User:Wkkoo/My Sandbox

=WIKIME Dr W. K. KOO=

My Profile
Today is: 28, August 2024

My name is Koo Wee Kor. I am an education administrator dedicated to finding ways and methodology to deliver lessons and providing learning support to students in my college 24/7.

I had my education in Malaysia and later in Australia. I was trained as a Theoretical Physicist and taught Physics for many years in Universiti Sains Malaysia before moving on to my present role of education administrator in 1996.

My College
I work in Disted-Stamford College in Penang, Malaysia. It is a college offering certificates, Diplomas and degrees in 3 principal areas of Pre-Univerrstiy, Business and Accounting and Hospitality. The colleges also offers smaller programmes in Engineering, Computer Science and IT and a niche and specialised English programme To have a more comprehensive idea of my college please click on Disted-Stamford College



Typically the college offers the following programmes

Programmes

 * Cambridge A-Level A-Levels
 * South Australian Matriculation SAM
 * Diploma in Business Studies DBS
 * Diploma in Hospitality Management DHBM
 * Diploma in Engineering D. Eng.
 * Bachelor of Arts (Hons) B. A. (Hons)
 * Bachelor in Engineering B. Eng. (Hons)
 * Bachelor in Psychology B. Psy (Hons)
 * Certified Accounting Technician CAT
 * Association of Certified Chartered Accountants ACCA

=Private Tertiary Education in Malaysia= There are at least 500 private institutions in Malaysia offering a large variety of courses ranging from certificates, diploma to PhD degrees. The majority of these courses are native programmes while some are collaborative twinning courses whereby students will study a partner university's curriculum and secure the corresponding foreign degrees right here in Malaysia. Students may also transfer to overseas institutions to complete the final stages of their study.

In the local language they are known as the IPTS (Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Swasta). All these institutions come under the purview of the Malaysian Qualification Agency MQA and approved courses have to comply with the Malaysia Qualification Framework and accountable under the Education Act 555.

Malaysia governemnt desire to have 50% of the 17-23 age cohort to be in tertiary institution has resulted in the a target of 1.6 million expected in 2010. It also aspires to become an good education hub in the Asia Pacifice region and working hard to achieve an international student population of 100,000 by 2010.

Introduction
DISTED recognises the safety of the environment as a shared resource for all members of society.In response to the increasing need to be environmentally responsible for both ethical and financial improvement for all stakeholders the college has discussed, researched and in consultation with many members of the DISTED community, developed an environmental framework policy for the College. The policy was approved on 28 November 2008.

DISTED Environmental Policy as Adopted 28 November 2008

Purpose
This policy is to guide the College community to be totally aware of meaning and significance of being environmentally responsible, leading to everyone to adopt practices and take actions which may eliminate or reduce the impact on the environment in all its decision making processes. It is a statement of DISTED’s environmental values and expectations.

Context
The College is committed to high standards of environmental awareness and protection and wishes to assert leadership in inculcating environment responsibility, as reflected in all of our teaching and community service activities. We must have a strong environmental awareness, a reputation as an environmentally responsible institution, excellent student environmental programmes, apart from a beautiful park-like campus that encompasses a heritage campus, nature areas and elegant trees. We believe we have a special responsibility to exercise judicious environmental leadership.

Principles
DISTED is committed to the following environmental principles:
 * The College should conduct its operations and seek to positively influence the practices of members of the College community so as to minimize negative impacts on the environment, conserve natural resources and rehabilitate degraded environmental components.
 * Members of the College community have a right to a safe and healthy environment. Individuals must achieve a high degree of environmental awareness and to contribute to the maintenance of such an environment.
 * Consistent with the terms of the College’s Communication, members of the College community may access information regarding the DISTED environment or activities that may affect it.
 * The conduct of the College with regard to the environment, including the setting of appropriate norms, should be discussed by the College community.
 * The College has a responsibility, as a corporate citizen, to participate in the environmental decision-making processes and initiatives and to contribute to the leadership of its regional community.

Policy
Consistent with the principles outlined above, the College will motivate and influence all its stakeholders to take all reasonable steps to pursue the following objectives under the broad umbrella of environmental responsibility and deriving financial benefits for the whole organisation:
 * Minimize energy and water use through efficient management and practices.
 * Minimize waste generation through reduction, reuse and recycling.
 * Minimize noise and odour pollution, polluting effluent and emissions to air.
 * Minimize insect and pest infestations in building and grounds through efficient management and practices.
 * Minimize and where possible, eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals and toxic cleaning substances from physical plant operations,
 * To the extent possible, undertake environmental and conservation best practices.
 * Meet and where possible, exceed applicable environmental standards, regulations and guidelines with a view to continual improvements of such standards.
 * Encourage and where appropriate assist members of the College community to adopt environmentally-sound practices.
 * Encourage the use of environmentally sensitive products through purchasing practices.
 * Undertake or arrange for the undertaking of environmental assessments of proposed campus projects where indicated due to their significance or location, as identified by relevant stakeholders in the College community.
 * Within available resources, initiate programs of environmental literacy and the use of environmentally tailored projects on campus for educational demonstration purposes.
 * Encourage and promote College awareness of, and representation in regional environmental planning exercises, networks of environmental interests and co-management initiatives.

Role of President’s Environmental Advisory Committee:
The President’s Environmental Advisory Committee will support and monitor the implementation of this policy through its annual activities and agenda. Approved: President’s Office November 28, 2008

Electricity
DISTED’s 2008 electricity bill will be RM240K per year. Each and every one of us is using 70 sens a day, or RM21/- a month. If each one of us used 5 sens less a day we would have a saving of nearly RM15,000/- a year.

Start today by turning on the air-conditioner half hour later while starting work and half hour earlier when finishing work. Start today by keeping the thermostat 1-2 degrees higher than we are normally used to.

Water
Though water is plentiful here we must treat this resource with care. Do not waste water.

Car usage
Every day about 250 cars come into and park in DISTED’s Grounds, for both students and staff. Most of them are single occupancy vehicle. If we could reduce the number by 30-50% there could be less environmental pollution, at least 125,000kg of CO2 less not counting other poisonous pollutants and a money saving of at least RM 150,000/-.

Start today by driving 30% less.

Photocopy
In 2008 we would have spent more than RM100,000/- on photocopy cost. This however translates into merely 2,500,000 pages when we could have printed 3,300,000 pages. RM25,000 or 800,000 pages (=800 reams of paper) went wasted. The wastage comes from single-sided printing and doing a lot of internal photocopying. We take more care we could save.

Start today by planning better in printing and photocopying. Start tomorrow to adopt a paperless mindset, build this habit.

DISTED ProcurementPolicy
DISTED will adopt an Environmental Procurement Policy starting December 2008. The policy objective: that supplies, equipment and services procured by the College shall support the 3 Rs of waste management, namely Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, and the conservation of energy and water.

What You Can Do...

 * Don't stick with your routine purchase! Periodically check out alternatives to see if there are better choices.
 * When purchasing any equipment or services, consider the environmental price tag of your options before you raise a purchase requisition.
 * Do I need it? (for instance, could you share with another DISTED group, such as sharing one networked printer instead of buying two separate printers)
 * How much energy does it consume?
 * How much water does it consume?
 * How much waste will be generated?
 * What is the balance of cost and performance?
 * How long will it last before it needs to be replaced?
 * From how far is it being shipped? (buying local minimizes environmental impact of shipping)
 * Work with suppliers to identify and implement methods of minimizing product waste and costs.
 * Work with all Schools and departments to identify and implement methods of recycling, recovering, and reusing surplus equipment, considering disposal only as a last resort.
 * Selects and work with suppliers that are reliable and highly recognized in their area of expertise as well as keen sense of for environmental awareness. The College and the suppliers will continuously seek ways to enhance the quality of the products and services it procures. The College will always prefer suppliers who take an active role in environmental responsibility.

DISTED Battery Re-cycling Programme
Batteries are environmental unfriendly and hazardous waste. They contain heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals, and should not be used if we can avoid it. They should not be included in regular garbage. However, they are to be disposed of as the materials that can be reclaimed and recycled. DISTED's battery recycling program is only for non-rechargeable household batteries (D, C, AA, AAA, and 9V sizes). Follow the appropriate disposal process below. All collected batteries are taken for recycling.

What You Can Do

 * All used batteries are to be Collected and placed in the battery recycling container located in the MFS Office.
 * Do not place batteries in your own office waste bins.

DISTED Dead (Retiring) Computer Equipment Disposal Propgramme
This process is intended to deal with computer components that are no longer functioning or are outdated technology. Computers contain hazardous materials such as heavy metals that should not be deposited in landfill.

What You Can DO
DISTED has a 3-step disposal process for 'dead' (retiring) computers:

. Any computer purchased with DISTED funds should be recorded in DISTED's inventory of equipment . You can download a copy of this form from the Financial Office Share Folder . Ensure you copy any information on the old computer that you might need. The most likely location in Windows is your folder in the Documents and Settings folder. . If your computer contains DISTED data, just drop the tower off with the ITMC and technicians with that Department will securely erase the hard drive(s), salvage any components that are still useful, and arrange for proper disposal.
 * 1) Contact ITMC and Finance Office to arrange for the computer to be removed from DISTED's inventory.
 * 1) Copy any needed data to your DISTED network Data Sharefolder, another computer, DVDs or CDs.
 * 1) Drop off the retiring computer at ITMC.

DISTED Flourescent bulbs and Tubes Disposal Programme
Fluorescent tubes contain hazardous materials such as heavy metals that should not go to landfill. Follow the appropriate disposal process below. All collected fluorescent bulbs are treated as hazardous waste.

What You Can Do

 * Normally tubes are replaced by MFS, and dead tubes are removed. If you have any dead fluorescent bulbs, contact the MFS to arrange for dead tubes to be replaced. They will take away the dead tubes.

Use electricity and water sparingly

 * Turn lights and power off when not intending to be in room for 15 minutes.
 * Close all windows and doors when air-conditioners are on.
 * Turn lights and air-conditioners off when class finishes
 * Turn computers off when leaving work to home.
 * Turn computer screen off when not in use.

Use paper only sparingly. Before you print a page please consider

 * Whether it is necessary
 * If it is necessary, has the content be formatted properly to minimise wastage. Use margin spacing of at most 1 cm for all documents, print size of at most 10.
 * Print just enough copies
 * Use external contract printer when large quantities are required.

Avoid Plastic

 * Bring your own drinking water in re-cycleable bottle.
 * Avoid Styrofoam packages.
 * Avoid plastic bags for packing and for food.

Promote Conservation and Avoid Wastage

 * Re-cycle
 * Re-use
 * Re-Green

TWO: Manage Your Paper

 * Every year DISTED used about 100 metric tons of paper. Most of these are recyclable. Before throwing your paper into the bin, there are other things you can do to help reduce the amount of discarded paper.
 * Write on used paper - Create a scrap paper pile for writing paper.
 * Photocopy and print on both sides - Whenever you can, photocopy your work on both sides. For added convenience, some of our copier can print duplex.
 * Make used paper notepads.
 * Print on used paper - Laser printers can be fed with unwrinkled paper that has already been printed on one side. Make a diagonal pen strike across the previously printed side of the paper to ensure minimal confusion.
 * Extra notes - Confidential files should not be reused and should be shredded.
 * Go paperless!
 * Eliminate paper leave application forms
 * Eliminate paper purchase requisition forms
 * Eliminate printed paper pay stubs. Pay slip will be sent by an attachment email to employee. To receive printed stubs again, please inform the HR Office through a written request. For more information call the Payroll Office at 104.
 * Eliminate all paper forms

THREE: Manage Your Computer

 * Computers have become an essential part of the workplace. They are ubiquitous and generally taken for granted. They consume quite a bit of electricity and produce some waste heat. There are a few actions that you can take to help the environment and help DISTED to save money.
 * Turn off your computer - If your computer does not need to be on during the night, turn it off. Turn it off as well if you are not like to use it for an extended time.
 * Turn off your monitor - Screensavers do not save energy. If you are leaving your desk at any time of the day, turn off your computer monitor.
 * Learn your computer's energy-saving functions - Most computers have an energy-saving function. Right click on the desktop, select "Properties," and click on the "Screensaver" tag. Click on the button by the "Energy Star" logo to adjust your computer's power settings.

FOUR: Consumable Materials
Other than photocopying paper the College spends quite a large sum of money to provide administration and teaching consumables such as stationery. Manage for efficient usage. Recycle, recycle, recycle.