The Star, tuesday 19 april 2016

special

Upgrade
yourself

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

2 postgraduate

From classroom
to workplace
WITH the extensive growth of
information and communications
technology (ICT) and computing
applications, a postgraduate
qualification within these fields
will prove beneficial to students
irrespective of industry.
Postgraduate asks two
professionals from non-ICT and
computing backgrounds their
reason for studying a masters in
information and communication
technology management (both
specialised in project
management) and how it has
helped them.

By IAN JEROME LEONG

ACCORDING to the Gartner
Worldwide IT Spending Forecast
2016 released by the worlds
leading information technology (IT)
research and advisory company,
the overall IT expenditure for this
year is expected to hit US$3.54
trillion (RM13.88 trillion), 0.6%
higher than the total recorded
spending for last year, which
suffered a whopping US$216bil
(RM847bil) drop compared with
2014.
This rise in global expenditure
forecast, which covers spending
and acquisitions on data centre
systems, software, devices, IT
services and communication
services, is largely due to the
pertinence of information and
communications technology
(ICT) and computing in the everevolving business landscape.
The adoption of ICT and
computing is widely accepted as a
natural and necessary step towards
modernisation, calling on the need
for professionals, including those
from non-ICT or computing
backgrounds, to pursue relevant
postgraduate programmes.

Strong industry demand

Assoc Prof Dr Roshayu
Mohamad, dean of the School
of Information and
Communication Technology at Asia
e University, says, IT awareness
becomes a necessity for every
knowledge worker regardless of
education background as ICT is
needed to build better business
opportunities and stay on top of
the business world.

gave me a broad overview on

management and leadership
skills.
I believe the future of
education will embrace a lot of
changes and ICT will be an
essential part of the delivery
platform.
Technologies have become
an integrated part of our work
processes and having ICT
skills will not only give us a
competitive edge but will
enable us to predict new
economic and societal challenges
ahead.

Expanding
horizons

As organisations of all sizes

across industries turn towards
IT solutions for a competitive
advantage, there is a massive
demand for ICT graduates who
can help bridge the gap faced by
companies in reaching their
operational targets.
Deputy dean and head for
computer science at Quest
International University Perak
Asst Prof Dr Pong Hon Keat says,
The demand for ICT graduates is
growing fast. From software
architects and network engineers
to game programmers, good ICT
and computing graduates are
highly sought after in the job
market.
He believes only 60% of the
demand for ICT graduates is met
and that a great deal of importance
must be placed on meeting this
demand so that the current ICTdriven economy is able to move
forward smoothly.

Climbing the ladder

With the prevalence of mobile
devices, social networks, the cloud
and mobile applications, ICT and
computing skills are no longer the
preserve of computing
professionals but are now open
to those who wish to enhance

their careers, says Assoc

Prof Dr Yau Kok Lim of the
Department of Computing and
Information Systems at Sunway
University.
As ICT and computing
programmes are widely
implemented and ever-expanding,
employees holding managerial
positions are expected to have
in-depth understanding of the
computing applications in the
market as well as their pros and
cons.
Professionals of any education
background are encouraged to
have ICT-related postgraduate
qualifications to remain relevant
in the workforce, keep abreast
with modernisation and make
meaningful contributions to their
organisations.
Dr Chew Esyin, Master of
Business Information System
coordinator and senior lecturer at
Monash University Malaysia,
agrees with Assoc Prof Yau.
He says, People from non-ICT
backgrounds who gain ICT
knowledge and skills at the
postgraduate level will advance
their competitiveness and
facilitate broader career
prospects.

> SEE PAGE 3

Mohd Faiz Alias,

director of industry
relations at KRU Academy
Sdn Bhd.
As a lecturer in animation and
visual effects, I had seen
technology grow to become an
important tool for teaching and
learning such as learning
management systems and
massive open online courses.
Higher learning institutions
began to emphasise digital
literacy and independent
learning as these would better
prepare graduates to work in an
era of digital economy and
network societies.
I soon realised that my
experience and technical
expertise would not be sufficient
for me to perform my new
management and leadership role
effectively.
My postgraduate course at
Asia e University (AeU) gave me
access not only to ICT knowledge
to better understand the social
contexts of technology but also

Alice Chang Li Chin,

manager of casino
operations.
With a background in business
studies, I discovered my interest
in ICT in my workplace and
found it important for the future.
I enrolled in the course at AeU to
pursue my interest and upskill at
the same time.
I now have a wider perception
and understanding of ICT
concepts. During the course, I got
to meet people from different
fields, share my ICT-related work
experience and widen my
business and social network.
The knowledge I acquired
improved my work performance
tremendously and I no longer
feel stressed when I am assigned
ICT-related projects.
I am no longer restricted to
using old work processes that
were used by my predecessors as
I can now create new systems
that are more effective to the
needs of the projects assigned
to me.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

postgraduate 3

Harness new skills

> FROM PAGE 2
She adds that ICT postgraduate
degree holders have better
performance and promotion
opportunities in the workforce and
their knowledge has a wider
spectrum of industry application as
the qualification prepares them for
roles as senior business managers,
business analysts, system analysts,
project leaders, information
managers and many others.

Career change
Besides being able to make a
vertical step in the corporate
ladder, a postgraduate ICT or
computing qualification enables
one to make a switch at a
horizontal level opening avenues
for a career change into a different
industry or exploring IT-related
sub-fields.
The convergence of ICT with
various fields, such as education,
psychology, healthcare,
transportation, marketing and
agriculture, has added
considerable diversification, says
Assoc Prof Yau.
Sub-fields such as mobile
applications, wearable
technologies, big data, data science
and data mining, for example,
allow postgraduate degree holders

the opportunity to explore areas

such as business intelligence and
knowledge management, IT
governance and software
development methodologies,
research, image processing and
robotics.
Dr Chew cites a masters degree
in information systems as among
the best postgraduate qualifications
for jobs (according to a 2013 Forbes
article) and that computer and
information managers are
currently among the highest
paying positions in many countries
in the world.
Dr Amna Saad, deputy dean
(academic) at the Malaysian
Institute of Information Technology
in University Kuala Lumpur, says,
Many organisations have
historical data that are left
untouched in its servers.
These huge data sets hold
significant importance to
companies and a postgraduate
with ICT and computing skills can
extract good industry practices
from this information.

Specialised programmes
Being equipped with an ICT and
computing postgraduate
qualification enables the individual
to develop cutting-edge solutions
with potential economic impact,

Upskilling with a
postgraduate
computing or
information
technology degree
opens new avenues in
ones career.

says Assoc Prof Yau.

Assoc Prof Roshayu says,
Organisations have a need for
high-calibre personnel who not
only have in-depth skills in their
fields of knowledge, but also a
broad general knowledge of the
range of skills needed to design
and deliver new innovative
services.
Postgraduate ICT and computing
degree holders are able to create
and confidently apply the best
programmes, techniques and
practices that will maximise
productivity while operating with
limited resources.
Dr Amna believes that those
with different prior education
backgrounds or hybrid knowledge
will have an added advantage over
their peers in terms of

implementing ICT solutions to

day-to-day industry problems.
With a distinct skill set and
in-depth understanding of their
respective industries, postgraduate
degree holders are the best
candidates to identify technological
gaps, key areas or trade practices
that require ICT or computing
improvements leading to the
creation of industry-specific and
bespoke software.

Countless opportunities
Based on Digital Dividends, a
world development report released
this year by the World Bank Group,
there is great potential in the
information and communications
sector.
Countries that complement

technology investments with

broader economic reforms will
reap digital dividends in the
form of faster growth, more jobs
and better services.
As such, regardless of the
shifts in economy that can occur
from time to time, ICT and
computing will forever be
relevant across the many
industries with the only variable
being the extent of its growth
rate.
The high demand for ICT and
computing professionals in
modern industries plus the skills
and knowledge one can learn
from postgraduate study within
these fields equal to a win-win
situation for any individual who
intends to take the next step in
their career.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

4 postgraduate

VC COLUMN

IT has been more than a quarter of

a century since Tim Berners-Lee
wrote a project proposal for what
would soon become known as the
World Wide Web.
At the time, I was already a
regular e-mail user (to keep in
contact with research and teaching
collaborators); I had developed my
own forms of computer-based
assessment and dabbled in the
development of computer-aided
learning (CAL) for my students.
So the emergence of the Web
was something that captured my
interest.
However, even as an early
adopter of information and
communications technology (ICT)
in teaching, I had no idea of the
scale of its future impact in all
walks of life.
When the concept of the Web
was disseminated to the academic
community, it quickly became clear
to us that it was a resource that
would be of real value in many

Changes through time

different ways.
Now, we operate in a world in
which computers, tablets and
smartphones are normal features
of the learning environment,
university communities expect fast
Wi-Fi to be available anywhere
and everywhere, and online
learning is becoming increasingly
mainstream.
Multinational academic
teams collaborate in online
environments, new research
findings are disseminated by
Facebook and Twitter, and a
library is less of a place to store
books and more a location for
interactive and collaborative
learning.
The World Wide Web has
transformed not only the teaching

By PROF
CHRISTINE
ENNEW
and research process, it has also
transformed the university
environment.
Alongside dramatic changes in
the delivery of higher education,
ICT has revolutionised the way
education is marketed. Initially,
changes were quite simple and
based on the ability of technologybased solutions to process more
data and to do so more quickly.
Prospective students could
gather information more rapidly
and make more complex
comparisons than hitherto.
However, real revolution came
with the development and
diffusion of Web 2.0 and,
particularly, social media.
In combination with
smartphones and tablets, these
developments enabled prospective
students to engage with institutions
and their existing students in ways
previously impossible through
video, audio, images and chat.
This resulted not just in the
availability of more information,

but qualitatively different

information. Prospective students
no longer relied on just what
institutions would tell them, they
could actually share the
experiences of existing students.
But the changes have not
stopped there. These new
technologies also have major
implications for the student
experience and the ways in which
students, their teachers and their
institutions interact.
The sharing of information has
become easier, feedback has
become quicker and there is a
much greater scope for students to
express themselves.
Students reluctant to speak up in
a classroom setting may be more
willing to engage in online
discussions and debates.
Institutional managers can much
more easily understand the issues
that may be causing concern for
their students.
I can easily find out the issues
that excite or worry students at our
university by looking at the
discussions taking place on
Facebook and participate in those
discussions by offering my views,
providing explanations or
correcting misperceptions. In
managing the student experience,

such interactions can be

invaluable.
As with many things, there is a
dark side to these advancements;
the very features of social media
that make it so valuable in
facilitating interactions and
information sharing also present
opportunities for individuals to
mislead, misrepresent and even
become abusive.
Bullying and harassment in
online spaces are fortunately
rare, but not unknown.
Misrepresentation is more
widespread and inevitably gives
cause for concern.
However, it is important to
remind ourselves that this dark
side is not the fault of technology
but rather the individuals who
use it.
For this reason, those of us
working in the education sector
must increasingly think not just
about how we use the latest ICT
technologies effectively but also
how we can encourage our
students to use those technologies
sensibly and responsibly.

n Prof Christine Ennew is the chief

executive officer and provost of The
University of Nottingham Malaysia
Campus.

Factors
to consider
IF you are thinking about pursuing a
postgraduate degree, you probably already
have an idea about the course and even
potential universities that you would like to
enrol in.
However, when making the decision to
pursue a postgraduate degree, there are
several other non-academic factors to
consider before you commit to it.

Stage of life
For some, the right time to consider a
postgraduate qualification is after they have
gained some work experience, started a
family and/or been able to afford a car and a
house.
Others would rather put their time and
effort into a postgraduate degree while they
have minimal family, financial and work
responsibilities.
Regardless, this decision is yours to
make as no one can better consider the
circumstances in your life.

Work experience
Some people opt to continue with
postgraduate studies immediately after
obtaining their degree.
However, once you do start work you may
lack the working experience to show a track
record of your performance despite being
better qualified than others vying for the
same position as you are.
You may have to make up for that by
demonstrating other skills that you have
acquired. Being a research assistant,
teaching assistant or applying for industrial
placement during your study can be helpful.
On the other hand, some would prefer to
enter the workforce for at least a few years

to gain working experience and understand

the needs of the industry before pursuing a
postgraduate degree.

Finances
Postgraduate degrees are not cheap but
they can be affordable if you plan your
budget carefully.
Student loans for postgraduate degrees
are available from public and private
funding sources and may even come with
other perks, including monthly stipends and
a job placement opportunity.
On the other hand, you can use your
savings, especially if you have been working
for a while.
The Employees Provident Fund allows for
a withdrawal from your Account 2 to
finance your education at an institution of
higher learning locally or abroad.
You can also apply for research funds,
work as a research assistant or work while
you study to ensure that you have a steady
income as you complete your course.

Location
Several public and private universities
throughout the country offer postgraduate
programmes, and we can now add open and
distance learning institutions to this diverse
pool of options.
You can scope out the institutions on your
list by carrying out research and speaking to
current students or acquaintances before
deciding if it is the right fit for you.
Consider all your options; for instance,
would you prefer a university in the city
close to your current life and amenities, or
are you looking to uproot your life and enter
a whole new chapter?

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

GRADUATE study is one of the

educational pathways that can be
pursued by those who want to
improve their career prospects or
job satisfaction, seek to be
challenged intellectually and wish
to explore their interests further.
The Management & Science
University (MSU) has designed its
courses to offer flexibility so that
you can pursue graduate studies in
a way that works best for you.
MSUs School of Graduate Studies
(SGS) offers advanced degrees at
masters and PhD levels in
management, business, computer
science, accounting, finance,
information and communications
technology, food service
technology, biomedicine,
educational management and
leadership, biomedical sciences,
engineering, pharmacy and clinical
pharmacy.
PhD education focuses on
training in original and
independent study, while masters
degree programmes are available
in full research mode and
coursework mode. These
programmes prepare graduate
students for careers in public or
private sectors and professional
practice.
The graduate programmes of
study at MSU emphasise a number
of distinctive and desirable
features, such as a high level of
engagement between local as well
as international faculties and
graduates. This creates an

postgraduate 5

Excel in graduate studies

The Management
& Science
Universitys
School of
Graduate Studies
offers a wide
range of courses
at the masters
and PhD levels.

environment that fosters a global

community of scholars.
All of the programmes offered
are supported and complemented
by a wide range of
interdisciplinary units and this
results in the promotion of
intellectual activities and research
across the university.
MSUs SGS provides support to
graduates throughout their
learning experience while
providing creative and innovative
teaching and delivery,
a global leadership programme

and social facilities.

Working with all faculties and
non-academic departments,
including the industry and other
institutions to enhance graduate
experience, SGS is committed to
delivering a quality service
exclusive to its growing
postgraduate community.
The PhD and masters
programmes are research-based
degrees awarded by MSU on the
successful completion of a thesis.
PhD students are assessed for their
thesis and research while masters

degree students are assessed via

assignments and written
examinations.
As one of Malaysias best
teaching and learning university,
MSU gives priority to quality
education creative teaching
methodologies to produce quality
and holistic graduates.
Besides incorporating
international exposure in students
learning experience, extensive
industrial training components and
personal enrichment competency
elements are also blended into the

programme of study to ensure

high employability.
The programmes offered by MSU
meet the stringent standards set by
local and international bodies.
MSUs award-winning
homegrown programmes are
among the best in the region. These
programmes are meticulously
crafted to enhance the graduates
potential.
The university has received
numerous accreditations from
Malaysian and international
accreditation bodies.
Besides the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency (MQA), MSU
is accredited by the Accreditation
Services for International Colleges
(ASIC), United Kingdom, and the
Alliance on Business Education
and Scholarship for Tomorrow
(ABEST21), Japan.
It is rated twice as a Setara
Tier 5: Excellent university by the
Higher Education Ministry and
selected as the 2015 finalist for
the Entrepreneurship UniversityPrivate University Category.

n For more information on

postgraduate studies at MSU,
call 03-5521 6868 or e-mail
enquiry@msu.edu.my or visit
www.msu.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

6 postgraduate

Boost your
career
potential
Quest International University Peraks brilliant staff exposes students to impactful research work and work ethics.

WORKING professionals and

students planning to pursue a
masters in business
administration (MBA), masters
in science (MSc) or PhD in
science can now enrol in Quest
International University Perak
(QIUP) in Ipoh, which is
expanding its presence in the
growing postgraduate market.
These programmes are ideal
for those seeking to boost their
career potential with a
postgraduate qualification that
offers flexibility in learning
and excellent support from
experienced academic staff.
The MBA programme is by
coursework while the MSc and
PhD programmes are by
research.
The MBA programme offers
flexibility by allowing students
to take courses/subjects at their
own pace. Students can take
two to four subjects per
semester and complete the
whole programme in 18
months.
Classes are conducted during
weekday evenings and
weekends to enable working
adults to pursue the
programme.
The minimum duration for
full-time study is 24 months for
the MSc and 36 months for the
PhD.
For the part-time mode, the
MSc takes a minimum of 36
months while the PhD takes at
least 48 months to complete.
These are ideal for graduates
and working professionals who
are motivated to upgrade their
qualifications, knowledge
and employability but are
not able to pursue full-time
programmes.
QIUP is confident that its
dedicated academic team, and
their industry experience offer
all students an exceptional
experience, raise their academic
and professional profiles, and
make them a better-skilled
workforce.
Due to strenuous lifestyles
and competing priorities, people
find it difficult to upgrade their
skills conveniently and
efficiently.
Our programmes are aimed
at equipping students with the
required managerial and
technical tools that will prepare
them to take up new challenges
and excel at work, says QIUPs
chief operating officer Nicholas
Goh.
Prof Dr Abdul Latif Salleh,
acting dean of Faculty of
Business, Management and
Social Sciences, firmly believes
that the QIUP MBA programme

Our programmes
are aimed
at equipping
students with
the required
managerial and
technical tools
that will prepare
them to take up
new challenges
and excel at work.
Nicholas Goh

is designed for high-achieving

professionals with the drive and
ambition to move into senior
leadership roles.
Assoc Prof Dr Vilasini Pillai,
director of Centre for Graduate
Studies and Research and head
of biotechnology, is confident
that the MSc and PhD
programmes, which can be
undertaken in any principal
areas of scientific research, will
open up opportunities for
graduates to find employment in
jobs related to research, scientific
analysis, tertiary level education,
consultation and product
development.
QIUP is home to excellent
academicians who have strong
credentials and are experts in
their fields.
Throughout their time at QIUP,
candidates are exposed to
impactful research work and
work ethics from brilliant and
passionate staff.
There are four faculties and
two centres at QIUP Centre for
Foundation Studies, Centre for
Graduate Studies and Research,
Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of
Integrative Sciences and
Technology, Faculty of Business,
Management and Social Sciences,
and Faculty of Pharmacy
offering programmes at
foundation, diploma, degree and
postgraduate levels.
Should you desire a quality
student life and interaction with
the best academicians, QIUP can
be your choice.
The April/May intake for the
universitys postgraduate
programmes is open for
registration.

n For more information on the

programmes, call 1800 88
QIUP (7487), e-mail
enquiries@qiup.edu.my or
visit www.qiup.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

postgraduate 7

Dr Tam Cai Lian

is course
coordinator of
the Master of
Professional
Counselling
programme at
Monash University
Malaysia.

Counsellors
in the
making
THE fabric of society is
changing and we see a lot of
people facing difficulties in their
daily, professional and social
life, says Assoc Prof Shamsul
Haque, head of discipline
(psychology) of the Jeffrey Cheah
School of Medicine and Health
Sciences, Monash University
Malaysia.
We can see that the demand
for psychological services is
increasing, because as people
face more difficulties, they are
unable to cope and need
professional help.
Assoc Prof Shamsul also
shares that society is
acknowledging that a deeper
understanding of human
behaviour and basic cognitive
processes is crucial in most
aspects of work life and spans
across the different industries.
The Master of Professional
Counselling is offered at Monash
University Malaysia. Areas of
study include human growth
and lifespan development;
mental health issues
surrounding grief, trauma and
substance abuse; counselling
children, adolescents, individuals
and couples; cognitive behaviour
therapy; group psychotherapy;
career development counselling;
and counselling research design,
among others.
The course is broad-based
with students taught to counsel
in various areas such as
organisational counselling,
mental health and relationships.
One unique feature of this
course is that it also equips
students to understand and
conduct research in the field of
counselling, says Dr Tam Cai
Lian, course coordinator of the
masters programme.
These skills may be used to
pursue further academic
research study and enable
evidence-based counselling
practices.
She adds that the course aims
to be accredited by three
different bodies the Malaysian
Board of Counsellors, the
Australian Counselling
Association and the
Psychotherapy and Counselling
Federation of Australia.
The various accreditations will
open up opportunities for

graduates to practise in Malaysia

as well as Australia.
The course incorporates 504
hours of clinical placements in
government agencies and
private organisations, of which
192 hours would involve direct,
face-to-face contact with clients.
Dr Tam says that the course is
open to anyone with a bachelors
degree in any field, whether they
are recent graduates or working
professionals seeking to know
more about counselling.
Students need to have a
passion and desire to know
more about human beings and
the problems they face and be
interested in helping themselves
and the people around them,
she says.
With a degree in mathematics,
Dr Tam chose to pursue
counselling as a way to help the
community and address the
various mental illnesses and
family problems she saw around
her.
Students will benefit greatly
from a diverse team of highly
experienced and accredited
academics and psychologists.
They will also have access to
world-class laboratories and
facilities.
These include group and
individual counselling rooms
equipped with two-way mirrors,
observation side rooms and
recording devices.
Assoc Prof Shamsul says that
counsellors can promote mental
health at both the organisational
and the community level.
In an organisation, they can
help improve relationships
between co-workers, contribute
to crisis management, manage
work stress and also play a
major role in reducing job
dissatisfaction and improving
job performance, he says.
At the community level,
counsellors can deal with
relationship problems through
marriage or couple counselling
as well as help manage personal
grief, trauma and other mental
health issues. At schools, they
can help modify students
academic behaviour and address
peer-relation problems.

n For more information, visit

www.monash.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

8 postgraduate

Supporting dynamic research

Postgraduate programmes at Curtin Sarawak are identical to those offered at

Curtin Universitys main campus in Perth, Australia.

PURSUING a postgraduate
degree is a rewarding journey
that enhances your knowledge
and skills within your area of
interest as well as contributes
to building professional
experience and personal
growth to broaden your career
prospects.
Curtin University, Sarawak
Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak),
Curtin Universitys largest
international campus, offers
different levels of postgraduate
study and industry-aligned
programmes by coursework or
research under its Faculty of
Engineering and Science,
Faculty of Business, and
Faculty of Humanities in
collaboration with its Graduate
School.
Established last year, the
Curtin Sarawak Graduate
School advances and promotes
postgraduate education
through both taught and
research programmes.

In the research programmes,

it aims to provide high-quality
support and research training
to students and supervisors as
well as assist in the growth of a
vibrant research culture.
Postgraduate programmes at
Curtin Sarawak are identical to
those at Curtins main campus
in Perth and, as a result, degrees
earned at the Sarawak campus
are conferred directly by Curtin
Perth.
Masters programmes offered
include Master of Science in
Project Management, Master
of Engineering Science
(Electrical Engineering) and
Master of Petroleum
Engineering, all by coursework,
in addition to the Higher Degree
by Research (HDR) programmes
leading to Master of Philosophy
(MPhil) and Doctor of
Philosophy (PhD) qualifications
in various engineering, science,
business and humanities
disciplines.
Graduate certificates and
graduate diplomas are also
offered in project management
leading to the Master of Science
in Project Management.
Those interested in pursuing
masters degrees may be
accepted into programmes at
the Faculty of Business or
Faculty of Engineering and
Science provided they hold
appropriate qualifications as
decided by the respective
faculty deans. Some masters
degrees also have a work
experience component.
A HDR differs from other
postgraduate degrees in that at
least two-thirds of the study
programme must involve
research.
Although candidates are
required to complete some
coursework units, the main part
of the work involves writing a
thesis under the guidance of a
supervisor.
The main research areas
under the Faculty of
Engineering and Science are
energy and environment,
intelligent systems, design and
control, materials and
structures, and bio-process
technologies.
The Faculty of Business
focuses on accounting, business
law and taxation, economics
and finance, information
systems, management,
marketing, and public relations.
The current main thrusts of
the Faculty of Humanities are in
education, English language,
tourism, culture and mass
communication.
Through the years, Curtin
Sarawak has established a
thriving community of staff and
students engaged in research
and, especially with the
establishing of the Curtin
Sarawak Graduate School, the
number of HDR students has
increased substantially over the
past two years. At present, there
are 120 HDR students.
As Curtin Sarawak is

committed to supporting and

nurturing postgraduate
researchers within a dynamic
research environment, it offers
PhD and MPhil research
scholarships for eligible
candidates to join the vibrant
research communities at the
university and conduct
advanced research study based
on their chosen research areas.
These scholarships are
normally offered at the end of
each calendar year to highly
qualified applicants.
Our HDR programmes help
candidates become highly
employable and graduates with
doctorates tend to command top
salaries.
There is a high demand
from employers for HDR
holders because of their
expertise and also because they
are known to have excellent
management skills, are able to
work independently and use
critical thinking skills to
solve problems, says Prof
Marcus Lee, dean of Graduate
School.
He adds that those who are
achievement-oriented, seek
challenges and aim to broaden
their horizons through higherlevel study are ideal candidates
for such programmes.
Postgraduate study is a
growing area at Curtin Sarawak
and holds a huge potential for
future growth given the large
number of graduates in various
industries in Sarawak and the
high industry demand for
highly skilled professionals and
experts.
While studying at Curtin
Sarawak ensures students a
quality Curtin degree and the
practical experience required to
further their careers, they can
also be assured that their
qualifications are widely
accepted globally.
In addition, students can
benefit from learning from
highly experienced academic
staff members who work closely
with their counterparts in Perth
in teaching and research to
ensure that the quality of
provision reaches the same
high standards.
Curtin Sarawak continues to
create new learning spaces
equipped with the latest
technological advances in
teaching and learning, including
distributed learning technology,
which is aimed at increasing
student engagement, fostering
collaboration between staff and
students, and providing flexible,
technology-rich environments.
The completion of a new fourstorey Faculty of Engineering
and Science building this year
will see the addition of even
more innovative learning
facilities.

n For more information on

Curtin Sarawaks postgraduate
programmes, call 08-544 3939 or
e-mail raihanah@curtin.edu.my
or visit www.curtin.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

postgraduate 9

Left: Berjaya
University of
Hospitalitys
Diploma in Events
Management
students organised
a charity run with
the Turtle
Conservation
Society of
Malaysia.
Right: The charity
run attracted
participants from
all over the Klang
Valley.

THE students of Diploma in Events

Management, Berjaya University
College of Hospitality successfully
organised a 4km charity run in
collaboration with the Turtle
Conservation Society of Malaysia
(TCS).
This event was held on March 27
from 6.30am to noon at the
Putrajaya Challenge Park.
The park was filled with a
family-fun atmosphere with food
and mini games stalls set up as
well as a merchandise booth ran
by TCS.
As part of students coursework
fulfilment in the event project
work course, students were
required to organise an event with
a cause or purpose such as a social,
fundraising or awareness
campaign.
This particular event was
organised to raise funds to help
TCS in their pursuit to recover
depleting populations of wild
turtles in Malaysia, namely

Running for a cause

freshwater turtles.
It is only through organising
such events that students learn
about teamwork, team synergy,
effective communication, planning,
managing and the practical aspects
of running an actual event.
This learning methodology
allows the students of Berjaya
University College of Hospitality to
experience the real-world practices
of the events industry and be
immersed in the field of their
studies to translate the theories
they have learnt in the classroom
into practical exposure.
Running enthusiasts from all
over the Klang Valley took part
in this meaningful run.
During the run, participants
were given a mission to protect a

special egg throughout the 4km

course, which included overcoming
obstacles.
Props were creatively used to
create obstacles such as rivers,
large waves, sandy beaches and
more to make the run challenging
and exciting.
Participants had to ensure that
the egg arrived safely at the
finishing line. They were each
given an exclusive T-shirt and
medal upon completion of
the run.
This fun and exciting event was
yet another success for the
Diploma in Events Management
students.

n For more information,

visit www.berjaya.edu.my.

About Berjaya University College of Hospitality

Berjaya University College of
Hospitality is arguably
Malaysias premier university
college in the fields of
hospitality, culinary arts,
tourism and event
management, situated in the
Golden Triangle of Kuala
Lumpur.
Located on the 11th and
14th floors of Berjaya Times
Square, it is conceptually
designed with a five-star hotel
ambiance equipped with the
most comprehensive and
advanced facilities that
mirrors real-world settings.

Berjaya also offers courses in

business and liberal arts.
Berjaya aims to make higher
education more accessible,
affordable and attainable for
everyone.
The PTPTN education
financing scheme is available
for Malaysian students and its
affiliation with the Berjaya
Corporation Group of
Companies also allows it to
host several bursary schemes
and education scholarships,
which are made available to
both local and international
students.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

10 postgraduate

Web and app development

IT industry
ready
INFORMATION and communications
technology (ICT) and computing have
become key contributing factors to the
rise of economies across the globe.
The technology enables industries and
companies to maximise efficiency in
terms of productivity, work flow,
marketing strategy, time and resources.
However, the continuous
modernisation of established and
developing countries can only take
place if the current crop of industry
professionals have the required skills and
knowledge to create, introduce and take

advantage of new ICT technologies in

their workplace.
In addition to postgraduate courses,
working adults can enrol in short online
courses to upskill themselves and gain
valuable knowledge.
The emergence of massive open online
courses that are often accredited by top
international universities further ensures
quality education for all students.
Listed here are some technically
advanced online courses that are growing
in popularity with individuals across
industries.

PHP programming
PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
(PHP) programming is a server-side
scripting language for dynamic web
development.
Easily integrated with HTML (a
standardised system for tagging text
files on the web) and SQL (structured
query language for managing data),
PHP is often used to process the
contents of a Web page as it is more
secure and reliable than JavaScript.
Students in such courses will learn
how PHP programming works in the
Web environment and the effects of
different commands and coding lines
on client-side machines.
Such courses are useful for people
who would like to learn more about
using PHP and MySQL to integrate
database functions into websites.
Other web development programs
include JavaScript, jQuery and AJAX.

Google Android and iPhone

app development
Mobile devices are widely used
around the world with many users

regularly downloading or purchasing

new applications (apps) onto their
Android or iPhone devices.
Courses on android app
development cover topics such as
architecture overview, application
lifecycle, Android application
program interfaces (APIs), app
development tools and Android User
Interface.
People who complete the course
will understand key principles and
processes underlying Android
applications and be able to achieve
smooth integration with different
Android components.
Similarly, iPhone app development
students will learn the Objective-C
programming language that is used
to program iPhone apps, and other
related features such as the Core OS,
Core Services, Media and Cocoa
Touch levels.
Individuals will also be able to
programme for single-touch and
multi-touch functionalities and
develop iPhone apps that use built-in
accelerators.

Design

Google SketchUp for 3D

modelling
Google SketchUp is a useful tool for
architects, civil and mechanical
engineers, graphic artists and game
developers.
Individuals who enrol in the
course will be introduced to the
different navigation tools to orbit,
pan and zoom in on their model
projects.
With the multitude of drawing,
offset, modification and paint
tools available in the program,
students will be able to create
digitally detailed models and
separate them into numerous parts
or components.

3D graphics for web

developers
Web graphics library (WebGL) is a
JavaScript API for rendering
interactive 3D computer graphics
within any compatible web browser
without the use of plug-ins.
Web developers who have prior
knowledge of JavaScript will learn
WebGL theories and practices to
start programming 3D graphic
applications for the web.
Students will learn the concepts of
transformations and materials in the
WebGLStudio web tool to create
simple scenes before finally adding
meshes, textures, lights and objects to
their creations.

Business, management and marketing

Google Analytics
Understanding web traffic
data can greatly affect businesses
and provide important clues to
formulating the best marketing
strategies.
Google Analytics provides an
abundance of data, including
knowledge of where your web
visitors are coming from, which
content is popular among site visitors
and whether the website is working
well for you.
People who take the course will
understand the dynamics of online
marketing, the importance of
statistical information, be able to
identify the conversion rates of paid
keywords, identify key markets,
measure bounce rates and track
product sales, revenue and return
on investments.

Computer science
A comprehensive programme
such as the Intensive Introduction to
Computer Science Open Learning
Course offered by Harvard University
covers a wide range of study areas in
computation and its many
applications.
This particular course, which is
taught by the universitys lecturers,
includes the study of algorithms
(design, implementation and
analysis), software development
(abstraction, encapsulation, data
structures, debugging and testing),
architecture of computers (low-level
data representation and instruction
processing), computer systems
(programming languages, compilers,
operating systems and databases),
and computers in the real world
(networks, websites, security,
forensics and cryptography).

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

postgraduate 11

Partnering
with the
UKs best
SUNWAY University, a leading
private university in Malaysia, is
renowned for its international
partnerships.
It has sealed strong
partnerships and affiliations
with top world institutions such
as University of Cambridge,
University of Oxford, Harvard
University, Lancaster University,
Le Cordon Bleu and more.
For the dual-award premier
Master of Business
Administration (MBA), Sunway
University partners with the
Lancaster MBA, a world-leading
MBA programme.

Climbing the ranks

In the Financial Times (FT)
Global MBA Ranking 2016, the
Lancaster MBA recorded a
consistent growth, jumping 15
places to 35th in the world from
50th last year and 77th place in
2014.
Besides that, the Lancaster
MBA also rose from ninth to
fourth place in the UK this year.
The FT Global MBA Ranking
2016 also ranked the Lancaster
MBA first in the world for
corporate strategy (for the
second year running), ahead of
Harvard University, and first in
the UK for salary increase as
well as general management.
Other achievements by the
Lancaster MBA in the latest FT
ranking include sixth in the
world for value for money,
eighth in the world for general
management and fifth in the
world for international business.
Prof Angus Laing, dean of
Lancaster University
Management School (LUMS),
congratulates the class of 2012
on their career success, which is
behind Lancasters rise in the
rankings.
This result follows our
excellent performance in the
Research Excellence Framework
2014, in which LUMS was
ranked first for research power.
Our improvement in the FT
ranking is due to an exceptional
MBA programme that attracts
excellent students and is
delivered by a world-leading
faculty.
It confirms our position as a
leading global business school,
says Prof Laing.
Dr Peter Lenney, director of
the Lancaster full-time MBA,
says, Our rise in the table is a
result of the success of our
alumni in their careers, the
quality of the programme we
deliver at Lancaster and the
continuous improvement in all
aspects of the school over the
years.

Upon completion of
Sunway University's
MBA programme,
students are
awarded two scrolls
one from Sunway
University and one
from Lancaster
University.
We are very grateful to all the
alumni who were surveyed for
this ranking.
They have obviously done
really well in their careers, he
continues.

Learning from experts

Sunway University is also
proud of its partner universitys
notable achievements in the FT
Global Ranking 2016.
This is a confirmation to
Sunway Universitys current
MBA students that they are
making the right choice in
pursuing Malaysias premier
MBA.
They are able to have a worldclass learning experience from a
faculty of among the best
management consultants,
educators and research scholars
in the world.
This includes academicians
such as Sunway Universitys
senior lecturer and MBA
programme chair Michael Dent,
Sunway University Business
Schools dean Prof Steve
Williams as well as Lancaster
Universitys director of
partnership and development Dr
Thomas Thornborrow.
Upon completion of Sunway
Universitys MBA programme,
students are awarded two scrolls
one from Sunway University
and one from Lancaster
University.
While Sunway University is a
renowned provider of business
education within Malaysia,
Lancaster University is ranked in
the top 1% of universities in the
world.
If you are interested in
pursuing Sunway Universitys
dual-award premier MBA, you
can attend a preview session on
April 20 or May 11 at 6.30pm at
Sunway University Graduate
Centre.

n For more information about

the programme or to reserve a
place at the preview, call 03-7491
8701 or visit www.sunway.edu.
my/university/MBA.

From left: Sunway

Universitys senior
lecturer and MBA
programme chair
Michael Dent,
Sunway University
Business Schools
dean Prof Steve
Williams and
Lancaster
Universitys
director of
partnership and
development Dr
Thomas
Thornborrow.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

12 postgraduate

From macro-algae to jet fuel

THE aviation community has
committed itself to form a more
sustainable aviation world by
cutting down on its emissions,
improving fuel efficiency and
reducing its carbon footprint.
The recent memorandum of
agreement (MoA) on offshore
cultivation of tropical macro-algae
for the production of aviation jet
fuel is part of this sustainability
drive, focusing on the development
of alternative sources of feedstock
for fuel.
This research and technology
collaboration involves Aerospace
Malaysia Innovation Centre
(AMIC), Airbus Group, University of
Malaya, University Malaysia
Terengganu, The University of
Nottingham Malaysia Campus
(UNMC) and Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia for a project titled
Offshore Cultivation of Tropical
Macro-Algae for the Production of
Aviation Jet Fuel.
This collaboration is aligned with
AMICs commitment to sustainable
aviation and seeks to catalyse the
development of sustainable bio-jet
fuel in Malaysia.
AMICs sustainable aviation
activities are part of Airbus and
Airbus Groups worldwide action
on sustainable aviation.
Currently, the aviation industry
contributes between 2% and 3% of

global manmade CO2 emissions

(705 million tonnes).
The aviation industry is targeting
a carbon neutral growth status by
2020, having a solid track record so
far in reducing its emission.
This status will be achieved
through four pillars of innovation
product technology, operations, air
traffic management and
sustainable fuel.
AMIC is leading the way in
sustainable aviation jet fuel
research in the region.
Macro-algae, more commonly
known as seaweed, are a known
potential source of feedstock for
bioenergy and biofuel.
Harnessing the expertise from
four reputable universities in
Malaysia, this project seeks to lay
the foundations for a pioneering
industry as part of the fuel supply
value chain.
University of Malaya will use its
expertise, firstly in macro-algae,
ocean environment, physical and
chemical processes and analysis;
and secondly, in nanotechnology,
catalysis, fuel processing and
conversion as well as biofuel
analysis.
University Malaysia Terengganu
will focus on the design,
engineering and deployment of an
offshore cultivation system for the
tropical macro-algae.

The University
of Nottingham
Malaysia
Campus is part
of an important
collaboration to
create a more
sustainable
future for the
aviation
industry.

UNMC will leverage on its

proven track record of design and
modelling of techno-economics and
the assessment of scenarios.
Meanwhile, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia will assess
the social-environmental impact
of the development of such an
industry in the country.
AMIC, together with Airbus
Group, will ensure the research is
in line with aviation standards and
requirements and assess the
overall commercial viability of

the technology.
The signing of this MoA will
mark the start of an 18-month
collaboration journey for the entire
consortium, with a project delivery
of next year to customer Airbus
Group.
UNMC, in particular, will be
conducting a techno-economic
evaluation of the production of
bio-diesel from macro-algae.
We are ideally positioned to
contribute our expertise and
experience in groundbreaking

Lessons from
postgraduate school
PURSUING a postgraduate degree
offers a unique experience, both
academically and personally.
Making the choice to further your
studies not only signifies you are
serious about your field of study or
work, but also proves you are
ready to make solid commitments
for your future.
The primary benefits of
obtaining a postgraduate
qualification involve advancing
your career, venturing into
academic research or improving
your knowledge and skills within
an area of expertise.
By the end of your studies,
though, you may have learnt many
other life lessons; it is safe to say
you will leave postgraduate school
with more than an academic
qualification.

Resilience, diligence,
perseverance
It is common knowledge that
conducting and reporting research
can be difficult and daunting.
Many people find that they are
unable to cope, but those who do
stick it out come out stronger and
accomplished.
Therefore, completing a
postgraduate degree requires
relentless effort and great
dedication that can only be
supported by a never give up
attitude.

research in the area of aerospace

and are looking forward to
working closely with such
outstanding partners. This project
fits well with our aim to use our
research expertise to address
global challenges in the area of
environmental sustainability, says
Prof Christine Ennew, chief
executive officer and provost of
UNMC.

n For more information,

visit www.nottingham.edu.my.

research, discussions and

examinations these are some of
the many aspects of a postgraduate
students life.
The postgraduate experience
highlights the importance of
prioritising while multitasking.
Many students juggle other
responsibilities along with
postgraduate school, including
holding down a part-time job or
caring for a family.
You learn to manage your time
and therefore develop a sense of
discipline to get the job done
without excuses.
Matching your actions with your
goals will give you that extra push
you need to drive your efforts
forward productively.

Communication and
people skills
Postgraduate study offers more than academic knowledge.

Being able to bounce back

from disappointments, stressful
moments or setbacks teaches that
you can conquer any mountain,
no matter how high.

Responsibility and
ownership
Working on something that you
can truly call your own is not only
personally rewarding, it also
proves responsibility to see your
tasks to completion.
This includes accepting
drawbacks and failures and being
able to grow from them.

Not only will your work reflect

your ability to take charge, you
will also learn how to stick with
decisions and control your life. On
top of that, it will become clear that
achievements are direct products
of your effort and dedication.

Valuing what matters

It is during these busy and often
challenging times that students
realise what matters most to them.
To many, this includes a strong
support system consisting of
friends and family.
Spending time away from the

important people in your life

teaches you to appreciate them
more, especially as they continue
to offer love and support through
thick and thin.
This time could also be useful to
identify other things you value
whether they are sports, hobbies
or even social work, you learn the
importance of creating a healthy
balance in life.

Time management
and discipline
Classes, assignments, field or
laboratory work, presentations,

Presentations and group work

help you communicate and
connect with people, while
interaction with your lecturers,
supervisors and course mates
trains you to work well with others
for the best possible outcome.
If you are progressing
immediately from an
undergraduate degree, this will
be a great platform for you to
first meet individuals in the
industry you are looking to break
into.
Mutual inspiration and
motivation is also something you
pick up from those with similar
interests as you learn that two
heads are, more often than not,
better than one.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

postgraduate 13

Fourth from left: Dr Oo Yu Hock from AeU was the supervisor to (from left) Dr Mooi Wah Kian
from AeU, Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Assoc Prof Dr Ali
Boerhannoeddin from University of Malaya and Assoc Prof Dr Hardev Kaur from Universiti
Teknologi Mara.

Impacting four
generations
IT was a significant moment in history
when four generations of professionals
who are also PhD graduates from different
institutions met Dr Oo Yu Hock, who
supervised all four previous students, for
the first time in Asia e University (AeU).
Dr Oo is currently the consultant for AeUs
School of Management.
Mooi Wah Kian, who last served as
undersecretary in the Science, Technology
and Innovation Ministry (Mosti), is an
optional retiree of the Malaysian Civil
Service from 2014.
Having just gone through balancing his
work, study and family obligations, Mooi
successfully completed his viva voce in
November last year and was recently
conferred the Doctor of Philosophy by the
Senate of AeU early in March this year.
Dr Moois obtainment of his PhD (BA) is a
reflection of his service for more than four
decades as a dedicated civil servant and his
relentless pursuit of a doctoral degree.
Dr Moois recurring thoughts today
resound of his unique experience at AeU,
where in the context of university lifelong
education and blended learning, he says, It
can only happen at AeU.
AeU is proud of its trilogy of shared
human-institution achievements, namely
the success of students commitment in the
pursuit of knowledge and degrees, its
workable philosophy in blended e-learning
and continuous effort in providing onlineonsite facilitated learning with crossinstitutional support.
Dr Moois achievement clearly reflects
the commitment AeU has towards its
working adult students who pursue further
studies, the institutions belief in lifelong
learning and delivery of knowledge through
blended learning as well as the offering of
the management learning system myPLS
(My Personalised Learning Space) that
facilitates learning online anytime,
anywhere.
I am very proud and honoured to be a
part of a history-in-the-making event as a
PhD graduate supervised by this iconic
academic supervisor in AeU. With the
guidance and advice from Dr Oo Yu Hock, I
successfully completed and passed my PhD
(BA) degree, says Dr Mooi.
Dr Mooi became the fourth-generation
civil service student under Dr Oos
supervision. Dr Mooi discovered that his

reviewers comprised the three generations

of PhD academicians who were previously
Dr Oos students at the Faculty of Economics
& Administration, University of Malaya.
I dont think I will see this happen
anywhere else where one academic
supervisor can gather with four generations
of professionals to reflect on their
experiences, share knowledge and enrich
their professions through the lifelong
learning at AeU, says Dr Mooi.

n For more information, visit

www.aeu.edu.my or call 1300 300 238.

About AeU
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 Education Ministry
and accredited by the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency.
Established in April 2007, AeU has
spread its wings to ACD (Asia
Cooperation Dialogue) members
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar,
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates,
Vietnam as well as non-member
countries Denmark, Hong Kong, Iraq,
Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia,
New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden,
Somalia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom,
Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Today, AeU has an enrolment of
more than 22,000 students from 65
countries and more than 7,000
graduates.
As one of Malaysias leading
providers of open and distance
learning, AeU has a diverse and
international community of more than
1,000 fellow doctoral students from 46
countries who are making a difference
around the world.
Intakes for postgraduate research
programmes are open throughout the
year.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

14 postgraduate

Preventing
disease and
saving lives
Penang Medical College believes in the importance of maintaining quality public health through
disease prevention.

PENANG Medical College (PMC) is wholly

owned by the Royal College of Surgeons in
Ireland (RCSI) and University College Dublin
(UCD), two world-renowned universities in
Ireland.
In expanding its postgraduate offerings,
PMC offers the UCD MSc in Public Health
(MPH International) in its upcoming
September intake.
As we seek to prevent disease and ensure
citizens have long and healthy lives, public
health has never been more important.
Public health is about looking after the
health of individuals and the population as
distinct from dealing directly with the
consequences of illness and treating sick
individuals.
The emphasis is on the prevention of
disease and tackling factors that contribute
to illnesses, such as environmental and
behavioural factors.
Challenges in major public health issues
are similar in many jurisdictions, including
lifestyle-related diseases, infectious diseases
and implementing appropriate preventive
strategies.

Multidisciplinary course
The UCD MPH is an international
programme that attracts students from all
over the world. It is a multidisciplinary
programme with students from many
different professional backgrounds,
including medicine.
Tackling public health issues is a multidisciplinary task. While the initial stages
of the course might be easier for medical
doctors and allied health professionals,
those with other qualifications will equally
benefit from and enjoy the course.
Prior work experience in the community
health setting is ideal but any work related
to improving living conditions or quality of
life of a countrys citizens is beneficial.
Students without work experience will
benefit from case studies, field trips and an
opportunity to do work placements so that
they gain practical experience.
One of the benefits of the course is the

broad nature of the subject areas covered.

Most students become excited about a
particular area of study, thus triggering a
lifetime interest.
The multidisciplinary nature of the
participants allows for great sharing of
knowledge and experiences and a mutual
respect for people with other competencies.
Because of the interactive nature of
teaching and group work, lifetime
friendships are often formed.
Students have been published in
respected international journals and also
presented their research on their MPH
thesis at scientific conferences.

Career progression
Many graduates with an MPH take up
positions in their countrys public health
service or with global agencies such as the
World Health Organization, Food and
Agricultural Organization or other nongovernmental organisations engaged in
health improvement initiatives around the
world.
The MPH is a suitable entry qualification
for the US Centers for Disease Controls
Epidemiology Investigation Service and
similar field epidemiology programmes in
other jurisdictions.
An MPH is a good foundation for
candidates who are considering becoming
involved in research and/or academic public
health.
UCD also has an active PhD programme
and the MPH provides a good grounding in
research methods and public health sciences
to amply prepare a candidate interested in
pursuing this route in UCD or in any other
institution. An honours degree is a
prerequisite for most institutions.
MPH graduates in Malaysia are required
by the Health Ministry to pursue a threeyear Doctor of Public Health or PhD
programme to be recognised as a specialist.

n For more information, e-mail

enquiry@pmc.edu.my or visit
www.pmc.edu.my/postgraduate-programmes.

PMCS UCD MsC in Public Health students will have the opportunity to experience case studies
and field trips as part of their course.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

BINARY Universitys Masters

of Business Administration
(MBA), Doctorate in Business
Administration (DBA) and PhD
programmes have grown by leaps
and bounds with a global alumni
across Europe, Middle East, Africa,
South-East Asia, Indian
subcontinent and Central Asia.
As Malaysias first university to
specialise in entrepreneurship,
Binary University has been
equipping graduates with
entrepreneurial skills, supported
by a comprehensive
entrepreneurial ecosystem and
two dedicated research centres in
entrepreneurship Centre for
Social Entrepreneurship (CSE)
and the Asia Centre for
Entrepreneurship (ACE), which
help our graduates stand out from
others, says Datuk Prof Joseph
Adaikalam, founder chairman of
Binary University, member of the
National Higher Education Council
and chief executive officer of the
Faculty of the Higher Education
Ministry.
Binary University strives to
provide a platform to showcase
students talents.
Through its homegrown peerreviewed journal, the International
Journal for Management &
Entrepreneurship (IJME), which
was introduced in 2005,
postgraduate students are given
the opportunity to hone their
publishing skills and carry out
meaningful research.
Through the ISP Centre of
Excellence, Binary University
creates Industry Special

postgraduate 15

Be an entrepreneur

Binary University has a large PhD candidacy. The university recently

conferred the Honorary Doctorate in Leadership and Entrepreneurship
to (from left) Tan Sri A. K. Nathan, Tan Sri Michael Chen Wing Sum and
Tan Sri Halim Mohammad for their contributions in business and
entrepreneurship to the nation.

Professional graduates or ISPs.

The Binary MBA is the only
industry specialist MBA in Asia and
along with the MSc in Information

Technology Management, is
supported by the ISP Centre of
Excellence.
The ISP equips graduates with

the walk and talk of the industry,

thus giving employers the
confidence in its graduates.
As a pioneer in offering
postgraduate courses since 1994,
The Binary Graduate School (BGS)
has become a respected provider
of high-quality education. The BGS
offers more than 20 postgraduate
courses, including its flagship MBA,
PhD and DBA that are fully
accredited by MQA.
As a specialist university, we
are able to provide personalised
attention and help students
realise their personal goals, says
Dr Sulochana Nair, vice-chancellor
of Binary University.
The BGS offers unique delivery
structures that meet the needs of
both working adults and full-time
students.
For working adults, the block
release mode (BRM) delivers
learning to them in a way that does
not require them to leave their jobs
to pursue their education.
Full-time students pursuing
the masters by research or
taught masters programmes
perform research that matters to
employers, which increases their
employability.
Students can pursue the MSc
by Research in human resource
management, international
marketing, quality management,
public sector management,

Full time or part time?

l Commitment

Time, financial stability and personal commitments are key factors to consider when choosing the best
postgraduate course.

handle and then decide on how

much you can commit to your
studies.

l Money
Though a lot of universities
offer their full-time and part-time
courses at the same fees, many
people find the loss of income
from stopping work to study full
time unsustainable.
This is especially so if you

have a family to support or

other obligations that require a
steady income.
Many universities do make
financial aid available for
postgraduates, but it may be
affected by your part-time/full-time
status.
Part-time students usually
qualify for less financial aid (as
they often have a higher income
because they work while pursuing

n For more information, call

Thina at 012-288 8500 or
Kumar at 017-254 7125 to get a
personal counselling session or
visit www.binary.edu.my.

If you are unwilling

or unable to invest
so much focus and
effort into your
studies, a parttime programme
may be more
desirable.

DECIDING to pursue postgraduate

study is a big step in itself, but once
the decision has been made, there
are many options to choose from.
Postgraduate courses can be
studied in flexible ways. Besides
factors such as where and how to
study at a local university or
through a distance learning
programme you will have to
think about how much time you
can spend on your studies and
when you want to complete them.
Here are some things you should
consider when deciding on
whether to pursue a full-time or
part-time course.
Just as you would commit your
time during the day to your job, a
full-time postgraduate programme
requires all your working hours.
Though you may not have nineto-five classes, a full-time course
will still mean that you spend most
of your daylight hours (and some
of your nights) studying.
If you are unwilling or unable to
invest so much effort into your
studies, a part-time programme
may be more desirable.
You should also take into
consideration other factors such as
work commitments and how long
it has been since you left school.
If you plan to work while
studying or it has been a while
since you have been back to school,
easing into your classes is a good
idea.
Take one or two classes a week
at first to gauge how much you can

entrepreneurship and innovation,

accounting and finance, real estate
management, Islamic banking and
finance, social entrepreneurship,
environmental management,
among others.
The Binary MBA is a world-class
programme delivered by a good
mix of experienced practitioners
and highly qualified academics and
is the only industry specialist MBA
in Asean, says Dr Nair.
Under the revised Budget 2016,
the MyBrain15 grant is being
extended to benefit all Malaysians
through the MyMaster and MyPhD
programmes.
This year, a total of RM300mil
has been allocated by the Prime
Minister to aid 15,000 My Master
and 5,000 PhD candidates.
The next intake for the PhD,
MBA and MSc by Research are on
April 27 and the intake for the DBA
is on May 23.
Postgraduate applicants may
apply for the MyMaster and
MyPhD grants through the BGS
provided by the Higher Education
Ministry to qualified candidates.
The closing date for the next
MyBrain application is on April 30.

their degree).
It is a good idea to take stock
of your financial situation before
deciding which study mode
to go for.
Discuss the options and find
the right balance between cost,
financial aid and time spent on
studies.

l Time
Weekly time commitments have

to be factored into your decision

on what kind of programme to
pursue.
Even if you do not work (or
work part time) familial and other
obligations during the day may
prevent complete investment
of your time into your studies,
making a full-time programme
out of the question.
This factor has to be balanced
with the bigger picture the
overall time the postgraduate
degree will take.
Depending in how many classes
you sign up for, part-time study
may take up to four years to
complete, while a full-time
programme may only take up
to one year.
If you simply do not have the
time to take more than two years
to obtain your postgraduate degree
for example, if this timeline does
not fit into your existing career
and life plans a full-time or more
strenuous part-time programme
may be more beneficial to you.

16

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016