Remarks from the President
Dear DISTED Community,
Welcome back. I trust that everyone had a restful Chinese New Year break and is now prepared for the final weeks of this short semester. The pace has accelerated quickly, and this week has been intense as we resume our responsibilities.
We are entering a demanding period with audits and other important activities that require our full attention. This is a critical time to demonstrate discipline, focus, and teamwork.
As we are now in the holy month of Ramadan, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim colleagues. May this blessed month bring you peace, clarity, and strength. Let us continue to be mindful and supportive of one another during this period of reflection and spiritual discipline.
A strong finish is achieved not only by completing tasks but also by maintaining quality, integrity, and collaboration. I encourage everyone to continue upholding these values as we move forward.
President
Dato’ Dr (h.c) Lim Si Boon
Your Fast Track to CPA Australia
We are pleased to announce that students of the Bachelor in Accounting (Honours) programme at DISTED College, offered in collaboration with HELP University, are now eligible for six paper exemptions from CPA Australia*.
This pathway provides students with direct entry into the CPA Australia Programme, leading to the prestigious CPA Australia designation, an internationally recognised mark of professional excellence. With this pathway, students gain global recognition, enhanced employability, and increased career mobility across regional and international markets.
CPA Australia is one of the world’s leading professional accounting bodies, with over 170,000 members globally, including more than 28,000 professionals in senior leadership roles. The programme is supported by industry experts and qualified practitioners, ensuring students acquire practical, future-ready accounting competencies valued worldwide.
Choosing this pathway gives DISTED students a significant professional advantage, preparing them not only for the workplace but for long-term success in a dynamic global economy.
*Exemptions are subject to academic qualification and module mapping approval.
Sharizan Abdul Rashid
Lecturer, School of Business and Hospitality
DISTED College and Gurney Bay Hotel, A PARKROYAL Partner Hotel to Strengthen Work Based Learning Pathways
DISTED College has taken another strong step toward building industry-ready graduates through a new Work Based Learning (WBL) partnership with Gurney Bay Hotel. Signed under a five-year Memorandum of Understanding, the collaboration opens structured, real world learning opportunities for students while supporting the hotel’s and hospitality industry’s long term talent development needs.
The WBL programme gives students the chance to apply classroom knowledge directly in a professional environment. With Gurney Bay Hotel, aHotel, a Parkroyal Partner Hotel on board, students can expect hands on roles aligned with their field of study, clear job descriptions, guided supervision, and performance feedback that contributes to their academic assessment and early career development.
Our partnership offers a pipeline of young talent who are eager to learn, adapt, and grow in a fast-paced hospitality setting. The hotel will provide work placements and meaningful trainings on the job that mirror real industry expectations. DISTED will support the process through continuous communication, student monitoring, and academic guidance to ensure the experience delivers maximum learning value.
Both parties share a common goal that aims to produce work ready graduates who understand the demands of the industry and can contribute from day one. The collaboration reflects DISTED College’s long-standing commitment to blending academic strength with industry relevance, and highlights our partner dedicationpartner dedication to nurturing future professionals for the hospitality sector.
This partnership marks another milestone in DISTED’s mission to create strong industry links that benefit students, employers, and the broader community.
Dr Lum Li Sean
Head, Academic Affairs
My Experience as a MarCom Executive at Gurney Bay
Working at Gurney Bay has been an invaluable experience for me. As a Creative Multimedia Production student, I currently serve as a Marketing Communication Executive in the MarCom Department, a role I began on 17 December 2025. This opportunity allows me to apply my multimedia skills in a real work environment while gaining meaningful exposure to both the hospitality and marketing industries. Throughout my time here, I have strengthened my creative, technical, and professional abilities.
My key responsibilities include managing website graphics, creating promotional posters, producing visual content, and handling photography. These tasks require attention to detail, creativity, and a solid understanding of brand identity. With my multimedia production background, I am able to design visuals that are both engaging and aligned with the hotel’s marketing strategies. Beyond design work, I also assist with events and marketing campaigns, giving me practical insight into how promotional initiatives are planned and executed in a professional setting.
One aspect I truly value about working at Gurney Bay is the continuous opportunity to grow my multimedia and creative skills. Each project brings new challenges that encourage learning and development. The supportive and collaborative work environment also enhances my experience, making teamwork enjoyable and productive.
Overall, I am grateful for the chance to work at Gurney Bay, as it has significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth. I would especially like to acknowledge my senior, Anne, the GM’s Personal Assistant, whose guidance and encouragement have helped me build confidence in my role. This experience has prepared me well for my future career in creative multimedia and marketing.
Amber Ch’ng
Student, Diploma in Creative Multimedia Production
DISTED × LemmeLearn: An Inclusive Sports Experience
Students from DISTED College embarked on a meaningful community engagement initiative through a collaborative volunteering programme with LemmeLearn Empowerment, a special needs learning centre dedicated to inclusive and supportive education. As part of the Inclusive Collaborative Sports Class, DISTED students participated in weekly sports sessions designed to encourage teamwork, social interaction, and physical activity among individuals with special needs aged 13 to 30.
The programme ran over several weeks, with students committing to consistent attendance to ensure continuity for the participants. This long-term engagement allowed trust, familiarity, and rapport to develop naturally. By interacting with the same group each week, students formed stronger connections and gained deeper insight into the diverse needs and strengths of individuals within the special needs community.
Each session was thoughtfully structured, beginning with warm-ups and icebreakers before moving into skill practice and team-based games like Captain Ball. While group sports can present challenges for participants with special needs, the supportive environment enabled individuals to take part at their own pace and comfort level.
For many of the volunteers, this experience marked their first time working with the special needs community. Initial nervousness quickly shifted to enjoyment, with students describing the sessions as fun, heartwarming, and personally enriching. Through this programme, they developed valuable skills such as empathy, patience, communication, and adaptability—competencies that extend far beyond the classroom.
This collaboration reinforces DISTED’s ongoing commitment to experiential learning and community involvement, offering students meaningful opportunities to learn through inclusion and shared experiences.
Teoh Ker Hsin
Programme Leader, School of Pscyhology
Beyond the Bookshelves: Challenges and Expectations in the Library
DISTED College student Joyce Ung sat down with Ms Fairunizan—better known as Ms Nizan—to explore her long-standing journey as a librarian and the challenges she navigates daily in managing library operations and student needs.
Having begun her career in October 2007, Ms Nizan now marks nearly 18 years of service. To her, the library is far more than a physical space filled with books; it is an “informal school” where university theories meet the unpredictable curiosity of students. One of her most significant challenges is what she describes as the “investigative” phase. In an age of instant information, many students approach the library with broad assignment topics but lack the ability to narrow down what they truly need. Guiding them requires the skill of a researcher-detective—asking precise questions to ensure students leave with the right resources.
Beyond helping students, the behind-the-scenes logistics are equally demanding. With rising costs and limited vendor stock, acquiring the correct academic texts has become a high-pressure process. Accuracy is crucial, as many books share similar titles. To avoid errors, Ms Nizan often “reverse-checks” with busy lecturers to ensure editions and authors are correct before purchases proceed.
Looking forward, she believes the library’s value no longer rests solely on physical books. Instead, the future lies in blending physical and digital resources to create a richer learning experience. She envisions a “vibrant salon” — a welcoming, multi-functional space offering deep-work zones, collaborative technology areas, and spaces for mental rejuvenation.
For Ms Nizan, it is ultimately about creating a library environment that truly adds value to students’ lives.
Joyce Ung Xiao Yan
Student, Bachelor of Communication (Media Studies)
