Asian University of Science and Technology in Jomtien hosted the opening ceremony for its fourth annual Intensive English Academic Program (IEAP) on Saturday, June 2. The university, now entering its fourth year of operation, attracted an audience of 84 incoming students and their family members to the event.

Ms. Julanita Limpaphayom supervises student registration.

University vice chancellor Viphandh Roengpithya provided the keynote address alternating between English and Thai, followed by remarks by international faculty representatives from the departments of Engineering, Business Administration, and Continuing Studies. Later, students divided into smaller groups by program for orientation meetings with faculty representatives.

Vice Chancellor, Dr. Viphandh chats with incoming students and their parents.

The IEAP is a ten-week program of full-time English language instruction designed to bring students up to speed on university level English and study skills. The program is a precursor to the students’ entrance into undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Business Administration and an undergraduate program in Engineering in September. The IEAP is also open to individuals who are not necessarily pursuing a degree, but are interested in improving their formal English for study purposes. The university will continue to accept new applicants during the coming weeks. Inquiries about the IEAP and about degree programs at the Asian UST may be directed to the Registrar at 754450, extension 2800.

Asian University of Science and Technology was formed under a cooperative agreement with the prestigious Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine in London.

MTV Southeast Asia, together with JVC ASIA Pte. Ltd., will be granting a music scholarship called the “MTV/JVC Sound Education” to a talented, young individual in the region.

Working together for the first time, MTV and JVC are launching the MTV & JVC Sound Education campaign to give a talented young vocalist an opportunity to pursue a professional education in music. Other participants will also get to walk away with attractive JVC and MTV prizes. Subject to the judges’ decision, the winner may be offered an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cut their own CD, produced by Victor Entertainment studio in Tokyo, Japan.

For three months, commencing from June 8th, MTV Southeast Asia and JVC will be inviting entries from around the region. Thai participants are required to send a taped recording of their singing and short write-up to: P.O. Box 069, MBE Vanit Building, Bangkok. The campaign will also be held in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The closing date for the entries is September 7th, and finalists will be invited to Singapore on September 28th for the finals. Interested parties can find out details and information on www.mtvasia.com

Says Peter Bullard, senior vice president and managing director, MTV Southeast Asia, “MTV is committed to developing and discovering local, young talent in the region and giving them exposure. The MTV & JVC Sound Education campaign provides a platform for building talents in Southeast Asia to showcase their abilities and get that lucky break to start them on a career in music. It’s our way of helping them realize their dreams.”

Hitoshi Tachikawa, JVC’s general manager, Corporate Marketing Department said, “JVC has been very active in supporting sports and music events - the World Cup for example, as well as many other badminton and football games and the Jazz Festival. We are guided by our company’s credo, ‘Contributing to Culture, and Serving Society’. This project “MTV & JVC Sound Education” is one such project where we can help to cultivate and support the music culture in the region. We consider our ability to give back to society, in this case by giving young talents an opportunity to pursue their dreams, both a duty and a privilege.”

The year 3 classes at Garden International School Rayong recently completed a unique project based on the age-old tradition of mummification, as practiced in Ancient Egypt.

Under the guidance of their teachers they learnt about the various embalming processes and then put their knowledge to the test, making a life-size figure out of wire and cardboard. The students then cut up strips of bandage, which they soaked in plaster and then wrapped these around the sire frame. Many layers of bandages were added to ensure that the form resembled the human body.

Another aspect of the project was making amulets, which were decorated with paint. According to the evidence available, amulets were encased in the mummy to support the belief in the “after-life” which was an important aspect in their funeral preparations.

A death mask was made using a mould filled with plaster, which was also painted and the use of gold gave it an authentic appearance. A coffin was made using a large cardboard box. The students painted the box in rich earthy tones and then used a dull gold to write their names in hieroglyphics around the outside. The completed mummy was placed inside the coffin and is now on display together with other work done by these enthusiastic students.

The project took three weeks to complete and the practical aspects of this task will no doubt remain in the minds of these year 3 children forever.

A new edition to Garden International School’s after-school activity line up this term has been the introduction of the International Award Programme, perhaps better known as the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Twenty-four students from the ages of fourteen up have enrolled in the scheme this past term and will be working towards earning the Bronze Award, the first in a series of three awards.

Learning to survive in the wild

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an adventure programme that gives students the opportunity to go into the outdoors and into real life situations, whilst also encouraging them to become involved within their communities. There are four different areas that the award focuses on. These are: Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Expeditions.

Students will be given the opportunity to partake in conservation work, improve their outdoor survival skills (then go on an expedition to put themselves to the test) and take a favourite sport of theirs to a higher level.

Year 5 teacher Alan Dighton has been actively involved in running the Duke of Edinburgh Award in various schools, and has much experience as a Leadership Course Guide for children. He and three other staff members will be training the students in basic survival skills, such as finding water and trapping food, building a shelter, making cooking and eating utensils form bamboo, hiking and camping tricks, map reading and various other interesting survival techniques. Once all has been covered, the students will be taken into the rainforest for three days and two nights, to put their skills to the test. GIS hopes to take the students in two groups of 12 to Northern Thailand early in the next school term.

GIS also has the privilege of having an internationally acclaimed table tennis coach. Anne Prendaville coached for the Tasmanian table tennis team and has also worked with various Australian players. She will be coaching some GIS students for their Physical Recreation section.

The students will also be given the opportunity to learn some basic mountaineering skills such as rock-claiming and ab-sailing, as well as all the relevant safety skills needed for going on expeditions.

Early in the second term of next year, GIS hopes to see all twenty-four GIS candidates achieve their Bronze Award, and many more enrolled in the scheme.