KDU BUSINESS STUDENTS DEVELOPS ENTREPRENEURSHIP BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

SHAH ALAM, 22^nd OCTOBER 2015 – In line with its ethos of being a real world university meeting real world needs, one of KDU University College’s initiative has always been to instil and cultivate the entrepreneurial mind-set in its students. With the aim of producing graduates who are ready to hit the ground running, students are encouraged to be bold, innovative and adaptable, something which second-year Bachelor of Business students, Choo Ying Lin and Tain Ee Lynn, have taken to heart.

Choo and Tain, have courageously ventured into the F&B business while still pursuing their degree, and set up a waffle and shaved ice kiosk called TÁVROS (Taurus in Greek), at KDU’s Utropolis Glenmarie campus cafeteria.

Classmates since 2014, Choo and Tain used to talk about their common life goal of being financially independent, and eventually, decided to start a business together, conveniently, right here at the campus!

For both Choo and Tain, the business is not only a means for them to earn the extra income, but also serves as a training ground and instant platform for them to apply business theories taught in classroom.

“After discussing it at length, we realised that we could turn our business idea into a reality. It wasn’t only about finding the right time, but also finding the right person to start this business venture with,” enthused Choo.

The classmates applied the business theories they have learnt in classroom by shrewdly identifying the needs and wants of the prospects here at the campus. Tain explained, “These are a combination of different aspects, guided by what was taught in the classroom. We considered all internal and external factors, and felt that there was a demand for food items that are filling and handy for take-away, as I observed the students here are usually rushing for classes.”

After a series of brainstorming sessions, the duo decided on a waffle kiosk. The beginning wasn’t as easy as they thought, because although the entire business plan was drafted and initiated in early January 2015, its execution was only put in place five months later. The very first threshold which they needed to breakthrough was convincing the cafeteria’s main operator to rent them a counter, as their seriousness and commitment in it were questioned.

Furthermore, Choo and Tain also faced competition from the cafeteria’s current F&B vendors, some of which are franchised names. Nevertheless, it is generally believed that Taurus carry the characteristic of steadfast persistence and determination, something which both Choo and Tain share. “Both of us are Tauruses, which is why we named our stall after it,” Choo stressed, “and we were genuinely determined with this plan.”

Their determination finally prevailed and they managed to obtain the business location. With a small capital, comprising of a loan from their parents as well as their personal savings, the business-minded duo started putting everything in place – from the business logo, kiosk design and build, to budgeting, sourcing, purchasing as well as production, pricing and retailing.

They admitted that juggling between studying and working life was not an easy task. Gradually, they managed to strike a balance and found that the experience has, so far, been very enriching and fulfilling.

“When we managed to bring our business idea to life and see it achieve the growth that we projected, the feeling was quite surreal,” said Choo. For this reason, both Choo and Tain expressed their appreciation and thanks to their Marketing and Entrepreneurship lecturer, Ms. Malathi Karumanan, from KDU’s School of Business. “Ms. Malathi is not only a dedicated lecturer, but she has also inspired us so much through her stories of successful entrepreneurs and their philosophy, thoughts and quotes during her lectures.”

“On top of that, we have also found a mentor in Dr Ng Mei-Leng, the Head of KDU’s School of Business, who gave us feedback, comments and suggestions on some details of our business operation, which we are grateful for,” said Tain.

The duo believe that their decision to pursue their tertiary education at KDU University College was a right choice. As KDU advocates the development of entrepreneurship beyond the classroom, Choo and Tain firmly believe that their business skills will be further cultivated and strengthened. In a nutshell, the duo believe that the entire ecosystem here on campus is beneficial in shaping and developing the students to reach their potential, and lays a strong foundation for students to grow as entrepreneurs, as evidenced by their business endeavour.

To find out how you can hit the ground running with KDU, log on to www.kdu.edu.my or call 03-5565 0538 (KDU University College, Utropolis, Glenmarie) / 03-7953 6688 (KDU College, Damansara Jaya).