Remarks from the President
Dear DISTED Community,
This term continues to be vibrant with student-led activities and specially curated learning programs for our wider Penang Secondary School community. You will find highlights of these initiatives in this week’s issue of DISTED Discourse.
Our Pre-University Academic Team has been outstanding with our Physics and Computing colleagues sharing their expertise through a Physics Camp for secondary school students.
This weekend, we will host our second Scholarship and Honours Night, where we will introduce our latest scholarship program, the Tun Endon Mahmood Scholarship. We will also announce recipients of the Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap Scholarship, IK Meek Scholarship, SiWu Education Trust Scholarship, DISTED Alumni Scholarship, and students on the President’s List.
Finally, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Delwina Cheah for her dedication to Judo, successfully retaining the top position in Malaysia’s women’s -57kg category for the third time. It is difficult to reach the top and even more challenging to stay there
President,
Dato’ Dr (h.c.) Lim Si Boon
DISTED College Empowers Future Physicists Through Olympiad Development Camp
DISTED College, in collaboration with JPNPP, OFM, and AMISO, successfully hosted the 2025 Physics Olympiad Development Camp from October 14–16. This intensive program brought together 42 talented students for three days of rigorous training designed to strengthen their theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
The camp featured a unique blend of lectures and hands-on activities. Students explored advanced topics such as non-ideal gas laws while engaging in experiments like determining the molar mass of acetone and digitally analyzing projectile motion using smartphones and stroboscopes. Complementing these activities was computational training in Python and Excel, equipping participants with essential data analysis capabilities.
This applied-learning approach fostered critical thinking and problem-solving skills, preparing students for high-level competitions and future scientific endeavors. A notable achievement emerged from this initiative: Wong Jun Yan from SMK Seri Balik Pulau was selected as the sole candidate from this cohort to advance to the national camp at DISTED in March 2026.
This success underscores DISTED’s commitment to nurturing elite scientific talent and providing a robust foundation for Malaysia’s next generation of innovators.
Dr. Tan Fuyi
Senior Lecturer, School of Pre-University Studies
The First-Time Challenges of Hosting a Webinar
As part of our Introduction to Mass Communication in the Digital Age project under the supervision of Ms Nadia Jefri, we embarked on a new experience: organising our very first webinar. On 12 October, our event titled “Impacts of Cyberbullying: New Laws and Prevention of Cyberbullying in Malaysia” was held online via Google Meet. More than 30 participants attended, which was within our expectations. However, rather than focusing solely on the success, we want to share the challenges and lessons learned throughout the process.
During the initial planning stage, we hesitated over whom to invite as speakers. Fortunately, with the guidance of our lecturer, we secured two distinguished guests: Dato’ Dr Jeyashree Srinivasan and Ms Yugaswari D/O Shanmugam. We also scheduled a rehearsal to ensure smooth delivery.
Things became difficult in the final weeks when we realised we had underestimated the time required for promotion. This forced us to postpone the webinar from 8 October to 12 October. It was a wake-up call that one small oversight can derail everything. We sought advice from Ms Nadia and worked hard to resolve the issue.
Despite the challenge of attracting attendees on a weekend, our team managed to promote the event effectively. Finally, the big day arrived, and the webinar ran successfully.
In the end, we gained valuable insights not only on organising events but also on the topic itself. We learned about preventive measures against cyberbullying, proposed laws, and real-life initiatives that uphold justice in Malaysia. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us, especially Ms Nadia, for guiding us through this journey.
Geena Tan, Janice Low, Nurjuma Hanim, Maadesh, Liniesha Suresh and Jeeva
Foundation in Arts Students
AI in Financial Accounting: Preparing Future-Ready Graduates
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming financial accounting. At DISTED College, the Accounting programme is designed to prepare graduates for this evolving landscape.
Traditional tasks such as data entry, bank reconciliations, and error detection are increasingly automated through AI-enabled tools. This shift enhances speed, accuracy, and the reliability of financial statements. Students at DISTED learn how these technologies are applied in practice, ensuring they are ready to meet industry demands.
AI can process vast datasets within seconds, identifying unusual transactions or patterns that may indicate fraud or errors. This allows accountants to focus on strategic analysis and decision-making rather than routine tasks. Through hands-on learning and exposure to tools such as Microsoft Copilot, Accounting Solver, and Excel Built AI, students acquire practical skills that employers highly value.
At DISTED College, AI is not replacing accountants; it is empowering them. Our programme prioritises digital literacy, critical thinking, and adaptability, equipping graduates to add significant value to organisations in a technology-driven economy.
Adznida Md Daud
Lecturer, School of Business and Hospitality
Delwina Cheah Defends National Title at Penang’s National Junior Judo Championship 2025
Penang became the stage for the National Junior Judo Championship in Bayan Lepas, where Malaysia’s top under-21 athletes competed for national recognition. Among them was Delwina Cheah, a student from the School of Psychology at DISTED College, who faced the challenge of defending her title in the women’s -57kg category.
The pressure was significant. Delwina had won the same title last year and added another national victory in May at the National Senior Judo Championship. With expectations high, she relied on her strong support system and determination to overcome the challenge. Her efforts paid off as she successfully defended her title for the third time, reaffirming her position as Malaysia’s top competitor in her category.
Delwina shared that balancing academics and sports is demanding, but she remains committed to excelling in both. Her achievement reflects resilience, discipline, and the ability to thrive under pressure.
DISTED College congratulates Delwina on her outstanding accomplishment and wishes her continued success in her academic and sporting journey.
English Adventure Camp (Hong Kong Camp)
DISTED College recently hosted the English Adventure Camp, welcoming five enthusiastic students from Hong Kong for an afternoon of learning and creativity. The camp was designed to help participants improve spoken English while fostering emotional awareness and self-expression. Activities such as Two Facts and a Feeling, Time Traveler’s Passport, and Body Expression Challenge encouraged students to share stories, describe emotions, and present ideas confidently using new vocabulary related to feelings, actions, and imagination.
One of the highlights was the Feel-Better Friends activity, where students designed symbolic companions to express emotions creatively. This hands-on task nurtured imagination and helped them apply expressive language in meaningful ways. Peer interaction, active listening, and supportive feedback throughout the camp expanded their English word bank and boosted confidence.
The session ended with the Inner Voice Reflection Circle, a moment of celebration for personal growth, courage, and empathy. The camp was a heartwarming experience that showcased the power of language and creative learning in building emotional intelligence and communication skills.
Ambalakalidachayini Devi A/P Ravi
Lecturer, School of Psychology
