Raffles College of Higher Education: Nurturing Creative Talents in Asia-Pacific

Raffles College of Higher Education (RCHE) is a design-centric educational institution with campuses across the Asia-Pacific region. This article focuses on Raffles College of Higher Education Kuala Lumpur (RCHEKL) and its course offerings. Established in 1994 as LaSalle International Design School, RCHEKL is now part of Raffles Education Corporation, the largest private education group in Asia-Pacific. The college emphasizes curriculum development, ensuring students stay abreast of industry trends and needs.

Raffles College of Higher Education Kuala Lumpur (RCHEKL)

RCHEKL, formerly known as LaSalle International Design School, was established in 1994. It is part of Raffles Education Corporation, the largest private education group in Asia-Pacific. The college is committed to nurturing creative talents and management expertise for the creative design, management, and science industries.

Courses Offered

RCHEKL offers a range of courses in design, business, and psychology. The college's industry-focused design courses provide practical vocation skills, emphasizing the nurturing of designers, not technicians. The business courses offer students pursuing a business qualification the opportunity to study in a creative learning environment with a flexible study schedule. Psychology students benefit from real case studies and actual clinical internship postings.

Curriculum and Pedagogy

Raffles KL is monitoring trends and developing strategies through investments in curriculum and pedagogy to ensure that students are well-prepared for the future. The college places a strong emphasis on curriculum development to keep abreast with industry trends and needs. Students receive a high-quality education with the necessary qualitative skills, knowledge, and practical learning experience, offering opportunities to start a career in the field.

Campus and Location

Raffles KL is situated in the heart of the city and is a 15-minute walk to Malaysia’s most famous landmark, the Petronas Twin Towers. The fully WIFI-enabled campus comprises four buildings and is presented in a chic and contemporary design, with a spacious layout providing a creative and conducive learning environment for students.

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The campus is equipped with lecture and seminar rooms, drafting and sewing rooms with Gerber technology for fashion design, drafting and materials room for interior design, computer labs using both Mac and Windows computers with the latest software, a photography studio for multimedia and graphic design students, a jewelry design studio, a resource center with e-library access to over 10,000 titles, and a cafeteria. The location in the city hub allows students to watch design and business ideas unfold, providing visual inspiration and practical examples.

Student Experience

Studying in a multi-national environment enables Raffles KL students to expand their personal network, be exposed to international perspectives, and greatly enhances career opportunities beyond their home country. Students can expect a vibrant and dynamic nurturing learning experience that will see their transformation into a world-class professional.

Awards and Recognition

Raffles KL consistently produces award winners in various design disciplines. Their student’s award-winning achievements are not only limited to local competitions but also international competitions. As one of the most awarded colleges in Malaysia, Raffles KL produces graduates who are well-respected and successful in their creative careers. All their students leave as young professionals, ready for industry and the workforce.

Design Courses

The industry-focused design courses at RCHEKL provide practical vocation skills, emphasizing the nurturing of designers, not technicians. In the fashion training course, students learn how to deal with textiles, clothing design, and other useful skills.

Business Courses

The business courses offer students pursuing a business qualification the opportunity to study in a creative learning environment with a flexible study schedule.

Business Studies Program (BSP)

The Business Studies Program (BSP) is designed to equip students with critical and fundamental thinking skills on several aspects of business and its environment. Students who wish to continue their studies to Australia will start as a second or third-year student, depending on their preferred study plan and agreement between universities. Students can transfer upon completion of a maximum of 12 subjects at Raffles College (first or second year), and the credits taken at Raffles College are acceptable in top 20 Universities in Australia. Upon completion of 16 BSP subjects, students can also opt to continue to the USQ BBAD program from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Indonesia. This program is facilitated by Raffles College, where students can study fully at INTI and graduate on the USQ campus in Australia. As the center of USQ in Indonesia, Raffles College provides tutorials, assignment preparation, and monitoring on behalf of USQ.

Finance, Business, and Accounting

For students interested in Finance, Business, and Accounting, Raffles College has the right program. With Raffles College, students can obtain their Accounting degree within 2 years. In the first year, students will attain their Diploma in Business and Accounting, and in the second year, they would have successfully received their Bsc (Hons) Degree in Applied Accounting. It offers business-relevant, world-class finance and accountancy qualifications to people who have passion, ability, and ambition around the world and seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance, and business.

Psychology Courses

Psychology students will benefit from the many real case studies and actual clinical internship postings.

Other Programs

Foundation Program

Students with completion of O Level / SMA 2 or Grade 11 and seeking a university preparation program can enroll in this 8-month program. Students will be introduced to active learning methodologies like problem-based learning. This 2-semester Foundation helps students develop soft skills by combining critical thinking, communication, and discussion skills required in degree-level studies.

English Language Program

This course is an integrated language skill class that provides students a range of English levels starting from basic up to advanced levels with holistic experiences based on four main themes: Grammar; vocabulary; conversation strategies; and listening. The program is communicative, collaborative, and autonomous, and it is a modular-based class. Being able to use the language is one way to measure your success. At this stage, students will be introduced to the core aspects of English Language requirements such as Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing, as well as Grammar.

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Raffles Education Corporation

As Asia’s largest education provider, Raffles Education Corporation offers students the flexibility to start their course in one city and transfer to another location within the group to complete their qualification.

Raffles Design Institute

Raffles Design Institute is a for-profit education group and design-centric educational institution headquartered in Singapore. In 2004, Raffles Design Institute received the Singapore Quality Class Award for Private Education Organizations, ensuring that all courses were registered with the appropriate bodies. In 2005, the CaseTrust for Education Award for Private Education Organizations was awarded, which is an indication of approval by The Consumer Association of Singapore Enterprise.

Raffles International College Bangkok

Raffles International College Bangkok, originally known as Raffles Design Institute Bangkok, is a 2.25-hectare campus located in the Bangna district of Bangkok, Thailand. It was awarded the title of "Best Design School" for outstanding achievement in the advancement of Arts and Design by Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand Soamsawali in March 2007.

Controversies and Challenges

Raffles Education Corporation has faced controversies and challenges. In 2010, Raffles International College Bangkok was found to be operating without the permission of the Higher Education Commission of Thailand, and action was taken against it by the Thai authorities. In November 2017, Raffles did not yet have a valid international college license, but in 2020 was listed as an accredited Thai Higher Education Institution by the Thai Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation. In 2019, Chew Hua Seng, chairman of Raffles Education, was taken to court by the second-largest shareholder, Oei Hong Leong, on allegations that the former had reneged on an agreement to buy back the latter’s shares at a specific price. In May 2021, Affin Bank, a Malaysian bank, filed writs against the company in May 2021 demanding repayment of a loan, amounting to over half the market capitalization of the company. However, the company disclosed the writs only months later, a breach of the Securities and Futures Act. This resulted in the arrest of five Raffles Education directors, including its chairman and CEO, in February 2022 after investigations by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Commercial Affairs Department, on charges related to the Affin Bank loan. They were released on bail of S$30,000 each. In September 2024, all five were served charges "for disclosure-related offenses under the Securities and Futures Act," with each director facing two charges. Raffles Education Limited has announced the full settlement of outstanding debts owed by its subsidiaries, Raffles K12 and Raffles Iskandar, to Affin Bank Berhad.

FMDS

FMDS is the brainchild of Mark Phooi for training designers and non-designers to become designpreneurs. Over the past 20 years, Mark has been instrumental in training and grooming more than 50 designpreneurs in Singapore and the region, successfully plying in the design trade.

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