THE STAR, TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018
WORK & STUDY
Transforming lives, enriching the future
MANAGEMENT & Science
University (MSU) is one of
Malaysia’s top universities that
focuses on developing and
delivering quality human capital.
MSU strives to provide
professional support to national
and global critical-need areas such
as medicine, health sciences,
pharmacy, information sciences,
engineering, business management
and professional studies, education
and social sciences, hospitality
and culinary arts, music, and
fashion.
The award-winning programmes
offered by MSU meet stringent
standards set by local and
international bodies including the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency,
the United Kingdom’s Accreditation
Services for International Schools,
Colleges & Universities (ASIC), and
Japan’s Alliance on Business
Education and Scholarship for
Tomorrow.
MSU was rated 5 Star: Excellent
in the Rating for Higher Education
Institutions in Malaysia. Other
awards MSU has obtained are:
l Most Entrepreneurial Private
University at the Ministry of
Higher Education Entrepreneurial
Awards in 2016
l Silver award in the Education
& Learning category at the Putra
Brand Awards last year
l Best Brand in Education for
Leadership and Human Capital
Development at the Asia Pacific
A professional accounting pathway
THE idea of studying to become
a chartered accountant (CA) or
certified public accountant (CPA)
often invokes images of intense
struggle, stress and sleepless
nights.
Drew
Siow.
BrandLaureate Elite of Elites
Awards last year
l Recognition for outstanding
contribution to international
education and excellence in
international education from ASIC
l Five stars each in the
categories of teaching, facilities,
graduate employability, social
responsibility and inclusiveness in
the QS Stars University Ratings this
year
l 217th place in the QS
University Rankings: Asia this year
MSU prioritises students’
personal development to improve
graduate employability. Based on a
holistic curriculum framework, it
delivers a compelling learning
experience through highly
qualified academics and visiting
professors.
The university blends
international exposure with
extensive industrial training to
enrich graduates’ professional
competencies.
Its global mobility initiatives
for student exchange, leadership
development and market
immersion equip graduates with
the kind of well-roundedness
sought after by many employers.
A graduate tracer study by the
Higher Education Ministry showed
that 98% of MSU graduates
successfully secured employment
within six months of graduating.
This achievement led MSU to the
It is no secret that the path to
becoming a professional
accountant requires determination,
perseverance and focus.
With accounting becoming a
popular field of undergraduate
study, it has become necessary to
have more than just a degree.
Receiving a professional
qualification can help one
progress further in her
career.
However, with myriad
professional courses available,
it can be daunting for a fresh
graduate to decide her next
step.
A joint programme
offered by two
prestigious professional
bodies – the Malaysian
Institute of Certified
Public Accountants
(MICPA) and
Chartered
Accountants
Australia and New
Zealand (CAANZ) –
the MICPA-CAANZ
programme is fast
becoming the
qualification of
choice for
accounting
graduates and
employers
alike due to
its many
benefits.
It provides
top spot in the national graduate
employability register.
Meticulously crafted to enhance
graduate potential, the university’s
courses are among the best in the
region, producing graduates who
become a popular pick among
employers.
Recently, MSU received
accreditation from Asia Pacific
Institute of Events Management as
the institute’s first Centre of
Excellence in Malaysia.
This accreditation elevates
MSU’s event management
programmes to international
standards and ensures that
its graduates are the best
possible candidates in the event
management industry.
Teoh Hwee Chee.
graduates with two memberships
and qualifications – CPA (Malaysia)
and CA (Australia and New
Zealand) – both of which are
recognised globally.
Members also have access to
the Global Accounting Alliance
(GAA), a group of 10 prestigious
accounting bodies from 11
countries.
The GAA passport lets members
obtain technical support from their
local GAA bodies without having to
pay a fee. This benefit is useful for
accounting professionals looking to
embark on a global career.
The programme requires
candidates to work and study
As an applied and enterprise
university, MSU offers
postgraduate, undergraduate,
foundation and flexible learning
programmes through an entry
system that admits students from
all walks of life.
The university’s promotion of
and contribution to advancement
of higher education are evident in
its culture of research, innovation
and social entrepreneurship.
The university houses several
faculties and schools to produce
graduates who meet and exceed
expectations of the industry, as
listed below.
l Faculty of Health and Life
Sciences
l Faculty of Business
I organised
my study load
by arranging my
studying around
peak periods at
work and personal
downtime.
Drew Siow
concurrently for at least three out
of five modules. The MICPA-CAANZ
requires three years of work-study
experience but it is possible to
complete all five modules within
two years.
Examinations are open-book
with questions based on real-world
scenarios. The programme is
focused on developing candidates’
application skills and analytical
thinking.
Drew Siow qualified as a CPA
and CA in 2016 during his three
years of gaining audit experience
in PwC Malaysia. He has since
moved on to PwC Australia, where
he is a senior auditor.
According to him, being able to
relate his lessons to his work
improved his understanding of the
course material and real-world
applications.
At MSU,
students
are
equipped
with the
necessary
tools to
make them
invaluable
additions to
the industry.
Management and Professional
Studies
l Faculty of Information
Sciences and Engineering
l International Medical School
l School of Pharmacy
l School of Education and Social
Sciences
l School of Hospitality and
Creative Arts
l School of Graduate Studies
l Graduate School of
Management
l Centre for Fundamental
Studies
n For more information,
call 03-5521 6868, e-mail
enquiry@msu.edu.my or visit
www.msu.edu.my
“Studying while working
instilled discipline in me, which
has been useful in defining
priorities in my career and
personal life.
“I organised my study load by
arranging my studying around
peak periods at work and personal
downtime.”
Siow did well in the
programme, becoming a top
scorer in Malaysia and winning
Gold Medals for three modules of
the programme.
Teoh Hwee Chee is another
recent graduate who is obtaining
practical experience as a tax
consultant at KPMG Malaysia.
She completed two of the
MICPA-CAANZ modules during
her degree and the remaining
three while working.
She says that working while
studying has given her better
insight into how a business
operates across various industries.
As for how she managed to study
while working full-time, she
shares, “Planning is necessary but
self-discipline is just as important.”
Siow and Teoh kept in touch
with colleagues and friends
pursuing the same module to
share learning materials, tips and
useful resources.
n For more information on the
MICPA-CAANZ, call 03-2698 9622,
e-mail info@micpa.com.my or
visit www.micpa.com.my
2 Work & Study
A beacon of hope
THERE are many people in the world who
have had to give up on their education
because of situations beyond their control
such as financial trouble, family problems,
disease and disability.
People with disabilities can face many
obstacles when they pursue higher
education. The fact remains that everyone
has the right to education, but facilities and
accessibility at universities and other public
places across the world are less inclusive
than they should be.
Types of disabilities and their examples
are listed below.
l Physical disability such as muscular
dystrophy, cerebral palsy and acquired brain
injury
l Sensory disability such as visual,
hearing and speech impairment and autism
spectrum disorder
l Intellectual disability such as Down
syndrome and Fragile X syndrome
l Mental illness such as bipolar disorder,
depression and anxiety
Obstacles in education
For starters, studying in a brick-and-
mortar institution requires travelling to and
from the university, which can be a
challenge for students with disabilities since
public transportation is not always disability-
friendly and personal vehicle modifications
to accommodate disability can be costly.
People with physical disabilities may find
navigating stairs, parking spaces and narrow
corridors difficult, especially if they are
using walking aids or wheelchairs. In
Malaysia, ramps and elevators are usually
used for cargo and not for people with
walking difficulties.
In universities, physical accessibility is
usually a little better. This inclusiveness has
spilled over into Government initiatives to
make infrastructure in public places more
available for people with physical
disabilities.
On a less tangible note, courses offered by
higher education institutions do not typically
consider intellectual or sensory disabilities in
their methods of delivery, material,
deadlines and examination-centredness.
Mental illness is somewhat stigmatised,
especially in Asia. People suffering from
mental illnesses are told to deal with them
alone or ignore that they have an actual
disease.
Diagnoses are long, drawn-out processes
and can be quite costly with most insurance
companies opting out of covering mental
illness treatment expenses.
From a distance
The concept of correspondence education
is not new. Before the advent of the Internet,
universities and institutes offered courses
via post.
A drawback to correspondence learning
was that students were unable to consult
lecturers for clarification and explanations.
The sometimes-unreliable nature of postal
services was another factor that contributed
to its early demise.
However, correspondence learning was
later resurrected with the advent of online
learning.
It is now one of the better ways to pursue
higher education from home or for working
The lack of disability-friendly facilities at brick-and-mortar institutions poses a challenge to
people with disabilities when pursuing education.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018
With advancements
in technology, online
education is evolving into a
model called massive open
online course (MOOC). To
make learning accessible
to all, leading universities
of the world are uploading
some of their most popular
courses online, for free.
professionals who cannot afford to take time
off their careers.
While correspondence learning could
present a temporary solution for people with
disabilities, especially ones with limited
mobility, most courses are still in traditional
black-and-white format, which is not
particularly helpful for people with sensory
or visual impairment.
An ideal scenario would be for course
material to be presented as audio clips for all
students or have notes in Braille posted to
visually impaired students.
At the very least, online courses should be
equipped with conversion software for easy
translation into Braille (for students to print
out) or audio clips.
The solution
Regardless of a person’s ability or
disability, education and a culture of lifelong
learning is a human right. Online distance
learning is one way to make sure everyone
gets the education they deserve.
Similar to people studying in brick-and-
mortar institutions, people with disabilities
who are confined to their homes can benefit
from online distance learning where they
can study at their own pace and in their own
time, with access to professors and peers.
Online education also offers an alternative
to dealing directly with other people, which
is ideal for people who have social anxiety or
are self-conscious about their disabilities.
Education for all
With advancements in technology, online
education is evolving into a model called
massive open online course (MOOC). To
make learning accessible to all, leading
universities of the world are uploading some
of their most popular courses online, for
free.
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THE STAR, TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018
Towards
a better future
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These courses are developed
not only by universities and
academic experts but also by
individuals, so people with
disabilities can find and enrol in
courses designed by other people
with disabilities.
Another way MOOC is proving
to be helpful is by spreading
awareness about people with
disabilities through offering
courses such as Disability
Awareness and Support
(University of Pittsburgh),
Education for All: Disability,
Diversity and Inclusion
(University of Cape Town), and
Introduction to Inclusive Talent
Acquisition (Perkins School for
the Blind).
Malaysia has also jumped on
the MOOC bandwagon with top
Malaysian universities offering
free courses through
OpenLearning – the national
MOOC platform endorsed by the
Higher Education Ministry in
2015.
Possibilities in accessible
learning are seemingly endless
with MOOCs. However, there is
a catch. If you want to receive
formal recognition upon
completing an MOOC, you may
be disappointed since MOOC
subjects do not count as
university credits.
This is where traditional online
education trumps MOOC if you
want to pursue higher education
for career progression. At this
point in time, many employers
will not accept MOOC as an
achievement in your résumé as a
degree is still the only accepted
proof of education.
Fortunately, as jobs become
more diverse, Malaysians can
expect a growing acceptance of
MOOCs.
“One of our learning designers
was hired based on all the MOOC
courses he completed. He did
not have access to higher
education because he could not
take time off from his job, but
he is now our senior learning
designer,” says Marsyitah Ismail,
head of learning services at
OpenLearning.
In her opinion, a person
who has completed an online
course while working is more
Work & Study 3
A combination
of MOOC and
online learning
can make you
a force to be
reckoned with
and let people
with disabilities
realise their
full potential in
contributing to
society.
employable since he has both
academic and practical know-
how.
She adds, “In Australia, if
someone has completed his
postgraduate study, it is assumed
that he did it online because not
many people can take a few years
off to pursue education.”
It is hoped that more Malaysian
employers will soon start
accepting online course
completion as formal
qualifications, especially when
courses offered under the MOOC
umbrella are by some of the top
universities in the world.
In the meantime, students have
to pay to sit for final assessments
offered by universities if they
want recognition in completing
an MOOC.
Flexibility of choice
People with disabilities can
treat MOOCs as taster
programmes before really
committing to anything.
Since all courses have different
levels of difficulty and detail, you
can try one out first to see if you
are comfortable with the pace
and the method.
A combination of MOOC and
online learning can make you a
force to be reckoned with and let
people with disabilities realise
their full potential in contributing
to society.
4 Work & Study
THE School of Education &
Cognitive Science at Asia e
University (AeU) offers the
Graduate Diploma in Early
Childhood Education (GDipECE)
designed for practising preschool
teachers.
The programme is fully
accredited by the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency (MQA) and is
pegged at Level 6 in the Malaysian
Qualifications Framework.
The normal entry requirement is
a diploma or STPM, but with the
recognition of prior experiential
learning, applicants with at least
two years of experience in early
childhood settings and SPM,
O-Levels or Unified Examination
Certificate qualification may apply.
Applicants are required to pass
an aptitude test and submit a
portfolio of their experience to be
evaluated.
According to School of Education
& Cognitive Science dean Prof Dr
John Arul Phillips, the GDipECE
adheres to Programme Standards:
Early Childhood Education (2014)
by MQA.
The programme is designed to
equip teachers with the knowledge,
skills, competencies and values to
holistically develop children under
their care.
Students pursuing the
programme relate their practice to
theories of child development and
methods in teaching science,
mathematics, social studies and
language to young children.
They also learn to observe and
assess young learners, guide
children’s behaviour, integrate
technology to enhance learning,
and lead and manage early
childhood centres.
The GDipECE takes about two
years to complete, at the end of
which students engage in a
Earn while you learn
Punithavathy (right) with her daughter Dinitha and husband Ananthan.
14-week teaching practicum in a
nursery or kindergarten. Their
teaching is evaluated by academics
and professionals from the
university.
During the teaching practicum,
student practitioners maintain a
record of their teaching, keep a
reflective journal, introduce a
teaching innovation and have their
lessons recorded and uploaded to
an online platform to be evaluated
by a panel of experts.
The programme is delivered
using a blended pedagogical
approach that enables teachers to
continue working as they study.
Students are provided with all
learning materials online,
including a self-instructional
module, several short video and
audio clips explaining key concepts
and application to real-world
situations, and quizzes to test
comprehension.
To support their learning,
students are provided with 10
hours of face-to-face interaction for
each course, conducted once a
month during weekends.
Evaluation is based on
examinations (40%) and
assignments (60%). Assignments
are work-based, involving surveys,
observations, critique of articles,
preparing teaching aids and
manipulatives, designing lesson
plans and implementing them in
the classroom.
Prof Phillips says that graduates
from the programme who wish to
further their study may transfer all
68 credits to the Bachelor of
Education (Early Childhood
Education) offered by the
university.
The GDipECE is a flexible
programme that has been
personalised to suit the needs of
practising preschool teachers who
want to pursue a diploma without
having to give up their work.
Punithavathy Kupasamy, 44,
owner and principal of Taska Day
THE STAR, TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018
Care Center in Genting
Highlands, proved that this is
achievable when she graduated
with the GDipECE in 2015 and
returned in 2016 to enrol in the
Master of Education with a
specialisation in early childhood
education.
“I enjoyed my GDipECE
studies because the knowledge
gained is relevant and applicable
to my job,” she says.
“My experience with AeU has
taught me better skills in
multitasking and time
management. I could complete
my assignments in a timely
manner amid having to prepare
lessons to teach in my school
and cook lunch for my pupils,
family members and teachers.
“With perseverance, I am able
to complete my assignments
with guidance from AeU’s
academic facilitators who give
useful time management tips.
AeU is the most ideal university
due to its affordable fees, flexible
study mode and easy online
accessibility that fits my lifestyle.
“Encouraged and motivated
by what I did, my daughter,
Dinitha Darseni, enrolled in
AeU’s Bachelor of Education
(Early Childhood Education) in
May 2016.”
You may apply for the
May 2018 intake online at
www.aeu.edu.my
n For more information, call
1300 300 23/03-5022 3456 or
e-mail enquiries@aeu.edu.my