THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

special

Education
Reaching further
levels the
playing field

Sports engineering education gains traction > 2

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

2 postgraduate

AMONG the fundamental aspects

of creating a developed nation is
first establishing an advanced
economic system, setting a reliable
and dependable infrastructure,
and exhibiting technological and
innovative leadership.
Countries such as Germany, the
United Kingdom and Japan have
become the benchmarks not only
because they have stable economic
frameworks but because they have
established themselves as leaders
of high-quality engineering,
technology and industrial
manufacturing.
According to Assoc Prof Ir Satesh
Namasivayam, deputy dean of
Taylors School of Engineering,
Taylors University, engineers play
an important role in nationbuilding by using their technical
prowess to develop solutions.
With their wealth of knowledge
and skills, engineers need to
address the challenges of the 21st
century and create sustainable
solutions, says Prof Satesh.
His sentiments are echoed by
Dr Rajendran Parthiban, deputy
head of school (education), School
of Engineering at Monash
University Malaysia, and Prof
Dr Hamzah A. Rahman, president
and chief executive officer at
International University of
Malaya-Wales.
From the gadgets we use and
the buildings we live in to the cars
we drive, it is easy to see how
engineers contribute to the
development of a nation.
But if development is not
sustainable, future generations
will not be able to enjoy the fruits
of these advancements, says
Dr Rajendran.
Prof Hamzah says, Engineers
must adopt an attitude that
propagates sincere interactions
between the technical and nontechnical disciplines to achieve a
holistic sustainable ecosystem.
They must be aware and
conscious of the social, economic
and environmental impacts of
engineering designs and products.

Building on knowledge
In the spirit of continual quality
improvement, engineers must put
more effort into enhancing the
standard of Malaysian engineering
and this extends beyond learning
basic engineering theories.
Engineers must add to their
problem-solving expertise the
practice of soft skills and
understand the importance of
social, economic, cultural, political
and ethical aspects of a project,
says Prof Hamzah.
As engineers are now required
to demonstrate effective
communication and interpersonal
skills, project management and
masters of business administration
courses become increasingly
relevant to help engineers develop

Sports
engineering
taking off

valuable qualities and knowledge

such as professional ethics and
entrepreneurial skills.
Prof Hamzah believes that
professional engineers need to
continue learning, irrespective of
whether they are theory-oriented
or applications-oriented.
Engineers are now expected to
be more practical, adaptive, agile
and flexible. They must be able to
apply engineering and science
knowledge, develop technical
competency in specific engineering
fields, identify and solve problems
while conforming to professional
ethics, and demonstrate leadership
and managerial qualities, he says.
Hence, a key factor to national
development is for engineers to
take the bold step of spending
more time researching and
applying their knowledge in new
study areas.

New horizons
A relatively new field of study
that is quickly gaining traction in
the country is sports engineering
which was only internationally
recognised as an academic
discipline in 1998.
Not to be confused with sports
science, which is the study of
functions of an athletes body such
as breathing patterns or muscle
development, sports engineering is
the study of the equipment and
environments that can affect an
athletes performance.
Be it to produce equipment that

offers better shot accuracy or

apparel that provides better
support, comfort and functionality,
manufacturers are fully committed
to the research and development of
more advanced products, which is
where sports engineers come in.
In Malaysia, it was only in 2007
that the Higher Education Ministry
started allocating grants to local
universities for sports engineering
research.
Former Minister of Higher
Education Datuk Seri Mohamed
Khaled Nordin said in 2012 that
it was high time for Malaysia
to combine the elements of
engineering and sports, especially
if it will help propel national
athletes to greater success.
One of the first local universities
to conduct sports engineering
research was Universiti Malaysia
Pahang, which set up the
Innovative Manufacturing,
Mechatronics and Sports
Laboratory (iMAMS).
The facility has so far conducted
research in vision-based robotics,
lower limb exoskeleton and sportsrelated head injury, and produced
custom-made sports equipment,
sports performance monitoring
devices and other training and
fitness tools.
The Government has been
supportive by approving grants to
local universities through the
National Sports Institute and Sports
Division of the Higher Education
Ministry to bring about
advancements in cycling, archery,

Vast amounts of research and testing in the

field of sports engineering go into creating
advanced sports equipment such as the hand
cycle used by Paralympian Ursula Schwaller.

Past to future
The research, technology and
design that go into sports
equipment and environments take
tremendous skill and knowledge
and enable athletes, from
amateurs to the elite, to excel in
their chosen sport.
Sport engineering applications
can be illustrated by the evolution
of the game of tennis.
Starting as a game of handball
played by monks in the courtyards
of their monasteries in the Middle
Ages, courts were built indoors in
the 17th century and the balls,
which were initially wooden,
changed to leather balls filled with
cellulose materials as they were
found to be bouncier.
The game was initially played
using the bare hand, but people
eventually began to play with a
glove that had webbing between
the fingers.
Soon, players began using a
solid paddle, and then a frame of
webbing attached to a handle the
first rudimentary racquets as
these pieces of equipment allowed
players to hit the ball further and
with more accuracy.
Court design also changed as
people realised that different
surfaces produced varying results.
Balls bounced differently on hard

surfaces such as wood or stone

compared to on grass or clay.
In modern times, surfaces made
of asphalt, acrylic, concrete or
synthetic indoor materials (called
carpet) give different game plays.
These phases in evolution all
came about through observation
and research of the physics of the
game and techniques used by
players. This is sports engineering
at its most basic.
The modern sport of tennis
can be said to be a culmination
of centuries of sports and
engineering evolution.
The tennis racquet is shaped the
way it is to balance a myriad of
factors such as vibration, ball spin
and energy given to the racquet
and to the ball.
The ball itself is designed to
produce the right amount of
bounce on the right type of
surface, the right amount of spin
for a given amount of force
applied, and so on.
Sport engineering applications
are found in the kit that players
wear and even in the water bottles
they use.
This relatively young field of
engineering continues to grow
alongside the development of
science and technology.

strength training and badminton,

says Prof Zahari Taha, director of
iMAMS.
Six months ago, Curtin
University Sarawak Malaysia
signed an agreement with the
National Sports Institute of
Malaysia to collaborate in research
and development of sports
technology, including the study of
an automated measurement
technique of athletes performance
and the adaptation of medical,
psychometric and computer-aided
technology.

Advancements in sports
engineering set precedence and
become models for engineers to get
involved in new research fields.
Engineers are already beginning
to collaborate with professionals
from other disciplines such as
computer science and medicine.
While Malaysia may only be
five years away from 2020, these
collaborations are definitely the
right steps towards achieveing
developed nation status.

> SEE ALSO PAGE 3

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

postgraduate 3

Appilcations- and practice-oriented curricula are important to produce

creative, innovative and independent engineering graduates.

New breed
of engineers
THE structure of many
Malaysian engineering
programmes is geared towards
producing graduates with a
high CGPA, but the general
feedback gathered from the
industry suggests that these
graduates lack creative,
innovative, independent and
soft skills.
Malaysian graduates lack
creativity to venture into new
technological frontiers or
become technopreneurs.
Engineering programmes must
be structured to produce
graduates who can develop
solutions by thinking out of the
box, says Prof Dr Zahari Taha,
director of the Innovative
Manufacturing, Mechatronics
and Sports Laboratory (iMAMS)
at Universiti Malaysia Pahang.
Within the last decade,
Malaysian universities such as
International University of
Malaya-Wales (IUMW) have
started to offer programmes
with applications- and practiceoriented curricula that are
based on the German
engineering education system.
The introduction of technical
universities that have been
modelled on the German
Fachhochschule engineering
system constitutes a major
development in the engineering
profession.
This means that a large
proportion of future engineers
will be equipped with
applications- and practiceoriented competencies similar
to Germany and become agents
of technology-driven change,
says Prof Dr Hamzah A.
Rahman, president and chief
executive officer at IUMW.
Additional activities are also
conducted outside the academic

setting to accelerate growth,

encourage national
development and increase the
local knowledge base and
expertise of engineering in
Malaysia.
For example, iMAMS
collaborated with University
Sains Malaysia, the Advanced
Medical and Dental Institute
and the Higher Education
Ministry to organise the
International Conference on
Movement, Health and Exercise
2015 two weeks ago in Penang.
Organised by a committee of
professors and doctors from
universities around the country,
the aim of the event was to
encourage sharing and
dissemination of information in
sports and exercise science.
The three-day event also
featured expert speakers from
Qatar, Australia, Singapore and
Japan.
In addition, Kuala Lumpur
will host the International
Conference on Sport Science
and Sports Engineering in 2017
an event organised by the
World Academy of Science
Engineering and Technology.
These global events are
excellent platforms for local
researchers to share their
experiences and results related
to innovations, trends,
concerns, practical challenges
encountered and solutions with
foreign industry experts.
The knowledge gathered at
such events combined with the
growing number of competent
applications- and practiceoriented engineers will
therefore translate to a new
breed of engineers who are
able to make key decisions that
will shape the positive future of
the country.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

4 postgraduate

VC COLUMN

Growing potential
beyond borders
ONE of the biggest innovations in
international higher education in
the past 15 years or so has been the
growth in international branch
campuses.
Thats not to suggest that branch
campuses are a new phenomenon
on the contrary, there is quite a
history of universities (mostly
private) establishing a presence
beyond their home countries.
However, the scale of such
activities and diversity of models
have evolved over the years.
Not all students are able to travel
abroad for higher education and
despite the growth in the number
of international students, most
people will continue to access
higher education in their home
country.
The development of
transnational education (TNE) and
branch campuses provides an
opportunity for an international
experience for students who do not
wish to travel abroad or cannot
afford to do so.
Increasingly, commentators
describe this group as the glocal

By PROF
CHRISTINE
ENNEW
students, whose numbers are
growing within Asia.
They are part of the emerging
middle class, have an international
outlook, bold ambitions and a
willingness to invest significantly
in their education.
The growth in branch campuses
broadens the choices and the
opportunities available to glocal
students.
They can access and experience
a different style of education
close to home without the costs
associated with travelling and
living in a different country.
Branch campuses come in
increasingly diverse forms.
Perhaps the most traditional
format is the one in which a
university from one country
establishes a base in another
country where it teaches and

awards degrees (and so it is the

degree-awarding powers that
provide quality assurance).
This is the format that is familiar
in Malaysia, with The University
of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
and Monash University Malaysia as
perhaps the best examples. Both
award degrees from their home
countries and offer qualifications
that are equivalent to those offered
at their home campus. They are
also typically regulated in their
host country so students can be
reassured that their degrees have
been subjected to two forms of
regulatory oversight.
But there are other interesting
variations on this model; an
increasingly common format is
associated with private providers
such as Manipal International
University and Amity University
that establish campuses
internationally under a common
brand, but with local degreeawarding powers (in this case,
the quality assurance comes
from the host country only but
is supplemented by the

Studying in branch campuses gives students the opportunity to experience a

different style of education.

institutional brand).
Also seen is the emergence of
nationally sponsored universities
where a new institution is
established carrying a country
name and the country name is
the approach to providing
assurances of quality.
The most prominent example
of this approach comes with the
establishment of institutions such
as those branded as the German
University in (city/country)
present in Egypt, Jordan and
Turkey, among others.
These are technically not branch
campuses but they still aspire to
offer an international experience
to students in a variety of
countries.
The numbers of branch or
international campuses have
grown dramatically in the last
15 years, as have other forms of
transnational higher education
(through methods such as
franchising, articulation, fly-in
faculty, online and distance
learning).
As a glocal outlook becomes

more common, we should expect

to see a growth in transnational
provision and perhaps the
development of new models for
delivery in addition to existing and
familiar ones.
Such developments will offer
greater choice to students of the
future but those involved in
managing such developments will
need to give careful thought to
ensuring that students are helped
in making the right choice in the
face of diverse options.
Having more choices offers
many benefits but decisions
regarding education are complex
and high risk.
Hence, students and their
parents need clear information on
the options available as well as
good advice about the quality and
the quality assurance of the
programmes that they are
considering.

n Prof Christine Ennew is the chief

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

Advancing understanding

OFFERING programmes from diploma to

PhD levels in core engineering branches,
Lincoln University College strives to promote
high standards in technical education to aid
in the career building of students.
The Faculty of Engineering offers
practical-oriented teaching that leads to an
understanding of technical knowledge.
Under the guidance of Faculty of
Engineering dean Datuk Prof Ir Ismail
Hassan, who has more than 35 years of
teaching and industrial experience, the
faculty delivers quality education to its
students.
All programmes focus on delivering
engineering expertise with a clear emphasis
on meeting industry needs and producing
graduates who are able to design, operate
and manage industries as well as provide
leadership in innovation, research and
technology transfer, says Prof Ismail.
Focusing on the facilities, he says,
Students are provided with electronics,
electrical, machines and power electronics
laboratories, sheet metal basic engineering
workshop and also the Eagle Aircraft 150B.
All bachelors and diploma programmes
include industrial training during the course
to facilitate the students with real-time work
environment and work culture. The faculty
has rich experience in teaching, research
and industry.

The Faculty of Engineering offers:

l Diploma in Electrical and Electronics
Engineering (2.5 years)
l Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance
Technology (3.5 years)
l Bachelor of Engineering Technology
(Hons) in Electrical and Electronics
(four years)
l Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
Technology (four years)
l Bachelor of Civil Engineering
Technology (four years)
l Master of Science in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering
(1.5 years)
l Master of Science in
Telecommunication
Engineering (1.5 years)
l PhD in Engineering

n For more
information, visit
www.lincoln.edu.my
Prof Ismail says
that engineering
programmes at
Lincoln University
College produce
graduates who
are well-equipped
for the industry.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

6 postgraduate

THE Management & Science

University (MSU) is one of
Malaysias top universities.
It focuses strongly on in-demand
areas of study, which encompass
medicine, health sciences,
pharmacy, information sciences
and engineering, business
management and professional
studies, education, social sciences,
hospitality, culinary arts, music,
and fashion.
MSU has received much
recognition from Malaysian and
international independent bodies.
It has been rated as an Excellent
Status University twice by the
former Higher Education Ministry
through a rating system for all
universities in Malaysia.
MSUs Graduate School of
Management (GSM) recognises that
todays global companies require
managers with a broader outlook.
The university attracts top
students through its
internationalisation effort of
employing faculty members with
overseas experience and forming
effective links with businesses.
The Master in Business
Administration by MSU (MSU-MBA)
offers student an experiential
learning opportunity in crosscultural communications, building
a global network and possibly
creating a future international
career.
In addition, students are able to
develop management skills and
techniques, obtain strategic
orientation and implement the

The Master in Business Administration by MSU programme develops leadership, entrepreneurship, strategic
management and decision-making skills in business leaders.

Experiential,
global learning
strategies formulated.
The MSU-MBA helps students
develop skills in leadership,
entrepreneurship, strategic
management and decision-making
so that they become successful
leaders in the most competitive
markets.
The programme aims to build
on the foundations of work
experience and, by equipping
students with new skills and
knowledge, enable them to make a
smooth transition to a higher level
of responsibility.
The MSU-MBA provides

sufficient knowledge for students

to understand the various facets
of an organisation to formulate
successful strategies. It also instils
confidence in them.
The MSU-MBA is popular with
employers as it is a recognised
currency in the human resources
marketplace. Employers know the
value of the qualification and what
they can expect from an MBA
graduate.
They also recognise the
commitment shown by MSU-MBA
students in investing heavily in
their careers. Such candidates are

likely to be dynamic self-starters

who will be an asset to any
organisation.
There is a multitude of reasons
for students to consider taking up
the MSU-MBA as an integral step in
their career paths. Having an MSUMBA can be the determinant in
getting a high-paying and highpower job.
Active learning exercises within
the programme act as a basis for
verbal analysis and discussion,
allowing for a rich learning
environment by integrating the
classroom with the real world.

These exercises broaden

students understanding of issues
by inviting them to think beyond
the text material.
GSM has established
collaborative educational links
with a number of top overseas
universities, including those in the
United Kingdom, the United States,
Australia, New Zealand, South
Korea, Japan, Germany, Russia
and China.
The Global Mobility Programme
is a means to provide MSU
postgraduate students with
international exposure.
Through this programme,
students have the opportunity
to develop an awareness and
appreciation of other cultures,
political and economic
environments, and approaches
of doing business.
Professors of the MSU-MBA are
accomplished teachers who have
made significant contributions to
the business world, both as
academics and working
professionals.
They have conducted research
and published articles across a
broad range of business and
professional areas. They have also
taught university-level business
courses abroad, thus bringing their
rich multicultural heritage to
Malaysia.

n For more information, call

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

Rise to the top

THE University of Strathclyde MBA
programme is designed for ambitious and
qualified individuals with solid business
experience.
The approach is based on collaborative
learning where work experience, knowledge,
understanding and applicable skills are
shared, worked with and reflected on.
Placed in the top 100 in the world, top 10
in Europe and 5th in the United Kingdom
in The Economists newly released 2015
Executive MBA ranking, the programme is
also ranked in the top 100 in the world by
The Financial Times.
The University of Strathclyde Business
School is triple-accredited by the
international bodies, including the
Association of MBAs (AMBA) and EFMD
Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
The MBA programme can be studied in
the UK or part-time via international centres
in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Greece, Dubai, Oman,
Singapore, Switzerland and Malaysia.
It has been offered in Malaysia for 26
years and has been running since 1999 in
partnership with CDC Management
Development (M) Sdn Bhd.
Participants, who must be at least 24 years
old with at least three years of relevant work
experience, have the flexibility to switch
between different modes of study, depending
on their location and lifestyles.
The integrated programme comprises
compulsory modules supported by a
selection of optional in-depth functions
allowing students to tailor their MBA to suit
their career aspirations. All the lectures or
intensive seminars are conducted by
University of Strathclyde academics.
Indeed, what makes the University of
Strathclyde MBA programme unique is
its strong focus on strategic analysis and
thinking, leadership and scenario planning.
They are central to the programme
with a particular emphasis on strategic
management at the level of developing

Teamwork is an important aspect of the

University of Strathclyde MBA programme.

strategy in the organisation.

Students spend time working on and
building a corporate strategy as well as
reflecting on the international business
environment within which they have to
operate.
Key modules are exploring the
international business environment, strategy
analysis and evaluation and strategy making.
The final class, strategic consulting in
practice, provides an opportunity to work
with a live organisational issue in
conjunction with a client organisation.
The programme teaches students ways of
handling opportunities and problems related
to management as reflective, open-minded
and adaptive learners.
The teamwork approach fostered at the
university is an important aspect of the
course and ensures that the extensive range
of people from different backgrounds are
brought together to learn from each other in
a truly diverse working experience.
Thus far, more than 1,000 students of
various nationalities have graduated in the
Malaysian campus.
The next intake is in April next year.

n For more information, call 03-7660 8950

or visit www.cdc.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

8 postgraduate

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

Dr Anushia Inthiran says

it is vital for information
technology and business
professionals to have a
strong understanding of
each others fields as they
are interdependent.

Convergence
of expertise
IF you have a business background and
want to know more about the information
technology (IT) field or vice versa, the
Master of Business Information Systems
(MBIS) is the programme for you.
Offered at Monash University Malaysia,
the course brings together two spheres
business and IT.
The MBIS is suitable for candidates with
previous qualifications in any discipline, as
students would be able to get the best of the
IT and business worlds.
The course prepares someone with no IT
background or with a business background
to work in the IT field, says Dr Anushia
Inthiran from the School of Information
Technology at Monash Malaysia.
Instead of teaching students how to use
the computer or do programming, the
course teaches students the skills required
to help businesses through IT.
These days, IT and business can no
longer be segregated as they are both
interdependent.
You must know how businesses work
before you can use IT to help them.
Similarly, you cant be in a business without
knowing about IT and what it can and
cannot do for you, says Dr Anushia.
In the past, IT professionals used to
be known as programmers and are the
go-to person to fix computer problems.
These days, IT professionals are expected
to be able to understand the needs of
businesses and provide them with IT
solutions.
It is pointless to come up with fantastic
systems, applications and programs if
businesses do not see the need for them
or understand how IT can bring positive
changes to them, she says.
Hence, there was a need to break down
the barrier by having both parties
understand each others functions.
This programme will prepare its
graduates to play this very important role,
she adds.
What makes the Monash MBIS
programme unique is that not many other
universities offer a programme that
combines both business and IT at a
postgraduate level.
The course is structured in a way where
there are some mandatory components that
need to be completed and up to four
elective units that can be selected based

It is pointless to come up
with fantastic systems,
applications and
programs if businesses
do not see the need for
them or understand
how IT can bring positive
changes to them.
Dr Anushia Inthiran

on a students liking and interest.

We also offer students the option of
either completing a minor research project
or an industry project in the last semester,
depending on what they want to pursue
after the programme, she says.
She recommends the former for those
interested in pursuing a PhD and the latter
for those planning to directly enter the
industry.
Regarding the subjects that are taught
in this programme, Dr Anushia says, One
of them is IT for management decisionmaking, which focuses on the IT needs of
managers, how they think, how they go
about their work, and the applications
and systems suitable for them.
This subject also explores operations
management concepts, which looks at how
an organisation works, and the psychology
and biases that affect how a manager
makes decisions and decides on strategies.
The other subject is enterprise systems,
which gives students practical experience
using SAP the software that allows the
tracking of customer and business
interactions.
Career options for graduates, among
others, are in the fields of project
consultancy, business analytics,
information management, application,
and IT management and governance.
The duration of this programme is two
years for full-time students and four years
for those who opt to pursue it part time.

n For more information on the

Monash Malaysia MBIS programme,
visit www.infotech.monash.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

postgraduate 9

Balanced education lifestyle

WITH the value of the ringgit
hitting its lowest since 1998,
rising exchange rates are forcing
individuals to consider giving
up on studying in international
universities, delaying their
postgraduate study or even giving
up on doing postgraduate studies
altogether.
The University of Nottingham
was aware that many students
do not get the opportunity to go
overseas for postgraduate studies.
This led to the university taking
the bold step of becoming the
first British university to set up
an international campus and
establish itself in Asia.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary
this year, The University of
Nottingham Malaysia Campus
(UNMC) provides quality
education to local and
international students while
offering a complete campus
lifestyle.
We have found a niche in the
market in Malaysia for students
who are looking for a campus
experience but are unable to
afford study in the United
Kingdom, Australia or elsewhere,
says Prof Christine Ennew, provost
and chief executive officer of The
University of Nottingham
Malaysia Campus (UNMC).

exposes them to new ideas and

ways of thinking.

Dedicated facilities

The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus offers a breadth of courses

to meet postgraduate needs and employer expectations.

Well-rounded experience

Since moving to its current 125acre (50.6ha) site in Semenyih in

2005, UNMC has not only grown its
student population to around 5,000
students but also expanded its
scope of research facilities and
activities.
Prof Ennew reveals that UNMC
has dedicated facilities such as
laboratories with required
protection and safety protocols
as well as open spaces with big

rigs for engineering research,

among others.
As a highly ranked and rated
university, we want our students
to be educated in an excellent
research environment, she says.
There is also real value in being
a student in a diverse disciplinary
environment. Students can interact
with others who are studying
politics, psychology, English
literature, cultural studies or
other niche discipline areas this

To further cater to its

postgraduate students, UNMC uses
its Kuala Lumpur Teaching Centre
(KLTC) located in Chulan Tower for
the delivery of teaching to its parttime students.
The majority of the universitys
MBA, politics and international
relations courses are delivered
there.
We recognised that working
adults need somewhere in the
city centre that they can go to
for classes. Besides lecture rooms
and theatres, the centre provides
computer laboratories and study
spaces. We are also setting up a
resource centre there, says
Prof Ennew.

Niche courses
One of UNMCs biggest
achievements since its inception
is the successful broadening of
its subject base.
As a leading private higher
education institution, UNMC not
only has a strong focus on the
traditional vocational courses such
as engineering, business, pharmacy

and IT, it also offers a considerable

breadth of course in science, social
science and engineering to meet a
diversity of postgraduate needs
and employer expectations.
To enhance this wide breadth of
disciplines, UNMC contextualises
its courses to suit the local setting,
such as incorporating and adapting
real-life examples that are relevant
to the Asean region.
Prof Ennew explains that though
UNMC is part of the wider family
of the University of Nottingham, it
has the independence to adapt to
local requirements to perform its
best within the Asean region.
Its important that we dont just
transplant courses or ways of
doing things from one campus to
the other but that we remain true
to the values of the Nottingham
brand while adjusting what we
offer to best suit students and
markets needs, she says.
Prof Ennew goes on to say that
the universitys students are at the
heart of everything UNMC does.
We want a place that is
distinctive and that provides real
value in terms of employability,
creativity, independence and the
capacity to innovate.

n For more information, visit

www.nottingham.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

10 postgraduate

Creating globally
aware students
IN a survey done during the Taylors
University annual Career and Employment
Fair, 30% of respondents comprising top
multinational organisations said that they
would pay an average of RM400 more in
monthly salary for a masters degree holder
for the same position applied for by
applicants with an undergraduate degree.
Assuming a starting pay difference of
RM400 each month in favour of a masters
degree holder (with a 5% increment per
annum and other factors being constant),
those with more than 30 years of work life
would earn an addition of RM318,906.46.
If we factor in the opportunity of better
career advancement of a postgraduate

holder, this figure may rise even more

substantially over the years.
A good masters of business administration
(MBA) programme attracts talented people
from every corner of society. These
professional relationships provide essential
mentoring and networking, which is
valuable for their careers. Ninety percent of
hiring managers said they prefer networking
over advertising (source: www.babson.edu).
The global rotation module of our MBA
programme allows students to not only have
a taste of learning abroad in universities, but
also in top companies and industries, where
they can apply what they have learnt in real
life. This type of opportunity is rarely

Students who attended the one-week study tour in August standing in front of Mansfield College,
University of Oxford.

available and I encourage our students to

take part in it wherever possible, says
Vinitha Guptan, dean of Taylors Business
School.
A unique feature of Taylors MBA is
that it allows students the opportunity to
participate in exchange programmes with
reputable business schools from around
the world.
This facilitates cultural exchange and
international networking that allows
students to enhance their learning
experience.
The Taylors MBA has connections with 43
renowned universities, including Mansfield
College, which is a part of the University of
Oxford in the United Kingdom, Universit
Catholique de Lille in France (IESEG) and
University of Bath, UK.
Through the one-of-its-kind Taylors
Entrepreneurship Leadership Programme,
students can opt to join a study tour that
includes visits to places such as Mansfield
College, University of Oxford, or the
European Summer Programme held in
France offered by IESEG, or opt to take two
modules at the School of Management,
University of Bath in the UK.
Jayvien Lau, head of Global Mobility at
a leading private education institution,
comments on her study tour in the UK,
This being my first time visiting the United
Kingdom and particularly Mansfield College,
University of Oxford, the experience that
I have gained has been exceptional.
The overall Taylors Entrepreneurship
Leadership Programme was well executed
and we were exposed to a multi-faceted
aspect of business education.
I am thankful for the opportunity to
participate in this programme and believe
that it has added much value to the MBA
programme as a whole.
The one-week study tour was organised on
behalf of the Taylors Business School (TBS)
by The Eurasia Consortium and was based at
Mansfield College, University of Oxford.
The itinerary included presentations,
seminars and site visits to various companies
such as BMW Mini and Lloyds of London
where students gained first-hand insight on
crowd funding.
Reflecting on her mobility experience,
Lau observed that participation in
internationalisation activities broadens
ones mind to gain cultural and intellectual
understanding of world issues.
She says that this experience will have

A good MBA programme

attracts talented
people from every
corner of society.
These professional
relationships provide
essential mentoring and
networking, which is
valuable for their careers.
a lifelong impact on her perspective of
knowledge acquisition and she was
particularly impressed by the education
model adopted by Mansfield College,
University of Oxford and Cambridge
University in their tutorial systems.
She believes that students from all levels
should take the opportunity to go abroad,
whether it is for a one-semester exchange or
short-term mobility as it enhances the value
of learning and helps a person gain a global
mindset.
Siew Li Lien, an MBA candidate at
Taylors Business School who also went on
the tour, says that the trip changed her
mindset.
Had it not been for the study tour, I
would still have the mindset that doing
business elsewhere is easier. The Taylors
Entrepreneurship Leadership Programme
helped me expand my knowledge further. I
have seen things that I do not get to see back
home and this allowed me to appreciate my
MBA education more.
She adds, All the theories that I learnt
here are applicable to the business situations
in England and other countries. I also gained
important networks with the professors and
lecturers at Mansfield College, University of
Oxford, which was a great opportunity for
me. I had a great time and would be happy
to join more study tours such as this if I had
the opportunity again, says Siew.
The Taylors MBA is offered on full-time
basis for a one-year duration or part time for
a minimum of two years to maximum of five
years. Financial aid of up to 50% off the
tuition fees is also available.

n For more information, call 03-5629 5000,

e-mail postgraduate@taylors.edu.my or visit
www.taylors.edu.my/mbat

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

postgraduate 11

IUMW students have access to many resources that support their

learning, including UMs library.

Trained for
the future

THE International University

of Malaya-Wales (IUMW) is a
private university formed
through a strategic alliance
between the University of
Malaya (UM) and the University
of Wales/Trinity Saint David.
IUMW is the first university
in South-East Asia to be accepted
as a member of the United
Kingdoms Higher Education
Academy, a prestigious body
that recognises adherence to
exemplary teaching standards.
We aim to produce graduates
who meet the stringent
expectations of todays highly
competitive information
technology (IT), science and
technology sectors.
That is why we are now
offering the Master of Science in
Internet Engineering to students
who wish to obtain professional
recognition, enhance their
competency and acquire
in-depth knowledge of the
Internet and networking
system, says Prof Dr Hamzah
Abdul Rahman, president and
chief executive officer of IUMW.
We foster innovative teaching
and learning and aspire to be a
leading research-oriented
institution embracing global best
practices, a strong international
profile and unswerving
commitment to Asias economic
and social development.
The Internet engineering
programme is aimed at
producing engineers who will
spearhead the design and
direction of future Internet
architecture, infrastructure
and applications.
This programme equips
graduates with knowledge of
advanced and profound concepts
that underlay the design and
implementation of Internetbased systems.
It provides a solid
multidisciplinary basis and a
wide range of specialisation
opportunities, which can
stimulate the creative energies
of students.
In addition, IUMW offers the
Doctor of Philosophy (Computer
Science) and other programmes
ranging from the undergraduate
to postgraduate level.
The study of computer science
prepares one to be a professional
who is capable of applying

computer knowledge, principles

and skills to solve problems as
well as possesses theoretical
computing knowledge in
analysing, modelling, designing,
developing and evaluating
computing solutions.
The Malaysian Government
has announced its latest Digital
Malaysia Masterplan to drive the
next stage of development of
Malaysias information and
communications technology (ICT)
sector.
Consequently, this has resulted
in the need for a number of
measures to be taken to
strengthen Malaysias ICT and
computer science ecosystem,
including talent development.
The requirement for highly
trained experts to process,
manipulate and assess the
rapidly escalating pile of
information has never been
higher.
In this perspective, the
programmes offered will deliver
the vital expertise to students so
that they become experts in the
IT industry.
The programmes offered by
IUMW aim to establish strong
connections between the
academic world and the industry
through mandatory internships
and apprenticeships, which will
benefit the students.
Because society is becoming
increasingly dependent on
technology for the everyday
aspects of life from business to
social interaction and beyond
computer scientists and IT
expertise are sought after in
pretty much every industry and
a wide range of capacities.
IUMWs garden-in-the-city
campus offers an extensive
range of facilities to support the
learning experience, including a
library, an auditorium, lecture
halls and laboratories. IUMW
fees are affordable and students
will have access to UMs library
and facilities.
The November intake is open
for registration. Come and visit
the IUMW campus to find out
more about its computer science
and Internet engineering
programmes.

n For more information,

call 03-2617 3000 or
visit www.iumw.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

12 postgraduate

Education: limitless, timeless

AMONG the 7,506 learners who graduated
from Open University Malaysia (OUM)
recently, there were a select few who stood
out from the throng.
They were present at the convocation only
because of the exceptional circumstances
that allowed them the opportunity to study
at OUM. These individuals are senior citizens
and the physically challenged (OKU).
Among the stand-outs are Noor Azila
Ismail, Rosli Zawawi and Mohd Zulkifli
Mamat, who are visually impaired.
When the Education Ministrys Teacher
Training Division offered them the
opportunity to pursue undergraduate
studies, they went for it and have now
graduated with Bachelor of Teaching
(Primary Education) degrees.
According to Noor Azila, OUM taught her
to be independent, saying, I studied parttime and attended tutorials only five times
per semester.
There was no one to remind me about
doing my assignments, so, with OUMs help,
I learnt to push myself.
Rosli believes his newly obtained degree
is a step towards greater things in life.
A teacher for 14 years, he says OUMs
learning approach greatly benefited him as
he could study online.
Education gives us hope. OUMs learning
environment and facilities promote peer
group support.
My peers and tutors were a great help
and ever ready to provide assistance
whenever needed, he says.

Mohd Zulkifli Mamat and Rosli Zawawi are proud graduates of OUM.

The golden years

Another high achiever is 75-year-old Koh

Kwang Meng who obtained a cumulative
grade point average of 4.0 for his Master
of Education degree.

OUM graduate Noor Azila Ismail receiving her scroll from

Pro Chancellor Tan Sri Azman Hashim.

The sprightly senior citizen had earlier

completed his Bachelor in Education (TESL)
with Honours with OUM and has been
offered to pursue his Doctor of Education
at OUM completely free.
OUM gave me a year to think about
pursuing a PhD. I replied that there was
nothing to think about. I am going to start
immediately, he says.
There is no point in idling. At this
age, I wouldnt know what will
happen to my mental faculties.
But with this remarkable
initiative by OUM providing
a flexible route for all,
including senior citizens, to
study we can
age actively instead of
otherwise.
For this reason, I am
extremely thankful to OUM
for coming up with this
initiative of providing free
education for those aged 75
and above.
For the September intake
and thereafter, there is a special
75% fee waiver for those
between the ages of 60 and 74
and the physically challenged
of any age.
Anyone 75 years old and above
will get 100% off their fees,
regardless of qualification
and socio-economic status.
The September intake is
ongoing; the closing date is
Oct 25.
What OUM can offer the
differently abled:
Easy access to learning centres
as there are 34 nationwide,
eliminating the need to travel
far. The learning centres are fully
equipped with state-of-the-art facilities,
including those for the differently
abled.
Various learning materials, including
audio modes of lectures and books,
videos and notes in PDF format.
Friendly staff who are ever ready
to assist, especially with technology.
Easy manoeuvring of systems and
guidelines to help them.

I am extremely
thankful to OUM
for coming up
with this initiative
of providing free
education for those
aged 75 and above.
Koh Kwang Meng

n For more information, call 03-2773 2121,

e-mail enquiries@oum.edu.my or visit
www.oum.edu.my or Whatsapp
012-303 9934/35.
OUM
graduate Koh
Kwang Meng
is ready to
pursue a
doctorate in
education at
OUM.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

FRESH graduates often have

adequate subject knowledge,
teamwork and communication
skills but are not quite workready.
There is a significant skills
gap between the graduates
employers want and the
candidates they meet during
interviews.
Having business etiquette has
been cited as critical to securing
and maintaining jobs as well as
in contributing to the careers of
graduates.
Etiquette is a system of rules
and conventions that regulate
social and professional
behaviour, and there are
differences between social
etiquette and professional
protocol.
This means that even if the
graduates have the benefit of
being well-grounded in social
etiquette, they might find that
familiar rules do not always
apply in the workplace.
Realising this, forward-looking
institutes of higher education are
integrating business etiquette
into their curriculum to help
students better identify how
well-prepared they are for the
workforce.
Business etiquette includes
knowing the proper way to
introduce business associates,
business dining etiquette
(such as who pays for lunch),
the protocol on presenting
a business card, making
presentations, how to resolve
conflicts and the importance
of body language.
Business etiquette training is
relevant to masters of business
administration (MBA) students
even though many would have
picked up bits and pieces of the
knowledge at their workplace.
They should realise the power
of skills such as negotiation,
assertiveness and the ability
to use them in the right way
to make a positive contribution
to a business.
Knowing business etiquette
also instils greater selfconfidence, as a person who is
well-versed in it will, for
example, know when is the right
time to interrupt a meeting or
how to excuse oneself from a
meeting that is in progress.
Having the know-how to
address a delicate problem or
uncomfortable circumstance

postgraduate 13

Beyond ordinary business

makes an employee invaluable
to his or her firm.
On a larger scale, globalisation
has caused an increase in
transactions between
international companies.
As the barriers between
differing cultures can sometimes
make conducting business
difficult, it is important for
business personnel to learn
and adapt to cross-cultural
interactions.
Therefore, building a good
relationship is the first and most
important aspect of conducting
businesses with customers or
other companies.
Even if a relationship has
been successfully formed,
miscommunication due to
cultural gaps will cost companies
time and money.
To avoid such undesirable
outcomes, students should be
trained in business protocols to
help overcome the challenges of
cultural integration and crosscultural conflicts.
When interacting during
negotiations or sales
transactions, it is advantageous
to know the codes of extraorganisational customer
relations interactions.
Victoria University MBA
(VUMBA) at Sunway College is a
work-relevant MBA programme
with an invaluable business
network of 120 active students
and more than 500 alumni.
About 20% of individuals
enrolled in the programme
are foreign students.
Business etiquette is
intentionally incorporated
across the curriculum as well as
exposited through seminars and
workshops.
During the course, students
are exposed to practical, sound
advice applicable to common
situations to enhance their
knowledge and confidence in
demonstrating appropriate
business etiquette.

n For more information about

the Victoria University MBA
programme at Sunway College,
e-mail Dr Hendry Ng at
hendryng@sunway.edu.my

The ability of good business etiquette to enable success in the

workplace should not be underestimated.

Intercultural
communications
are becoming
increasingly vital
in most careers.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

14 postgraduate

Participants of the 3rd R&D Colloquium 2015 held at UTAR.

Cutting-edge
research
THE 3rd R&D Colloquium 2015 was recently
held at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
(UTAR), Kampar Campus, following two
previous colloquia successfully held last
year.
Themed Sustainable Development and
Green Growth as well as Health Care and
Technology, topics presented at the
colloquium included sustainable healthcare
systems and lifestyles, the relationship
between corporate governance,
sustainability disclosure and financial
performance, and disaster management.
With more than 120participants
comprising local and foreign researchers
from UTAR research centres, lecturers and
postgraduate students, the colloquium
provided a platform to facilitate networking
opportunities between the 28 UTAR research
centres, establish cross-research cooperation
and enhance bidding for local and
international research funding.
UTAR vice president Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei
says, This colloquium exists to strengthen
and nurture interactions among researchers,
establish research collaboration and
reinforce cross-disciplinary research.
It directs researchers and postgraduate
students toward multi-disciplinary academic
research to form a knowledge-based
community with advanced research culture
and quality.
Guided by its motto Intellectual Pursuits
through Sustainable Research, the Institute
of Postgraduate Studies and Research (IPSR)
coordinates all the postgraduate programmes
and research and development (R&D)
activities in UTAR. The university offers an
exhaustive range of postgraduate degree
programmes up to PhD level in a number of
disciplines. Intakes for the research
programmes remain open throughout the
year.
According to Prof DrFaidz Abd Rahman,
director of the IPSR, The institute functions
as a central body to ensure that the
programmes and R&D projects are well
administered and monitored to provide the
best possible R&D experience. They are
designed to encompass a large share of R&D
activities to provide students with the most
up-to-date technical knowledge and skills.
As Prof Faidz explains, This allows those
pursuing postgraduate qualifications to
enhance their competency, guaranteeing that
they gain sustainable competitive advantage
in their respective industries. This can then

expedite the advancement of their careers or

give them the opportunity to branch out into
other areas of expertise.
UTAR has a good blend of young and
dynamic academics with research
and industry experience that provides
postgraduate students with the essential
opportunity to interact with the research
community and participate actively in
research.
Master of Philosophy (Social Science) by
Research student Tiny Tey Chiu Yuen says,
UTAR encourages us to attend local and
international conferences and join the
committees responsible for organising
conferences. These give us exposure to the
world of research and the opportunity to
expand our experience.
Regarding lecturers at UTAR, Tey says,
Im grateful to my supervisors. They guide
me throughout my postgraduate studies at
UTAR and I have grown from being a novice
researcher.
UTAR lecturers dedication to providing
outstanding education with transformative
societal impact is reflected in its R&D
projects, including one led by Prof Datuk
Dr Goh Sing Yau, which was awarded a
research grant under the MOSTI Flagship
Programme to develop a brain computer
interface wheelchair that would greatly
improve the quality of life for motor neuron
disease and stroke patients.
IPSR has endeavoured to cultivate
innovative researches, which can be seen
from the number of grants received by
UTAR researchers from local as well as
international organisations.
IPSR also provides advice on coursecontent, fees, entry requirements, financial
aids and classes.
Established in 2002 with just 411 students,
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman currently
offers more than 110 programmes in various
fieldsto more than 26,000 students in its
nine faculties, three institutes and three
centres located in the Sungai Long Campus
and Kampar Campus. UTAR is proud to have
more than 40,000 alumni.
The university is hosting its Postgraduate
Course Preview on Nov 21, from noon to
5pm at UTAR Sungai Long Campus and UTAR
Kampar Campus.

n For more information, call

03-9086 0288/016-223 3559 (Sungai Long)
or 05-468 8888/016-223 3557 (Kampar).

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

postgraduate 15

International and local doctoral graduates posing with AeUs top management at AeUs 5th Convocation Ceremony.

Strengthening
global connections
ON Sept 20, Asia e University (AeU)
held its 5th Convocation Ceremony
at the Putra World Trade Centre,
Kuala Lumpur.
About 3,000 graduates proudly
strode to the stage to receive their
scrolls at the universitys
convocation. The graduating batch
came from a total of 78 academic
and executive programmes.
A total of 536 international
students graduated in this
convocation, including those from
Bahrain, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
India, Iran, Kenya, the Maldives,
New Zealand, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri
Lanka, Taiwan, the United Kingdom,
Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
This signifies that AeU is gaining
acceptance in the international
arena.
At present, AeU offers its
programmes in various locations,
including India, Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka,
Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Ghana, Somalia,
Taiwan, Thailand, New Zealand,
Denmark, Sweden and the UK.
AeU has enrolled nearly 4,000
international students from 64
countries, who make up 25% of
total enrolment, many of whom are
pursuing postgraduate studies at
AeU.
AeU is currently directing its focus
on establishing quality international
education as the DNA of the
university.
AeU continues to strengthen and
deepen its presence, especially in
Asia, while maintaining the best
practices and high standards.
Nearly all of its academic
programmes at PhD, masters and
bachelors levels have been
stringently audited and awarded
full accreditation by the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency (MQA) and,
in some instances, in the respective
country that the programmes are
being offered via international
educational partnerships.

Program Pensiswazahan
Guru graduates
The total number of graduates
also includes 521 graduates from the
Program Pensiswazahan Guru (PPG).
Pensiswazahan Guru is a

AeUs 5th Convocation held at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

programme conducted under the

Education Ministry. Those who
participate are teachers who have
successfully completed their
Bachelor of Education (TESL) and
Bachelor of Education (Teaching
Malay Language in Primary School)
with Honours programmes.
The first batch of 83 teachers
received their scrolls at the
universitys fourth convocation
in September last year, proving
AeUs commitment to enhancing
the capabilities of teachers in the
country.

Shaping the higher

education landscape
Built on the philosophy that
education should be democratised,
AeU focuses on creating an
affordable and accessible pathway
to higher education while placing
importance on flexible entry
requirements, a learner-friendly
academic system and blended
pedagogy that combines different
modes of learning.
Each of these components is
designed to fulfil the diverse needs
of learners and create learning
environments that equip them for
the challenges of the 21st century.
To date, AeU has enrolled more
than 21,000 students in more than 65
countries and seen 9,000 graduates.
By focusing heavily on technology,
AeU has opened the door to higher
education for many, giving working
adults the chance to continue
learning and upgrade their skills and
knowledge.

Lifelong learning

Lifelong learning is about

acquiring and upgrading ones
knowledge and skills at various
stages in life, starting from preschool
to post-retirement years.
Where AeU is concerned, lifelong
learning is also about providing
second chances to people, where the
ultimate goal is to help the workforce
progress in terms of capabilities and
competencies.
There are many people who
cannot continue their education
at the same time as their peers
due to various obstacles.
AeU provides them the chance to
do this during their productive years
without jeopardising their existing
work routine.
Courses and programmes such as
those offered at AeU accommodate
the use of an open and flexible mode
of study.
Speaking at the event, Prof Datuk
Dr Ansary Ahmed, president and
chief executive officer of AeU,
congratulated the graduates, saying,
Be proud of your qualification,
fly the AeU flag well wherever
youre practising and make a positive
impact on the community you
are in.
Having been in operation for
eight years, AeU has distinguished
itself as a unique and successful
institution in open and distance
learning, not only within Malaysia
but also in other parts of Asia and
beyond Asia.

n For more information,

visit www.aeu.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015

16 postgraduate

SPORTS engineering is a relatively

new engineering discipline that
has made inroads over the past
couple of decades.
More than 20 universities offer
programmes in sports engineering
in the United Kingdom alone,
besides being present in other
countries such as Germany,
Austria, Singapore, Japan, Sweden
and Australia.
In 2011, the Higher Education
Ministry opined that engineeringbased research should be carried
out in a bid to assist Malaysian
athletes to be on par with other
athletes around the globe.
Universiti Malaysia Pahang
(UMP) was given the mandate
to spearhead sports engineering
research in Malaysia and this has
resulted in the establishing of
the Innovative Manufacturing,
Mechatronics and Sports (iMAMS)
Laboratory (formerly known as the
Centre for Sports Engineering or
CenSE).
Sports engineering may be
defined as the technical application
of mathematics and physics to
solve sports-related problems by
means of design, development and
research into external devices used
by athletes to enhance their
performance.
Sports engineers are the
individuals who conduct studies
in the design, construction and
instrumentation of new equipment
based on the requirements of
athletes.

Prof Dr Zahari
Taha, director of
the Innovative
Manufacturing,
Mechatronics and
Sports Laboratory
(iMAMS).

Sporting innovation
One of the iMAMS
laboratorys products is a
time tracker.

Mohd Hasnun Arif Hassan (left) receiving his young investigators award
from Prof Steve Haake of Sheffield Hallam University.

They gauge the behaviour of

equipment, athletes and their
interactions in a controlled
environment.
The rapid advancement of
technology and research facilities
has positioned sports engineering
as a game changer in redefining
progress in the sports field.

iMAMS laboratory
The laboratory was founded by
Prof Dr Zahari Taha, a fellow of
the Academy of Sciences
Malaysia and
a Chartered Engineer.
Prof Zahari formed CenSE
at the Faculty of Mechanical
Engineering and then the
Intelligent Mechatronics and
Manufacturing Laboratory
(IMAM) laboratory at the
Faculty of Manufacturing
Engineering once he moved to
Universiti Malaysia Pahang
(UMP).
He consolidated both
laboratories once he
completed his term as
the dean of the Faculty
of Mechanical

Engineering and returned

to the Faculty of Manufacturing
Engineering.
My vision is that not only will
engineering be the key to national
athletes performing at greater
levels but also the improvement of
the health of Malaysians through
the advancement of technology,
says Prof Zahari, who is the
director of iMAMS.
The laboratory was established
to train undergraduates (final year
students through final year
projects and capstone projects) and
postgraduates to think critically
and innovatively to realise this
vision.
The laboratory has seven faculty
members, one postdoctoral
associate, 12 postgraduate students
and eight undergraduates working
on their final year projects.
The laboratory gained
international recognition when
one of its researchers, Mohd
Hasnun Arif Hassan, won the third
best young investigators award at
the 10th Engineering of Sport
Conference organised by the
International Sports Engineering
Association last year at Sheffield

Hallam University.
He presented on the
development of the soccer ball and
human head finite element models
for soccer heading simulations,
which is instrumental in
understanding the mechanism of
blunt trauma injury that soccer
players are susceptible to.
Hasnun also won the Best Paper
award at the Movement Health
and Exercise (MoHE) conference
organised by the Ministry of
Educations Sports Division last
year.
iMAMS laboratory research
collaborations include local key
players such as the National Sports
Institute, Terengganu Sports
Council and other local higher
education institutions such as
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin
(UniSZA), Universiti Malaysia
Sabah (UMS), University of Malaya
(UM), Universiti Teknologi MARA
(UiTM) and other universities in
the region.
Among its international
collaborators are Technische
Universitt Mnchen, German
Sports University Cologne, PFI
Germany in Germany and
International Supercomputing
Conference (ISC) Germany.
They are also in the midst
of working with Manchester
Metropolitan University,
Loughborough University in
the UK and also the University
of Padova, Italy.

Lim Kok Wee, a dual-award

Bachelor of Mechatronics
Engineering (UMP-HsKA, Germany
(Karlsruhe University of Applied
Sciences)) programme student at
UMP benefited from the
collaboration as he had the
privilege to perform his industrial
training with PFI Germany.
He worked on the development
of an innovative shoe material
thermal conductivity measuring
device. His work improved the
existing device by incorporating
real-time processing graphical
user interface and the accuracy of
its results.
Among the notable sportsrelated products produced at
iMAMS are a postural balance
platform, low-cost threedimensional foot scanner, wireless
timing gate system, instrumented
insole, instrumented bow tester,
Statwatch and Digiman.
Research at the iMAMS
laboratory is not only limited
to sport-related research but
involves innovative research in
manufacturing and mechatronics.
Current research includes
studying the hot stamping process,
sustainable manufacturing, visionbased robotics, autonomous
underwater vehicle, unmanned
aerial vehicle and rehabilitation
robotics.

n For more information,

visit www.imamslab.com

Pathway to specialised career

THE Department of Petroleum
Engineering, Faculty of
Engineering and Science at Curtin
University, Sarawak Malaysia
(Curtin Sarawak) is committed to
providing the oil and gas industry
with high-quality graduates while
helping students fulfil their
individual needs.
The Curtin Master of Petroleum
Engineering course offered is a
masters conversion course aimed
primarily at engineers who do not
have any formal qualifications in
petroleum engineering but have
honours degrees in other relevant
engineering disciplines.
It is also available to graduates
from other disciplines who have
relevant work experience in areas
related to petroleum engineering.
The full-time, 18-month
course provides students with a
multidisciplinary education in
petroleum engineering and is
taught over three semesters
with four 25-credit units taught
per semester.

The course was first introduced

at Curtin Sarawak in March this
year with an initial cohort of 12
Shell geologists and engineers with
backgrounds in geology and other
engineering disciplines.
It was introduced in response to
industry demands for a conversion
course to produce more qualified
petroleum engineers who are
sought after in the Malaysian and
international oil and gas industry.
One of the main features of the
course is that it is identical to the
highly successful course offered at
Curtin Universitys main campus
in Perth, Western Australia.
This means that students at
Curtin Sarawak get an
undifferentiated learning
experience and can access the
same online learning resources,
including i-lectures, as students in
Perth.
They are able to fully complete
their degree at Curtin Sarawak
for around a third the cost of
completing the same degree

in Australia.
There is no difference in the
quality of the degrees earned as
the degree certificates are
awarded by the parent campus.
Curtin Sarawak is located in the
hub of the oil and gas industry in
East Malaysia and is one of five
universities in Malaysia offering
programmes in petroleum
engineering.
Its strong links with industry
players such as Baker Hughes,
Petronas, Shell, Nippon Oil,
Murphy Oil, Schlumberger and
Technip, which operate
extensively in Sabah and Sarawak,
offer distinct advantages to
petroleum engineering students.
According to Prof Michael Cloke,
dean of Curtin Sarawaks Faculty
of Engineering and Science, there
is a plan to offer the Master of
Petroleum Engineering course
to staff of other oil and gas
companies so that they too can
get a specialised education in
petroleum engineering.

The Curtin Master of Petroleum Engineering is a conversion course that aims

to produce more qualifed petroleum engineers.

The course is open for

registration to the general public
in the next semester, which will
commence in March next year.
Assoc Prof Sharul Sham Dol,
head of the Department of
Petroleum Engineering at Curtin
Sarawak, says, The surge in
the number of enrolments in
our Bachelor of Engineering
(Petroleum Engineering) and

higher degree by research

programmes shows that we are
able to attract top students, both
locally and internationally, to
study petroleum engineering
at Curtin Sarawak, he says.

n For more information,

call 08-544 3879 (Chan) or
e-mail zhungyi@curtin.edu.my
or visitwww.curtin.edu.my