It was truly one of the most cherished moments of my career to see that I had impacted these students in such a way that they would never forget.
Dr. Jaspal: Unlike Dr. Chang, my story is definitely not one of the highlights of my career. In fact, it’s one of the most embarrassing moments of it. A few years ago, I walked into a lecture theatre and started teaching as usual. I had been talking for around 25 minutes when I realised that something was off; the room was completely silent and everyone was just staring at me blankly. That’s when I realised that I was in the wrong class! So, I quickly packed my things and left, only to hear laughter erupt from the lecture theatre the second I closed the door.
Department of Business Analytics
Research and analytical skills are essential skills for humanity to progress to newer heights. In the Department of Business Analytics, our focus is to produce research of practical importance through collaborative research with industries and experts in the field.
Tell us about yourself.
From the moment I graduated from university in Seoul, Korea, my goal was to be a professor. I’ve worked and studied at multiple places around the world, having worked as a staff at the Student Affairs Department at Yonsei University, studied MBA and DBA in the USA, and worked as an Associate Professor of MIS at Minnesota State University, USA. From there, I returned to Korea and worked for the Catholic University of Daegu, where I held various administrative positions. Lastly, I went to Kazakhstan to work for KIMEP University as a Professor and Dean of Bang College of Business. In 2016, I joined Sunway University as a founding Head of the Department of Business Analytics at Sunway Business School with a mission to establish a Bachelor of Business Analytics program and Master of Business Analytics program.
How would you describe the Department of Business Analytics?
I would describe it as the fastest-growing department at SU and the ‘sexiest’ department at Sunway Business School. The department was established in 2016 and has grown rapidly from 28 students in August 2019 to 379 students in August 2022. To quote New Straits Times in 2019, “To be sexy is to be new, modern, creative, innovative, flexible, and agile.” So, our students are sexy because their courses are new, modern, up-to-date, creative, and innovative, which makes them flexible, agile, and successful in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0). We also set the students up for success in their future career development by offering high-demand programs tailored to develop knowledge and skill sets that are required by the industry in the era of IR 4.0.
How do you think your students would describe you?
Students would describe me as hard-working, self-motivated, and goal-oriented, which comes from my positive mindset and teamwork spirit. Students would also occasionally call me oppa or Korean oppa as a friendly banter.
What are your hopes for the department in the future?
My biggest hope for the department is that it will be known as the department which offers the ‘sexiest’ and the best Business Analytics program in South East Asia.
What are your plans to promote the growth of the department?
There are three important aspects of the department’s future; Growth, Reputation, and Management. The growth of the department is dependent on the ability of all team members to work together effectively. Reputation can be maintained and increased by hiring or retaining high-quality lecturers and program delivery. Lastly, management, which is the most challenging matter out of the three aspects, requires us to understand the expectations of upper management and establish working environments by identifying the common grounds of all members so that we can work as a team. Currently, each and every one of us has different abilities and once we are able to identify the push factor, we will be able to emerge as an unbeatable department.
Do you have any interesting stories/anecdotes about the department?
When I first joined the department in 2020, I thought that it was a big department and that I would have a hard time fitting in. However, to my surprise, there were only three of us! Since then, we have been on a growth spurt and currently have 9 members. Honestly, despite being the smallest department in SUBS, we are still able to rise as the fastest-growing department at SU in terms of student enrolment. Well, as the saying goes, we are small but strong.
Is there a message you would like to relay to the students of the department?
I have been working in the industry for almost half of my life and what I noticed is that technology never sleeps. Technology is growing at a pace that if we choose to not keep up, we will be left behind. Additionally, Covid-19 has significantly changed our lives and no doubt, technology was one of the principal drivers which helped organisations survive during the pandemic. If there’s one thing that we can all learn from the past two years, it is that we have to be agile and flexible in adapting to the changes in technology as it is the future for all of us. Most importantly, regardless of the situation, we must always be resilient and keep on moving.
Department of Marketing Strategy and Innovation
Some might argue that the name of our department is quite a mouthful, but we couldn’t disagree more. It’s simply one of the many things that make us stand out from the rest! Our department offers programmes such as the BSc (Hons) Business Studies, BSc (Hons) Marketing, and the Master of Marketing. We combine active classroom learning with insights from industry leaders to equip our students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. So, whether they’re interested in starting their own business or adding value to a company, our graduates will be able to face real-world challenges head-on. If you’re not entirely convinced by our marketing prowess, here are some words from our former HOD to show you just how good we are at what we do!
Tell us about yourself
Originally from Scotland, I’ve held corporate positions in the US, Britain, and parts of Latin America, not forgetting my stint as an educator at the London Business School. So, to tell you the truth, I wound up in Malaysia by happenstance. I had been toying with the idea of returning to academia for quite some time when I received an offer to teach in Malaysia. Fast forward a couple of years to today, and you could say that I am well acquainted with the higher education landscape in Malaysia, having taught at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), University Malaya (UM), Help University, and now Sunway University. I have been in Sunway University for more than seven years and mainly apply my expertise in global marketing to teach postgraduate courses such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the Master of Marketing.
Can you describe the department in three words?
The first word that comes to my mind is ‘fun’. In fact, research has proven that people who enjoy what they’re doing and work together are far more productive than a team of people who don’t like one another. ‘Creative’ is another word I’d use to describe the department. It comes with the territory, as we marketers are often expected to come up with new and innovative ideas. Of course, these two attributes would be utterly useless without a ‘team’, especially when it comes to collegiate writing. As a fan of sports analogies, – especially football ones – I like to think of it this way; if you go to the gym alone, you’re more likely to make excuses, but if you go with a mate, you’ll be more motivated to work out.
What are your hopes for the department in the future?
We hope to establish Sunway Business School as the nexus for professional marketers by making it home to the largest undergraduate Marketing programme and the highest number of Marketing citations in Malaysia by 2028.
What are your plans to promote the growth of the department?
Although it may seem like our goals are way out of reach, we are already well on our way towards achieving them. One of our strategies is to build our marketing credentials around consumer behaviour by launching a Business Psychology programme in collaboration with the School of Medical and Life Sciences and setting up a neural laboratory equipped with top-of-the-line technology. Our second strategy is to focus our research on consumer insights and case writing by encouraging collegiate writing amongst our staff and reinforcing our annual case writing competition with Emerald Publishing. Finally, we plan to boost our academic reputation by building links with industry leaders and professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI).
How did the department handle the challenges posed by the pandemic and how is it handling the transition to a post-pandemic era?
Unlike other departments in the School of Business, we weren’t thrown into the deep end as we had previously accepted a serendipitous offer from the Open University of UK to deliver online lectures. This meant that we had almost two years to get our hands dirty with the nitty gritty of online teaching, making our department the spearhead of the school’s transition to online classes. Post-COVID, things are definitely easier but there are still a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out, especially for hybrid classes which can sometimes be a bit of a pain in the neck for lecturers to conduct.
What are some common stereotypes or misconceptions that people may have about the department/staff/students?
People tend to assume that all marketers are extroverts. But, there is a difference between educators and the industry as a whole. When I worked in a corporate environment, the marketing department was full of ‘party all night, stand on top of the table, and sing a song’ kind of people. But, this doesn’t really apply to marketing academics who are of the quieter ‘keep your head down, sit in the office, and write research papers’ sort.
Is there a message you would like to relay to the students of the department?
Enjoy this as much as you can. The lessons that you learn in the programme will be useful to you in every single dimension of life. Everyone has their own brand map – you don’t have to be Taylor Swift to have a personal brand – and your brand image is your reputation; it’s what people think about when they see you or hear your name. If you understand that marketing perception is reality, you can use your knowledge to great effect to be happier and more successful in life. So, whether you’re trying to buy a car or earn your in-laws’ approval in the future, marketing will always be relevant to you.
Department of Management
This department focuses on research in relation to the fields of supply change management and corporate social performance. Our research focuses on topics such as reverse supply chain management, humanistic management, and labour market issues.
Tell us about yourself
I majored in biology and neuroscience at Hokkaido University, but eventually, my interest changed to psychology, and I moved to UCLA in Los Angeles, USA for higher education in psychology and majored in social psychology. After graduating, I stepped into the area of business studies because I want to teach others how to run and maintain a business with a healthy and sustainable mindset. Initially, I worked at Monash University Malaysia for 9 years, then I realised that Sunway University is somewhat of a rising star in Southeast Asia. Therefore, I moved to Sunway University with the goal of developing the research side of this Department, because this is my interest.
What makes the department unique?
We cover all the important areas of business right now. VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) creates a huge impact on business and the economy. In this department, we teach our students how to be flexible and resilient. We always update our business program to follow the rapid change in the business situation in order to equip our students with a clear guideline on how to survive in the future.
What are your hopes for the department in the future?
We have two hopes for our department. Our first hope for this department is to explore new research ideas and further develop our research project, while at the same time creating a healthy research culture. Our second hope is to maintain good quality educational services for all of the students.
What is the biggest challenge the department has faced? How did you overcome it?
There are too many students in this department and because of that, we could not provide equal high-quality education to each and every one of them due to a shortage in human resources. We are currently thinking of changing the system to improve our service to students, but it is still in discussion.
What is your favourite part about being the HOD and an educator?
The people here are very mature and nice. We always share information to avoid miscommunication. I share my goal and directions for people to understand, which creates a very cohesive group.
Do you have any interesting stories/anecdotes about the department?
One of our student’s parents had a car accident and passed away. Upon hearing this news, all the staff and members of this department exchanged information to identify which student it was to give our full support. We also asked the lecturers, university, and other students to provide her with care and support.
Is there a message you would like to relay to the students of the department?
The most important thing in university life is to enjoy and learn a lot. Learn not just from the class, but by participating in or organising different events or learning from other people such as your cohorts or from a social event. Everything is a learning opportunity, and try to utilise and enjoy it as much as you can.
Department of Economics and Finance
Say hello to the backbone of the business world! Our department consists of the Bachelor (Hons) in Finance, BSc (Hons) Financial Analysis, and BSc (Hons) Financial Economics and is responsible for producing some of the world’s future movers and shakers. By exposing our students to a wide range of subjects such as Accounting, Banking, Fintech, Investment, and Quantitative Methods, we ensure that they are ready to take on higher-level qualifications as well as meet the demands of their future employers. So, it’s no surprise that most of our students go on to earn higher starting salaries than their peers! If it all sounds too good to be true, you can hear it all firsthand from the HOD of our department.
Tell us about yourself
My education had always been split between my personal choice and circumstances. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and was a science stream student in high school. Like many typical Malaysian students, both choices were decided by my parents as I had never really liked these subjects and wanted to study Economics and Finance instead. Eventually, I decided to make the switch and obtained a PhD in Finance. After working in consulting for more than a decade, I decided that I had to get away from corporate life as it was starting to weigh me down. So, I asked myself: What else can I do? Since I had always enjoyed conducting workshops and training sessions, I thought that it would be a wise move to become an educator. Sunway University was the perfect place for me to teach as their visions of sustainability and planetary health deeply resonated with me. Plus, as an alumnus of Sunway College’s Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP), I had a sentimental attachment to the institution. Presently, I teach Corporate Finance to third-year students at Sunway Business School.
What is your favourite part about being the HOD and an educator?
As the HOD, I am in a good position to make a positive change in the lives of my staff by making their lives easier in the office and not giving them more work than they can handle. As an educator, even if some of my students find my subject boring, at least I can make them laugh in the classroom. And, when students facing difficulties in their personal lives reach out to me, I try to show them that the sun also rises, and that failing and dropping out aren’t the only options; that there is another way out.
What makes the department unique?
Our uniqueness comes from the diversity of people in the department. We come from various backgrounds prior to becoming lecturers and are in different stages of our lives. This range of experiences allows lecturers to provide different perspectives for every situation.
What are your hopes for the department in the future?
I hope that everyone in the department will continue to evolve and grow. Since the world is evolving at a rapid pace, it is necessary to align ourselves with these changes so that we will be able to compete with everyone else. I am hopeful – and confident- that our lecturers will be able to upskill themselves and implement these changes into their educational practices. And hopefully, the education of our staff will be channelled down to the students as well.
What are your plans to promote the growth of the department?
We plan to revise our programmes by including trending issues and subjects such as sustainable finance, social development, analytics, and Financial Technology (FinTech). In terms of staff development, we intend to upskill by taking on new challenges and engaging with the industry so that we can transfer this knowledge to our students. In fact, some of these plans are already in the works.
What are some common stereotypes or misconceptions that people may have about the department/staff/students?
One misconception that people usually have about our staff is that they are old-fashioned or conservative. Little do they know, most lecturers lead vibrant lives off-campus and that some of their interests actually align with their students. That’s why I always encourage students to view their lecturers as a person first, and an educator second. As for the students of the department, there is this notion that they are all nerds. Although this does apply to a handful of students, as someone who connects with a lot of them through social media, I can safely say that most of them don’t fall under this umbrella.
Is there a message you would like to relay to the students of the department?
To current students, I’d advise you this; be more confident but not to the extent of arrogance, be more decisive but not to the point of entitlement, and never be so adaptable that you lose sight of your principles and integrity. On the other hand, I’d advise incoming students to not only learn broadly and deeply, but also explore the world that lies beyond their discipline, so that they can have a more rewarding experience both during and after their time at university.
Recent Accomplishments
Of course, we cannot go without mentioning a few accomplishments made by the lecturers and students of the business school. Being the world-renowned business school it is, there are bound to be more than a couple of talented and brilliant folks from the school. Let’s take a look at some of their recent accomplishments from last year!
Bursa Young Investor Challenge 2022
Last year, Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak, organised the Bursa Young Investor Challenge 2022 on the 27th of August. A few of Sunway’s business school students represented Sunway and participated in the competition. Admirably, they managed to seize first and third place in groups of three. First prize winners were Wei Shuen Lim – Bachelor (Hons) in Finance, Alexander Teo – Bachelor (Hons) in Finance, Joyce Ang Kye Wei – BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance followed by second runner-up winners; Hwang Chong Yao – BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance, Pay Jun Ming – BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance and Ying Zhi Tan – BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance. The winners were awarded with cash prizes and internship opportunities with TED Optimus as well.
Deloitte Audit Business Challenge 2022
A challenge designed to test participants’ knowledge in accounting and auditing as well as to provide them experience in dealing with the world of finance, the Deloitte Business Audit Challenge 2022 was held last year from 22 October to 17 November. “Team GoStrong”, a trio pursuing Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Accounting and Finance represented Sunway University in this challenge. Tan Yi Fang, Lee Jia Min and Kng Fen Ying, emerged victorious as the first runner-up of this arduous challenge – making Sunway University proud.
Sunway University Earns AACSB Business Accreditation
AACSB accreditation is the highest standard of quality in business education in the world. It showcases the upholding of standards by a school along with the quality of educators and success of that particular business school. Sunway Business School is the first ever non-government linked private Malaysian university to have achieved this astounding accomplishment, marking its esteemed level among business schools.
Home to Editors of Premier Journals
Yes, you read it right! Sunway Business School is home to quite a number of celebrities. While there are many impressive students hailing from the school, the brilliant faculty members are equally or even more so spectacular. Dean and Professor Weng Marc Lim is editor in chief, associate editor and even guest editor of multiple journals, some of which are the International Journal of Quality and Innovation (Inderscience) and Heliyon (Cell Press). Following him are, Associate Professor Arshian Sharif, Editor of Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) and Associate Editor of Energy Policy (Elsevier), Professor Chaiporn Vithessonthi as Associate Editor of Global Finance Journal (Elsevier), Associate Dean (Research) and Professor Yuka Fujimoto as Associate Editor of Journal of Management & Organization (Cambridge University Press), Associate Professor Calvin WH Cheong as Associate Editor of Asia Pacific Journal of Business Administration (Emerald), Professor Kenneth Anthony Cafferkey as Associate Editor of Employee Relations (Emerald) and Dr Kien Yiek Koay (Darren) as Associate Editor of Journal of Internet Commerce (Taylor and Francis).
20th ASEAN University Games in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Sunway Business School also has successful alumni who have certainly left a mark in the world. One fact is clear though, Sunway business school students are all-rounded students, contrary to popular \\belief. During the Asean University Games last year, Jing Xuan Yap – BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance Sunway Business School Student Concilium 2021/2022’s Head of Sponsorship Department, won a silver medal for Malaysia in fencing, under the Women’s Individual Epee event!
Students’ Takes
In this segment, we interviewed several students from Sunway University Business School to share their thoughts and experience regarding the school.
Daiva
From your experience, how do you think future students should prepare themselves to join SBS?
They need to be more disciplined with their time management. I have learned that time management is important for our daily life as a student. Moreover, I think it’s important for future students to be certain in joining SBS rather than choosing it, thinking that it will be easy.
Kah Ming Zheng (Justin)
Why were you interested in joining SBS, and how has your experience been?
I have always been interested in business, and I plan to run my own company one day. In my opinion, SBS serves as an introduction to the business world and helps deepen my knowledge and comprehension of the fundamental concepts of management and business. Moreover, the business degree is practical because it can open doors to other opportunities!
I have made a lot of new friends and met a lot of people from different backgrounds. The lecturers are extremely knowledgeable, and are always willing to share their own experiences. Furthermore, I am able to access a lot of school resources that can kick start any ideas that I have.
Grace Natalie
What do you hope to achieve in SBS and how has SBS helped your self-development?
Since SBS is quite popular, I want to achieve the same knowledge as what other top universities teach their students. SBS has provided me with many new experiences, including how life in university would be. At first, it was very tough because the university was very different from high school. For instance, it only takes 2 hours to finish one chapter in university, but that was not the case during high school. However, after a few semesters at SBS, I’m quite used to how the university system works, and am able to improve my time management skills, that is balancing time to study and have fun.
Asareel Jon-Jorge Kennet
Why were you interested to join SUBS and how has your experience been?
I applied for this program because of my interest in maths and money so I decided to pursue it. I love working with numbers but I couldn’t part with economics so, this degree is a perfect blend of both. It’s quite challenging and vastly different from high school. Despite this, I don’t regret taking this programme.
What do you hope to achieve in SUBS and how has SUBS helped your self-development?
I hope SUBS would be able to equip me with the knowledge and skills to survive in the industry.
Gnai Salihah Haseenah Casseer
What do you hope to achieve in SUBS and how has SUBS helped your self-development?
I hoped to gain extensive knowledge in my field of interest while also gaining exposure to a different culture. This was primarily to immerse myself in a culture other than the one in which I was raised and to broaden my business perspectives.
In terms of self-development, SUBS was extremely beneficial in terms of business communication and narrowing my focus in the field of analytics. To be more specific, I was given numerous opportunities to work in real-life scenarios with a group of people to solve a specific problem that arose. If I continue to carry it with me, I believe it will help me greatly in the business world.
Sunway Business School, undoubtedly, lives up to its name as the stellar business school it is. As massive as it is now, the school still finds ways to grow and develop further in order to create an optimum environment for students and lecturers alike. The school’s ideology of thinking ahead sets it apart from other schools all around and brings forth the best in a student. To find out more about this school that boasts over 8000 students, head over to their website and check it out!
Written by: Daniel, Priyanka, Poorani
Edited by: Caitlin
