THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

special

Branching out in education

FOR a country to progress, it
needs to have a population of
creative thinkers individuals
who strive to think outside the
box and introduce fresh
innovative ideas.
Since the late 1990s, the tertiary
education industry in Malaysia
has grown tremendously in terms
of the number of higher learning
institutions and the level of
education available.
The large demand for
postgraduate study along with the
development of Nilai and Educity
Iskandar as education hubs are
the reasons for the rise in the
number of universities currently
operating in Malaysia.
This also attracted reputable
foreign universities to set up
branch campuses in the country
elevating the number of
postgraduate courses available to
students.
Thanks to the Governments
efforts to make the country a
study destination, more students
are choosing to pursue
postgraduate study in Malaysias
private and public universities.
A significant number of
international students from
countries in the Middle East, East
Asia and South-East Asia have also
arrived on Malaysian shores for
quality education.
The reputation of Malaysian
universities in specialised fields of
study has also been a major
drawcard among students,
allowing universities to expand
and set up their own branch
campuses around the country and
abroad.

International exposure
Among the key factors that
helped Malaysian universities
raise their educational standards
are its partnerships with
established international
universities, learning partners
and industry affiliates.
This enabled local universities
to draw upon collective expertise,
prestige and resources to
formulate and improve the
quality of their courses and
teaching programmes.
Asia e University (AeU) is
one such institution that is
internationally established under
the Asia Cooperation Dialogue
an intergovernmental
organisation that promotes Asian
cooperation at a continental level.
Mizana Muhamad, director of
marketing communications at
Asia e University, says, AeU
collaborates with global
educational institutions
to offer quality academic
and professional training
programmes that are
affordable and accessible.
It also acts as a catalyst for
narrowing the digital divide
among communities and nations
and actively promotes e-education
to meet the human capital needs

of Asia.
By integrating international and
intercultural dimensions into its
course structure, these
universities are able to
produce graduates who
can compete in the global
marketplace with the
relevant knowledge, skills and
values.
Niche areas of study are another
reason for the rise in education
quality in Malaysian universities.
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Bintulu (UPMKB) has managed to
make use of the vast amount of
resources available in Sarawak
and expand its studies in the areas
of agriculture, forestry, fishery,

livestock, food and the

environment.
We are on par
with some of
the most
renowned
universities around
the globe based on
our niche areas.
Our current
university ranking is
among the top 1.5% of
world universities,
says Prof Dr Bujang
Kim Huat, dean of the
School of Graduate
Studies at Universiti
Putra Malaysia.

The university offers joint

higher degree programmes with
universities from the United
Kingdom, Canada, France,
Australia, Japan and Thailand, and
has courses that are exclusive to
UPMKB.

Quality learning
Malaysians are assured of
getting top education as only Tier
One institutions universities
that are globally recognised for
world-class research, academic
excellence and highly prestigious
scholarships are allowed to be
established in Malaysia.
Between 1998 and 2000, Monash
University Malaysia, Curtin
University Sarawak Malaysia
(Curtin Sarawak) and The
University of Nottingham Malaysia
Campus (UNMC) were the first
foreign universities to operate in
the country.
These establishments not only
marked the beginning of branch
campuses setting up in Malaysia
but milestones for the respective
universities.
Curtin Sarawak was the
universitys first international
campus and UNMC was the first
British university to have a branch
campus in another country.
Since then, some of the other
foreign universities that have
begun operations in Malaysia
include Swinburne University
of Technology Sarawak Campus,
Newcastle University Medicine
Malaysia, Heriot-Watt University
Malaysia Campus, Raffles
University Iskandar, University
of Reading Malaysia, Manipal
International University and
University of Southampton
Malaysia Campus.
Come February next year,
Xiamen University Malaysia will
begin educating its first intake in
Sepang.
With the array of top-quality
institutions currently in Malaysia,
universities have to ensure they
continue to produce top graduates
who have the relevant skill set.
Not only must universities
maintain their reputable Tier One
status, they need to ensure that all
their programmes and courses are
up to date with current industry
changes and trends.
It has become a more crowded
marketplace for Malaysians in
terms of foreign education and
study options.
This is good as it means there is
an extremely diverse education
sector and this is a real strength,
says Prof Christine Ennew, provost
and chief executive officer of
UNMC.
The growth in the number of
universities in Malaysia paired
with improving education quality
is a promising sign for a country
that wishes to become a developed
nation and students must take
advantage of the many education
opportunities available.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

2 postgraduate

THE 29th Annual Conference of

the Asian Association of Open
Universities (AAOU), hosted by
Open University Malaysia (OUM),
attracted tremendous response
from leading providers in the open
and distance learning (ODL) arena.
Practitioners, advocates and
front-liners of ODL far and near
gathered at the Kuala Lumpur
Convention Centre to exchange
views on the latest developments
and innovations in ODL.
The discussions covered topics
such as open universities in the
21st century, technology as drivers
in ODL, new research and practices
in ODL, quality assurance in ODL
and the open knowledge
movement.
Almost 250 participants, mostly
from China, India, Indonesia,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Malaysia,
attended the conference, and
almost 140 papers were presented.
As a leading ODL university
in Malaysia, OUM enables working
adults to further their studies
from diploma to postgraduate
level through flexible modes of
learning. Since its inception in
2001, more than 160,000 students
have enrolled in OUM.
Below, prominent attendees
share their thoughts on the
conference.

n For more information,

visit www.oum.edu.my

OUM leads in the

AAOU Conference 2015
Chancellor of OUM
Tun Jeanne
Abdullah gives her
speech as she
closes the AAOU
Conference 2015.

From left: Prof Nageshwar Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University; Dr Zahid
Majeed, Assistant Professor, Allama Iqbal Open University; Prof Datuk Dr Mansor Fadzil, Senior Vice
President of OUM; Prof Dongkook Lee, Acting President of Korea National Open University; Prof Tian
Belawati, Rector of Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia; Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, President/ViceChancellor of OUM; Prof Datuk Dr Ho Sinn Chye, Vice-Chancellor of Wawasan Open University; Prof
Yuk-Shan Wong, President of AAOU and the Open University of Hong Kong; Prof Yoichi Okabe,
President of the Open University of Japan; and Prof Ramli Bahroom, Vice President of OUM (Corporate
Planning & Finance Services).

Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching

Deputy Higher Education Minister
I want to congratulate OUM, under the leadership of Prof Emeritus
Anuwar, for putting together this international event. While many
universities are conventional and focus on providing full-time and
classroom-based programmes, OUM is different in that it is a 100% ODL
university.
Its learner population comprises mostly working adults and many of them
have enrolled in OUM because it offers part-time studies and a flexible mode
of learning. That is why I am sure that everybody at the conference will have
a fruitful exchange of ideas, forge new ties and bring home fond memories.

Monwipa Wongrujira
Assistant Professor
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open
University (STOU)
We have collaborated with
OUM before. We have learnt a lot
from the people there, especially
from the marketing division.
They were very kind to us
during our visit and taught us
a lot of things.
As a result, we have
learnt valuable marketing
strategies from them as
they are very successful in
recruitment.

Dr Li Kam Cheong
Secretary-General, AAOU
Director of the Open University of Hong Kong, Research Centre
OUM has done a great job in preparing for this conference.
A lot goes into organising a conference promotions, getting
delegates and overseeing them, accepting papers and
reviewing them, sorting out presenters and their time slots
and more. Delegates really felt welcomed by the staff and
what has been prepared for them.
They have also provided a great venue for such a big
conference as this. The AAOU aims to create a diverse
platform for ODL where universities in the region can
work and learn from each other, bring insights and ideas
together and solve challenges together.

Prof Tian Belawati

Rector
Universitas Terbuka Indonesia
We have been working with OUM
for quite some time now. We carry
out research and create joint
publications together and have even
co-organised a conference before.
OUM has always done a
professional job and this conference
has been successful so far. Sharing
successes is equally important as
sharing failures and people here are
so willing to share knowledge,
successes and even failures. It is a
good community that we are in.

Dr Kuldeep Agarwal
Director (Academic)
National Institute of Open
Schooling, India
Ive been in the field of ODL
since the 1990s, when it was
still unknown. In fact, in the
1980s, there were small parts
of it attached to conventional
learning here and there.
Now that it is a separate
field altogether, this
conference truly brings
together the best of the best.
It is an excellent forum for
ODL and good job to OUM for
a well-planned event.
It is my first time
collaborating with an
institution in this region and
I am looking forward to it.

Wafa Sajjad
Academic Instructor/Tutor
Virtual University of Pakistan
I was expecting a lot from this
conference as this is my first time in
Malaysia and also the very first time
out of Pakistan. Everything was very
well-organised and all my expectations
were met.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

postgraduate 3

The Master in Business Administration by Management & Science

University helps students become successful leaders for the future.

Develop
leadership
skills
THE Management & Science
University (MSU) is one of
Malaysias top universities,
having received much
recognition from Malaysian and
international independent
bodies.
It has been rated as an
Excellent Status University twice
by the former Higher Education
Ministry through a rating system
for all universities in Malaysia.
MSU is also accredited by the
Accreditation Services for
International Colleges (ASIC), the
United Kingdom, and the
Alliance on Business Education
and Scholarship for Tomorrow
(ABEST21), Japan.
MSUs Graduate School of
Management (GSM) recognises
that todays global companies
require managers with a
broader outlook.
The university attracts top
students through its
internationalisation effort of
employing faculty members
with overseas experience and
forming effective links with
businesses.
The Master in Business
Administration by MSU (MSUMBA) offers students an
experiential learning
opportunity in cross-cultural
communications, building a
global network and possibly
creating a future international
career.
In addition, students are able
to develop management skills
and techniques, obtain strategic
orientation and implement the
strategies formulated.
The MSU-MBA helps students
develop skills in leadership,
entrepreneurship, strategic
management and decisionmaking so that they become
successful leaders in the most
competitive markets.
The programme aims to build
on the foundations of work
experience and, by equipping
students with new skills and
knowledge, enable them to
make a smooth transition to a
higher level of responsibility.
The MSU-MBA is popular with

employers as it is a recognised
currency in the human
resources marketplace.
Employers know the value of
the qualification and what they
can expect from an MBA
graduate.
They also recognise the
commitment shown by MSUMBA students in investing
heavily in their careers. Such
candidates are likely to be
dynamic self-starters who will
be an asset to any organisation.
Active learning exercises
within the programme act as a
basis for verbal analysis and
discussion, allowing for a rich
learning environment through
the integration of classroom
with real-world experiences.
These exercises broaden
students understanding of
issues by inviting them to think
beyond their learning materials.
GSM has established
collaborative educational links
with a number of top overseas
universities, including those in
the UK, the United States,
Australia, New Zealand, South
Korea, Japan, Germany, Russia
and China.
The Global Mobility
Programme is a means to
provide MSU postgraduate
students with international
exposure.
Through this programme,
students have the opportunity to
develop an awareness and
appreciation of other cultures,
political and economic
environments, and approaches
of doing business.
Professors of the MSU-MBA
are accomplished teachers who
have made significant
contributions to the business
world, both as academics and
working professionals.
Professors at MSU are selected
worldwide from among the best
consultants and professionals in
their fields.

n For more information, call

03-2718 4302/4300/4301 or
e-mail gsm@msu.edu.my or
visit www.msu.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

4 postgraduate

VC COLUMN
UNIVERSITIES, whether public or private,
compete both on a national and global
platform to attract the best students.
For the private sector in particular, this
process involves a significant amount of
promotional activities both online and in
print, which are designed to make an
institution distinctive and attractive to
students.
A quick glance at higher education
institutions advertisements reveals a
surprising degree of similarity in how we

Cultural intelligence is key

describe ourselves and what we promise
students.
Arguably, one of the most over-used claims
is that studying with a particular institution
will enable an individual to become a global
citizen and perhaps even a global leader.
And I have no doubt that all of us who
make this claim believe that this is a good

By PROF
CHRISTINE ENNEW

thing to be offering.
In our increasingly complex, globalised
and often polarised society, we need
individuals who can provide leadership in
an international environment, understand
the problems our society faces and who are
aware of and accept their responsibility to
contribute to solutions.
All of this is easy to say but difficult
to do. Educating and developing leadership
requires universities education to go
beyond the simple acquisition of technical
knowledge and focus attention on a teaching
a broader set of personal and generic skills.
Such skills are important to ensuring that
graduates gain attractive employability.
These are also the skills that will enable
them to contribute to the broader well-being
of society.
Ask anyone what these skills are and
they will probably highlight things such
as communication, teamwork, learning,
creativity, problem-solving and innovation.
Since Daniel Golemans book in 1996,
some may also emphasise the importance
of emotional intelligence (EQ) and the ability
to understand and empathise with others.
The ability to engage and understand
others (as well as yourself), see the world
from their perspectives, support, encourage
and motivate are elements of EQ that
contribute to more effective management
and leadership.
They may be skills that come naturally
to some but they are skills that can be
developed and learnt.
Recently, observers are starting to ask
whether we should be expecting more of
future managers and leaders, particularly
those who will need to operate in an
internationalised environment.
The term cultural intelligence (CQ) was
coined some years ago by academic
researchers in the United States and relates

to the capacity of individuals to engage

effectively across cultures, being sensitive to
the challenges and opportunities associated
with the diversity that this creates.
Last year, Julia Middleton of Common
Purpose, a charity that focuses on
leadership and citizenship education,
outlined the significance of CQ in her
book of the same name.
She highlights the importance of
leadership that is characterised by a deep
and genuine interest in other people,
openness to opportunities to learn and
the ability to operate effectively across
boundaries.
Leaders with CQ are excited by different
cultures, not alarmed by them. They dont
just tolerate difference, they actively enjoy
it. They trust it, make it a strength and
thrive on it. In the process, they also
share their enthusiasm so that it becomes
infectious, and thats how CQ spreads.
Like EQ, CQ can be learnt and Common
Purpose has a long tradition of leadership
training for students that focuses on
developing both EQ and CQ.
Earlier this year, Common Purpose
piloted a Global Leadership Experience for
Malaysian undergraduates with the support
of Prudential. It was so successful that it
will be repeated next year with the
support of the Weir Group.
So for us, as universities, if we really
want to realise our stated ambitions to
create global citizens and develop the global
leaders of the future, then we need to start
thinking beyond the traditional skills
agenda and start to think about how we
encourage our students to develop their CQ.
That means exposing them to cultural
differences and encouraging them to accept
and value diversity in all of its forms.
Perhaps one of the most powerful
mechanisms we have for doing this is
the community of international staff and
students that increasingly comprise our
university campuses.

n Prof Christine Ennew is the chief executive

officer and provost of The University of
Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

Universities should aim to produce graduates who are more than just global citizens; cultural
intelligence is an important factor for success in the modern world.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

6 postgraduate

Learning from the best

I WAS into my second year as a
senior manager at a Japanese
multinational company when I
decided to pursue a masters in
business administration (MBA).
Prior to assuming this senior
role, my decade-long career
had centred on managing
manufacturing operations.
When I faced a wider scope of
responsibility and greater
influence on the direction of the
business, I realised that more was
required of me than what my
accumulated knowledge and
management experience in
operations could offer.
I began scouting for an MBA that
could help me better understand

business and strategy, strengthen

my grasp on key management
disciplines and provide the
ingredients for me to develop into
a better business leader.
I was looking for an MBA
programme of reputable standing.
Only two MBA programmes in
Malaysia at the time were ranked
in the worlds top 100 and one of
them was University of
Strathclydes triple-accredited MBA.
Its strong reputation for research
excellence in strategic
management was a major pull
factor for me.
I had the privilege of learning
from academics who are not only
at the forefront of their disciplines

but who possess a wealth of

international experience in
business and of the industry.
Throughout the programme,
local counsellors with solid
academic and professional
credentials provided effective
support and intensive group
dynamics with fellow professionals
enriched my exposure and
learning experience.
Putting newly acquired
knowledge into practice helped me
bring about changes in the
company that led to unprecedented
revenue, profit and growth.
Now, the lessons gleaned from
my MBA experience continue to
prove invaluable in my current

role as country manager at an

Australian multinational company.
Pursuing an MBA demands
considerable time and effort. Many
of my weekends and evenings
were spent away from the family,
at classes, in groups and on
assignments.
It was a challenging time for me
and my family but with the right
support, we came through
together.
It was a pleasant surprise
finishing as the top Malaysian MBA
student in 2015 and receiving the
deans commendation for project
in the process.
These are simply the icing on the
cake, because the knowledge

Chng Poh Leong with his wife

and children.

acquired, experience gained and

friendships forged throughout the
journey define the true value of
this MBA. By Chng Poh Leong
Chng Poh Leong earned his
MBA from the University of
Strathclyde and is working as
a country manager.

Beat the
competition
IN September, The Edge
Financial Daily reported that
Switzerland topped the World
Economic Forum (WEF)s
competitiveness ranking for a
seventh consecutive year.
WEF defines competitiveness
as the set of institutions, policies
and factors that determines a
countrys level of productivity.
It ranks a nations
competitiveness based on
12 indicators, including
infrastructure, macroeconomic
environment and technological
readiness. While Singapore and
the United States are ranked
second and third respectively,
Malaysia has a low
competitiveness ranking.
While the term
competitiveness has become
ubiquitous because of the
increased globalisation of
the economy, innovation,
competitiveness and
productivity are not
synonymous. Productivity is
the only meaningful concept of
competitiveness at the national
level.
Productivity growth can
enable competitiveness,
especially if it is concentrated
in traded sectors, which lowers
costs and enables firms to sell
more in global markets without
relying on Government-provided
discounts and subsidies.
To combat increasingly
competitive situations, it is
important for the nation to
innovate.
Innovations can arise at
many different points in the
development process, including
conception, research and
development, technology
adoption/transfer, production
and deployment or marketplace
usage.
Take business organisations
such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc for
example. The worlds biggest
retailer by revenue stunned
investors when it reported that

its full-year sales would be flat

this year and its earnings per
share would fall by 6% to 12% in
the next fiscal year.
The news prompted a nearpanic sell-off of Wal-Mart shares.
By the close of trading,
Wal-Marts stock had plunged
10%, its worst one-day price
decline.
In response, Wal-Martlearnt
how to innovate to keep up its
business competitiveness.
Besides investing more in
e-commerce, it is also making
changes in its stores to improve
customer experience, beat
competitors on price and
expand product assortments,
among others.
The Wal-Mart example is a
reflection on how an economy
can manage its resources and
competencies to increase the
prosperity of its population.
To stay competitive, a nation
must quickly learn how to spur
innovation to boost productivity
such as in the case of a business
situation.
Through innovation, future
goods and services will not only
be cheaper but better. Therefore,
a nations competitiveness may
increase with the concomitant
investment in quality education
and training that encourage
innovation, productivity and
labour markets flexibility.
Victoria University Master
of Business Administration
(VUMBA) educates business
executives on formulation and
implementation of strategies
to improve on business
competitiveness.
The subjects include
managing innovation and
entrepreneurship, organisation
change management, strategic
human resource management,
and strategic management and
business policy.

n For more information, e-mail

hendryng@sunway.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

ASIA e University (AeU) celebrated

its 5th Convocation Ceremony at
the Putra World Trade Centre,
Kuala Lumpur on Sept 20.
A total of about 3,000
participants comprising local and
international graduates received
their scrolls at the convocation.
Its 537 international graduates
are from Bahrain, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, India, Iran, Kenya,
the Maldives, New Zealand,
Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka,
Taiwan, the United Kingdom,
Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
The variety signifies AeUs
increasing recognition in the
international arena. Among the
international MBA graduates who
received their scrolls at the AeU
convocation ceremony was Adnan
Ali (pic), 34, who hails from
Islamabad, Pakistan.
He was a telecommunication
engineer who previously worked
for Nokia but now works as a
technical lead in Redknee, a
reputable Canadian company
based in Malaysia that provides
telecommunication software
solutions.
Adnan has more than 10 years
of technical experience, having
to travel overseas frequently for
work.
He felt the need to upgrade
and boost his career progression
by getting involved in the
management team at his
workplace.
However, to be part of the team,
he was expected to have business

postgraduate 7

MBA with flexibility

and management knowledge,
including leadership skills.
This resulted in his pursuit of the
Master of Business Administration
(MBA) at AeU.
Adnan says, My biggest
challenge was choosing a
university that provided the
flexibility and accessibility of
studying in terms of location and
time to fit my hectic work life.
After looking around, I felt AeU
was the best option. Besides being
affordable in fees, it offers a good
mix of online and conventional
MBA students in the courses as
well, providing a good business
networking environment with
people from various industries.
Adnan took the blended learning
mode at AeU, which includes faceto-face, online and self-managed
learning.
When I was working overseas
and could not attend the weekend
classes, I would catch up on classes
with recorded videos of my
lectures, and the professional
learning materials that enabled me
to study in trains, airports and
hotel rooms without missing out on
lessons, he says.
Obtaining the MBA from AeU
was a life-changing experience for
me. Coming from an engineering
background, many facets of

business were new to me. Initially,

I had some difficulties but my
lecturers and peers gave me good
support, which encouraged me
to reflect on how well I was
doing and identify areas of
improvement.
Studying at AeU was an
invaluable endeavour that helped
Adnan develop management skills.
He says, I became more
confident and effective in decisionmaking and increased my level of
strategic awareness. It also helped
develop my leadership and general
management skills. The most
valuable part of the AeU MBA
programme was the ability to
create expanding networks and
engage with students from
diversified nationalities, cultures,
backgrounds and industries.
AeU is a collaborative
multinational university
established under the auspices of
the 33 Asia Cooperation Dialogue
Countries (ACD).
All academic programmes are
internationally benchmarked,
approved by the of Education
Ministry and accredited by the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
As an open distance learning
university, AeU to date has an
enrolment of more than 22,000
international students in 65

countries and has seen 7,000

graduates thus far.
It also has a diverse and
international community of about
1,000 fellow doctoral students from
46 countries.
AeUs programmes are designed
and customised with working
adults in mind to suit their busy
lifestyles.
With AeUs personalised
learning, students are in the
drivers seat they have
control of their education.
AeU has spread its
wings to ACD member
countries such as
Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Cambodia, China, India,
Indonesia, Iran,
Myanmar,
Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia,
Singapore,

Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab

Emirates, Vietnam as well as to
non-members such as Denmark,
Hong Kong, Iraq, Kenya, the
Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, New
Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden, Somalia,
Taiwan, the United Kingdom,
Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In addition to the main campus
located in Kuala Lumpur, AeU
continues to expand its network
with the opening of learning
centres in strategic locations
across the country, including
in major cities and rural
areas in the peninsula and
Sabah and Sarawak.

n For more information,

call 1300 300 238 or
e-mail enquiries@
aeu.edu.my or
visit www.aeu.
edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

8 postgraduate

Online connectivity at its best

WHILE hiring people to front
the paradigm shift of going
international will help push
the concept, we should not
misconstrue the notion of
internationalisation.
Ultimately, a brand must
communicate its local character to
speak to a global market. In doing
so, we do not lose sight of
traditions and values just to
embrace the concept of
globalisation.
Perhaps the most strategic
decision in this century is to create
a social media channel plan
consistent with our language and
tone and with a clear target
audience.
Furthermore, the rule of thumb

for any business is that it engages

with communities that speak to
communities while never
neglecting the one-on-one
opportunities.
As a company with new
international presence, you need
to look at every angle that makes
sense and gives you credible
exposure.
What worked a few years ago is
now most likely derailed by
modern gadgets and approaches,
making it important to stay
relevant.
In addition, state authorities
should realise that it is not their job
to censor creativity but rather to
foster and encourage ingenuity.
In Malaysia, we have yet to see

or hear of genuine advantages that

the Government offers to young
entrepreneurs or brands that have
put Malaysia under the global
spotlight.
That assistance can influence as
well as drastically spur the future
of the Malaysian enterprise in this
digital sphere.
While the state needs to rethink
its role in this complex algorithm,
we need to be cognizant of the fact
that online engagement really
means the commitment to a
participatory culture.
Many companies that enter the
online field are new, possessing
little experience. Malaysian
companies require good
consultants to plan its practical

online routes strategically.

The verdict of how you will
significantly cause changes to
mindset, attitude and lifestyle will
be determined by the cultural and
commercial viability of your plans.
Monash University Malaysia
welcomes government and
corporate initiatives that encourage
discourse for planning and
streamlining of online initiatives.
By Assoc Prof Dr Joanne Lim
Assoc Prof Dr Joanne Lim is from
the School of Arts and Social
Sciences at Monash University
Malaysia.

n For more information, visit

www.sass.monash.edu.my

Assoc Prof
Dr Joanne Lim.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

postgraduate 9

Work and study

SEGI University and Colleges now offers a
wide range of programmes under its Faculty
of Business and Accounting, including the
Master of Business Administration or the
MBA, which is especially for high-level
business decision-makers or aspirants who
want to climb the career ladder.
SEGi offers the PACE or Professional and
Continuing Education, which is a consortium
of global universities that enables adult
learners to advance at their own pace and
complete their studies with assurance that
they can still attend to other obligations and
have a fulfilling work-life balance.
Students have the independence to
complete their studies at their own pace
as they can choose the number of subjects
they wish to pursue during the semester.
John Hng (pic) is currently pursuing the
PACE MBA at SEGi University. He
works in a Swiss-based company,
majoring in industrial connectors
and cables manufacturing.
As his work requires him to
travel frequently, he needed a
course that offered him flexibility,
which the SEGi PACE MBA did.
Honestly, it was very challenging
to study and work at the same
time, especially with a
family to care for. I
needed to put in 101%
effort to complete
assignments and
prepare for
examinations,
says Hng.

Hng adds, I enjoy attending the classes

that I have every month. The lecturers are
well prepared and study materials are
up-to-date and relevant to the modern
business world. Most of the workshops
and assignments given focus on real case
studies. That helped us learn how to solve
common issues in the modern business
world.
Another student, Joey Ho, had set her
mind on pursuing an MBA five years ago.
As a finance lead at a shared service centre
for a well-known pharmaceutical company,
she wanted to develop her career.
She chose the SEGi PACE MBA because
it offered flexibility. With classes only on
weekends and three workshops per
semester, she could focus on work
without the hassle of rushing to classes.
Another reason for her choice was
that SEGi offered the most competitive
tuition fees payment scheme.
SEGi is one of the best universities to
study an MBA because it fully equips
graduates with the skills and tools of
the trade that are essential in facing
the challenges of today. It also helps to
enhance our capability to function as a
senior manager within a wide range
of organisations, she adds.

n For more information,

call 03-6145 1777
or 1800 887 344 or e-mail
askme@segi.edu.my or
visit www.segi.edu.my or
www.pace.edu.my

Prof Chuah (fifth from left) and Prof Tzeng (sixth from left) together with UST delegates, UTAR
staff, presenters and students.

Exploring new grounds

UNIVERSITI Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
further strengthens its presence in Asia
through its recent programmes jointly held
with University System Taiwan (UST).
These programmes include the Disaster
Management and Risk Reduction on Climate
Change workshop, and Water Pollution and
Management workshop.
Im happy with UTARs strong
commitment to establish an extensive
collaboration that benefits both Malaysian
and Taiwanese societies, says UST
vice-chancellor Prof Chyi Jen-Inn.
Last year, UTAR and UST signed a
research collaboration memorandum of
understanding that includes four prominent
public universities National Yang-Ming
University, Tsinghua University, National
Central University and National Chiao Tung
University.
The research undertaken is in disaster
management and wastewater treatment.
Malaysians are unprepared for natural
disasters, so this is a great opportunity to
share and exchange ideas with a country
that is experienced, says UTAR vice
president (research and development and
commercialisation) Prof Ir DrLee Sze Wei.
Sharing expertise from Taiwan will help
us develop competent experts in risk
management, adds Dr Lai Soon Onn, deputy

dean (student development and industrial

training) of the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of
Engineering and Science.
The long-term goal is to form an
industrial service team consisting of local
and UST academicians to provide technical
consultation services to Malaysian
industries, he says.
UTAR president Prof Ir Datuk DrChuah
Hean Teik and UST chancellor Prof Ovid J. L.
Tzeng discussed student and staff academic
exchanges to Taiwan, double-degrees from
UST partner universities, and future projects.
Prospective students are invited to the
UTAR Campus Tour & Info Day on Dec 26
(10.30am to 4.30pm) at the UTAR Kampar
campus or UTAR Sungai Long campus.
In conjunction with the January intake,
school-leavers are invited to the UTAR Open
Day from Dec 18 to 20 (9.30am to 5.30pm) at
the two campuses for programme enquiries
and to participate in various activities.
UTAR is also extending counselling hours
at these two campuses daily from 9am to
5pm (excluding public holidays).

n For more information, call 03-9086

0288/016-223 3559 (Sungai Long), 05-468
8888/016-223 3557 (Kampar), e-mail
enquiry@utar.edu.my or visit
www.utar.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

10 postgraduate

Prepare for an academic career

THE growth in the number of
doctoral candidates enrolling in
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
has been substantial.
Over the past 10 years, 107,477
students have enrolled in the
university, a large percentage of
whom are academic staff from
both local and international
universities.
These academicians are given
study leave to pursue their doctoral
studies and, upon completion,
return to their universities to take
up lecturing positions. These jobs
entail competencies in research,
teaching and service.
Contrary to international studies,
which report on a relatively low
level of the availability of academic
jobs, these doctoral candidates
have a job to return to.
Given this scenario, UPM has
taken the initiative to equip these
postgraduates with the right kind
of skills needed in their academic
career.
Preparing for an Academic
Career is a week-long certificate
programme offered by UPMs
School of Graduate Studies in
collaboration with the Higher
Education Development Centre of
the University of Otago.
Experienced staff from UPM and
the University of Otago, New
Zealand, teach in this programme

Students of UPM receive mentoring from University of Otago academicians.

and provide the participants with

rich developmental experiences.
During the training session,
participants are taught the
importance of teaching experience
when planning an academic
career, planning and evaluating
teaching, and developing a
teaching portfolio.
Besides this, participants are
given practical expertise in
developing a research portfolio,

which includes writing for

journals, reviewing journal articles
and conference abstracts,
presenting research at conferences,
chairing conference sessions,
networking, examining a thesis
(text and oral), writing examiner
reports, and knowing how to keep
abreast of current developments.
They are also provided with
opportunities to take on leadership
roles to enhance their capacities.

Programme participants work

closely with their supervisors in
UPM to develop their own
programme of learning as an
academic.
Participants also undertake
teaching responsibilities during
their candidature and are
mentored and guided by
experienced staff from UPM over
a six-month period.
At the end of this period,
reflective journals are collected
and further mentoring is provided
by colleagues from the University
of Otago.
This collaboration between UPM
and the University of Otago
provides the right international
experience in preparing for an
academic career.
Students who have graduated
from the programme describe
their experience as extremely
useful, allowing them to stand
out from their colleagues, take
on leadership roles and be
appointed as new mentors
upon returning to their own
universities.
Mohamed Bello Ibrahim,
an academician from Nigeria,
describes the mentorship
programme as something he
would recommend to his
university upon his return.
Dr Azita Azadi from Iran

has already started a similar

programme at her own
university by capitalising on
local expertise and incorporating
lead practices in becoming a
well-rounded academic.
This shows the effectiveness
and the international impact of
the UPM programme.
UPMs proactive initiative is in
line with current international
development in doctoral
education, where the thesis is
not the sole focus.
The Oxford Statement (2015)
states that doctoral candidates
make a substantial contribution
to society upon graduation and
need to be equipped with careerready skills.
UPM adheres to this
international statement and
prepares academicians for the
next generation with a wide
range of skills necessary for an
academic career.
The vibrant research culture
in UPM and the proactive
measures of the School of
Graduate Studies provide
academics undertaking their
doctoral studies with the right
environment to deliver.

n For more information, e-mail

dean.sgs@upm.my or visit
www.sgs.upm.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

postgraduate 11

Enhance skills
WAWASAN Open Universitys (WOU) sixth
convocation ceremony saw the graduation
of about 500 students, out of which 120 were
from the postgraduate programmes and 380
were from the undergraduate programmes.
Since its inception, the university has
produced more than 500 graduates from its
postgraduate programmes.
Toh Chiew Yee, 34, received her
Commonwealth Executive MBA (CeMBA)
degree from WOU at the recent convocation
ceremony.
The CeMBA degree will improve my
career prospects as it is a recognised
postgraduate programme around the world.
I feel equipped with the necessary paper
qualifications when opportunities arrive,
she says.
The recipient of the Tun
Dr Lim Chong Eu
Memorial Prize for
the best postgraduate
was Dr Chan Kar Weng
who graduated with a
Master of Education.
With a Master in
Education (TESL)
coupled with my
other degrees and
PhD in science, I will
have another option
to practise as an
educator. My
career is no longer
Dr Chan
Kar Weng.

limited to the field of science, he says.

I can think more critically now because
the Master of Education programme
provided room for me to do so. I am now
helping my workplace to develop e-training,
which requires sound knowledge of
education to sustain adults motivation
to learn.
Dr Chan, 35, believes that being diligent in
a smart way is the only key to success.
There are no shortcuts to success. When
I studied, I went through the content without
skipping any part. One must be self-directed
to look for knowledge. The Internet had
inevitably become my home tutor when I
stumbled across things I found difficult to
understand, he says.
To date, more than 17,000 working
professionals have seized the learning
opportunities offered by WOU.
The university believes that quality higher
education is vital to the development of
human resource and an asset in this country.
Enrolment for part-time study in January
intake next year is in progress. Enrol now
for a postgraduate programme at WOU and
enjoy the attractive fee rebate.
Interested candidates can apply through
regular entry or via WOUs unique open
entry admission system that takes the
applicants work experience into
consideration.
WOU will be hosting its Open Day at the
main campus, regional centres and support
centres nationwide on Dec 19 to 20.

n For more information, call 1300 888 968

or visit wou.edu.my

Impactful research
RESEARCH and development in the business
world is vital to provide viable solutions
to overcome issues and challenges in a
highly competitive and dynamic business
environment.
Researchers in the Faculty of Business and
Humanities of Curtin University Sarawak,
Malaysia work on research themes that
incorporate the many aspects of business
and provide cutting-edge information
relevant to the business community.
With an emphasis on business
sustainability- and community-focused
research, the facultys interdisciplinary
research approach covers seven key
research focus areas.
They are tourism and hospitality,
entrepreneurship and human resources,
business performance, economics and
finance, learning pedagogies, humanities
as well as brand, communications and
customer relationships.
The tourism and hospitality research area
looks at ecotourism, tourism and the
hospitality and services industries.
Entrepreneurship and human resources
research focuses on human resources
management and development, indigenous
entrepreneurship, ecopreneurship and
entrepreneurship education.
Business performance research focuses
on financial and managerial accounting,
ethical issues, accounting standards and
performance analysis, among others.
In the area of economics and finance,
economic aspects such as the performance
of financial institutions, behavioural finance,
macroeconomic factors, monetary
economics, business fluctuations and cycles,
government and the monetary system, and
biofuels, energy and natural resource
economics are looked into.
Education (teaching and learning) in
higher education, discipline-based education
for classroom improvement as well as
curriculum and pedagogy development are

Students at Curtin University Sarawak are

exposed to research on business sustainability
and the community with its seven key
research areas.

the foci of researchers in the learning

pedagogies focus area.
Researchers in the humanities focus area
conduct research on Sarawaks ethnic
cultures and history, ethnolinguistics,
sociolinguistics, new media and its
democratisation potential, inter-relationship
between old and new media, and new media
and their impact on contemporary society.
Green marketing, international public
relations, corporate social responsibility,
retailing and service marketing are some
aspects covered under the brand,
communications and customer relationships
focus area.
Having built an outstanding reputation in
the national and international research
arena, the Facultys researchers also act as
mentors for postgraduate scholars at the
doctorate and masters levels.
These focus areas are critical components
of success in discovery research.
Potential students are encouraged to
undertake higher degree by research or
higher degree by research studies with
Curtin University Sarawak and contribute
to sustainable business practices in Malaysia
and internationally.

n For more information, visit

www.curtin.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2015

12 postgraduate

ACCORDING to head of UCSI

Universitys nutrition with wellness
programme Assoc Prof Dr Yim Hip
Seng the human body is similar to
a racing car.
Put in the wrong fuel or let it go
without maintenance and it will
not deliver its full performance.
Without healthy eating, your body
will suffer just like a car engine,
he says.
Findings from British medical
journal The Lancet showed that
Malaysia had one of the highest
rates of obesity among Asian
countries with 45.3% of its
population obese. The number of
diabetes patients jumped to 31%
this year, up from 15.2% in 2011.

Advancing research
in nutrition and wellness

On the other end of the

spectrum, eating disorders such as
anorexia and bulimia are on the
rise due to the growing influence
of the media and todays celebritycentric culture.
These lead to the increasing
need for nutritionists.
A nutritionist is qualified to give
advice on disease prevention and
promote the holistic well-being of
individuals and communities.
This professional has various
roles to play, including being a
scientist in public health
andclinical settings as well
as in the fields of sports

Assoc Prof Yim

Hip Seng says
that it is vital
for nutrition
students to
have good
communication
skills as well as
passion and
enthusiasm in
improving
human health.

nutrition, health promotion

andeducation.
UCSI introduced the BSc (Hons)
Nutrition with Wellness
programme to mould qualified
and well-rounded nutritionists.
Unlike other programmes
on nutrition, this degree has
a dual focus on the scientific
understanding of nutrition
and food science as well as
fundamentals of marketing
and entrepreneurship.
The degree is the latest of a
string of successful programmes
offered by UCSI, which is the first
private university in Malaysia to
offer a food science with nutrition
bachelor of science degree.
The dual focus of the BSc (Hons)
Nutrition with Wellness gives
students an added edge in the
competitive working world.
The programme enables
graduates to venture into
traditional nutritionist roles such
as health consultants for disease
prevention, public health and
education or venture into the
booming wellness business,
explains Assoc Prof Yim.

When it comes to fields related

to human health, research and
innovation are crucial to ensure
continuous advancement for
mankind.
Innovation and research are two
things UCSIs Faculty of Applied
Sciences (FAS) is well known for.
To maintain the highest level of
academic and scientific standards,
the faculty emphasises evidencebased learning and takes pride in
having state-of-the-art laboratories
and equipment.
Students also learn from the
programmes experienced
academicians such as Prof Dr
Mirnalini Kandiah, one of the first
three nutrition officers in
Malaysias Health Ministry in the
1970s.
She is a respected researcher
specialising in the fields of cardio
metabolic risk and herbal remedies
for cancer patients.
In line with the universitys
praxis approach, which advocates
the application of theory to
practice, the programme also
includes two months of cooperative
placement for every year of study.

This offers students the

opportunity to pursue their
internship with some of the most
prestigious names in the industry.
Having passion and enthusiasm
in improving human health is
important for students to do well
in the programme, says Assoc Prof
Yim, adding that having good
communication skills is also an
advantage.
There are multiple health
awareness projects in which
nutritionists are required to work
with the community, so always be
ready to venture out of your
comfort zone.
To ensure students improve
their communication skills, the
final year of the programme also
sees students embarking on a
community project.
This involves them working with
a community be it a school or
residential area and advising
members of the public on nutrition
and wellness.

n For more information,

call 03-9101 8882 or visit
www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my