‘We can bring changes for Students’: Jaiyakandan
From left, Shandy, 21st INTIMA president Jaiyakandan, Chung and Nurul.
It’s an eye-opening experience being a student leader in INTIMA
NILAI: Aiming to improve the lifestyle of 6000 students in different aspects, the president Jaiyakandan Tharumalingam, and vice presidents Chung Chin Mei, Shandy Yeoh and Nurul Amanie from 21st INTIMA, said they have no regrets on joining the student government body, since last November.
INTIMA, known as official student government of INTI International University, consists of approximately 10 student representatives elected by students directly from the university, at the end of every year.
As the top four executive committees, Jaiyakandan said the main goals of INTIMA this year is to make sure the facilities of the university are upgraded.
However, he admitted that it is a challenge for executive committees to seek a balance between INTIMA and academics.
“To hit 6000 students is rather difficult for us, second is to balance the needs between 54 clubs and the management's, it’s like 24 hours-non-stop every day,” he said.
In ensuring to provide the best for students, four of them face the same challenge: which is to seek a balance between INTIMA’s role and academics - as they carry their tasks in certain office hours and attend classes during their daily routine.
“My goal is to maintain the quality of facilities and raise future leaders here, ” said Chung Chin Mei, Vice President of Administration and Services.
“Changes won’t happen immediately, it takes time from the efforts made by past term until now, ” said Shandy Yeoh, as the Vice President of Activities. She also emphasized on the goal of discovering hidden talents among students who are reluctant to join the clubs.
Aside from gaining experience, Shandy added that she enjoy the feeling of satisfaction when something works out during the process of making change.
“It’s all about time management, I have to maintain academic performance, otherwise it will reflect a bad image on behalf of whole team,” said Nurul, Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Rather, students who made a barrage of complaints about facilities, academics or social issues such as the working attitude of janitors have always eclipsed the amount of students who take action. To assure the voices of students are being heard, INTIMA holds Student Forum at every semester.
