Thursday, August 4, 2011

Best advertising schools in Malaysia and the UK - 3

This posting will present and discuss the Advertising schools or programmes currently offered in Malaysia and which are also academically respected. The programmes may not be considered the best, but they are usually mentioned, meaning regarded highly when degree courses in Advertising are discussed.

There are not that many Advertising programmes in Malaysia as compared to in the UK, but rest assured the programmes offered here are as good as those in the UK.

Why do I say that?
1. Because many of these programmes are tailored to justify the needs of the advertising environment in this country, so they are producing graduates that meets the demand of the advertising industry and market.
2. Many of our advertising agencies are UK based, for e.g. Leo Burnett, BBDO, Mcann Erikson, PTM Thomson, Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy Mather, so the programmes here are most of them UK oriented based curriculum or meets the requirement of a UK degree.

Here's the list (in an order that does not signify anything, but the fisrt two programmes are offered in publc universities and the rest from private universities):

1. B. Comm Hons (Persuasive Communication) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Location: Minden, Penang
Selected promotional write-ups: Persuasive Communication integrates several academic fields related to persuasion and influence, i.e. advertising, public relations, public communication campaign and event management. Students specializing in Persuasive Communication will be able to understand various intellectual paradigms, theories and knowledge, which they will then be able to apply to various practical-oriented courses.

2. Bach. of Mass Comm. (Hons) (Advertising) at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Location: Shah Alam, Selangor
Selected promotional write-ups: This three – year programme adopts a professional approach to advertising, providing theoretical background and practical knowledge. Students are exposed to the principles of advertising and persuasion, the art of writing copy and script for the print and electronic media, storyboarding work, marketing, understanding the strengths and limitations of the various media and computer technology applications. The programme is designed to encourage creativity and innovation through critique sessions, proposal writing, and deliberations as students present their creative and mass media recommendation to the class.

3.  B. Comm (Hons) Advertising at KLIUC (formerly known as Ikram College of Technology (iCT)).
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Selected promotional write-ups: The Bachelor of Communication (Hons) in Advertising (BCA) trains students to explore a career in the advertising and publication fields. Students who graduate with this qualification design and create attractive advertisements that generate attention for brands and products. Students are armed with the knowledge needed to work with broadcasting companies, the Internet and the print media. In addition, this programme provides students the opportunity to develop problem-solving and analytical skills to seek new and unexpected solutions in the world of advertising. 

Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years (RM80,000)
Faculty: School of Communication
Location: Lakeside Campus, Jalan PJS 7/5, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Selected promotional write-ups: Bachelor of Mass Communication (Hons)(Advertising) prepares the students with skills, techniques as well as theoretical knowledge of creating, designing and strategically thinking of real-world solutions for business challenge. Students will be exposed to hands-on training with state-of-the-art, industry relevant equipment and software where they will be trained both in creative and managerial aspects of the advertising industry.

Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts & Social Science
Location: UTAR Perak Campus, Kampar Perak
Selected promotional write-ups: This programme provides in-depth knowledge of the advertising field, and also introduces other areas of mass communication such as public relations. Students learn how to integrate the various communication tools into a corporate strategic plan. In addition, students will be provided a solid foundation on the latest in multimedia communication developments.
 
6.  Bachelor of Communication (Hons) in Advertising/Corporate Communication at Sunway University
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Faculty: Communication Dept School of Creative Arts Communication
Location: Bandar Sunway
Selected promotional write-ups: The three years honours degree programme is well-structured as each year of our Communication undergraduate study has specific aims and learning outcomes. In the first year students acquire a solid foundation in the principles of communication; in the second year students specialise in their chosen areas of interest – Advertising Design or Corporate Communication; in the third year students conduct research projects in their areas of interests to apply knowledge and skills acquired in their research methodology class, take up interdisciplinary electives on campus or at Lancaster, to broaden and synthesize knowledge across disciplines as well as gain industrial experience in their internships. 
 
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Faculty: Location: Cyberjaya Campus, Putrajaya WP
Selected promotional write-ups: This degree programme enables the graduate to be versatile and apply his knowledge and skills to a variety of fields, including international marketing, sales, services, management, multimedia, healthcare, manufacturing and biotechnology (consumer education). Graduates from this programme will find tremendous opportunities to gain employment in all businesses, the government sector and international organisations. A graduate of this discipline can enter the industry as:
  • Copywriter
  • Multimedia Producer
  • Broadcast Producer
  • Film Producer/Director
  • Journalist
  • Photographer
  • Photojournalist
  • Newscaster
  • Creative Director
  • Digital Designer
  • Advertising Manager
  • Media Manager
  • Research Manager
  • Brand Manager
  • Account Manager
  • Public Relations Manager
  • Marketing Manager

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Best advertising schools in Malaysia and the UK - 2

Here's the continuation of the list of Ad schools or Advertising programmes offered by well known UK universities (London Ads Schools) :

FYI if you are from Malaysia and wants to attend these courses, have no fear as all the schools/universities and colleges listed here are certified by the Malaysian government's Qualification Accreditation or eSISRAF-Sistem Pengiktirafan Kelayakan.

5. BA (Hons) Advertising & Brand Communication at University of the Creative Arts (UCA) Farnham
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Faculty: UCA Farnham Campus
Location: Falkner Road Farnham Surrey GU9 7DS
Selected promotional write-ups: BA (Hons) Advertising & Brand Communication (ABC) at UCA Farnham takes an integrated approach to both branding and advertising. It provides you with an in-depth understanding of the creative and strategic processes behind successful advertising and brand communications, with a focus on developing skills through practical scenarios and industry experience.  
Industry Links: The ABC Alumni Society gives students direct access to London's top 20 advertising and branding agencies. We also have direct links with: Ogilvy & Mather, Profero, FRED Talent.
 

6. BA (Hons) Advertising at University of Gloucester 
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Faculty: Cheltenham Campus
Location: Cheltenham, UK
Selected promotional write-ups: The Advertising degree is a multi-award winning course, the essential training ground for anyone seeking a career in the creative side of advertising. This highly successful course is dedicated to achieving excellent creative results. It’s an essential platform for anyone seeking a career on the creative side of advertising, offering students an exciting mix of practical and theoretical study in modern studios. 
Employability: According to recent Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) performance indicators, the University of Gloucestershire was ranked eighth out of 160 higher education establishments for employability. In 2006/07, 97% of our graduates found employment or went onto further study within six months of leaving.
Agency links - Mother, Ogilvy and Mather, Abbott Mead Vickers, Lowe, Abbott Mead Vickers, BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Best advertising schools in Malaysia and the UK

Does anybody know which or where is the Best advertising school in the UK?

I've been scouring the net for the last few weeks trying to figure this out, but to no avail. Well, I guess that's what you get when you scour instead of really look for it in a systematic way by categorising or itemising it in detail.

Okay, in this posting I will try to do the exact by categorising or itemising it in a systematic way (whatever that is). First, I will start with UK's best Ad School.

This is in brief of what exactly I am looking for?
1. The Ad school or programme must be a full time Bachelors degree level.
2. It must offer the subject Advertising (with PR or Marketing) as major, but the faculty that offers it doesn't matter -- it could be from the Communications or Design Faculty, Marketing or even from the Management school.
3. The programme content must concentrate on the management aspect of advertising, with design-focused modules enabling students to develop an appreciation of the creative side of the job.  
4. The Ad school must be rated one of the best or the most popular (in the UK) and must also be highly visible (online).
5. It must have the highest percentage or a reasonably high percentage of employability rate based on recent tracer studies either gathered from the university's own study or from HECSU's What Do Graduates Do? or HESA's Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions.

6. Apart from their employability traits, the graduates are well known to have good prospects in job marketability and sustainability.

Wow, quite a tall order!

Here's a list of the Ad schools or Advertising programmes offered from well known UK universities (London Ads Schools) I have found from the web:

Qualification/Level: BA (Hons)
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years
Faculty: Design Media & Management
Location: High Wycombe Campus
Selected promotional write-ups: If you choose to study Advertising at Bucks you will be joining a course that has built impressive reputations with industry, based on student successes in the job market and in international awards. Students develop abilities to think conceptually and strategically, employing creativity, research and analysis to inform their solutions. Much emphasis is placed on reaching the target audience employing the most appropriate media.
Mode of study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years 
Faculty: Ealing School of Art, Design and Media 
Location: Ealing Campus, St Mary's Road
Selected promotional write-ups: The philosophy of this course is to help students to develop as advertising strategists who can think and act creatively, and creative’s who can work strategically. The course is based on real-life advertising work practice, with the aim of producing future advertising strategists, planners, handlers and creative’s. 
Mode of Study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years
Location:  Tremough Campus
Selected promotional write-ups: Our BA(Hons) Advertising degree has been designed in consultation with marketers, brand managers and ad agency professionals to create informed practitioners ready to shape the future of the industry. This forward-looking course is highly vocational and will equip you with the relevant skill sets, market knowledge and professional contacts to begin a fulfilling career on graduation.

Mode of Study: Full Time
Duration: 3 Years
Faculty: School of Design
Location: Elephant & Castle, London. SE1 6SB.
Selected promotional write-ups: This course seeks to challenge current preconceptions and definitions of advertising by fostering an atmosphere of experimentation and interrogation of existing practises. Taught by a team of advertising practitioners and academic theorists integrated with support from technical and studio experts, students will be equipped with contemporary and cutting edge knowledge to be able to understand the theoretical and practical aspects of every level of the advertising process from planning right through to creative output and client industry presentation.

To be continued...

Friday, June 10, 2011

Is Dr Rohaya taking her wives club on the right track?

Off late, almost everyone has given their two cents worth of opinion on the recent furore about wives being obedient to husbands and at the same time able to satisfy his lust like a first-class prostitute -- be it on print media, online and social networking sites.

But many are stating their anger rather than putting a rational argument to the matter. At least two persons, the Perak mufti and another by the name of T S Ramasamy has refused to join the bandwagon of denouncing Dr Rohaya and the group, The Obedient Wives Club.

In a theStar report dated 7 June, the Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria has given his backing to the Obedient Wives Club, which offers “sex lessons” to help women keep their husbands: Perak mufti supports Obedient Wives Club

While TS Ramasamy says Dr Rohaya’s wives club is on the right track

Read Ramasamy's reasoning here as published by the Star today (10 June 2011): 

THE outburst on the notion that wives must learn how to “serve their husbands better than a first class prostitute” (The Star, June 5) is indeed overwhelming.

It cannot be denied that in the majority of cases the need for free sexual indulgence is the major reason for marriage whilst, companionship, love and affection operate as supplementary ingredients.

Therefore, Dr Rohaya Mohd and her Obedient Wives Club should be welcomed to continue in their task of helping to promote harmonious marriages.

Lifelong matrimonial happiness is embedded in the proper management of Dr Rohaya’s advocated principles as embodied in the services of her club.

T.S. RAMASAMY,
Kuala Lumpur.



Other related articles: Daud: Unfair to blame wivesObedient Wives Club to offer sex lessons on how to pleasure husbands
O.W.C : Wife is a Sex Worker


Monday, May 16, 2011

Barang lama -- ditukar sukar, dibuang sayang

Today I finally had my car battery changed.... exactly after 5 years, two and a half months -- since I first drove the car home from Kota Bharu Toyota's showroom on 28 February 2006.

This is also the first time after some 30 years of driving had I used a car battery for this long.

As we all know most batteries usually wear out every 1 to 3 years and need to be replaced. The normal battery warranty is around 1 -2 years.

Actually I was adamant against having it changed, since it was still serving the car well, starting the engine at first strike of the ignition almost every time -- be it for the first time in the morning or when the engine is hot.

But the mechanic at Toyota's Prima Pearl Auto in Penang thought it was timely that I had a battery change.

They gave me a call when I was having breakfast with my daughter 20 minutes after I left the car at the workshop for a routine service. The odometer had clocked 58,000km.

The new battery costs RM205, and after a discount it comes to around RM195. I thought they would change it with the same model, so I said okay as really liked the factory fitted brand.

When I came to collect the car, I asked the service advisor, Mr Dinesh what was the voltage of the battery that made them wanted to replace it. I also told him the battery had served me well ever since I bought the car and I believed it is still okay.

He then went in to ask the mechanic who said they had checked the battery voltage and it was only 12.24V.  The normal battery voltage is 12.50V.

Whoah...! after 5 years plus and it had only waned 0.26V.

I asked to open the hood to look at the new battery. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I had expected. The battery was replaced with a smaller size Toyota brand. I asked Dinesh if I can recharge the old battery but he said cannot, so feeling satisfied with the answer I left home without it (the old battery).

Now I am having second thoughts about the old battery. Bukan ler apa, rasa sayang betoi kat barang lama ni. Dah jadi sentimental lah kunun..5 tahun serving the car well...heheh!.

So a few minutes ago (while writing this note) I gave the workshop a call to have the battery back. Dinesh was out, but I reminded the fella on the line that I was going to collect the battery this afternoon.

I'll try to put it in my daughter's 10 year old Proton Iswara. We'll see whether the battery can still work after this.

Moral of this story : Old habits are hard to change, but old things that had served you well may become very sentimental too.

Lastly this Malay expression might explain or justify the above expressions: Barang lama dibuang jangan, sebab ia tetap berharga, Dibuang Sayang, Ditukar Sukar

Related article: How to Check a Car Battery