DC Live Club Launches First-Ever Podcast on YouTube: A New Voice for Mass Communication Students
The DC Live Club at DISTED College has officially launched its first-ever podcast on YouTube, marking a significant milestone for Mass Communication students. This dynamic platform captures their journey, experiences, and passion for the field, offering an authentic glimpse into student life at DISTED.
Allisya, a first-year Diploma in Mass Communication student, shared her excitement about the vibrant and welcoming environment at DISTED. She highlighted the strong engagement with lecturers and the supportive, close-knit community, which made her transition into college life seamless. One of the key reasons she chose DISTED was the diploma program’s holistic approach—integrating various aspects of Mass Communication to equip students with essential industry skills and broaden their career prospects.
Reena, a first-year Media Studies degree student, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing her passion for Mass Communication and the program’s focus on hands-on learning. Unlike traditional courses that rely heavily on final exams, DISTED prioritises continuous assessment, fostering critical thinking, time management, teamwork, and deeper student engagement. With access to state-of-the-art multimedia studios and broadcast facilities, students gain invaluable real-world experience that prepares them for successful careers in the media industry.
DISTED College remains committed to enriching student experiences through initiatives like the DC Live podcast and DISTED Discourse. These platforms not only highlight campus activities and achievements but also provide students with opportunities to build their portfolios and engage actively with the media landscape.
Nadia Jefri, Head, School of Communication & General Studies
Remarks from the President
At DISTED College, we believe that education extends beyond the classroom. Initiatives like the DC Live podcast empower students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, fostering creativity, confidence, and professional growth. In today’s media-driven landscape, success depends not only on theoretical understanding but also on the ability to adapt, collaborate, and communicate effectively.
Through hands-on experiences like this podcast, students develop essential industry skills—content creation, storytelling, technical production, and audience engagement. These are the very competencies that employers seek, and by honing them early, our students gain a competitive edge. More importantly, this initiative nurtures leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving, qualities that are invaluable in any career path.
DISTED takes pride in providing a learning environment where students are encouraged to innovate and take ownership of their projects. The DC Live podcast is a testament to their passion, dedication, and ability to bring ideas to life. As they embark on their academic and professional journeys, the experiences gained from such initiatives will serve as strong foundations for their future success.
Congratulations to the DC Live Club on this milestone. I look forward to seeing how this platform evolves and continues to inspire the next generation of media professionals.
Prof. Dr. Vikneswaran Nair, President
Women Inspiring Women: A Glimpse into WELEAD Program
Persatuan Komuniti Literasi Pulau Pinang hosted an exciting three-day workshop, Women Empowerment in Leadership (WELEAD), which featured a series of interactive sessions with prominent women leaders in Malaysia. Three lecturers and one student from DISTED College had the privilege of participating in this program, which equipped them with an opportunity to interact with women leaders sharing their milestones and challenges in the realm of leadership as well as decision-making.
Mdm. Ann Tan, Head of Communication at Silicon Island Sdn Bhd, was one of the distinguished speakers of this program. She took WELEAD participants an exclusive visit to Pusat Perkhidmatan Setempat Nelayan (PPSN) to share more about Silicon Island – a 2300-acre groundbreaking development in Penang, Malaysia. This exciting project seeks to position Penang as a global hub for tourism, green technology and smart city innovation over the next 10 to 15 years. Through her extensive knowledge and expertise, Mdm. Ann shared great insights on how women can lead large-scale, transformative changes in the industry.
Throughout the program, participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions that highlighted the importance of diversity in leadership. In addition to being a learning platform, the program was also a powerful reminder of the continuous need to empower women in leadership positions to create a more inclusive future. DISTED participants gained leadership insights, industry exposure, and networking opportunities with prominent women leaders.
Kesvhinee Ravinthran, Lecturer, School of Pre-University Studies
Making New Year’s Resolutions That Stick
As we step into the new year, many people find themselves reflecting on the past and reevaluating their life choices. This period of introspection often leads to the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions—commitments to personal growth and self-improvement.
New Year’s resolutions provide an opportunity for those who have struggled to initiate change. Many individuals postpone their goals, telling themselves they will start next week, next month, or sometime soon. However, despite making resolutions at the end of the previous year, many may have already abandoned them.
What are some of the most common resolutions? They often include dieting, exercising, losing weight, saving money, becoming a better person, reading more, and making new friends. Interestingly, nearly 30% of people never make resolutions because they doubt their ability to follow through. However, research suggests that those who set resolutions are ten times more likely to achieve their goals than those who do not.
So, how can we create effective resolutions that actually work? A good starting point is summarizing the past year. Successful planning requires the right mindset. Take a moment to sit down with a notebook and reflect on the past year—the achievements and the setbacks. If you find yourself setting the same goal repeatedly without success, it may be time to modify your approach.
Next, define the overarching theme of the year. Before diving into detailed planning, identify one primary goal that aligns with your interests and aspirations. Ensuring that your goal is realistic and personally meaningful increases the likelihood of success.
Breaking down your goals into smaller, actionable steps makes them more manageable. The SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) framework can help create clear and attainable objectives.
A well-structured plan is essential. Consider how you will track progress and stay accountable. Whether it’s through journaling, digital tracking apps, or regular check-ins with a mentor or friend, having a monitoring system can keep you on course.
Finally, belief in oneself is a crucial factor. As Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can, or you can’t – you’re right.” Self-confidence and determination play a significant role in achieving any goal. If you genuinely believe in your ability to succeed, you are far more likely to stay committed and push through challenges.
Indra Sellappan, Lecturer, School of Psychology
APEX Bootcamp Closing Ceremony: Celebrating Innovation and Excellence
The APEX Bootcamp Closing Ceremony took place on February 8, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the 2-year Computer Science and Digitech Program under the Penang Math Platform (PMP). This bootcamp represents the culmination of students’ dedication and progress in computational thinking, digital literacy, and innovative problem-solving—crucial skills for success in the digital age. DISTED College is honoured to be an Institutional Partner in this prestigious program.
The APEX Bootcamp Recognition and Award Ceremony celebrated the achievements of students from 14 Penang schools, recognizing their hard work and commitment. The event also acknowledged the invaluable support of Corporate Sponsors, including Micron, Pentamaster, Plexus, Globetronics Technology Bhd., Shan Poornam Sdn. Bhd., Bentley Education, and Charities Aid Foundation, alongside Institutional Partners such as DISTED College, Methodist College Kuala Lumpur, TARUMT, UOW Malaysia, Forward College, and Silicon Island Development.
As part of its role in the program, DISTED College provided hands-on training to students from Han Chiang High School, SMK Raja Tun Uda, and SMK Bandar Baru Perda, equipping them with essential digital skills and industry-relevant knowledge. A significant advantage for students who complete the APEX Bootcamp is an exemption from the Introduction to Information Technology & Information Systems course when they enrol in the Diploma in Computer Science or Diploma in Information Technology at DISTED or other partner institutions.
With its strong focus on industry-driven education and experiential learning, DISTED College remains at the forefront of shaping future digital leaders. Through initiatives like APEX Bootcamp, DISTED reinforces its commitment to empowering young minds for the evolving technological landscape.
Seethai Subramaniam, Head, School of Computing & Engineering
Preserving Tradition, Embracing Innovation: A Field Trip to Perniagaan Bedak Sejuk Lean Seng
On 7th February, five lecturers and 18 business school students embarked on a half-day field trip to Perniagaan Bedak Sejuk Lean Seng, a factory in Balik Pulau, Penang, dedicated to preserving ancestral craftsmanship. The visit aimed to explore the traditional production of bedak sejuk (cooling powder), a cultural skincare product with deep historical roots in Malaysia.
Made from just rice and water, bedak sejuk has been a staple in traditional skincare for generations. According to the business owner, Mr. Yeoh Song Huat, the family business was founded by his father 50 years ago to supplement their income when job opportunities were limited.
The production process, though not secret, is time-intensive. Traditionally, rice is fermented for a year before being ground into a fine paste, filtered to remove impurities, and sun-dried into granules. To reduce the lengthy fermentation period, Mr. Yeoh’s family conducted a series of experiments, gradually shortening the duration from one week to two months. Through trial and error and feedback from neighbors, they found that a one-month fermentation period yielded the most stable and effective product.
Despite its small-scale, fully handmade production, Mr. Yeoh exports bedak sejuk to the USA, where it is repackaged and marketed as a luxury face mask—highlighting how traditional businesses can tap into global markets with the right strategy.
The field trip underscored the importance of creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurial thinking. It was a valuable learning experience, demonstrating that innovation and perseverance can transform even the smallest ventures into global success stories.
Tan Pei Shi, Lecturer, School of Business and Hospitality
The Enduring Influence of Von Neumann Architecture in Modern Computing
The Von Neumann Architecture is a foundational concept in computer science that underpins most modern computers. Named after mathematician and computer scientist John von Neumann, this architecture, introduced in 1945, describes a system where a single memory unit stores both instructions and data.
In software development, programming languages and algorithms are designed to align with this architecture’s fetch-execute cycle. Operating systems manage memory and processing to optimize data and instruction access, enhancing performance. However, the Von Neumann bottleneck—caused by the limited data transfer speed between the CPU and memory—remains a persistent challenge.
In theoretical computer science, Von Neumann’s work influenced the development of Turing machines and computational complexity theory. The concept of a machine processing instructions sequentially with stored data laid the groundwork for models of computability and efficiency analysis.
Despite its limitations, the Von Neumann Architecture remains fundamental, shaping fields such as computer architecture, operating systems, and artificial intelligence. At DISTED, computing students explore these principles to deepen their understanding of modern computing advancements.
Nurul Annisa Azhar , Lecturer, School of Computing and Engineering
