For many young entrepreneurs, there is always the big question of finding a compelling WHY in discovering their real purpose. Syafiq Adli Bin Mustaffa, a student in the Diploma of Business Administration, is just 19 years old and he is looking forward to taking over the family business in managing and operating a homestay known as Villa Kemboja in Batu Pahat.
“Villa Kemboja was my grandfather’s home, and my father inherited the property. My father envisioned to keep this ancestral home for future generations. His vision triggered my curiosity about running a homestay business. Also, I have many wonderful childhood memories of fishing by the stream and gathering under a huge rambutan tree with my aunties and uncles during the fruit season. It is our family ritual, and I treasure each memory,” declared Syafiq.
Villa Kemboja is the heart-and-soul of his father, who would spend days cultivating the landscape and tending the fruit trees. Now, the family plans to have an orchard within the 2-acre compound. On the other hand, Syafid has an eye for architecture, with distinct Balinese features. The father and son duo seems to complement each other in preserving their heritage.
Syafiq’s elder brother who graduated from Nilai University in 2010, encouraged him to further his studies at Nilai University. Hence, he enrolled in the Diploma in Business Administration intending to acquire further knowledge and guidance to operate and expand his family’s business. Currently, entering into the 3rd semester of the programme, he has successfully implemented a few procedures in running the day-to-day operations effectively.
In the Diploma in Business Administration, students will study 11 core courses such as Management, Marketing, Finance, Economics and more. These courses will give students a glimpse of the fundamentals in entrepreneurship. Syafiq started by defining the target markets and categorising his potential customers into three main groups. By doing so, the sales revenue increased. Then he streamlined other operations by creating a dedicated account and monitored the sales revenue against inventories periodically.
A student who have just completed their SPM/ SPMV/ UEC or equivalent could directly enrol into the Foundation in Business or Diploma in Business Administration He/ she could complete the Diploma in Business Administration within 2.5 years and then decide to further his/ her studies in the following specialised fields of an honours degree programme:
- International Business
- Marketing
- Human Resource Management
- Management
- General Business Administration
“As an entrepreneur, I try to mitigate risks, but I am prepared to embrace all challenges. I guess this is part and parcel of entrepreneurship,” confessed Syafiq.
“In this era, the business landscape is constantly changing, so having the passion and knowledge is one aspect, personal desire and drive to succeed is equally important too. We train students in risk management as well, in the business programmes,” mentioned Mr Vigneswararao Appalanaidu, Head of School of Marketing and Management.
When Syafiq compared notes with his friends, he discovered that he was fortunate to have lecturers whom he could approach anytime. He values their guidance, encouragement, and also their thought-provoking questions that challenge him to think out of the box.
Besides the Diploma in Business Administration, Nilai University’s Faculty of Business, Hospitality and Humanities also offers other diploma programmes in Accounting, Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts. Eligible students who wish to study with ease in financing could opt to apply for scholarships and receive tuition fees waiver of up to 100%.
Nilai University will have an open day for students who are interested in finding out about its 2020 scholarships on the 11 and 12 January 2020. Alternatively, students could call for an appointment at 06-850 2308 and request for an exclusive campus tour. The Marketing and Recruitment Office is open daily from Monday till Sunday except for public holidays. Also, you may click on the website at www.nilai.edu.my for further information or send an e-mail message to [email protected] or visit Nilai University’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NilaiUniversity/ for other Science and Business foundation, diploma and degree programmes offered for the forthcoming intake in January 2020.
The Star Newspaper, 09 Jan 2020
