UCSI College - Empowering Holistic Education and Career Readiness with CN LMS and ePortfolio

Organization: UCSI College

Website: https://www.ucsicollege.edu.my/about-us/the-college

Product Used: CN LMS Suite + ePortfolio

User Size: 1050

About UCSI College

UCSI started as Canada Institute of Computer Studies in 1986. Initially, the focus was on computer science and IT-related programs.It was later renamed Sedaya College as it expanded its academic offerings to include a broader range of programs beyond just computer studies. In 2003, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education awarded Sedaya College University college status, allowing it to offer degree programs under the name University College Sedaya International. By 2008, it was officially granted university status and became UCSI University, offering a wide array of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. To further its goals of offering professional certifications, foundation, diploma, and pre-university programs, UCSI College was established as a distinct entity from UCSI University. It focuses primarily on preparing students for higher studies or equipping them with industry-specific skills through diplomas and certifications. UCSI College has maintained its focus on professional education and continues to grow by introducing new programs that cater to emerging industries. Its evolution is closely linked with UCSI University, benefiting from the university's research, industry partnerships, and academic innovations. Today, colleges are well-regarded for their contribution to producing career-ready graduates, continuing their original mission of providing skill-based, quality education. Known for delivering students with exceptional academic results—UCSI College is committed to maintaining its reputation for academic excellence while equipping students with the skills needed for future employability.

UCSI College’s mission is to transform lives and communities through holistic learning that unlocks individual potential. Their goals include promoting education that empowers students with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to societal contribution. It offers industry-relevant programs with practical learning, fosters innovation in teaching, and creates an environment that supports self-directed, experiential learning with the aim of producing confident, capable graduates who are industry-ready and uphold values of diversity and inclusiveness.

Why UCSI College Chose CN

Aligning with UCSI College’s mission of fostering academic excellence and enhancing employability, CourseNetworking (CN) has played a crucial role in supporting these goals. UCSI College first encountered CN during the UCSI International Conference in 2015 while searching for a new LMS to replace Edu2.0, and has been a long-standing partner of CN since then. CN’s comprehensive LMS and ePortfolio solutions aligned perfectly with UCSI College’s commitment to offering students a well-rounded education and social learning experience that goes beyond traditional academic learning. By integrating CN into its curriculum, UCSI College has been able to not only streamline course delivery but also empower students to build digital portfolios that showcase their skills, projects, and extracurricular achievements.

This strategic alignment has enabled UCSI College to create a seamless digital learning environment that not only facilitates academic success but also enhances students’ career readiness—one of the institution’s core goals. In 2024, UCSI College aimed to provide a more holistic educational experience that integrated both academic performance and extracurricular involvement. The challenge was to create a platform where students could not only access learning materials and complete assessments but also document their academic journey, showcase their skills, and prepare for professional or career development. That’s when the mandatory use of CN ePortfolio takes place which has allowed students to document their academic journeys, linking their accomplishments directly to graduation or job requirements and better preparing them for life after college.

Seamless Implementation and Integration

To ensure seamless integration and maximize the impact of CN’s LMS and ePortfolio at UCSI College, a phased and strategic approach was implemented. The platform was tailored to align with UCSI’s vision of providing a holistic, industry-relevant, and innovative education experience.

The first phase of the initiative focused on providing training and encouraging instructors to migrate course materials onto LMS streamlining the delivery of academic content and creating an intuitive, user-friendly experience for both students and lecturers. According to Dr. Dhaarshini, “ The LMS has been instrumental in facilitating the seamless sharing of course materials and efficient delivery of our weekly lessons at UCSI College. Its user-friendly interface allows us to disseminate course content conveniently, ensuring that students have access to relevant materials whenever needed. Additionally, the LMS enables us to conduct assessments with ease.” This success laid the foundation for the digital transformation of UCSI’s teaching and learning environment, ensuring efficient content delivery, assessment, and easy access to learning materials.

By offering badges for various milestones, skills, and accomplishments, CN LMS encourages students to strive for excellence and engage actively in their learning journey.

Dr. Dhaarshini Balachandran

This is a smaller profile picture next to Dhaarshini Balachandran’s quote.

Next, the institution elevated the student experience by making CN’s ePortfolio a core component of the learning process. In January 2024, UCSI College made the ePortfolio mandatory for all students. Students are now required to document and reflect on key assignments within their ePortfolios, which contribute to their overall course grades. Additionally, students are asked to reflect on extracurricular activities in the ePortfolio, further linking these reflections to graduation criteria. The ePortfolio also provided a dynamic platform for lecturers to endorse students’ skills and accomplishments, adding credibility to their profiles. “This not only enhances their professional profiles but also fosters a sense of confidence and validation as they transition into their chosen fields, “ said Dr. Dhaarshini. UCSI College recently hosted the CN ePortfolio Showcase 2024 Award Ceremony, recognizing the top three student ePortfolios. This event celebrated exceptional student achievements and underscored the positive impact of integrating ePortfolios into the curriculum.

With CN’s gamification features and customizable badges, student engagement soared as they were motivated to achieve academic and extracurricular milestones. These digital credentials became valuable assets, allowing students to highlight their achievements in a way that resonates with today’s competitive job market. Quoted from Dr. Dhaarshini: “ By offering badges for various milestones, skills, and accomplishments, CN LMS encourages students to strive for excellence and engage actively in their learning journey. These badges boost student morale and serve as valuable credentials that can be showcased on resumes and ePortfolios, enhancing their employability and demonstrating their proficiency in specific areas.”

Ongoing support and training from CN’s dedicated Malaysia team ensured that UCSI staff and students could fully leverage the platform’s potential. UCSI College rated the CN Customer Support five-star for its responsiveness. The CN Team regularly gathers feedback from the client to continually enhance the user experience, helping UCSI maintain its reputation for delivering world-class education.

The CN ePortfolio is an exciting and innovative feature that will be very useful after the students complete their studies at UCSI College, to showcase to potential employers and other stakeholders all their achievements, activities, skills honed, and more.

Dr. Mabel

This is a smaller profile picture next to Mabel’s quote.

Best Practices and Suggestions to Other Institutions

UCSI College’s success with CN is inspiring and replicable. Below are the essential best practices shared by the UCSI College leaders with institutions looking to adopt and optimize their use of the CN:

  • Structured Course Design: Utilize CN’s course design tools to develop well-organized courses that align with learning objectives. Incorporate multimedia resources and design activities that foster active engagement and critical thinking.
  • Effective Assessment Practices: Leverage CN’s gradebook and assessment features to efficiently track student progress. Create diverse assessments that cater to different learning levels to monitor achievements over time.
  • Promote Active Participation: Encourage faculty, staff, and students to engage actively with CN’s features, such as social discussions, and collaborative projects. Facilitate meaningful interactions that foster knowledge sharing and peer support.
  • Utilize ePortfolios for Reflection and Showcase: Encourage students to create and share ePortfolios as a way to reflect on their learning experiences and highlight their achievements. Provide guidance for ePortfolio development and integrate these activities into coursework for deeper engagement.
  • Inspire Faculty Engagement: Motivate faculty to develop their own ePortfolios to serve as examples for students, enriching the learning environment and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.

By implementing these best practices, institutions can enhance their educational offerings and foster a more engaging and effective learning experience.

Conclusion: Heading to Bigger Success

UCSI College exemplifies a commitment to academic excellence and holistic education by effectively leveraging CourseNetworking (CN) to enhance student engagement and career readiness.

By integrating CN’s comprehensive LMS and ePortfolio solutions, UCSI has created a dynamic learning environment that not only streamlines course delivery but also empowers students to showcase their achievements and reflect on their academic journeys. With initiatives like the mandatory ePortfolio, which links academic performance to graduation requirements, UCSI College is setting new standards in education, preparing confident, industry-ready graduates equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in a competitive job market. As UCSI College continues to innovate and adapt, it remains dedicated to ensuring the ongoing success of its students and the institution itself.

Want to see what CN can do for your institution?

Request a Demo