SIA ties up with China varsity to offer master’s programs

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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Institute of Art (SIA) is setting up China Central Normal University (CCNU) Art Education Centre here to offer master’s programmes in arts, namely graphic design, interior design, fashion design and music studies.

SIA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CCNU’s College of International Cultural Exchange (CICE) from Wuhan, Hubei, China on Thursday evening to mark the beginning of the collaboration of both parties, in terms of establishing and developing academic exchange and cooperation in teaching, training, research and development.

The collaboration will enable SIA students to complete their last two years of bachelor’s study at CCNU. It also allows SIA to offer CCNU’s master’s programmes in arts and music studies here, in addition to having exchanges in academic, training, exhibition and performance in the future.

SIA president cum chief executive officer Prof Dato’ Dr Wilson Yong Tung Yung said arts design and music were good professions and graduates of both courses were in high demand in the job market.

“SIA produces up to 80 graduates in arts and music studies annually and most of them are ‘booked’ before they graduate.”

“I get two to three phone calls daily from companies that want to recruit our graduates, but the supply cannot cope with the demand,” Yong said in his speech.

Yong added that the teaching and learning of arts and music were not emphasized in our existing education system, and the teachers assigned to teach arts or music class in primary and secondary schools might not have the relevant background as well.

As a result, secondary school graduates were hesitant to further their tertiary studies in arts and music due to lack of confidence.

Without strong arts or music foundation, students enrolled in SIA also faced a certain level of difficulty in their studies, Yong said.

With the set up of the CCNU Art Education Centre, Yong said teachers could be trained and achieve a higher qualification in art design and music studies.

In turn, they could elevate the standard of teaching arts and music in schools, he said.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by many representatives from various education bodies and associations, including former Chief Minister cum founder of The Progressive Education Foundation Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee and the foundation’s Consultative Council chairman Datuk Wong Yit Ming, assistant education director of Chinese school unit Tham Yun Fook, Sabah Chinese Primary School Working Committee chairman Datuk William Chu, former Deputy Chief Minister and veteran educationist Datuk Chau Tet On, The Association of Sabah National Type Chinese School Management Committee (Sabah Dong Lian) chairman Ben Lim Kiat Kong, SM Pei Tsin Kudat board of governors chairman Datuk Wong Phin Chung, Persatuan Guru-Guru Sekolah Cina Sabah representative Chee Chi Hiung, SM Kian Kok principal Lim Chian, Kapitan Wong Tet Yun and others.

Also present were dean of CICE at CCNU Zuo Bin, director of Enrollment Office at CICE Luo Jian and SIA head of academic Jessel P. Yansalang.