Meet 3 Taylor's University students who are uplifting communities

“BraillePad is an example of how I applied the skills I learnt in university, such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawing and 3D printing, to build a tangible solution that impacts the visually impaired community,” remarks the Sabah-born student. 

“Joining clubs and societies in Taylor's University, I was able to connect with elites of various fields and have the opportunity to learn 3D printing. A major highlight for me was being recruited into a multidisciplinary team of Engineering and Medical students during my first year to compete in the Engineering Innovation Challenge (EIC) 2021 hosted by the Institute of Engineering Singapore. Our team successfully developed a 3D printable plastic Bismuth-PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) that shields medical healthcare workers from radiation.”

Ng also acknowledges the valuable mentorships he has had at the university, crediting his Mechanical Engineering programme director, Dr Choo Hui Leng, for helping him adapt classroom teachings into real-world insights and know-how. 

"It was through working closely with Dr Choo across multiple award-winning projects that I learnt how a real-life professional engineer thinks and solves problems. Standing on the shoulders of giants like him helped me see the fascinating world of engineering and innovation. My goal is that the innovations I work on serve a purpose and bring impact, making the world a better place for everyone.”

See also: Taylor's University's Professor Michael Driscoll on Making a Difference

Having grown up with educational opportunities from a young age, Tharani Ramasamy admits she was shocked to learn that many Malaysian students lack similar opportunities and privileges when she first joined Taylor's Projek BacaBaca (PBB), an initiative that aims to promote literacy in underserved communities. 

After acquiring a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance at Taylor’s University, Tharani secured internships with prestigious accounting firms, thanks to the institution’s emphasis on practical skills and industry connections. It was later that Tharani discovered her true calling when pursuing a Master of Teaching and Learning programme at Taylor's School of Education, eventually taking on the role of project officer for Projek BacaBaca. 

“I graduated the programme with a perfect 4.0 CGPA and with more passion than ever to create meaningful impact in the Malaysian education scene. Yet, I was clueless on how to direct my energy.” 

Through conversations with one of her Master’s programme lecturers, Hema Letchamanan, Tharani identified her core strengths and interests, applying them in a more impactful way through Projek BacaBaca. Now in her second year as project officer, Tharani spearheads multiple reading programmes simultaneously this year to cater for learners of various reading capabilities.      

“Leading a project that is aimed at helping learning-deprived students taught me about purpose-driven leadership,” she adds. “To be part of PBB, one requires a strong sense of purpose and a deep understanding of the mission. It has taught me the significance of aligning the team’s efforts with a common purpose and ensuring that everyone involved is aware of the programmes’ goals.”   

Her eye-opening experiences and learnings from Projek BacaBaca were an invaluable asset when she presented a research paper on learning poverty at the BERA Conference 2022 at Liverpool University. At present, she is pursuing her PhD in Education, investigating former Tamil primary school students' primary-secondary medium of instruction transition.

“Prior to my university life, I was a passive learner who quietly received information in a classroom. I rarely spoke during lessons and engaged in any collaborative learning,” Tharani shares. “Learning at Taylor’s University nurtured me to be a more confident person and provided a safe learning environment to share my opinions. Being in a safe environment as such built my self-assurance as I developed a stronger a sense of self, the ability to articulate my thoughts effectively and engage with constructive feedback. It empowered me to stand for my beliefs and values, promoting authenticity and integrity. This has helped me to pick a PhD research area that is close to my heart, the medium of instruction transition of former Tamil primary school students as I, too, am a graduate of a Tamil primary school.”

A second-year student of Taylor's University's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Interior Architecture course, Immanuel Santosh wears many hats. A sportsman, musician and ambassador of Taylor's student engagement arm, The Risers, Immanuel also spearheads the CAREbinet by The Risers project, an initiative that involves building and distributing sustainably made cabinets to 14 (and counting) schools in Kuala Lumpur. Restocked monthly with essential food and hygiene items, these 'carebinets' go a long way to meet the fundamental needs of students in underserved communities and improve their chances of academic success at school.

“The project has been a success thanks to the support we received from the schools who welcomed us and all the sponsors who contributed. I have personally seen students getting excited and having a sense of relief by the help that we’re providing through this project,” Immanuel says.

"One of the greatest challenges that I had to overcome was the different abilities and backgrounds of the people working together in building the cabinets. We had students from different courses such as ACCA, Biomedical and SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education) coming together. Soon, we got along well and built it efficiently. One of my favourite things about The Risers is how we are diverse in terms of our backgrounds, education, interests and other various aspects, but we still come together to serve those who are in need. I love helping people and using the skills I have to give back to the community.”

Thanks to the skills acquired in his Interior Architecture classes, Immanuel was able to work efficiently and complete the cabinet building process while guiding his team members to use the equipment correctly and motivating them towards the success of the project.

“The best advice I’ve ever received from a lecturer at Taylor’s University would be this quote, ‘We tend to always learn to live but sometimes you have to live to learn.’ It reminds me that sometimes we make mistakes and that’s fine. It also means that we don’t possess all the knowledge in the world, so sometimes we have to experience certain things to learn.” he adds. 

To learn more about Taylor's University's unique programmes and its Taylor'sphere ecosystem, click here.

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