THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018

Towards
a bright future
Research at the tertiary level is the bridge that
leads nations to development and progress.
2 Postgraduate
Growth through
knowledge and
innovation
RESEARCH plays a vital role in the
development of any country. The backbone
of knowledge is research, and knowledge
opens pathways to progress. The more a
country invests in research, the better it can
work towards progress in areas such as
science, history, art and philosophy.
However, a country needs researchers
who place higher value on learning than
earning. The field of research is not without
its perks. One benefit is that you are
contributing to the country’s growth, but in
the early days of your career, an impressive
salary may not be something you see in your
grants.
The five research universities in Malaysia
have been pioneering significant
advancements in the field of research and
development despite being allocated only
1.1% of the nation’s gross domestic product.
The ideal figure is around 2%, according to
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister
Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
A workaround to this situation involves
local researchers collaborating with private
and international organisations that award
grants.
Becoming a researcher in Malaysia
The competition among graduate students
to enrol in research universities is fierce
since spots are open to international
applicants
as well.
Every applicant
wants access to the
top-of-the-line
facilities major
research
universities
provide.
Having a first-
class bachelor’s
degree in a relevant
major along with
research experience
can make it more likely
for you to earn a spot in
a research university.
Prof Dr Mohd Jamil
Maah, senior professor at
Universiti Malaya, says, “At least
80% of candidates applying for a
postgraduate degree in research have a international branch campuses. However,
cumulative grade-point average (CGPA) of students can apply for scholarships and
3.0 and above, but the CGPA is just a guide. grants from these institutions or other
Students should not obsess over it.” private corporations.
According to him, if students are not Dr Wong Ee Phin, who did her research
accepted into a public research university, on non-invasive monitoring of stress
research positions in private universities or among wild Asian elephants, completed
international branch campuses in Malaysia
are available.
her doctorate under the University of
Nottingham Malaysia.
Lack of affordability is an obstacle one “In my first year, I received a grant from
may face when applying to postgraduate Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom and
research positions in private universities or started working there.
An emerging
educational hub
MALAYSIA is leaving no stone unturned
in becoming the region’s educational hub.
Below is evidence of Malaysia’s
tremendous progress in research and
development since the inception of public
research universities in 2008.
l There are five public research
universities in Malaysia, namely
Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti
Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra
Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
UM was ranked 114th in the QS World
University Rankings 2018. The four
other public research universities made
it into the QS Top 50 Under 50 and
were ranked 15th, 16th, 21st and 23rd
respectively.
l UPM, UKM, UTM and USM were each
rated five stars in the QS Stars University
Rating, which evaluates universities’
excellence indicators across at least eight
categories including quality of facilities,
programme strength and graduate
employability.
l The number of Malaysian research
publications grew by a whopping 251%
between 2008 and 2014 to a rate of 331
scientific articles per million inhabitants,
which is three times the average in Asia.
Between 2013 and 2015, Malaysian
research authors collaborated with
researchers from 179 countries to
produce 27,891 publications in various
indexed journals.
l According to the World Intellectual
Property Organisation, Malaysia’s highest
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
“I learnt endocrinology techniques
(a fundamental part of my elephant
stress research) at the zoo laboratories.
Upon returning to Malaysia, the university
helped me set up a laboratory here so I
could continue with my research,” says
Dr Wong.
According to her, the laboratory was not as
well equipped as the one in Chester Zoo, but
she took it in stride.
> TURN TO PAGE 4
total patent applications in a year was
2,661 in 2014.
l Six professors from USM, UM and
UKM were recognised by Clarivate
Analytics as the most influential scientific
minds in 2014 and 2015. This recognition
comes from them being in the top 1%
most cited researchers in their fields.
l Malaysian researchers performed
well in the Clarivate Analytics’ Highly
Cited Papers ranking (the most highly
cited 1% of all papers published
worldwide), topping the charts with 149
papers in 2016 compared to only 18
papers in 2006.
Malaysian researchers have
participated in large collaborative groups
to produce research papers on particle
physics and clinical medicine studies that
are among the most highly cited globally.
Other highly cited papers from
Malaysians include those focused on
nanomaterials, biofuels and agricultural
waste.
l Since 2015, the Higher Education
Ministry has collaborated with Clarivate
Analytics on Malaysia’s Research Star
Award last year and Malaysia’s Rising
Star Award in 2015 and 2016 to
encourage and reward local research
talent.
l The 20 public universities in
Malaysia have generated a 28.5% return
on research investment from 2007 to
2015, which amounts to RM7.17bil in
revenue against the Government’s
RM5.58bil investment in research.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018 3
4 Postgraduate THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
WORKING adults are busy with
their jobs and taking care of their
families. Despite this, many still
need to further their education for
career progression.
With 33 learning centres
throughout Malaysia, Open
University Malaysia (OUM) has had
more than 160,000 students since
its inception, including around
8,000 international students in 11
countries.
“Most of our students are
working adults. At OUM, students
can study anytime, any way
without forgoing their work
commitment,” says Prof Loo Sin
Chun, cluster chair of business and
management courses at OUM.
“Our students come from many
different backgrounds and with
varying degrees of experience. This
allows for diverse exchanges of
ideas, views and opinions in
classes.”
Students use myINSPIRE, an
online learning platform that
allows learners to interact with
peers, tutors and facilitators.
Students’ course materials
academic records, financial
statements and timetables are
Flexible further studies
Prof Dr Widad Othman.
also hosted on the learning
management system.
“Our strength lies in our unique
blended learning approach,” says
cluster chair for education and
social sciences courses Prof Dr
Widad Othman.
The approach comprises three
complementary delivery modes –
self-managed learning, face-to-face
interactions and e-learning.
Prof Dr Siti Hashim Ali.
Furthermore, each OUM learning
centre is equipped with computer
laboratories, tutorial rooms and
wireless Internet. Students can
access OUM’s digital library with
more than 100,000 e-books and an
extensive collection of academic
journals.
The university’s academic
programmes are managed in three
clusters – business and management,
Prof Loo Sin Chun.
education and social sciences,
and applied sciences.
Learning the ropes
OUM’s business and
management cluster was
established to develop potential
entrepreneurs, managers and
business leaders. The course
structures allow working adults
to organise their studying
around their work schedule.
According to Prof Loo, in a
globally competitive, fast-
changing market, professionals
in the business and management
industry need to be flexible,
innovative and responsive to
succeed. Students need to use
every opportunity to equip
themselves for various
challenges in the global
economy.
As for education, Prof Widad
Othman says, “There are several
early childhood education and
Islamic studies programmes that
are popular among working
adults, especially those in the
preschool scene.”
Those who wish to pursue
Paving the way
to progress
> FROM PAGE 2
“The university offered me the
best it had. Sourcing other things
I needed for my research only
contributed to my learning
process,” she says.
Because of Dr Wong’s
partnership with Chester Zoo, the
zoo sent a laboratory technician
to Malaysia to assist Dr Wong in
setting up her laboratory.
The local research climate
Research universities in
Malaysia are subject to strict
government supervision to
maintain and enhance their
standards of research.
“Research universities must
meet these standards to continue
operating. We cannot afford to
be complacent,” says Prof Jamil.
“We are audited every year on
everything from number of
academic careers in education
can opt for the Master of
Education or Doctor of Education
programmes.
The university offers applied
sciences courses in the areas of
technology, manufacturing,
occupational health and safety,
project management, facilities
management, nursing science
and information technology.
“Our graduates can improve
their professional knowledge
through problem-based learning,
experimentation and
exploration,” says Prof Dr Siti
Hashim Ali, cluster chair for the
cluster of applied sciences.
According to her, hands-on
experience is crucial to receive
professional recognition and
certification.
The programmes are designed
to enhance students’ capabilities
in communication, analytical
thinking and problem-solving.
“The courses also provide a
supportive and enriching
environment for all students and
let them fulfil their potential
while pursuing their careers,”
she says.
The university has been
providing learning opportunities
to working adults since 2001.
Individuals with extensive
work experience who want to
further their studies but lack
formal academic qualifications
can enrol via the Accreditation
of Prior Experiential Learning
scheme.
n For more information, call
03-2773 2121/2002, e-mail
enquiries@oum.edu.my
or visit www.oum.edu.my
researchers and quality of
research to number of
publications and citations.
Everything is rated periodically,
which means we constantly
strive to perform better.
“As a nation, we are doing
very well in research and
development despite the cuts in
research grants.
“With the price of raw
materials increasing, we need
more grants to afford better
research materials and to attract
students to work for research
projects by paying them well for
their work.”
On the bright side, he says,
Malaysia has an abundance of
knowledgeable supervisors,
state-of-the-art facilities and an
academic environment that
supports research, which bodes
well for the nation’s future
performance in research and
development.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
A world of
opportunities
FROM May 2 to 4, Malaysia will be
welcoming delegates to the annual Going
Global conference. Themed “Global
Connections, Local Impact”, the conference
will welcome education leaders from around
the world.
In preparation for this prestigious event,
the education sector in Malaysia has rallied
to ensure that this conference reinforces the
country’s reputation as an educational hub.
It has been almost 20 years since the
University of Nottingham became the first
British university to establish an overseas
campus. We deliver a world-class British
education to 5,000 students every year and
recently celebrated our 10,000th graduate.
Recognised globally for our pioneering
spirit and excellent student experience, we
are pushing the boundaries of global higher
education with new initiatives and
partnerships that allow us to extend our
reach to South-East Asia and beyond.
We try and demonstrate how our global
activities benefit the different communities
we engage with, as many other universities
do. As such, we have planned a few events
in London and Nottingham in the run-up
to Going Global that will celebrate our
contributions in Malaysia and our
connection to South-East Asia.
We will be hosting several events in
London on April 24 in collaboration with
Asia House, The British Malaysian Society,
UK-ASEAN Business Council, British Council,
the United Kingdom government and
UK-based embassies and high commissions
of Asean countries. These events will explore
the role of education, research and people in
building relations between the UK, Malaysia
and other nations.
If you are an alumnus and will be in
London on that day, e-mail vc-events@
nottingham.ac.uk.
April 25 is Nottingham and Malaysia Day,
which celebrates the connection between
Nottingham and Malaysia with several
events for our staff (many of which have
worked in Malaysia), current students
(44,000 in total) and alumni (270,000
worldwide). We hope to provide them
with more information about studying and
working in the UK, Malaysia and at our
other campus in Ningbo, China.
After the UK events, our team will be
back in Kuala Lumpur for Going Global.
The University of Nottingham will be a
significant presence at the conference.
Coinciding with the conference is the
launch of “Discover our world” on May 3 –
Postgraduate 5
a campaign that aims to raise our profile. It
will showcase the unique experience we
provide, from the world-class British
education to the research work that
transforms lives and strives to find solutions
to today’s societal challenges.
Invited guests, colleagues, friends and
keynote speakers will join our president and
vice-chancellor Prof Shearer West in
witnessing a live Malaysia-themed
experiment by Prof Sir Martyn Poliakoff as
part of his Periodic Table of Videos series,
which has attracted over 175 million hits on
YouTube.
Prof Poliakoff will also be participating in
guest lectures at Petrosains for
schoolchildren and science communicators
from across Malaysia.
Our evening event during Going Global
will feature inspirational presentations from
some of our leading researchers on elephant
conservation, mathematics, cancer research
and the future of food, which all have the
potential to impact and transform the lives
of many Malaysians.
Hosting Going Global presents an
opportunity to showcase Malaysian
education and promote the country. The
British Council team, led by its director
Sarah Deverall, should be congratulated on
bringing this conference to Malaysia.
As the event draws closer, I wish them
every success. The Higher Education
Ministry also deserves special mention for its
support in realising the event.
As provost of the University of Nottingham
Malaysia, I think this activity affords us an
opportunity to further develop our global
connections, showcase that we offer the very
best of British education and demonstrate
the impact of our research on the societies
and economies of Malaysia.
For more information on the conference,
visit www.britishcouncil.org/going-global.
n Prof Graham Kendall is the chief executive
officer, provost and pro-vice-chancellor of
University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.
Twitter: @Graham_Kendall
6 Postgraduate
THE Ministry of Science,
Technology and Innovation
recently announced that it has
identified 73 new science- and
technology-based jobs for
employees of the future.
This revelation was an expected
one as a 2013 study conducted by
Oxford Martin School – The Future
of Employment: How Susceptible
are Jobs to Computerisation? –
showed that up to 47% of existing
jobs in the United States will be
obsolete over the next 15 years
due to the advancements in
technology and automation that
are changing how people do
things.
Kai-Fu Lee, China’s leading
technologist, seemed to concur
with the study when he said last
year that half of all jobs will be
replaced by robots in the next
decade. This phenomenon is not
exclusive to developed countries
but could also occur in developing
ones.
What implication could this
advancement have on the global
workforce?
While the Oxford Martin School
study may be true for certain jobs,
particularly those related to
manufacturing, people in
positions that require creativity
and decision-making skills such as
scientists, lecturers or business
strategists may be less affected.
Industry-relevant studies for better prospects
COMPLETING a master’s degree
can be an enduring life
achievement. With one in your
portfolio, a world of opportunities
is open to you.
International Medical University
(IMU) offers postgraduate
programmes whose classes are
conducted on weekends, letting
working adults gain skills to
advance their careers without
compromising their existing
profession.
Postgraduate study is rarely easy,
but students may find that taught
programmes are more manageable
due to the structured curricula
compared to research-based ones.
Jeyashanthini Nalaiya, assistant
manager in Chemical Company of
Malaysia Berhad’s formulation
division, earned her MSc in
Analytical and Pharmaceutical
Chemistry (MAPC) with distinction
from IMU.
Thanks to the hard work she put
into studying, she developed
transferable skills that proved to be
advantageous in advancing her
career.
Muna A. Othman Salem, who
teaches at Omar Al-Mukhtar
University in Libya, says, “I am
thankful to the IMU faculty for its
guidance and giving me the
opportunity to develop a wider
range of skills.”
The programme also attracted
Libyan students Dafer Mohamed
The need for workers
who can diversify their skills
I believe that jobs will not
entirely disappear but will instead
be redefined. This means that
employees will need to learn new
skills or improve existing ones to
remain relevant in the ever-
changing job market.
Those who cannot adapt may
eventually find themselves out of a
job.
An undergraduate degree is now
the minimum qualification for
most entry-level junior executive
jobs, but this will no longer be
enough in the future. Workers of
the future may need to continue
accumulating additional skills and
qualifications to ensure they
remain employed.
Many experts believe that future
employees have to be more agile-
minded. Instead of working only
one job, they must diversify their
talents so that they can take up
additional jobs.
Freelancing is predicted to be the
IMU student Muna A. Othman Salem (centre) graduated from the MAPC, which helped improve
her pharmaceutical knowledge and bettered her career prospects.
Alhaj, Osama Ho Almajdouband
and Yousef Abbulsamie Awee. They
developed skills relevant to the
pharmaceutical chemistry field
and successfully completed their
master’s degree with
encouragement from the faculty.
IMU’s computer-assisted learning
sessions involve hands-on training
using chemical simulation software
Schrödinger, which is used in
PROF
DATUK DR
MANSOR
FADZIL
main way of life for many
employees, especially among
millennials.
Millennials value the freedom to
build their life around their job.
The advent of technology has made
this a realistic option. It is not
surprising that even now, some
people hold full-time jobs while
working as drivers for e-hailing
services or conducting online
businesses in their free time.
Thus, it is important that
current upskilling and reskilling
programmes address the needs of
future employers to maintain their
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and
materials science research. This
facility helps students carry out
independent projects with
industry-relevant methods.
Flexible and convenient
“The weekend classes and use of
an e-learning platform helped me
better manage my time for work
competitive edge.
Deloitte Global, whose member
companies analysed hundreds of
job profiles and mapped them
against the Oxford Martin School
study, identified 25 critical human
skills that are expected to be more
in-demand as technology evolves.
These are traits that are essentially
“human” and indicate an early
guideline for the redesign of jobs
in the future.
Skills such as multilingualism,
critical thinking, speaking,
active listening, speech clarity
and writing and reading
comprehension were among the
25 traits identified.
It is important that everyone
practises lifelong learning not only
for career advancement but also
self-improvement.
It is predicted that future
employers will have a combination
of full-time, part-time and
freelance employees in their
and study. I am excited to be
defending my research dissertation
soon,” says Wong Hiew Yi, a
regulatory affairs executive who is
currently pursuing the MAPC at
IMU.
Another MAPC student, Tai Zhi
Sam, says, “Thanks to IMU’s
weekend scheduling, I could use
my weekdays to take part in a
research project as a research
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
workforce. In traditional
businesses, employers hire people
to perform stipulated jobs and
invest in additional training and
skill development for those
employees, but in future, it is
expected that companies will hire
freelancers to fill skill gaps in their
workforces.
Malaysia is already preparing
for the Fourth Industrial
Revolution by making investments
in hi-tech ventures into aerospace
engineering, rail transport and
shipbuilding, but are we ready for
other drastic changes, especially
ones related to jobs we do not
know about yet?
It is time that employees
consider diversifying their skills
to qualify for jobs that will crop
up in future.
n Prof Datuk Dr Mansor Fadzil is
the president and vice-chancellor
of Open University Malaysia.
assistant. I was able to apply the
skills I learnt through programme
coursework to the project.”
Fellow MAPC graduate Yamen
Alkhatib from Syria shares that the
research skills he developed at IMU
in the areas of bioavailability and
pharmacokinetics of
investigational new drugs landed
him a spot in a PhD course at
Universiti Putra Malaysia.
On how the well-designed course
can help graduates advance their
careers, MAPC’s programme
director Dr Sreenivasa Rao
Sagineedu says, “Studying a
programme with a unique blend of
analytical and pharmaceutical
chemistry disciplines can give you
better job prospects across various
industries.
“This master’s programme builds
on your undergraduate chemistry
knowledge and gives you
specialised, practical experience in
using a wide range of modern
analytical techniques.
“The programme also helps you
cultivate advanced skills in
pharmaceutical chemistry, focusing
on various aspects of drug
discovery, design and
development.”
n For more information on
IMU’s postgraduate programmes,
call 03-2731 7272, e-mail
postgraduate@imu.edu.my or
visit www.imu.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
MANAGEMENT & Science
University (MSU) is a premier
university in Malaysia and among
the top institutions in South-East
Asia.
It offers specialised
undergraduate and postgraduate
programmes in the areas of
business, management, medicine,
health sciences, information
sciences, engineering, education
and hospitality.
MSU prioritises quality
education, incorporating 21st
century learning in its teaching
delivery to produce holistic
graduates.
The incorporation of global
mobility programmes and
extensive industrial training
components into students’ learning
experiences ensures the highest
standards of impactful innovation,
employability and industrial
relevancy of MSU graduates.
Real-world scenarios are
included in the classroom learning
experience. Strategic thinking and
thought-provoking case studies
equip students with a higher level
of practical problem-solving
abilities.
All modules are rigorously
designed with industrial and
corporate input as well as an
opening vignette to major events
and real-world issues around the
globe.
MSU professors come from
diverse cultural backgrounds,
engage in cutting-edge research,
and relentlessly pursue
unparalleled academic excellence
and scientific innovation.
They have conducted high-
impact research and published
thought-provoking academic
papers across a broad range of
business, industry and professional
areas. They have also worked in
Producing holistic graduates
MSU offers a wide range of specialised programmes taught by professors
who actively engage in top-level research.
and taught at all levels of
professional and industrial
platforms.
Their contributions have made
meaningful and concrete impact in
the global community at home and
abroad.
They have also taught university-
level business courses in diverse
countries, bringing their rich
multicultural heritage to Malaysia.
The postgraduate programmes at
MSU are carefully crafted to
cultivate leadership and
meaningful research contributions
that address industrial challenges
at the highest management level.
Due to the tremendous state of
flux within business and
management communities,
top management must adapt
rapidly to stay competitive,
relevant and strategically
positioned to tackle global trends
by possessing the relevant
postgraduate qualifications.
MSU offers Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD), Master in Business
Administration (MBA) and other
master’s programmes that
emphasise and recognise
innovative research, scientific
knowledge and industrial
application on both domestic and
international platforms.
A PhD is the highest degree
awarded by MSU. It signifies the
pinnacle of academic and
professional standing. Doctoral
training involves close working
relationships with leading faculty
members on projects of key
interest, with an industrial and
scientific focus.
With advanced facilities and
technical support, MSU provides an
excellent academic climate for
postgraduate engagement with
faculty members.
MSU faculty members are highly
active in top-level research in a
wide range of areas and interests,
requiring innovative approaches
that push the boundaries of
interdisciplinary research.
MSU’s advanced degrees at MBA,
MSc and PhD levels cover wide
areas, including management,
business, accounting, finance,
educational management and
leadership, education (Teaching
English as Second Language),
computer science, information and
communication technology, food
service technology, biomedicine,
engineering, applied science,
biomedical sciences, information
technology, pharmacy and clinical
pharmacy.
These programmes are offered
under the School of Graduate
Studies and Graduate School of
Management.
The award-winning study
programmes of the university meet
stringent standards set by local and
international bodies.
Accreditors include the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency,
the United Kingdom’s Accreditation
Services for International Schools,
Colleges & Universities, and Japan’s
Alliance on Business Education &
Scholarship for Tomorrow.
Postgraduate 7
The postgraduate
programmes at
MSU are carefully
crafted to cultivate
leadership and
meaningful research
contributions.
MSU has been rated twice
as an Excellent-status university
in the Rating for Higher Education
Institutions in Malaysia (Setara)
and was recognised as the most
entrepreneurial university of
2016 by the Higher Education
Ministry.
MSU’s most recent recognitions
include the Putra Brand Awards
2017 and the Best Brand in
Education for Leadership and
Human Capital Development 2017.
In the QS Stars rating system, the
university received five stars for its
teaching, facilities, graduate
employability, social responsibility
and inclusiveness.
MSU is placed 217th in the QS
World Universities Rankings and
among the top 1.8% of the best
universities in the QS Asia
University Rankings 2018.
n For more information,
call 03-5521 6868, e-mail
enquiry@msu.edu.my or visit
www.msu.edu.my
8 Postgraduate
Stepping stone for students
to work in various fields
THE demands of carving out a career in the
21st century promise to make the journey a
tough one. This is especially true in the
business world, where the use of
information technology (IT) is no longer
separate but interdependent.
Aware of this, Monash University
Malaysia’s Master of Business Information
Systems (MBIS) programme has been
designed to integrate niche business and IT
areas for students with or without an IT
background.
“The world is very competitive. Hence, we
need multidisciplinary experts who have
knowledge in different domains, including
the business and IT sectors,” says Dr Jasbir
Kaur Dhaliwal, lecturer and MBIS
coordinator at the School of Information
Technology, Monash University Malaysia.
She adds that multidisciplinary experts
can conquer blind spots that cannot be
resolved by single-domain experts.
According to Dr Jasbir, the MBIS course
prepares students to use IT to tackle business
problems and work in areas such as
business information research, project
management and consultancy.
Candidates without an IT background can
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
enrol in fundamental units such as
Introduction to Business Information
Systems and Foundations of Programming
before moving on to advanced materials.
“The programme has two tracks – students
have the option of branching into the
research stream or the industry experience
stream, depending on the candidate’s area of
interest,” says Dr Jasbir, adding that students
can enrol in the programme on a full-time
(two years) or part-time (four years) basis.
Students with an IT background can
complete the programme in one and a half
years.
Previous students have embarked on the
programme for different reasons, including
to enhance their knowledge for career
progression and, for those who are keen on Dr Jasbir says that Monash University
research, to pursue their PhD after Malaysia’s Master of Business Information
completing the MBIS. Systems (MBIS) prepares individuals with or
Speaking about career options for without an IT background to take up
graduates, Dr Jasbir explains that the multidisciplinary roles.
programme is a stepping stone for students
to work in various industries either locally more than eight years of experience can
or abroad, as the skills and knowledge pocket minimum salaries of around
acquired are in high demand. RM15,000 or RM18,000 respectively.
Some of the fields graduates can enter are Monash consistently ranks among the top
cloud data centres, human resource analysis, 1% of universities in the world and was 48th
food, clothing and companies handling trend in the world for engineering and technology
analysis, depending on their area of interest. in the Times Higher Education World
A study carried out by Kelly Services University Rankings 2014-2015.
shows that the monthly salaries for high- With an MBIS degree from one of
demand jobs such as lead software Australia’s most prestigious universities,
developer and software development students can go anywhere in the world.
manager with five to 12 years of experience
can range from RM9,000 to RM15,000 and n For more information on the MBIS
RM12,000 to RM18,000 respectively. programme at Monash Malaysia, visit
Project directors or SAP team leads with www.infotech.monash.edu.my
Insightful
Dr Loh looks at
his experience as
a good chance
internship
for him to gain
industry
exposure.
A TWO-MONTH internship with the Asian
Research Institute for Environmental Law
based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, turned out to
be an amazing experience for Dr Loh Ing
Hoe, law lecturer from Curtin University
Malaysia’s Faculty of Business.
Dr Loh shares that he appreciates the
attachment opportunity, especially since it
was with an international research institute
where the work environment was different
from what he was used to as a university
lecturer.
“It was a good chance for me to gain
industry exposure and enhance my research
skills,” says Dr Loh.
According to Dr Loh, life in Chiang Mai
was fascinating. He got around on bicycle,
which allowed him to stray off the beaten
track sometimes and gain interesting insight In addition, Dr Loh was acquainted with
into the local lifestyle. non-profit organisation EarthRights
He shares that work at the research International (ERI) and is negotiating his
institute was interesting and challenging. participation in guest lectures on
Dr Loh was involved in an environmental environmental law to ERI activists across
impact assessment of the Mekong region, the globe.
given his experience in environmental law “Being a guest lecturer for ERI would be a
research. great achievement for me as an academic
“Learning about how environmental and representative of Curtin Malaysia,
impact assessments are done in other which, as Curtin University’s global hub in
countries in the region was a real eye- Asia, is committed to expanding Curtin’s
opener. Matthew Hamilton Baird, the intellectual footprint in the region,” says
director of the institute, is also a consultant Dr Loh.
for environmental impact assessments in He adds that industry attachments can
Myanmar, so I had the privilege of learning benefit academics by having them keep up
from a knowledgeable, experienced mentor,” with real-world developments and gain
says Dr Loh. hands-on experience.
He also participated in research to develop Although his internship has ended, Dr Loh
Guidelines on Public Participation in still keeps in touch with the Asian Research
Environmental Impact Assessment in the Institute for Environmental Law in his
Mekong Region with Baird, which has been ongoing research on strategic impact
submitted for peer review and is expected assessments, the One Belt and One Road
to be included in the International Union initiative, and animal law.
for Conservation of Nature’s Academy of
Environmental Law Colloquium 2017 n For more information, visit
publication coming out this year. www.curtin.edu.my