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knowledge-based
In an evolving economy where
on digital technology and advanced postgraduate studies play an FADZIL multidisciplinary knowledge leads
skills.
Going forward, higher education
increasingly important role in
future economy. economy, coupled to successful careers, programmes
such as liberal arts, or those that
institutions will need to ensure that
learners and graduates are
This is because higher
qualifications will be a must for
with a competitive needs to be proactive in managing
incorporate entrepreneurship or
economics, are great options for
sufficiently prepared to fulfil the high-skill jobs. Those who wish to job market, his or her own skill development. those seeking to expand their skill
needs of this emerging economy.
Higher education
earn higher wages will certainly
find postgraduate studies an means that many Acknowledge that you need to
learn continuously if you want to
sets.
With new leadership helming
institutions can excellent personal investment.
The current job market is
Malaysians are now be more marketable in a changing
economy.
the Education Ministry, I look
forward to seeing broader
extremely challenging. Diploma looking to pursue Besides adding value to an developments in higher education.
and bachelor’s degree holders,
especially, are finding it difficult to postgraduate individual’s qualification,
postgraduate studies offer other
It is also anticipated that new
policies and strategies will be
secure employment.
Bank Negara Malaysia reported
programmes to boost advantages as well. Master’s or
doctorate programmes provide the
introduced to rejuvenate Malaysia’s
higher education sector so that we
that graduate unemployment was their professional best opportunity to hone can better prepare for a
at a staggering 10.7% in 2016. In
the same year, the Department worth. transferable skills such as
leadership, information
demanding future.
The new Education Minister’s
of Statistics reported that management and critical analysis. pledge to encourage
those with tertiary Prof Datuk Dr Mansor Fadzil In addition, research conducted at multilingualism, improve the use
the postgraduate level often leads of technology as learning tools and
qualifications represented a third to new ideas and innovations. emphasise TVET (technical and
of unemployed Malaysians. Google is a good example. Did vocational education and training)
The emphasis on an you know that it started as a PhD and STEM (science, technology,
advanced knowledge- project? This goes to show just how engineering and mathematics)
based economy, coupled influential postgraduate research education within the school system
with a competitive job can be. are ideas that can also benefit
market, means that I also believe that pursuing university students.
many Malaysians are higher studies can broaden one’s I hope that similar plans will be
now looking to horizons. introduced at the higher education
pursue postgraduate Postgraduate qualifications can level.
programmes to open up one’s career options. This
boost their is especially true for industry- n Prof Datuk Dr Mansor Fadzil is
professional worth. relevant programmes that provide the president and vice-chancellor
Every individual opportunities to gain practical of OUM.
Climbing up
global rankings
CURTIN University ranks 250th seen the university rapidly rise
among the world’s universities in up the international rankings in
the 2018-2019 QS World recent years. Last year, it was
University Rankings. ranked among the top 1% of the
Its continued climb up the world’s universities in the
global university rankings is Academic Ranking of World
a boon to the Perth-based Universities.
university and its four In the 2017 QS World
international campuses, University Rankings by Subject,
including its Malaysian campus, Curtin ranked second in the
says Curtin University Malaysia’s world for mineral and mining
(Curtin Malaysia) pro-vice- engineering and in the top
chancellor and president Prof Jim 100 for architecture/built
Mienczakowski. environment, art and design,
According to him, Curtin earth and marine sciences,
University’s global standing and education, nursing and sports-
reputation for innovation and related subjects.
excellence extend to its “We are very proud that Curtin
Malaysian campus. continues to receive global
Students at Curtin Malaysia recognition, ensuring its students,
study courses identical to those staff and alumni can be proud to
at other Curtin campuses and the be involved with one of the
degrees they earn are conferred leading education providers in
directly by Curtin University. the world,” says Prof
In addition, they have Mienczakowski.
access to the same online According to him, Curtin
learning resources and student ensures that all its campuses are
support mechanisms as their viewed as equally important.
counterparts in Australia. They Connections and collaborations
are also offered the flexibility to across locations are becoming
complete their degrees at one of more embedded in their daily
the other campuses. practices, including collaborative
In the Times Higher Education research, development and
Young University Rankings, internationalisation of courses,
Curtin is ranked 68th among the and bi-directional delivery of
top 250 institutions under 50 course material between
years old in the world – up 16 campuses.
places from last year’s rankings. Curtin’s undergraduate and
It has also risen two places to be postgraduate courses are
ranked 12th in Australia. regularly reviewed by the
Curtin Malaysia is Curtin industry and government to
University’s largest international ensure graduates are prepared
campus and global hub in Asia, for today’s changing global
besides being among the leading market.
tertiary institutions in Malaysia
and South-East Asia. n For more information, visit
Its growing reputation has www.curtin.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 JUNE 2018 Postgraduate 5
Through the
looking glass
EARLIER this month, the Quacquarelli
Symonds (QS) World University Rankings
were released. Universities across the world
look to these rankings with eager
anticipation.
The table below shows the rankings of the
five Malaysian public research universities
As the United Kingdom’s first overseas branch campus, the University of Nottingham Malaysia as well as 11 foreign branch campuses in
has undertaken a range of quality activities across the Asean region. Prof Kendall (left) shared Malaysia.
the university’s plans for expansion in the region and beyond at a live science demonstration by A foreign branch campus is categorised as
Prof Martyn Poliakoff, which was held at the Malaysian Petroleum Club last month. The a foreign university that has a campus in quality of a university as everybody is
demonstration was assisted by Vicki Treadell (right), the British High Commissioner to Malaysia. Malaysia, but whose degrees are awarded by looking at the return on investment made
the campus in its home country. by funding agencies.
Malaysia is host to foreign branch However, I will go slightly further and
campuses of universities in Australia, China, not just focus on public universities.
Ireland and the United Kingdom. I urge all Malaysian universities, both
University of Malaya (UM) is now public and private, to focus on increasing
ranked among the top 100 universities in their research impact by delivering high-
the world. quality research.
The Higher Education Ministry has A relevant concept is the Red Queen’s race,
harboured a long-term aim to have a which is based on a quote from Lewis
Malaysian university in the top 100. Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, and
It is interesting to note the year-on-year What Alice Found There – “It takes all the
progress that UM has made since 2015. Its running you can do, to keep in the same
ranking has gone from 151st (2015) to 146th place.”
(2016), 133th (2017), 114th (2018) and 87th This sentiment is pertinent to universities
(2019). To have five consecutive years of in Malaysia, who cannot rest on their laurels.
continual improvement is a remarkable To maintain our rankings next year, we must
achievement. all work even harder.
Ben Sowter, research director at QS, said, The sector is already looking forward to
“Malaysia has shone in this edition of the this time next year when the 2020 rankings
rankings. Its higher education system has a will be released.
solid reputation among international More information is available at www.
academics and employers. topuniversities.com
“To support this positive ascending
trajectory, local universities should continue n Prof Graham Kendall is the chief
to focus on increasing the impact of the executive officer, provost and pro-vice-
research they produce.” chancellor of the University of Nottingham
Research impact is becoming increasingly Malaysia.
important as a way of measuring the Twitter: @Graham_Kendall
An enlightening
journey
FAZALUR Rahman (pic) is a business
management director for Talentpepz
Career Solutions in India. A strong believer
A major benefit I
in lifelong learning, he found Asia e had as a fully online
student was being able
University (AeU) to be the most
ideal institution for him upon thorough
research.
He enrolled as a fully online PhD student
to study at my own pace
in 2013 and hopes to graduate soon and in my own time from
afar while still remaining
following his viva voce at the AeU main
campus in Kuala Lumpur recently.
Fazalur shares his learning experience at
AeU:
well connected online
“Learning is a continuous and ever- with AeU academic
facilitators, my supervisor
evolving process that defines the aim of an
individual.
“The training I pursued from University
of Edinburgh through Coursera on a course and staff.
titled Critical Thinking in Global Challenges
helped me excel as a developing leader in a
Fazalur Rahman
competitive environment and make quick
decisions to manage uncertain the research, every aspect was a challenge
circumstances. and a valuable learning experience for me.
“It also helped reveal the gaps in my “A major benefit I had as a fully online
learning process that I needed to address as student was being able to study at my own
my hunger for knowledge grew. Hence, I pace and in my own time from afar while
decided to embark on the highest academic still remaining well connected online with
level through AeU’s PhD programme in AeU academic facilitators, my supervisor
business administration. and staff.
“Before I joined the PhD programme, I “The primary research knowledge and
had the mistaken belief that knowledge can skills that I have gained will help me
only be gathered through experience and develop a competitive advantage that can
practical activities, and did not give much add value to my business.
thought to the importance of more “Lastly, I must say I am glad that my
theoretical aspects of learning. leadership, communication and time
“After going through the rigorous management skills have improved
research and learning processes of a PhD, somewhat, which has let me overcome my
my viewpoint has changed vastly. I realised toughest challenge in trying to achieve a
that I improved my skills by gaining more work-life balance.
knowledge. “I hope to allocate more time for my
“I am now able to understand that family who have been patient and
theoretical knowledge lays the foundation supportive of me in my pursuit to complete
for improving one’s self. I am pleased with my PhD studies. It is my objective to keep
how this programme has contributed to my evolving and improving myself to reach my
self-development as well as my professional optimum self in all my future endeavours.”
career.
“An important change I experienced
during this programme was to learn to
About AeU
accept criticisms and ideas from others, and A collaborative multimodal university,
use them for academic and professional AeU was established with guidance from 34
improvement. Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries.
“When I wrote my thesis – Determinants A key feature in the university’s strategic
of the Leadership Development Program plan is to embrace the digital frontier and
Effectiveness – I underestimated the amount provide students with an immersive
of effort required to complete this research. personalised and borderless education
“This misunderstanding did not last long experience to bring them flexibility, quality
as my supervisor, Assoc Prof and relevance anytime, anywhere and on
Dr Mohmad Yazam any device.
Sharif, was able to A highly accessible, visually rich and
impress the vastness interactive digital presence lets students
and challenges of achieve their goals at their own pace, no
the topic upon me. matter where they are geographically,
“From the academically and in their careers or lives.
writing format to Today AeU has 15,000 graduates and
the presentation of more than 29,000 students. This is a
testimony to AeU’s capability to produce
high-calibre graduates.
Besides that, AeU has over 3,000 students
enrolled in its programmes from its
collaborative learning centres abroad,
including those in Asia, Europe and
Africa.
AeU intakes are in January, May
and September, with intakes for
postgraduate programmes (by
research) open throughout the
year.