Albert Einstein once wrote ‘all knowledge of reality starts from experience and ends in it’. This same concept is applied in Taylor’s University, with the institution realising early on that beyond the traditional role of universities to impart knowledge and foster critical thinking and discourse, its graduates needed an edge – an experience.

Rather than leaving it to chance, many of these student experiences are curated. These range from taking up life skills modules such as mindfulness and goal setting, to the gamification of racking up co-curricular points towards a tiered SHINE Award, to the multidisciplinary projects to develop impactful solutions to community problems.

Its innovations in the curriculum and technology fronts have paid off, as Taylor’s charted many ‘firsts’ in the QS rankings the past two years, despite a pandemic.

Taylor’s University is now ranked 53 in Asia according to the QS Asia University Rankings 2022, leaping 36 places from the previous year, and cementing its position as Malaysia’s top private university.

The institution has recorded a jump of more than 140 ranks since 2016 to achieve its meteoric rise, on the back of positive trends in the recent QS Graduate Employment Rankings 2022 and the QS World University Rankings 2022 that saw the university maintain its position as the leading private university in Malaysia and Southeast Asia and placing it at the top 1.1% of the most influential institutions globally.

“We have far exceeded our initial target of breaking into the top 100 in Asia by 2022, and I believe this is an affirmation that strategic foresight in curriculum and culture transformation is essential for education institutions to thrive in this era,” said Taylor’s University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Michael Driscoll.

“Despite its relatively young age, Taylor’s has proved its adaptability even in challenging times to produce meaningful research as well as foster strong industry networks and a conducive ecosystem that ensures our graduates are equipped with the necessary intellectual, practical and creative intelligences.”

What exactly is the ecosystem? “Taylor’s redesigned its curriculum, pedagogy and assessment to create the Taylor’sphere ecosystem, in order to prepare students for a post-pandemic world where, more than ever, academic intelligence is not the most important factor for success,” said Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Prof Dr Pradeep Nair.

“The ecosystem aims to ensure students will not only have the right knowledge and job skills but also essential life skills and social networks to put into practice what they have learnt and find solutions to real-world problems.”

He adds that Taylor’sphere is supported by resources such as the Taylor’s Me.reka Makerspace, open access to any physical and virtual laboratory, dedicated life skills and career planning coaches, social innovation mentors, a startup incubator Bizpod and a commercialisation team to help bring solutions to the market.

This is augmented with the introduction of degrees with multiple learning tracks that include options to spend the final year on an entrepreneurship or work-based learning mode.

Much of the practical aspect of learning, however, take place within the projects that degree students undertake.

Bachelor in Fashion Design Technology students Michell Poh and Liu Peiyi were grateful for the opportunity to work with local designers for their Patung Project, a collaboration with Barbie Mattel and Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week, to produce cultural garments for Barbie dolls.

“I have been working with Revathi Uthamaseelan who taught me the techniques of drawing the henna design,” said Poh, who added that she successfully learnt the technical skills required despite the coaching being entirely online. “I feel industry experience is important as it gives us the opportunity to engage with the profession in a realistic work environment.”

As for Liu who was mentored by Ong Chia Koon to use calligraphy designs on her Barbie clothes, she noted that she received useful guidance with regards to design elements, creating a collection, and anticipating customer needs. “As students, we design clothes the way we like them, but I realise that designers with industry experience know more about what customers want.”

Beyond the industry experience, however, is the idea that students are making an impact on their communities – a point nailed home in compulsory student projects across the university.

For Communications lecturer Hardip Singh Rekhraj, impact came in the form of his PR students’ final year projects. “I wanted to use the class projects to help businesses who were grappling during the pandemic. If we can collectively put our efforts towards something bigger like this, we can contribute towards the nation’s economic recovery phase,” he said.

His student, Nur Farah Dina Binti Shahrul Muzammir (Farah), shared her experience of working on the project where she approached businesses in Petaling Street who were struggling as a result of lockdowns in order to offer PR services to assist them.

“We agreed to work with No. 81 Mochi as we felt that muah chee is a very classic and popular snack in Chinese culture but it is rarely seen in the mainstream media,” said Farah.

Her team garnered coverage in several English media titles, and coordinated ideas and designs for social media posts to be uploaded on the business’ Instagram and Facebook pages.

“We also helped create a DIY ‘Mochi Kit’ to add to No. 81 Mochi’s lineup of offerings,” said Farah. “The kit has received a lot of positive feedback and reviews from customers.”

Apart from gaining skills such as communication, teamwork and conflict resolution, Farah felt thankful to be part of a project that made a difference to the community. “Personally, I felt very fulfilled that we could help out the hardworking Lee family that was heavily hit by the pandemic. The family was really pleased and thankful,” said Farah.

“Education needs to engage not just the mind, but also the hands and the heart – it’s not just about preparing students for a job,” said Prof Dr Pradeep. “When you have knowledge, you need to apply it, and apply it towards the greater good, and this is what we believe in. We’re coming back a full circle to what education is truly for – development of the whole person.”

For more information on Taylor’s University, please visit their website here.