Recently I read a
blog post, written by a UTAR student, claims he doesn't regret choosing UTAR for his tertiary education. So I thought as an UTAR student I should write about my UTAR experiences too. So people who are planning to enroll to UTAR at the upcoming May intake can read and think twice.
1. Does UTAR provide good education?
No. UTAR doesn't educate you. UTAR trains you. UTAR provides you with opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge that are fundamental (but important) to future employment or further education. Education and training are two different things.
The course structure includes many irrelevant subjects (sometimes I think the management just put it in for the sake of creating jobs for more lecturers), and leaves out many crucial subjects (may be UTAR doesn't not have the resources needed to include the subjects).
But one thing for sure, UTAR puts in a lot of efforts mimicking the real world (I guess) - you'll have very little time to do very much works (if you do all your works inclusive of preparing for tutorials). Therefore you need to keep up very good discipline and good time management.
2. Does UTAR have good lecturers?
Yes, it depends on your definition of "good". If a good lecturer is those who give "tips" for midterm and final exam, then you'll have plenty of good lecturers.
If you define "good" as having a lecturer who can inspire you, discuss with you, stimulate your growth, perhaps you're asking too much. However, there are a few lecturers that I really admire in UTAR.
The problem with UTAR is that it doesn't have enough brain-power and doesn't not allocate the brain-power evenly. Many lecturers (including those experienced ones) are reluctant to be transferred to Kampar branch, and many lecturers in Kampar are new and lack of skill and experience in lecturing. Mind you I'm not saying Kampar's lecturers do not have enough knowledge, I emphasize on skill and experience of conducting lecture.
3. Does UTAR have good facilities?
The most important facility you'll need is a good library. A good library must possesses books and journals that you'll need for your academy, and must have other books that you can read to gain knowledge beyond your text books. UTAR library is not adequate, therefore you'll find it difficult to get journals and information you need for your assignments and final year project (aka thesis). Books are scattered among branches, so you might not be able to get the book you want immediately if it is not in that particular library. Fortunately, librarians are generally helpful.
Gymnasium and sport complex are pay per entry and rent on hourly basis respectively. Cafeterias don't provide good or healthy food, prices are no cheaper than outside the campus (or more expensive).
4. What are UTAR students like?
If unfair to judge UTAR base on students' attitudes and behaviors. But if you are to come to UTAR I think you should be acknowledged.
Most of the students like to complain for no reason, some complain for they believe it's an initiative to trigger improvement of UTAR, some complain about students who complain. The first type of students basically complain and put all the blames on UTAR for everything goes wrong in their lives. The second type is often mistaken as the first type, typical
initiative paradox. The last type thinks they are protecting the reputation of the university, but they contribute very little in actuality.
It's not a culture here to raise doubts and questions in classroom. It's not a culture here to answer questions either. Students here prefer to copy answer than find out the way to get answer. Spoon-feeding is the culture here, critical thinking is not encouraged.
90% of students are Chinese, mostly converse in Mandarin and other dialects. If one of your goals is to brush up your English, you should mix around with English-speaking friends, otherwise you might not be able to achieve that goal. Many told me they can't speak well so they don't speak to avoid embarrassment, I told them it's better to be embarrassed now than later when you out to the society.
5. Why should you choose UTAR?
Its fee is cheaper relative to other private colleges like Taylor, Inti, Monash, and etc. UTAR's graduates have high employment rate (but low salary). UTAR has stricter enrollment requirements. UTAR exams are more difficult as compared to other colleges (according to a friend of mine who been to UTAR and now in MMU). You graduate with a degree, not diploma (if you manage to graduate).
6. Why shouldn't you choose UTAR
UTAR management is the one thing disappointing me the most. Rigidity is in their veins even though they teach us about empowerment and flexibility. Students points of view and opinions are seldom taken into management's account of consideration prior making any decision that could affect the students.
UTAR management has a lot of rooms for improvement.
7. Do I regret coming to UTAR?
No. Why should I or what is the point to regret?
I complained a lot, but I was not complaining about UTAR as it is an object that has no thinking and emotion. Its personality derived from its management or the brain. It's the management people are complaining, not the object itself.
A good university must has three essential components - management, academic personnel, students. Management's job is to stimulate facilitate the growth of the other two components. The academic personnel's job is to facilitate students and help management to achieve its academic goals. While students have to improve in term of academic performance and other aspects.
Why should we compromise when things could and should be improved?
P.S.
Dedicate to haters -
How to uphold UTAR image?
P.P.S.
This post is not to tarnish UTAR's image. I merely point out the results of my observations so you can adapt better to UTAR's campus life.
