Institution On Focus

Background

KBU International College (KBU) is a private educational institution established by the First Nationwide Group, the developer of the 1,000 acre fully-integrated township of Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. KBU was set up in 1990 and its current campus is located on a 13-acre site within Bandar Utama.

Vision
To be a premier private higher education institution offering multi-disciplinary quality programmes at certificate, diploma, degree and postgraduate levels to both local and international students.

Mission
To provide the highest standard of tertiary education in a national and international context.

Academic Strengths

• The majority of programmes conducted at KBU have been awarded the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Status
• All the UK degree programmes are fully franchised from foreign universities (100% foreign partners’ syllabi)
• All pre-university programmes (A-Levels and AUSMAT), foundation programmes as well as four UK 3+0 degree programmes are fully-accredited by MQA ( Malaysian Qualifications Agency).

Programme Outline

KBU currently conducts its academic programmes under the following academic entities:

School of Engineering & Computing

Department of Engineering
The Department of Engineering offers programmes in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

Students who have obtained their SPM/ GCE ‘O’ Level or equivalent qualifications can pursue the 3-semester foundation in Engineering, Science and Technology programme. Upon successful completion, students can advance to the following programmes:

• BEng (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering (3+0)
• BSc (Hons) Computer & Network Engineering (3+0)
• BTEC HND in Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Students with pre-university qualifications such as STPM, GCE A-Levels, AUSMAT or equivalent and who have fulfilled the entry requirements may enter directly to the degree programmes at KBU.

The Electrical & Electronic Engineering degree programme covers aspects of electrical, electronic and communications engineering. The BSc (Hons) Computer & Network Engineering, on the other hand, links various types of software, hardware, protocols and standards used to allow computers to communicate.

The School also conducts the UK BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in Electrical/ Electronic Engineering. It provides a firm grounding in the key concepts and practical skills required to meet the needs of the industry. Modules are delivered through a combination of practical work, lecture and student-centred tasks.

Other programmes offered

• Diploma in Electronic Engineering
• Diploma in Mechatronics

Department of Computing
The Department of Computing offers a 3-semester NCC International Diploma in Computer Studies for students with SPM/‘O’ Level or equivalent qualifications as a foundation programme for admission to the following computing programmes:

• BSc (Hons) Software Engineering (3+0)
• BSc (Hons) Information & Communications Technology (3+0)
• BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems (3+0)

The BSc (Hons) in Software Engineering provides students with a good combination of skills required to design and develop robust quality software. BSc (Hons) Information & Communications Technology provides theoretical explanations as well as practical laboratory-style sessions to develop the key skills required for the industry.

The School also offers the BSc (Hons) in Business Information Systems in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), UK. The programme integrates sound business knowledge with an awareness of information technology necessary for modern business. It stresses the social and organisational factors which need to be considered for the successful use of information technology in a business environment.

Other programmes offered

• Diploma in Information Technology
• Diploma in Business Information Technology
• Diploma in Multimedia Technology
• Diploma in Mobile Computing

School of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Management

The School of Business offers a 3-semester foundation in Business Administration and five diploma programmes which are specially designed for students with qualifications in SPM/ GCE ‘O’ Level or equivalent. Students who have completed the foundation programme, STPM, GCE A-Levels, AUSMAT or other Pre-University qualifications and have fulfilled the entry requirements may enter the following degree programmes:

• BA (Hons) Business Management (3+0)
• BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance (3+0)
• BA (Hons) Marketing (3+0).
• BA (Hons) Accounting (3+0).

The School offers a three-year full-time study programme leading to the award of Anglia Ruskin University’s BA (Hons) in Business Management, Marketing and Accounting & Finance programmes.

The School also offers the BA (Hons) Accounting in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, UK. Graduates can claim exemptions from key professional accounting bodies’ examinations such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Other programmes offered

• Certificate in Culinary Arts
• Certificate in Business Administration
• Certificate in Catering & Event Management
• Certificate in Travel Agency Management
• Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management
• Diploma in Accounting
• Diploma in Business Administration
• Diploma in International Business

School of Design

The School of Design offers programmes conducted in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, UK. It conducts the foundation in Art & Design for students with SPM, GCE ‘O’ Level, STPM, GCE ‘A’ Level, UEC or equivalent qualifications. The 3-semester programme provides a general art and design education that enables students to gain experience in practical studio work and equips them for degree programmes.

After the foundation programme, students who have fulfilled the entry requirements may proceed to the following degree programmes:

• BA (Hons) Graphic Design (3+0)
• BA (Hons) Interior Architecture & Design (3+0)

The BA (Hons) Graphic Design programme helps students to develop a wide range of skills and trains them to become adaptable and versatile designers who can face exciting challenges. The BA (Hons) Interior Architecture & Design students will be exposed to form, space, order, colour, material, structure, proportion, sense of creativity and appreciation of 3- dimensional design in interior spaces. It is the first and only UK interior architecture & design degree programme to be accredited by MQA.

Other programmes offered

• Diploma in Interactive Design
• Diploma in Interior Design

Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) The Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) is a 10-month pre-university programme that admits students with the Malaysian SPM, GCE ‘O’ level or equivalent qualification. It consists of 50% external examination and 50% coursework. This qualification is recognised by most universities around the world for its degree programmes.

GCE A-Levels

The A-Levels offered at KBU is awarded by the London Examinations/Edexcel International, UK. The London Examinations GCEs taken overseas are exactly the same as the examinations in the UK, so candidates are awarded the same certificate at the same standard, wherever they are in the world. The examination body has been recognised for the high quality of its examinations and assessments.

KBU offers the option of science and arts-based subjects to give students a wider choice of disciplines to pursue at undergraduate levels. Students with the appropriate subject combination can be accepted into art & design, business, computing and engineering degree programmes at KBU.

Language Centre

The Centre offers Intensive English Programmes; TESOL (Certificate of Competency) and German Language.

Academic Facilities & Resources

KBU provides excellent academic and recreational facilities such as:

• Fully-equipped engineering laboratories (Digital Lab, Analogue Lab, Power & Control Lab, Microprocessor & Electronic CAD Lab, Mechatronics Lab and EDA Lab)
• Computer Centre that houses the Multimedia Lab, Macintosh and PC-based Art & Design Lab, as well as the Digital Language Lab
• A library
• Lecture theatres with audio visual facilities
• A hostel within walking distance of the college provides accommodation for students
• Well-equipped facilities such as a training restaurant, mock hotel room, food production lab and commercial kitchen
• Air-conditioned multi-purpose hall with four indoor badminton courts
• Outdoor sports facilities (football field, volleyball court and basketball court)
• Music Room
• Access to KBU’s UK partner universities’ e-libraries through the Internet
• State-of-the-art video conferencing facilities for two-way on-line communication with KBU’s partner universities

Student Support Services & Student Development Activities

KBU’s Student Services Department assists students in finding suitable accommodation and organises various student clubs and societies for students with specialised interests. Other services offered by the Department include course and career counselling, travel assistance and helping foreign students with their visa applications.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

• Merit Scholarships for SPM/STPM/UEC Students
• Scholarships for Student Leaders & Top Office Bearers
• Sports Scholarships
• Sibling Scholarships
• School Teachers’ Children Scholarships
• Teo Soo Cheng Foundation Scholarships
• Sin Chew Education Fund Scholarships
• Nanyang Education Fund Scholarships
• MAPCU Scholarships
• Book Prizes
• Nottingham Trent University Vice-Chancellor Scholarships

Recognition & Achievements

• Awarded the ‘SPECIAL AWARD’ by the Private Education Department, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia for
• The most number of First Class Honours students in 3+0 programmes (2003)
• The highest number of MQA accredited 3+0 programmes in Malaysia (2003)
• Excellence in Student Internationalisation (2005)

Corporate and College Achievements

• First and ONLY private college to be granted accreditation for its engineering honours degree programmes by BEM (1999-2001)
• First and ONLY private college to be granted accreditation by MQA for its Engineering honours degree programmes
• First batch of 10 private colleges to receive approval to conduct degree programmes under the 3+0 mode
• First batch of private colleges to be granted the prestigious MSC Status
• First private college to receive the highest number of MSC Status programmes in a single approval
• First private college in Malaysia to sign an MOU with IBM to jointly work together under IBM’s System Z ™ Academic Initiative Programme
• First private college in South East Asia to be equipped with the state-of-the-art Mentor Graphics software running on SUN workstation (worth more than RM8 million)
• First and ONLY centre in South East Asia approved by the Nottingham Trent University, UK to conduct the University’s honours degree programmes in Graphic Design and Interior Architecture & Design