By, Aysha Afrin
GOMBAK, 25 January 2025: An exclusive interview with the new President of the Bachelor of Education Students’ Society (BESS) of the Kulliyah of Education (KOED), IIUM, Nur Fatini binti Mohd Nizam, gained insights into her inspiring journey, her vision for KOED, and her plans for the students and community of IIUM.
“I am feeling so delighted and grateful for this opportunity. Alhamdulilah, today feels like one of my brightest days,” Fatini shared, her joy shining through. When asked about her background, Fatini mentioned, “My name is Nur Fatini binti Mohd Nizam. I am a second-year, second-semester student majoring in TESL with a minor in Instructional Technology (IT). I began as an ordinary girl with little confidence to take on such responsibilities, but my environment and experiences during my tenure in 2024 helped me grow. Alhamdulillah, I now have the courage to embrace this role.”
Fatini outlined her three main manifestations for KOED as follows:
- Creating a School-Friendly Environment
Fatini highlighted the need for KOED to better prepare students for real-world teaching environments. “Lecturers often report that final-year students are shocked by the modern school environment during their supervision visits,” she said. “My goal is to make KOED resemble a school environment, equipping students with the experience they need for their future workplaces.” - Promoting Sponsorship Opportunities
Recognizing that KOED students often miss out on sponsorship opportunities, Fatini aims to bridge this gap. “KOED students often overlook sponsorship opportunities compared to other kulliyyahs. I plan to develop a program kit that informs students about available sponsorships, enabling them to set bigger goals within reasonable budgets,” she explained. - Enhancing Communication
Improved communication within KOED and with IIUM administration is also a top priority. “It’s crucial to enhance communication among KOED students and amplify their voices to higher management, including IIUM administration,” Fatini emphasized.
With her proactive approach, Fatini aims to bring transformative changes to KOED, ensuring students are well-prepared and supported throughout their academic journey.
Fatini also discussed her plans to address IIUM’s dress code issues, “As students seeking knowledge, our attire reflects our identity. At KOED, we have ‘KOED Smart Day,’ where students wear formal attire—baju kurung or proper attire for ladies and shirts and ties for men, with appropriate shoes and socks.” For her this fosters a professional identity and aligns with the shariah. She proposed expanding this initiative, “We could introduce an ‘IIUM Smart Day’ every Monday. This initiative would enhance our identity and set a positive example for the wider community.”
When asked what motivated her to pursue this position, Fatini referenced a Quranic verse from Surah Al-Imran:
“كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ” (You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind).
She elaborated, “During my UNGS course, my lecturer often asked us about our purpose. I want to serve the Ummah to the best of my ability. This role as president is a small step toward that goal.”
Fatini expressed gratitude to her UNGS lecturer, Dr. Abdulwahed Jalal Nori, by saying, “Thank you, sir, for your guidance.”
Lastly, Fatini emphasized on the importance of good teamwork, “I believe two are better than one. As president, I can’t achieve my goals alone. My hope is to gain the support of my fellow KOED students so we can succeed together.”
Line up of Bachelor of Education Students’ Society (BESS) 24/25:
1.Nurul Fatini Binti Mohd Nizam
2.Nurhidayah Binti Mohd Noor
3.Wan Muhammad Izharul Hassan Bin Wan Mohd Hilmi
4.Nur Shamsina Huda Binti Jazlan
5.Nurul Farzana Binti Abdul A’lim
6.Fahmi Bin Ibrahim
7.Nurul Hafizah Binti Rosdi
8.Nur Insyirah Binti Rozi
9.Imran Danial Bin Muhammad Radzi
10.Nor Shahirah Binti Rani
11.Muhammad Abi Zar Bin Norizan
12.Muhammad Iqbal Hanif Bin Hanafi
13.Nurul Nabila Binti Che Ros
14.Wan Nurul Syasya Binti Wan Mohd Zamani
15.Nurmunira Izzah Binti Mohd Zahidi
16.Nurul Najwa Binti Sulaiman
17.Muhammad Amirul Hakim Bin Azizi
18.Siti Qistina Balqis Binti Othman
19.Ahmad Nizamuddin Bin Mat Naim
20.Syahmil Hakim Bin Syahrul Mukhtar
21.Nur Azrina Izzati Binti Rusly
22.Muhammad Faiz Bin Mustapa
23.Aufa Farzana Binti Hanapi
24.Alya Maisarah Binti Abu Mansor