Media Cluster Newsletter | Issue No.3

Video Editing: A new way to express oneself?By Rebecca Tang

Video editing is a way to unleash creativity. Not only does it involve editing andcutting video clips and adding effects, it also involves much work and dedication from theeditor. It is defined as the process of editing segments of motion video, specialeffects and sound recordings in the post-production process with the aim of entertainingpeople.

Did you know that behind every film there is the process of video editing? Each and every video clip goes through special “retouches”. For young editors who edit on their own, they do not need to launch a film to get popular, they simply publish their work on the World’s greatest video-sharing website, Youtube. And today, Youtube has reached its 1 billion users and over 120 million of videos have been uploaded to date. Among the most active users are the ones who betcame popular by displaying their lives through videos and AMV makers, who during the last 10 years have increased in number with the rise in popularity of mangas and animes.

Even if video editing is more complex than image manipulation since it also deals with motion and sound, it is indeed a funny activity which also helps in developing one’s personality, enhances creativity, encourages people to open to others by allowing their work to be judged and ultimately grow… Young editors value it as they also feel proud whenever they achieve in making something with their own hands and they gainpersonal satisfaction.

Video editing is not only a way to become popular but also a way to entertain ourselves and connect to the world. With its growing popularity, perhaps in some years, schools in Mauritius will hold video editing competitions, just like Sports Days or Inter-colleges competitions.

My student experience at the MUMBCBy Mainka Seewoosunkur

Two years back, when people used to ask me “Why did you choose MiddlesexUniversity Mauritius Branch Camptus?” I replied them with “It’s because I’ll be getting a British qualification without leaving my family for abroad”. However, today if you ask me the same question, then I have a whole story to tell you. I must say that the starting point of my university life was itself a great one.

This is because the best thing that could happen to me during my journey at university was when I was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Scholarship by MiddlesexUniversity Mauritius Branch Campus which was not once but thrice! This scholarship was awarded to me based upon my excellent academic performance that I’ve had at A level as well as throughout my stay at university. This scholarship was not only a financial assistance to me; in fact this has always motivated me to keep excelling in my studies and continue achieving higher.

Having all the necessary resources and the support of my great lecturers, my learning period at Middlesex University Mauritius has become an interesting one. However that was not all! While studying at Middlesex University Mauritius, I’ve made many new local as well as international friends with whom I’ve learnt many new things and have become more open-minded towards different cultures. Talking about university friends, well I must say that I’ve had a great and crazy time with them, be it chilling with them in the student lounge, attending university parties with them or having long funnyconversations with them at JAM cafeteria!

Being at MDX Mauritius, I’ve learnt one more thing is that university is not aboutstudies only but it also means being involved in extra-curricular activities and learning new things beyond the four walls of the classroom. Throughout my three years over here, I’ve always been encouraged and given lots of opportunities to get involved in many university activities as well as to take up lots of positions at university. Forinstance, being a student ambassador, outgoing exchange coordinator at AIESECMiddlesex University Mauritius, writer at first Middlesex Newsletter Mauritius team, co-founder and President of MDX MathSoc, student voice leader and the last but not the least being finance officer at Middlesex University Student Council.

Eventually, I can say that all this experience has helped to develop my personality and from a shy and timid girl, today I’ve become an outgoing person for which I’ll always be grateful to MUMBC. Choosing MUMBC in order to pursue my higher studies has been one of the best decisions that I’ve taken in my life and I don’t regret it. To sum up, I will like to say that my journey until now at Middlesex University Mauritius has been an enriching and awesome one!

Just a little advice to all MDX students: Make your university life a memorable onebefore you’ll start missing it!

AIESEC - Outgoing Exchange (OGX)By Muhsinah Sookun

AIESEC is not just a youth organization but a professional one offering young people a platform for leadership development. We firmly believe that the World will be abetter place if we create more responsible leaders of tomorrow. AIESEC is present in 126countries at present and in 5 Universities here in Mauritius. One of the core departments of the organization is Outgoing Exchange (OGX).

So what is OGX?Students working in this department offer assistance and support to those who want to do an Internship abroad. We use our networks to make an Internship in any of the 126countries possible for our students. AIESEC at Middlesex University focuses on theVolunteer Internship also known as Global Citizen Programme. We often see anExchange as a life-changing experience because at some point the interns realise the positive Impact they made to better people’s lives and this turns them into moreresponsible citizens.

In Mauritius, OGX has always been small but effective and for my 2014|15 as LocalCommittee Vice President of the department, AIESEC at Middlesex University is leading in this department for the first time in Mauritius.

Middlesex University Student Council 2014|15Dear Students,

I bring greetings from the Council to all of you.

The main aim of the Student Council is to be the voice of the students where they cannot be heard. We have been busy ever since resumption in September 2014. We have been involved in various activities (seen and unseen) since the beginning of the academic year. Another aim of ours is to try and satisfy the needs of the student population to the best of our abilities.

We started the session off with a Funday, a day of sports and games, to welcome in the new stu-dents. Although there were some unforeseen contingencies, the Council still managed to stand as a united front. Secondly, the Festival of Lights also known as Diwali was celebrated with a party at Atmospheres in Ebene. This event was a huge success as it brought students together. Student came out in their numbers, and in their beautiful attires to grace the event.

A Futsal tournament was organised for students at Paillotte Gym in the Candos area. Believe me when I say it is a beautiful sight to see students cheering their favourite teams on to glory. The songs that were sang, the instruments that were played, the clapping of hands, the raising of voic-es and most of all the exceptional playing of the teams all made sure that the day was a pretty successful and interesting one.

The Student Council got together again to celebrate passing of the year 2014 by organising a Christ-mas Party at Altitude in Ebene. This event was also a successful one as students were able to have fun and let down their hair and forget, even for a short while, the stress of their academic respon-sibilities. To celebrate the season of love, the Council in collaboration with the Psychology Society put up a bake sale and flower delivery day. Thanks to all those who participated.

For the sports and games lovers amongst us, a football tournament and a carom tournament wasorganised. It was a wonderful event as students came out to participate and winners emerged.Congratulations to all. Wednesday Wonders are events which happen every Wednesday. These events could be educational or entertaining or sometimes even both. Thanks to Nancy who puts these events together.

The Council has also made available sanitary towels at the reception for the ladies. As the StudentCouncil, we are the umbrella body of all student societies on campus and we encourage all thesesocieties to organise events for their members. The Council would like to appreciate the efforts of allsocieties that organised events for their members. You guys are an important part of the Middlesex fabric.

The tenure of this present Council is coming to an end and a new set of gladiators are going to step up to the fight. An End of Year party and handover ceremony is in the pipelines. It promises to be an extraordinary event. Stay tuned for more information on that. Another futsal tournament is also on the way. Let us come out and have fun. More information will be relayed soon.

On a final note, the Council would like to appreciate every student that believes in where MUMBC can go as an institution. You guys make our jobs worth doing. Thank you all.

Kiki AkindeleVice-PresidentMUSC 2014-2015

March 2015: PlayStation 4 is the top-selling consolevenurebeat.com

PS4 holds its title as a global and U.S. sales leader.

According to the March 2015 NPD sales data, Sony’s PlayStation 4 ranks as thetop-selling console and the No. 1 in software sales for the month. The companyreleased a statement ahead of the March results release, saying that four of the top five-selling games in March were for its console, including the latest inElectronic Arts’ Battlefield franchise, Battltefield Hardline, and From Software’sBloodborne, which sold over a million copies in its first month.

“We are truly honored PlayStation 4 is the top-selling console and No. 1 in software sales again according to NPD sales data for March 2015. PS4 remains the cumulative sales leader both globally and in the United States and we want to thank gamers worldwide for their ongoing support,” a Sony representative said in a statement.

March was a strong month for the company’s PlayStation Store sales, thecompany said. Intelligence firm SuperData Research revealed today that 155,000 digitalcopies of Bloodborne were moved in just 12 days, pointing to an uptick indownloadable game sales. Sony notes that its PlayStation Plus online subscription service and Battlefield Hardline also helped itsdigital store sales in March.

Sony noted that gamers in the U.S. spent more than 356 million hours playingPlayStation 4 games in March.

Game of the Month: Battlefield Hardlinestuff.tv

Let this be very clear: Battlefield Hardline is not Battlefield 5. Opting away from thefrontlines of war and instead heading into the mean streets of the city, Hardline is a spin off game in the Battlefield series with an extreme take on cops and robbers in urbanenvironments.

You’ll be given the opportunity to play on both sides, which will change yourobjectives in situations such as heist missions where you’ll either be the robberscommiting the crime, or the police trying to save the day. Instead of focusing onthe soldiers with heavy-duty military weapons and vehicles, Hardlineallows players to control Agents from Cop factions (Police, SWAT, etc)and urban terrorist factions.

A few Weapons and Gadgets return from previous Battlefield games, but themajority of weapons and gadgets are new or altered to fit with the new style in Hardline - and the same goes for the Vehicles. Unlocking weapons and gadgets in the Mutiplayer uses a brand new monetary system. You can now select what you want to unlock when you have the money to purchase them for each of the four Classes. Money is earned inaddition to score while playing each of the seven Game Modes.

You’ll be given plenty of chances to decide how you would deal with situations, whether that be to go in all-guns-blazing or to use your badge and shout “FREEZE!”. Obviously you’ll choose the former, if only because trying the latter against a load of trigger-happy 14 year olds is never going to end well.

Get it on PS4/XBOX One/PS3/XBOX 360/PC.