Remarks from the President
Dear DISTED Community,
We started the year with orientations for our new students, and just last week, we proudly celebrated those who earned a place on the Honours List. This week, our celebrations continue as we embrace Malaysia’s rich diversity with the DISTED community, beginning with Thaipusam. Organised by the DISTED Indian Cultural Society and led by our President, Kuuhen Kumaran, students and staff came together to set up a tent in front of the college to serve refreshments to devotees.
As we move forward, we also begin our Chinese New Year celebrations, with Ramadan soon to follow. We are immensely proud of the caring and inclusive nature of our student body. These celebrations at DISTED reflect our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to culture, inclusivity, and community engagement.
In the same spirit of support and inclusivity, DISTED continues to extend opportunities beyond campus. Our Director, Ms Evelyn Chen, recently represented DISTED at the Star Education Fund, through which DISTED has committed scholarships to deserving students. This initiative underscores our ongoing dedication to widening access to education and supporting future generations.
Thank you to all students and staff for your efforts in sharing, respecting, and celebrating the cultural and religious diversity of Malaysia, Penang, and DISTED College.
President
Dato’ Dr (h.c) Lim Si Boon
President’s Honours List Highlights & DISTED’s Top Achievers
DISTED College recently recognised its top-performing students at the President’s Honours List and Top Achievers Ceremony, a gathering that celebrated effort, consistency and the people behind the results.
In his address, Dato’ Lim Si Boon, President of DISTED College, shared that the ceremony was meant to go beyond grades and transcripts. This year, the College chose to focus on recognising students individually, taking time to acknowledge the work they have put into their academic journey.
“This is a proud moment for us, and it’s a proud moment for you,” he said. “We wanted to recognise you personally, not just for passing, but for the commitment you’ve shown.”
Dato’ Lim also spoke about the positive feedback DISTED students have been receiving from industry partners. He shared recent conversations with senior management at Gurney Bay Hotel, where several DISTED students are currently placed. One student in particular, Amber Ch’ng, was mentioned for her strong performance and professionalism.
During a luncheon with the General Manager and their team, DISTED students were praised for their skills, adaptability and work attitude. Some have already been offered permanent positions in areas such as marketing, administration, and other departments
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of Honours List certificates and awards to students who earned their place among DISTED’s top achievers.
Beyond recognition, the event served as a reminder of what consistent effort, the right support and a willingness to learn can lead to. As these students move forward into the workplace or the next stage of their studies, the honours list stands as both a milestone achieved and a starting point for what comes next.
Editorial Team
President’s Honours List – May 2025 Semester
Bachelor of Psychology (Hons)
AMOS YEOH YI XUAN
President’s Honours List – August & October 2025 Semester
Diploma in Computer Science (August 2025)
CARYN NG SHI QI
DERRICK EE JING HXUAN
GOH CHUN LEONG JACE WONG LYN LYN
Diploma in Business Studies (August 2025)
ELIZABETH GOEI
JESSICA KAUR
PANG JIA CHEN
Diploma in Business Studies (October 2025)
RIKRITH ARDYYERN
SHRI HARIINI A/P VIJAYANTHIRAN
Diploma in Accounting (August 2025)
NING RUI WEN NING RUI XIAN
Diploma in Mass Communication (August 2025)
ALLISYA NURRUDAINY BINTI SAZALI
NUR ERLIA NADHIRAH BINTI MOHD ERWAN
Diploma in Creative Multimedia Production (August 2025)
NUR SYAFIQAH BINTI ARMAN
SITI SYAHIRAH BINTI ABDUL LATIF LIM
TEH YI SHENG YONG WEN HUI
Foundation in Arts (August 2025)
GEENA TAN JUIN XUEN
Foundation in Science (October 2025)
FOON XIN WEI LAU SUEN HUI
LIOW NICK HONG
TAN CHIAO ERN
2025 Top Achievers for Cambridge A-Level Examination
May/June 2025 Examination Series
CHESNEY CHA SU TIAN
CHLOE GOH YIN PHING
DAYNA ENG SHU YI
EHRENN GOH PHEC YANG
GOH HONG EN OOI JING WEN
VISALATSHE A/P R.CHOCKALINGAM
October/November Examination Series
GOH JIA NI
HEAH QI XUAN KOH TZE QIAN
MATTHEW ALEXANDER ONG
MUHAMMED SALIM SAMEERA
SEA YUN XUAN
SEBASTIAN AIDAN TAN KHAI SHERN
TAN YI YUAN TENG JIA XIN
TOH MEI QI
2025 Top Achievers for SACE International Examination
Northern Hemisphere
IRIS ONG KHAI ZHU
VIVIAN LAI WAN YING
Southern Hemisphere
AADEN POR
AUDREY UNG HUI XUAN
CHAN SENG KUAN
LAU ZHE KUAN LEAN KAI JIE
RASVINI SUBRAMANIAM
TAN YI QIAN
We Just Started College and Here’s the Tea (SCM)
Okay, before anyone asks, there is no actual tea to spill. Just first day nerves, new friendshipsday nerves, new friendships and a lot of “wait, where’s my class?” moments. As January 2026 intake students at DISTED College, we are still figuring things out, one day at a time.
Starting college feels like pressing a reset button. New year, new place, new routines and definitely new faces. At first, everything feels unfamiliar, but what makes the transition easier is how welcoming the environment is. Lecturers are easy to approach; admin staff is friendly, and there is always someone willing to help. It does not take long before the campus starts to feel a little less intimidating and a lot more like a place where you belong.
To get a better sense of how others from my batch are settling in, I had a chat with one of my friends, Naviin Raj, a January intake student enrolled in the Bachelor of Media Studies programme. When asked about his experience so far, his answer was simple but honest. Since his first day at DISTED, Naviin shared that every moment has felt memorable in its own way. Coming into a completely new environment took some getting used to, but over time, those unfamiliar moments slowly turned into positive experiences. Classes felt different, interactions felt more open, and the learning environment felt supportive rather than stressful.
Like many new students, Naviin admitted that adjusting to new academic expectations, like understanding assessment briefs, was challenging at first. Everything felt new and a little overwhelming. However, he believes that with time, effort, and the right mindset, things will continue to get better.
Listening to stories from fellow January intake students, it is clear that no one starts college with everything figured out. Some of us are nervous, some excited, but what we all share is the motivation to grow and make the most of this new chapter.
As DISTED prepares to welcome more students in the coming semesters, one thing is clear. New beginnings might feel scary at first, but with the right support, they quickly turn into experiences worth remembering.
TL;DR: A fresh start, a new campus, and a mix of excitement and nerves.
Joyce Ung Xiao Yan
Student, School of Communication, Arts and Multimedia
Your ACCA Pathway Starts at DISTED
Students enrolled in the Bachelor in Accounting (Honours) programme at DISTED College, offered in collaboration with HELP University, may be eligible for up to nine ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) paper exemptions, subject to ACCA’s academic evaluation and approval.
The programme is designed to align with ACCA’s academic requirements, allowing students to gain exemptions at both the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills levels. This reduces duplication of learning and enables students to progress more efficiently towards completing the ACCA professional qualification.
With foundational papers covered at the undergraduate level, graduates are able to focus earlier on advanced professional-level studies. As a globally recognised qualification, ACCA opens doors to careers in accounting, audit, finance, taxation and management across industries and countries.
Through this pathway, DISTED students gain a recognised academic qualification supported by practical, industry-relevant learning, offering a clear and efficient route towards professional certification and career advancement.
Adznida Md Daud
Lecturer, School of Business and Hospitality
Integrating AI into Learning: A Hands-On Approach in PSY304 Learning Cognition
Students enrolled in the PSY304 Learning Cognition course participated in an engaging classroom activity that integrated artificial intelligence into the study of decision-making. The activity was designed to help students apply cognitive theories to real-world situations while critically evaluating the role of AI in the decision process.
Using a scenario centred on a psychology graduate deciding on a career path, students worked through the five stages of decision-making: goal setting, cue integration, hypothesis generation, evaluation and action selection. This framework provided a structured way for students to analyse how decisions are formed and justified.
To introduce AI into the learning process, students were divided into three groups and tasked with analysing recommendations generated by ChatGPT, DeepSeek and Copilot. Each group assessed how effectively the AI responses applied the decision-making stages, identified possible biases and evaluated whether the reasoning reflected normative or descriptive decision-making models.
Students then presented their findings and engaged in discussion, comparing AI-generated explanations with human judgement. This encouraged students to justify their conclusions using established psychological principles rather than accepting AI output at face value.
Beyond reinforcing key concepts in cognitive psychology, the activity promoted digital literacy, collaborative learning and critical evaluation skills. By examining both the strengths and limitations of AI, students gained a clearer understanding of how human judgement and technology can work together. The session also prepared students for academic and professional environments where interaction with AI tools is becoming increasingly common.
Ambalakalidachayini Devi A/P Ravi
Lecturer, School of Psychology
SACE Digital Technologies: A Well-Rounded Subject at DISTED College
The SACE Digital Technologies subject at DISTED College equips students with essential digital skills through a balanced combination of theory, practical application and creative problem-solving. Students learn how to design and develop digital solutions that respond to real-world challenges across business, industry, the environment, and the broader community.
A key component of the subject involves working with authentic data sets. Students extract, interpret, and model data to identify trends and support informed decision-making. As part of this process, they critically consider how social, economic, environmental, scientific and ethical factors influence digital solutions, ensuring their work remains relevant, responsible, and sustainable.
Innovation is strongly encouraged. Students are given the freedom to generate their own ideas and turn them into digital products, prototypes or proofs of concept. Through experimentation and testing, they learn to refine their ideas, respond to setbacks, and improve existing processes or products using thoughtful design and creative approaches.
Computational thinking underpins the subject. Students learn to break down problems, assess data, and make informed decisions as they design, code, test, and refine solutions. This includes developing a solid understanding of fundamental programming concepts such as coding structures, arrays, and modular design.
Through iterative project work and agile design processes, students build technical confidence while developing teamwork, communication, and initiative. SACE Digital Technologies at DISTED College prepares students well for further study and future pathways in computing, engineering and digital innovation.
Dr. Eric Cheah
Lecturer, School of Computing and Engineering
Stepping Closer to the International Stage: OFM 2026 Second Round
The second round of the Olympiad Fizik Malaysia (OFM) 2026 selection test was held on 24 January 2026 across five venues nationwide, with 104 candidates progressing from the initial round. DISTED College, Penang, served as the host venue for the Northern Region, continuing its involvement in supporting national academic competitions.
The purpose of this round was to shortlist students who may represent Malaysia at two major international physics competitions: the International Senior Physics Olympiad (ISPhO) 2026, to be held in Russia, and the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026, scheduled to take place in Colombia. Both competitions require a strong grasp of physics concepts as well as the ability to apply knowledge under time‑pressured conditions.
Candidates were assessed through three examination papers. Paper 1 consisted of multiple‑choice questions to test core concepts, Paper 2 focused on structured short‑answer questions that required clear reasoning, and Paper 3 involved essay‑based long‑answer questions designed to assess deeper understanding and problem‑solving approaches.
Students who are successful at this stage will qualify for the ISPhO and IPhO Selection Camp 2026, which will be hosted at DISTED College, Penang, in the first week of March 2026. During the camp, participants will undergo intensive training to strengthen their skills and prepare them for the demands of international‑level competition.
Dr. Tan Fuyi
Senior Lecturer, School of Pre‑University Studies
