The Epic Champions Program – For the Better

“That the wooden wall only shall not fall, but help you and your children.” Contrary to the intellect
interpretations, Themistocles’ sheer interpretation of Oracle’s message by building ships and fighting the Persians at sea proved his incessant aptitude to an Epic legend. The result _ stupendous, for Xerxes saw from a mountain above the bay of Salamis how the Greek Army thrashed his rage by tearing apart his entire navy. Themistocles’ strategy earned not only a victory for the Greeks, but divinely substantiated the reincarnation of human civilization. Greek was unified and democracy was introduced beginning a new world order. Never has it been easy to challenge a system, practice or perception, but one’s premonition of future world can transform a customary pattern into a realistic and feasible ideology – for mere survival? I doubt that, but more for favorable destiny.

Themistocles averted in-practice maneuver rather followed his instincts to deftly subdue the ruthless rivals. His intent – audacious and the climax valorous. That valor infusion I carried along with myself to the grand finale of the Epic Champions Program (http://www.epicinti.com/) not to watch the finalists deliver the goods, but to mesmerize the audience and the results; Hmmm…; wait lah! Let the sensation last awhile:

What is the Epic Champions Program?

“A 10-week programme that awakens, engages and drives students to create their own goals, pursue them with the support of their team and their mentor, and present their achievements at an epic Tournament. This programme is designed and delivered by Leadapreneur, a 21st Century leadership consultancy, and is exclusively for INTI students.” Jan & Jess, Leadapreneur.

There comes the announcement that “the Stepping Stone” Team of Epic Nilai from INTI Nilai Campus won the championship. Not a surprise for me because charity causes have endeavored respect and appreciation throughout the globe. For example, to donate more than 50% of their wealth for philanthropic causes; such as poverty eradication, health, women’s rights, etc. is one of membership conditions for “The Giving Pledge”. The campaign is also known as Billionaire Club launched by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet in 2010, which has 122 (billionaire) members. Having spent around 95% of his fortune, Bill Gates’ Polio eradication campaign eradicated Polio from 124 (1999 report) and now exist only Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. Public sentiment to charity causes can be an edge to the project implementers to gain acclaim.

“One word, Amazing!” expressed Nicole, a member of the group accompanied by Komalaa, Josina, Mariana, Merika. To this Belinda added, “The beauty of The Epic Champions Program was bringing people of different cultures together, meeting useful professionals during mentoring and working for a joint objective.” Eloquent remark! She did not end there and added, “The Epic Champions Program was not about individual exposure, but how a group of intelligent people associate with an objective and drive them to make it happen.”
About working with mentors, Salman Elias (3^rd Year BSc) shared, “With on field experience and support of professionals, we managed to execute our objective by collecting more than MYR 3000 for our charity program in only 3 weeks.”

To support their idea, I managed to meet one of the mentors KC Tan who shared, “From the first day of mentoring, I’ve been impressed by Gen Y’s entrepreneurship skills softly and deeply technology driven. The experience must have helped the students to socialize, identify and address soft issues.”

Surely, a group of Epic Facilitators, whose part was worthwhile

Having graduated from the INTI Future Leaders Tournament, a group of handy graduates stood side by side to the event organizers as Facis (facilitators). “Willing to volunteer for a cause leaving one’s comfort zones inspired us to join. The activities were far more practical and useful comparing conventional classroom lessons. Moreover, we had fun.” These were some words by Arvin Vadiveloo (AUP 3^rdsemester). I too had the chance to experience the whole, but had to compromise for my part-time work – no regrets, what is gone is gone!

What are the inspiration and the aspiration of the Epic Champions Program making the students work on the weekends, meet those many people (both students and mentors) take extra-work load beside their heaps of assignments? Jan Bartscht, the man behind the Epic Champions Program who is the Managing Director at Leadapreneur (www.leadapreneur.com) said, “It is driven by passion and envisions what education should look like. Epic enables and inspires students to do something different.” About mentoring, Jan said, “It is meant to turn students dream into real, to address critical issues and connect to them. Moreover, mentoring experience helps industry partners identify innovative ideas, fresh talent of changing world.”

The Epic Champions Program with yet another epic trainer, Jessica Macias will come back in February with high expectations and greater participation of students both in quantity and quality. She believes, “The Epic Champions Program showcases talents who bloom through the journey.”

By large, I agree with Jan and Jess because I too experienced the whole – more or less same – activities in the INTI Future Leaders Tournament. The Epic Champions Program helps reflect our past achievements, fathom what we want to do in our one-time given life span and how the society or world is influenced by what we do – surely for the better. I watched the same energy level in the grand finale of the Epic Champions Program. This brings me back to my question of how Epic the finale was, which I bullet point as follows:

1. The projects and finalists:

· The project beneficiary selection could have followed sampling method to target those in real need in terms of access to market/ supporters and basic requirements. For example, if one targets those with monthly food surplus, there seems void of epic-ness in project mechanism – remember, the final was among the epic of epics

· Then comes, charity. Are we meant to follow the pattern or launch a brand new idea? That is my core value to the Epic Champions Program; coming up with new ideas.

· A Child’s Dream with a much better marketing approach of project branding, advertising had created hype amongst all. They must have been inspired by Dietrich Mateschitz the founder of Red Bull energy drink, who is the modern day marketing genius. He is known as “the mastermind of Adrenaline Marketing”. His product branding, “Red Bull gives you wings” has made him the largest producer of energy drink and the richest Austrian with fortune of 5.3 billion USD. But their marketing was outnumbered in voting. More or less, each group lacked vision whose projects meant to meet only the set target not envisioning a bigger picture of change let alone having sustainability strategy. The obvious shortcoming might have influenced voters’ impression about this particular project.

· Let me re-quote Jan’s idea, the Epic Champions Program is driven by passion intended to challenge conventional classroom learning systems. But here comes the Sparks, who carry a whole bag of tricks and tips to help the same students perspire for higher scores in tests who are encouraged to challenge the existing learning pattern. No-one denies the fact, the audience was enthralled by their presentation, but epic-ness was missing in their project theme too.

* A trinity from Sabah made the best of their ability to instill the audience convincingly the importance of communication skills. I appreciate their ambition of going global with the Toastmaster Project / Club, whose initial target is 30 members from INTI Sabah.

2. Recommendations:

· Industry employers, stakeholders (having contributed even the least with students’ projects) and individual professionals were not amongst the audience for feedback the finalists what to do next or for the sake of inspiration and encouragement

· Media groups (photo journalists, bloggers, etc.) had to be invited to spread the aim and results of Epic because when we talk about education reform, media helps to reach the maximum audience

· Expecting greater audience, the certificates of all participants shall be distributed in the final not upon the completion at each campus

· Senior lecturers of Heads of Programs shall be encouraged to attend the finale not only to gauge the audacious ambitions of the students, but also fathom the real need for learning pattern evolution.

· Both quantitative and qualitative outputs and outcomes of the Epic Champions Program shall be incorporated in the classroom learning post sharing these results with INTI management. For example, in lieu of unreal assignments (copy-paste pattern), real projects shall be assigned derived by students’ relevant industry vision. A project in each short and long semester is both feasible and pragmatic – take it from me.

You must have learned how my image of epic-ness was embraced, but it is more important how these learnings are incorporated for the innovation we (INTIANS) claim. Because our decisions do not give an account of our values, but also testify our aspiration for coming generations of education institutions.