THE STAR Tuesday 19 May 2015

Pioneers in sustainability > 5 Research success for academician > 12

StarSpecial

PossibilitiesThe complex flavours

of higher learning.

2 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015

VC COLUMN

UNIVERSITY rankings are proliferating. Alongside the annual release of league tables identifying the worlds best universities, we now have regional rankings, rankings of younger universities and rankings by subject.

Although each ranking system uses slightly different indicators, all are underpinned by attempts to measure research quality, typically drawing upon citations data.

The criticisms for such approaches are well known they favour research published in English, high levels of citations do not always reflect high quality work and comparing citations across disciplines can be tricky.

However, numerically based measures of research quality such as those based on citations do have the advantage of being easily comparable across countries in the way that many other quality indicators may not.

In particular, teaching-based performance is much more difficult to assess across countries because of differences in the structure and delivery of degree programmes.

With all their limitations, the rankings can still tell us something about the performance and relative quality of universities, particularly with respect to research.

They may also tell us something about the performance of higher education systems generally.

Like any measure based on crude indicators, they should be interpreted with great care and with awareness of their limitations.

By PROF CHRISTINE ENNEW

The making of a top university

be surprising. At the same time, it does raise

questions about what lies behind their disproportionate success.

Put another way, why do the US and the UK have such a large share of the worlds best universities?

Of course, history matters and both these countries are home to many long-established universities.

But resources matter too and US universities are some of the worlds biggest spenders.

That said, however, the expenditure on higher education in the UK is significantly less, yet the countrys universities continue to deliver outstanding performances in research and teaching.

Both countries have the

advantage of having the English language as their medium of delivery and while that tends to help, the higher level of citations for research published in English is not high enough alone to account for the success of these two countries.

In trying to understand what drives the success of US and UK universities, we need to look beyond just resources and the history.

At the level of the individual institution, there are undoubtedly specific leadership and management factors that drive success one that is often cited as being of importance is the idea that universities that perform well are led by individuals who themselves have outstanding

With that caveat in mind, the rankings can highlight some interesting and thought-provoking trends.

In one of the most recently published rankings, the QS World University Rankings by Subject released in late April, the United States and the United Kingdom dominate. The ranking identifies the top 50 universities worldwide in a range of different subject areas.

Together, the US (36%) and the UK (14%) account for 50% of the global top 50 rankings. Asia accounts for 17% and mainland Europe 15.5%.

Given that both countries tend to dominate the broad-based world rankings, their dominance in the subject rankings may not

Students trust that high-ranking universities will provide opportunities for a world-class education.

THE Management & Science University (MSU) is one of the best teaching and learning universities in Malaysia. As a university of choice, MSU focuses strongly on critical areas of study, which encompass medicine, pharmacy, health and life sciences, nursing, business, management, accounting, hospitality, information sciences and engineering.

MSU has received much recognition from Malaysian and international independent bodies. It has been rated twice as an Excellent Status University by the former Higher Education Ministry through a rating system on all universities in Malaysia.

MSU is also accredited by the Accreditation Services for International Colleges (ASIC), United Kingdom, and the Alliance on Business Education and Scholarship for Tomorrow (ABEST21), Japan.

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 efforts, which include employing faculty members with overseas experience and forming effective links with businesses.

The Master in Business Administration by MSU (MSU-MBA) offers students an experiential learning opportunity

MSUs Master in Business Administration programme develops leaders who have strong skills in entrepreneurship, strategic management and decision making.

in cross-cultural 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 strategies formulated.

The MSU-MBA helps students develop skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, strategic management and decision making so that they become successful leaders in competitive markets.

The programme aims to build on the foundations of work experience and, by equipping them with new skills and knowledge, enable students 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 are a multitude of

reasons so many students now consider an MSU-MBA to be an integral step in their career pathway. Just having an MSU-MBA can be the determinant in getting a high-paying and high-power 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. New terms and concepts are defined in the margins to facilitate learning.

The universitys Graduate School of Management has

established collaborative educational links with a number of top overseas universities, including in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Russia and China.

The Global Mobility Programme (GMP) 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

Achieving a broader outlook

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 multi-cultural heritage to Malaysia.

Professors at MSU are rigorously selected worldwide from among the best consultants and professionals in their fields.

n For more information, call 03-2273 6410 or e-mail gsm@msu.edu.my or visit www.msu.edu.my

academic reputations.There are other elements

present in the US and UK higher education systems that contribute significantly to the success of both countries universities.

Universities in both countries enjoy significant autonomy from their respective governments. These academic institutions may be subject to the governments regulation especially regarding quality assurance but they retain considerable autonomy in terms of what they teach, what they research and who does the teaching and research.

A key challenge for countries that wish to improve their performance in research-related rankings is creating conditions that allow universities to attract, support and retain the most talented individuals and to ensure that they have the resources and freedom to pursue important research.

In many senses, the challenge is in ensuring an appropriate level of regulation is observed for the maintenance of proper education quality without stripping away the autonomy needed by academics to deliver research of the highest quality.

n For more information, visit www.nottingham.edu.my

StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015 POSTGRADUATE 3

Prof Brian Charles Imrie (left) presents a token of appreciation to the guest speaker, Prof Datuk Razali Mahfar, at the Sunway Universitys MBA networking dinner.

Expand to new horizons

NETWORKING opportunities are often deemed to be one of the key benefits of pursuing a masters of business administration (MBA).

Sunway Universitys premier dual-award MBA programme provides networking opportunities for its students, one of them being through the recently held MBA networking dinner.

More than 40 guests comprising MBA students and Sunway University and Sunway groups top management attended the dinner.

Besides gaining valuable contacts, attendees were treated to an inspiring talk titled Extraordinary Leadership and Strategic Management Competencies Driving Sustainable Growth by Prof Datuk Razali Mahfar, adjunct professor of a local public university.

Prof Razali shared insights into his extensive years of work experience at top local oil and gas companies. He was full of praise for Sunway Universitys premier MBA programme.

This dual-award MBA complies with the high standards of the British and Malaysian higher education systems. The entry requirement is stringent as students are working adults from management positions who are eager for personal and career transformation, says Prof Razali.

Partnering with Lancaster University, the dual-award programme aims to aid in transforming todays managers into tomorrows leaders. Upon graduation, students will receive two certificates one from Sunway University and another from Lancaster University.

Lancaster University is ranked in the top 1% of universities globally and the Lancaster MBA programmes are triple accredited by the

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

The Lancaster Global MBA has recorded the best progress of any university globally in the last 12 months, as reported in the Financial Times (FT) World MBA Ranking 2015 published on Jan 26, jumping 27 places to be 50th in the world.

This is a standout performance compared to other MBA programmes in Malaysia. Besides this, the FT ranked the Lancaster MBA programme ninth in the UK and 18th in Europe, says Prof Brian Charles Imrie, associate dean (postgraduate) of Sunway University Business School.

Dr Cheng Boon Liat, Sunway Universitys MBA programme chair, revealed that to date, many industry experts, executives and managers have enrolled for the programme.

Subash Raj Krishnan, one of the first few students enrolled in the programme, says, It has been challenging but the effects and impact of the programme are almost immediate. The business knowledge that I gained supplemented my work.

For example, the corporate finance and management accounting modules have taught me about profit and loss statements, net present value and accounting directives, which I can apply at work to forecast my project to the sales and finance team within the company, says Subash, project manager of an international telecommunications company.

Sunway Universitys dual-award MBA has many desirable features and benefits for aspiring managers.

n For more information, attend a preview session on May 23 at the university or call 03-7491 8701 or visit www.sunway.edu.my/university/MBA

RECENTLY, the Education Ministry launched the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) or the MEB(HE).

In line with this, Open University Malaysia (OUM) plans to support the ministry in its major transformation strategies nationwide.

The university sees itself being a major participant of three out of the 10 shifts that the ministry has proposed in the blueprint. The three are shift three (Nation of lifelong learners), shift eight (Global prominence) and shift ten (Delivering transformed higher education).

Nation of lifelong learnersOUM has been an avid

advocate for the dissemination of information and the skill of learning.

This is seen clearly by its motto University for All. It has designed and developed a plethora of innovative learning tools, such as the OUM app, MyVLE (virtual learning environment), OUMobile, videos, e-tutorials and forums, for its students to access information that would help in their studies.

In addition, the university has recently launched its massive open online courses (MOOC). Many of its materials have been made available to the public.

In fact, OUM is the first Malaysian university to have its learning materials made available on iTunes U.

According to president and vice-chancellor Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, a lot of effort and time are spent in promoting and nurturing lifelong learning.

Driving learning forward

Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, president and vice-chancellor of Open University Malaysia (OUM).

This is done through various channels such as social media, print, weekly exhibitions and events as well as comprehensive marketing strategies. He was among the many who contributed greatly to the construction of the MEB(HE).

In addition, OUM is one of the main centres for the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) system.

Many of its students have enrolled in programmes through this system, leveraging on their experience as a requirement to further their studies.

OUM is a strong advocate of learners from diverse

circumstances. As such, many of OUMs learners include senior citizens and those who are physically challenged.

This is because it offers a 70% discount off the tuition fee for the former and 40% for the latter. Its facilities are also user friendly and easily accessible for those with special circumstances, such as the underserved.

OUM has been able to reach out to the underserved with its 34 fully functional learning centres nationwide.

Prof Anuwar says that OUMs infrastructure was specifically designed for lifelong learners.

Many of its students are senior

citizens, the physically challenged, those with learning difficulties and those who face challenging circumstances.

Global prominenceFor the past decade, OUM

has been venturing beyond the borders of Malaysia to reach out to international learners and promote lifelong learning.

In line with this philosophy, OUM has arms in 10 countries, including Maldives, Hungary, Vietnam, Yemen, Bahrain and Sri Lanka.

Prof Anuwar explains that OUM collectively has more than 8,000 learners studying with OUMs international partners.

The university has been providing opportunities for both international participants and local staff to enable them to realise their global potential, both through increased intercultural understanding and international experiences and possibilities.

With Malaysia being among the top recruiters of international students globally, this is good news for institutions such as OUM.

In addition to this, OUM has been selected to host two major conferences the Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities this year and the Eighth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF8) which will take place next year.

This places OUM prominently on the globe as a major player in the international education arena.

Delivering transformed higher education

OUM has proven that it has been an advocate for harmonising efforts between stakeholders, public and private educational institutions, and the ministry.

Moreover, since it is a pioneer in the concept of lifelong learning, Prof Anuwar feels that OUM has a responsibility to educate and transform the masses.

Its large-scale delivery models, regulatory and policy work efforts and infrastructure can be used as models to improve the strategic communications and stakeholder engagement activities conducted by the ministry.

Prof Anuwar concludes that change starts with the Education Ministry.

However, the public as major stakeholders should not sit back and wait for the ministry to implement change before anyone follows suit.

Everyone needs to be proactive and begin evolving themselves to assist each other and reach the same milestones together with the ministry and as a nation.

n For more information, call 03-2773 2121 or e-mail enquiries@oum.edu.my or visit www.oum.edu.my

Quality British education RECOGNISED internationally for its high calibre activities in science, technology and business, Heriot Watt Universitys commitment to excellence has earned it high rankings across major university league tables.

One such table is the Guardian University Guide 2015, which ranked Heriot-Watt 13th in the United Kingdom and second in Scotland.

The university was also commended for several of its programmes. For instance, it was ranked top in the UK and Scotland for civil engineering as well as top in Scotland for chemical engineering.

It was also placed in the top 10 in the UK for a number of its subjects, including building, town and country planning.

Besides that, The Complete University Guide ranked the university 33rd in the UK and fourth in Scotland as well as among the top 10 in the UK for building, town and country planning as well as art and design.

Over the years, Heriot-Watt University has expanded to encompass five campuses. These include its main campus in Edinburgh, two branch campuses in the UK and two international campuses comprising Dubai and Malaysia.

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia officially welcomed students into its green campus in Putrajaya in September last year, with the official campus launch held in February this year.

With the opening of this campus, students in Malaysia and around the region now have access to top-notch British education.

In addition to a variety of foundation and undergraduate programmes, the university currently offers postgraduate programmes in business psychology, international

business management with marketing, quantity surveying as well as a range of engineering specialisations, including civil engineering, mechanical engineering and renewable energy engineering.

Most of the postgraduate programmes are offered on full-time and part-time basis, allowing students more flexibility.

The university offers the masters of business administration (MBA) via the universitys graduate school of business the Edinburgh Business School.

The MBA is its flagship programme that is offered as a part-time programme, with classes conducted over weekends in the Putrajaya campus.

As is the common practice of the university, the programmes have been developed and accredited alongside industry professionals.

Doing so ensures that students are properly equipped for a successful career while guaranteeing that the learning materials used are current and relevant to the many shifts and changes in the industry.

As such, students can rest assured that the education they receive at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia will put them in good stead as they progress in their careers after graduation.

n For more information, call 03-8894 3888 or e-mail hwum@hw.ac.uk

Heriot-Watt University offers students access to top-notch British education.

4 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015

WHILE it is difficult to determine the time of an economic upswing, Multimedia University (MMU) is confident that when it happens, technology and sustainability will be the main forces to drive the economy.

For Assoc Prof Dr Lee Ching Kwang, director of MMUs Graduate Institute of Engineering (pic), there are no two ways about it. He holds the view that technology has become mankinds panacea for every problem real or perceived.

For those who are sick, technology has created new drugs and better procedures to treat them. Millions of lonely people turn to websites and apps to find friends or partners. As for individuals who are strapped for cash, the Internet can be used to sell products and services to friends and strangers alike.

From personal problems to natural disasters, we look to technology for solutions.

However, technology alone cannot preserve the health of an economy. Dr Lee views that sustainability has a very strong impact on any companys bottom line.

Sustainability involves everything that goes into or supports production, including the use of raw materials such as wood and steel, the electricity that powers the production machinery, the liquefied petroleum gas that fuels industrial burners, and the water that is required not only as raw material, but also to regulate temperatures

StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015 POSTGRADUATE 5

Pioneers in sustainability

MMUs Graduate Institute of Engineering (GIE) introduces postgraduate studies in sustainability and technology management.

sustainable operations, which will not only ensure long-term profitability, but also help safeguard the environment.

On the other hand, the EBM programme serves as a bridge between the realms of business and engineering.

Graduates holding engineering and non-engineering degrees are trained in the elements of management and business as well as in operations and technology.

Dr Lee is confident that either programme would go a long way in helping working adults break into new areas of professional interest not limited to big corporations.

While multinational corporations or even public-listed companies are known to offer good packages for their employees, the public needs to remember that bigger opportunities lie with small and medium enterprises (SME), he says.

For example, while Japan and Germany respectively the third and fourth largest economies of the world have a slew of household-name corporations, much of their wealth come from technology-based SMEs.

The products of these smaller firms are exported across the world, not just as finished consumer products, but as highly specialised pieces that serve as components of bigger equipment manufactured in other industrialised countries.

Although they are small, the collective power of SMEs is nothing short of breathtaking. When Greece needed a bailout in 2010, Germany and its army of small firms served as the financial backstop and enabled Greece to stabilise.

With this in mind, Dr Lee hopes many will take advantage of MMUs two unique masters programmes so that they are able to take part in the massive growth potential of the technology and sustainability areas.

n For more information, visit www.mmu.edu.my

Two ways individuals can make the shift a reality are through GIEs two programmes, Master of Science in Sustainable Systems Management (SSM) and Master of Science in Engineering Business Management (EBM).

The SSM programme helps experienced adults, with or without engineering background, to develop operational and business expertise required to lead or manage sustainability initiatives and sustainability-related departments.

In essence, they can become agents of change for the industry and guide their employers or clients in the transition towards

and cool machines. Lest all this comes across as

merely an academic conjecture, we need to consider that at

the height of the water crisis in the Klang Valley mid last year, a multinational fast-moving consumer goods company, which

had been operating for decades in Selangor,

voiced out that it was seriously considering relocating to another state because the lack of water was negatively impacting its production.

If the water problem had not been addressed, and the firm had gone ahead with the plan to move, not only would thousands of jobs be lost, the state would have also lost significant revenue. In other words, sustainability is a very real issue with real ramifications.

Although technology and sustainability have extremely important roles with regards to our future economic well-being, tapping into this opportunity is another challenge entirely.

For many working adults who have spent their respective careers in non-tech companies, going to work for a tech or sustainability firm seems beyond their reach.

However, Dr Lee assures the public that with sufficient planning and initiative, working adults can successfully make their way into tech- or sustainability-related firms.

6 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015

Famous advancers of arts and science THE discovery of new knowledge through research is a valuable and noble pursuit. Our understanding of science and the way the world works has improved throughout the centuries because of research.

Human civilisation and culture has also developed through the influence of the arts; the exploration and discovery of new ways to express ourselves is invaluable to our evolution.

Arts and science both benefit from open-minded inquisitiveness and, nowadays, the lines between the two are blurred.

A person can be an accomplished artiste as well as

have tremendous knowledge and ability in science.

Here are some famous people who prove that the marriage of arts and science can lead to success.

Mayim Bialik PhD in neuroscience, actress

Starting her career as a child actress in the late 1980s, Bialik became a household name when she played the lead in the 90s television series Blossom. After the series finished its run in 1995, she attended the University of California, Los Angeles (she had also been accepted at Harvard and Yale).

Bialik earned a degree in neuroscience, Hebrew studies and Jewish studies and went on to earn a PhD in neuroscience.

Her dissertation was an investigation into hypothalamic activity in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.

She continued her work in television and film after that, and earned a big following for her Emmy Award-nominated performance as a quirky neurobiologist in the hit TV series Big Bang Theory.

Bialik has said that she finds being a scientist as exciting, creative and interesting as being an artiste.

Neil deGrasse Tyson PhD in astrophysics, author, science communicator

Besides his doctorate in astrophysics, deGrasse Tyson also holds a masters degree in astronomy and was a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University.

He has served as director of the Hayden Planetarium, which is part of the American Museum of Natural History, and served on a few government commissions on the future of the US aerospace industry.

DeGrasse Tyson was also a columnist for Natural History magazine and, besides a long list of research publications, has written several books about space and astrophysics.

Tyson appears regularly on television, radio and other media in his role as science communicator, where he presents and takes part in discussions in science-related topics. He has stated that his status and profound visibility as a well-known scientist who is black has been an important tool to change existing racial stereotypes.

His vast fan base, formed mainly through his various media appearances, has (along with that of Bill Nye, another popular science communicator) played a major role in making science part of the current pop culture zeitgeist.

Brian Cox PhD in high-energy particle physics, musician, science communicator

Cox started his career in music as a teenager in the 1980s as a keyboardist in the rock band Dare, which had several hits on the UK music charts.

He later joined chart-topping pop rock group D:Ream for a short time, while pursuing his bachelors degree.

Cox, who was knighted in 2010, is currently an advanced fellow of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in the UK.

He is also a member of the High Energy Physics group at the University of Manchester, in which capacity he works on the ATLAS experiment, one of seven particle detector experiments conducted at the Large Hadron Collider, a particle accelerator at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

He has appeared in numerous radio and television science programmes as both panellist and presenter and has also been a science advisor for science fiction films and television series.

Cox, who has stated that there should be more investment in future generations of scientists, was awarded the Michael Faraday Prize of the Royal Society for his excellent work in science communication.

Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Mayim Bialik.

> TURN TO PAGE 8

Brian Cox.

StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015 POSTGRADUATE 7

Students with a global perspective

GLOBAL education is an approach to education that helps students understand the diversity of global society and the broad-based issues and challenges that are relevant to us.

By equipping students with such a mindset, they are better prepared for a workforce that demands a global worldview and an integrated perspective on the way business is carried out and policies are made.

For Prof Christine Ennew, chief executive office and provost of The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC), global education is about understanding and being sensitive to national identity, the celebration of different heritages and traditions, and learning and understanding other cultures.

It cannot be denied that the future of higher education is in going global as the marketplace opens up and the borders between countries are blurred. Students in Malaysia are in direct competition with students from around the world for the same jobs.

The way in which other cultures do things can make us think and reflect on the way we do them ourselves, which is immensely valuable.

Global education is also about awareness of issues that affect people around the world. It is about understanding and being aware of differences in cultures and appreciating the value of the diversity that we have, says Prof Ennew.

However, it is not enough to just say that global education is part of the curriculum. It has to permeate more broadly within the community.

Global education is not a subject that is taught as a stand-alone course nor does it have a specific syllabus. It is instead integrated into academic teachings and extracurricular activities.

The pressing issues that require the attention of researchers and the youth are global concerns such as climate change, food security, energy, human and international security, and issues of equity, fairness and justice.

Unsurprisingly, so many of these things are interlinked. For example, if you think about climate change, you think about the fossil fuel used for energy and the challenges of growing crops to feed the planet, says Prof Ennew.

Matters related to security, equity and justice fall under the human rights banner. Around both groups of issues is the underlying agenda of health and well-being.

UNMC encourages and supports this

mindset outside of the curriculum with the Nottingham Advantage Award, which is an employability-focused additional qualification that it offers to students.

This is where students have the opportunity to do much more in tackling global education agendas. Students can focus on specific issues and volunteer in communities locally or internationally and reflect on what they have done and learnt in the process of getting the credit for the advantage award.

In UNMC, there are numerous multidisciplinary collaborations among students.

One distinctive effort involves physiotherapy students from the UK campus working with the education students from the Malaysian campus in a disabled childcare centre in Bukit Harapan, Sabah.

The physiotherapy students address the childrens physical needs while the education students help with educational needs.

This experience allows our students to realise and understand how privileged they are while they are also able to see how they can participate actively to make a practical difference, and to do so locally and internationally, says Prof Ennew.

UNMC has a diverse international community on campus with students of more than 70 nationalities, staff from more than 30 countries and a large network of societies and clubs. Many of these societies and clubs are cultural and faith-based societies.

While these societies promote and share their cultures and practices, they also collaborate for certain events to bring people together and create mutual understanding and respect.

The students put in a lot of effort to raise awareness about their culture, which is a fantastic opportunity to learn. Here, students get the chance to attend events such as the 1930s Shanghai Night organised by the Chinese Cultural Society, Korean Night or Discover Islam event, says Prof Ennew.

It is the combination of all of these activities that contributes to the delivery of a global education in UNMC.

As a result, it is no surprise that its students are some of the top choices for employers who value graduates groomed to be global citizens who understand the issues and challenges that conform societies around the world.

n For more information, visit www.nottingham.edu.my

Mingling with peers of various nationalities can help expand

students worldview.

Hedy Lamarr actress, inventorBest known for her acting talent

and incredible beauty, Lamarr was also a pioneer in the field of wireless communication technology.

Lamarr worked in the film industry in Berlin and Vienna in the late 1920s.

It was during her marriage to an Austrian military arms merchant, who she would accompany to business meetings with scientists and military technology professionals, that her interest in applied science was kindled.

After World War II broke out, Lamarr, by then a popular actress in the US, initially used her celebrity status to help the war effort but later acted on her desire to aid the Allied Forces through her interest in science.

Though she never had any formal higher education, Lamarr was successful in her research and invention of a frequency-hopping system in collaboration with George Antheil, a composer who was also talented in both the arts and science.

This spread spectrum technology would later galvanise the digital communications boom and form the technical backbone for the technology now used by fax machines, cellular phones and other wireless operations.

Taylors MBA programme is that it gives students an opportunity to participate in exchange programmes with reputable business schools from around the world.

This facilitates cultural exchange and international networking for students to enhance their learning experience.

Taylors MBA programme has connections with 43 renowned universities, including Oxford University and University of Bath in the United Kingdom, and Universit Catholique de Lille in France.

Through the one-of-its-kind Taylors-Oxford Entrepreneurship Leadership Programme, Taylors students spend seven days at Oxford University, from Aug 16 to 22 where they will have access to professors and networking opportunities with students and

8 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015

IN a recent survey done at the Taylors University annual Career and Employment Fair, 30% of respondents comprising top multinational organisations said that they would pay an average of RM400 extra to the monthly salary of a masters degree holder who holds the same position as an undergraduate degree holder.

This means that a masters holder will, over time, accumulate much more in pay as compared to if he or she only had an undergraduate qualification. There are also more opportunities for career advancement for postgraduate holders, which will raise salary figures even more.

A good MBA programme attracts talented people from every aspect of society. These professional relationships provide essential mentoring and networking opportunities, which are valuable for career development.

At Taylors Business School, networking does not only comprise students but also involves highly qualified faculty members who are experts in their fields as well as industry experts from leading organisations around the world.

Gain an added edge

The Taylors MBA Business Circle session is designed to accommodate face-to-face interactions and the exchange of ideas between students and corporate leaders.

The Business Circle allows students to gain better insights into specific industries and provides an enhanced networking platform for students and corporate leaders.

We believe that continuous interactions with leading business professionals allow MBA students to see how concepts and theories are applied in real business practices and organisational strategic planning.

Additionally, MBA students can appreciate the applications of various business practices within a wide range of industries, says Vinitha Guptan, dean of Taylors Business School.

Top corporate leaders such as Dr Stuart Kewley, chairman and co-founder of The Eurasia Consortium, and Kamal Zainul, group chief financial officer of NH Gain Sdn Bhd, are among the speakers for the Business Circle who share valuable insights with students during the session.

Eugene Tan, Taylors MBA

student and sales and marketing director of EMP Image Solution Sdn Bhd, talks about his experience in attending the Business Circle, saying, The Business Circle sessions widen my perspective in terms of looking for ideas and directions for my company. I applaud Taylors University for making the Business Circle sessions available to students.

Taylors MBA programme also adopts an industry-driven curriculum. The modules are designed in collaboration with top industry leaders, including CIMB, DiGi, LOreal, IBM, Tokio Marine and Maxis.

The case studies used in the classrooms are actual industry experiences, giving students the upper hand in understanding real business problems.

Another unique feature of the

ARTISTES are using their popularity to reach out to a wider audience to make science accessible. Though not all have postgraduate degrees, their contributions to the arts or science (or both) have changed the lives of people all over the world.

Brian May PhD in astrophysics, musician

May is the internationally famous lead guitarist of legendary rock band Queen. As a musician, songwriter and singer, May rose to fame with Queen in the 1970s, with whom he wrote and sang numerous hit songs.

Following the dissolution of Queen, May continued working as a musician, songwriter, music arranger and singer. He is considered a virtuoso guitarist in the music industry and is on Rolling Stone magazines list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

May is known for experimenting with and creating new and unusual sounds with his unique electric guitar, the Red Special, which he designed and built with his electronics engineer father when he was a teenager.

May studied mathematics and astrophysics at Imperial College London. When pursuing a PhD, he studied reflected light from interplanetary dust and the velocity of dust in the plane of the solar system but eventually stopped his studies to concentrate on his work with Queen.

In 2006, he re-registered for this PhD at Imperial College and submitted his completed thesis, graduating in 2008.

He has appeared on science-based television shows and is also a regular participant and promoter of the Starmus Festival, a science, astronomy, music and art festival that encourages the appreciation and sharing of information about space and the universe.

Science visibility through the arts > FROM PAGE 6

Brian May.

UK industry leaders. Students can also opt to

join the European Summer Programme where they either go to France from July 6 to 19 to spend time at ISEG School of Management, Universit Catholique de Lille or opt to take two modules at the School of Management, University of Bath.

Taylors MBA is offered on a full-time basis for one-year duration or part-time basis for a minimum of two years to a maximum of five years.

Financial aid of up to a 50% tuition fee waiver is also available.

The next intake is in September.

n For more information, call 03-5629 5000, e-mail postgraduate@taylors.edu.my or visit www.taylors.edu.my/mba

Taylors MBA graduates are exposed to more networking opportunities, ideas and insight during the Taylors MBA Business Circle sessions.

StarSpecial 9Tuesday 19 May 2015

10 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015

HAVING to work in the information technology field, one cannot help but feel excited about the success stories of self-made millionaires such as Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk.

In the last few years, I realised that I wanted to be a tech entrepreneur just like them and to prepare myself for that role, I decided to enrol in the University of Strathclyde MBA programme at CDC Management Institute.

This led me to compete in a few business competitions, and I emerged winner of Lean Startup Machine 2014.

I come from a humble family in Indonesia where my parents were financially challenged in providing for my education.

But they did their best to support my undergraduate studies and this motivated me to study harder. I got a scholarship to pursue a degree in computer science in Malaysia and graduated earlier compared to my peers.

At the age of 19, I managed to get a job and became independent. I pursued my masters in business administration (MBA) after having worked for eight years.

It was a struggle in the first two semesters as I became overwhelmed with the heavy course schedule, family commitments and having to work with

Valuable learning experiencemore experienced classmates.

However, I learnt the importance of studying with mature and professional classmates as we supported and worked together to achieve our goal.

This MBA also introduced me to many mentors, including classmates who were successful in their careers.

I am currently the director of engineering at booster.com. Booster empowers people to raise awareness and funds for a cause, loved one, group or project through campaigns driven by sales of custom-designed or cause-branded merchandise and/or donation campaigns.

Tens of thousands of individuals use Booster every day, including schools, small businesses, cause marketers, charities to run personal projects and crowd-funding ideas.

My humble advice to those who wish to pursue an MBA programme is to be ready to adapt and learn.

Do not stop learning and be grateful for

Welly Salim is appreciative of the support he receives from his family.

the support you receive from your family. I am grateful for the support I received from my wife.

I am ultimately thankful for having gained my MBA from the University of Strathclyde as it is an important hallmark in my life. By Welly Salim

Welly Salim is director of engineering at booster.com and holder of the University of Strathclyde MBA undertaken at CDC Management Institute.

n For more information, call 7660 8950 ext 109 or visit www.cdc.edu.my

RESEARCH and development (R&D) in the business world is vital in providing viable solutions to overcoming issues and challenges in a highly competitive and dynamic business environment.

Researchers in the Faculty of Business and Humanities of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) work on research themes that incorporate the many aspects of business and provide cutting-edge information relevant to various segments of the business community.

With an emphasis on business sustainability and community-focused research, the facultys interdisciplinary research approach covers seven key research focus areas.

These areas are tourism and hospitality, entrepreneurship and human resources, brand, communications and customer relationships, business performance, economics and finance, learning pedagogies, and humanities.

The area of tourism and hospitality includes studies of ecotourism as well as the hospitality and services industries.

Subjects such as entrepreneurship and human resources are also researched, especially human resources management and development, indigenous entrepreneurship, ecopreneurship and entrepreneurship education.

Green marketing, stakeholder empowerment, international public relations, corporate social responsibility, retailing and service marketing are some aspects covered under the brand, communications and customer relationships focus area.

The business performance focus area focuses on financial and managerial accounting, ethical issues, accounting standards and performance analysis, among others.

In the area of economics and finance, the performance of financial institutions, behavioural finance, biofuels, energy and natural resource economics, macroeconomic factors, monetary economics, business fluctuations and cycles, government and the monetary system, and other aspects of economics are scrutinised.

Teaching and learning in higher education, discipline-based education for classroom improvement, and curriculum and pedagogy development are the foci of researchers in the learning pedagogies focus area.

As for researchers in the humanities

Focus on the business community

focus area, they conduct research of Sarawaks ethnic cultures and history, ethnolinguistics, sociolinguistics, new media and the democratisation potential, inter-relationship between old and new media, as well as new media and its impact on contemporary society.

The Faculty of Business and Humanities associate dean of R&D, Dr Anbalagan Krishnan (pic), says that having built an outstanding reputation in the national and international research arena, the facultys researchers also act as mentors for postgraduate scholars at the doctorate and masters levels.

The researchers are highly committed to developing their research niche areas and continually strive to achieve and maintain research excellence.

Our seven key research focus areas are critical components of success in discovery research, provide unique educational experiences for graduate students and solutions to issues affecting the business community, and ultimately support the development of communities and the nation, says Dr Anbalagan.

He says that potential students are encouraged to undertake higher degree by research (HDR) studies with Curtin Sarawak and contribute towards sustainable business practices in Malaysia and internationally.

According to him, the number of HDR students engaged in business research at the university is growing steadily and with the establishment of a graduate school earlier this year, the number is expected to increase substantially in the coming years.

n For more information, visit www.curtin.edu.my

StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015 POSTGRADUATE 11

IMUs MSc in Public Health students experience unique learning opportunities in the field.

Campaigning against smokingON April 1, International Medical University (IMU)s MSc in Public Health students along with its medical students from the universitys Clinical School in Seremban, conducted an anti-smoking campaign for adolescents at a semi-urban school in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan.

The adolescents were full of energy and very receptive to the campaign. They were given a questionnaire to test their knowledge and awareness of smoking.

The IMU students then performed a role play to highlight the effects of smoking. The adolescents were asked what they learnt from the role play and received pamphlets on the effects of smoking on smokers and passive smokers.

The adolescents were excited and actively participated in a question-and-answer session.

From the response we received, I believe that we made an impact on the young minds. The postgraduate students found this health promotion activity an enlightening experience, says Meenakshi Thigarajan, MSc in Public Health student.

IMUs MSc in Public Health is a taught programme that provides students of various health and related professional backgrounds with the knowledge and skills in public health sciences and related disciplines.

The knowledge gained allows students to be effective contributors to this field of health care.

Programme coordinator Prof Hematram Yadav says, Public health professionals today face both old and new public health challenges. They range from infectious diseases such as influenza and the HIV/AIDS pandemic to chronic disease epidemics, cancer and obesity.

He says the other public health challenges include the health of Malaysias increasingly elderly population, health-endangering habits such as smoking and substance abuse, water and food safety, as well as the threats of natural and manmade disasters.

The IMU MSc in Public Health prepares one to face these challenges through multidisciplinary approaches that apply the latest scientific knowledge, common sense and teamwork to solve important health problems, says Prof Yadav.

The curriculum focuses on the core disciplines of epidemiology, biostatistics, management sciences, and the environmental, biological, behavioural and social factors that influence the health of populations and communities.

Upon successful completion of this course, students possess an understanding of the science and art of public health,

including concepts of health and disease and the factors that influence them.

This acquisition of the right knowledge, skills and attitude enable graduates to apply whatever they have learnt to a wide range of service and academic settings.

Commenting on this programme, MSc in Public Health graduate Gopirajan Rasamy says, To be taught by a team of experts in their respective fields and be able to garner knowledge backed up by experience is definitely the plus point of this programme.

Every single module has been tailored to ensure that perception of knowledge and information is effectively gained by the students.

The incorporation of different aspects of learning such as field visits, community surveys, reports and research helps in giving the students a more complete picture of the public health field. I strongly believe the knowledge I have gained will help me forge a career in the field of public health, says Gopirajan.

IMU also offers the MSc in Molecular Medicine, MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Masters of Pharmacy Practice as well as MSc and PhD in Medical and Health Sciences (Research).

The research programmes commence anytime during the year while the other postgraduate programmes will begin in September.

Those who are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies can seek sponsorship from the Malaysian Government via the MyBrain15 programme.

If you have an interest in furthering your studies at the postgraduate level in any of the aforementioned areas, make an online application today and gain an advantage in a highly competitive employment job market.

n For more information, call 03-2731 7272 or e-mail postgraduate@imu.edu.my or visit www.imu.edu.my

IMU students present an anti-smoking role play to engage with the adolescents.

12 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015

IT all began with a simple fungus that cannot be seen with the naked eye but can kill you. That is how Asst Prof Dr Crystale Lim Siew Ying from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University describes the work that won her one of the three inaugural LOral-Unesco For Women in Science National Fellowships in 2006.

This was no mean feat as the programme is at the national level of the global initiative by LOral and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

The fungus, Candida albicans, commonly found in the mouth, gut and the female reproductive systems of humans, is normally harmless.

An opportunistic fungus, it becomes dangerous to those with a compromised immune system, including patients undergoing medical treatment such as chemotherapy or major surgery or those suffering from diseases such as AIDS.

In simpler terms, although cancer, surgery or AIDS may not necessarily kill you, Candida albicans found in ones blood or organs sometimes can.

Dr Lims work on the fungus focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions. Specifically, she studies the molecular mechanisms of how Candida albicans causes bloodstream infections in those with compromised immune systems.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, an integrated global health enterprise in the US, bloodstream infections from the fungus kill 31,000 patients with central catheters annually in the United States.

If we can understand how the Candida albicans cells communicate and behave, we can create better prevention or treatment options by stopping them from producing virulence factors, or infection responses, that turn them into dangerous pathogens in the host, says Dr Lim.

With her PhD qualification in molecular science, research credentials and the LOral-Unesco fellowship, offers for an academic and research role were aplenty from both public and private universities as well as from the industry.

Dr Lim chose UCSI in 2010 and remains appreciative of the support she has received from the university. During her time at UCSI, her research interest has expanded to understanding cancer cell behaviour and how other pathogens communicate to cause infections.

One of her projects has been supported by the university through a RM133,000 grant from UCSIs Centre of Excellence for Research, Value Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Cervie). She was also awarded the High Impact Research Award from UCSI in 2013.

To Dr Lim, what stands out about UCSI besides the availability of research grants is its environment that is conducive to research. She shares that at UCSI, her fellow academics support one another and

Research success for academician

individual success only serves to spur the others on to keep on raising the bar. Any new equipment purchased using a research grant is also shared.

Now, Dr Lim is pursuing another interest that is close to her heart guiding the next generation of researchers through her role as a postgraduate supervisor. Having supervised the work of both fresh graduates and individuals with working experience, Dr Lim believes that no one is too old to pursue new knowledge.

UCSIs wide range of postgraduate degrees from research-based programmes to coursework-based ones in either full-time or part-time mode accommodates both fresh graduates and working adults.

Fresh graduates usually pursue the research-focused, full-time programmes while working adults prefer the postgraduate degrees by coursework on a part-time basis.

The director of Cervie, Assoc Prof Dr Cheah Shiau Chuen, is making it her focus to highlight the research work of postgraduate students.

The centre has set up the UCSIs Young Scientist Incentive Research Fund that postgraduate supervisors can apply for to support his or her students research.

The university holds various events and workshops to enhance the postgraduate student experience. These include the UCSI Postgraduate Colloquium and UCSI Research Symposium.

To ensure that its postgraduate programmes are accessible to the best and the brightest, the university has allocated funds under the UCSI University Trust Graduate Fellowship, which offers both local and international qualified postgraduate students full or partial tuition fee waivers.

With outstanding lecturers such as Dr Lim who are respected researchers in their own right, laboratories equipped with cutting-edge equipment and funds specifically allocated for postgraduate students, UCSI is proving to be a world-class institution for research and postgraduate education.

n For more information, call 03-9102 4739 or visit www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/onlineenquiry

Dr Lim with her poster announcing her 2006 inaugural LOral-Unesco For Women in Science National Fellowship.

Dr Lim guiding her postgraduate students in their research.

StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015 POSTGRADUATE 13

MAKE the right start to your education journey with a scholarship offered by KBU International College.

Since its inception in 1990, KBU International College has been steadfast in its commitment to produce top-notch graduates while being a strong advocate of giving back to the society.

As such, the college offers an array of scholarships as shown below: l Merit scholarship 2015

Under the Merit scholarship, SPM students who scored 9A+s and above for their SPM are entitled to enjoy up to 100% tuition fee waiver. Partial scholarships are also available for those who obtained 8As and below.l Bursary awards

The college also offers bursary awards to current students who have excelled in their studies.

Diploma and degree students with a CGPA of 3.75 and above can enjoy a 100% tuition fee waiver. Students with a CGPA of 3.50 and 3.00 can obtain up to 50% and 25% tuition fee waiver respectively.l Student leaders and top office bearers scholarships 2015

Student leaders and top office bearers scholarships are designed for students who are active in uniform bodies such as scouts, girl guides, St John Ambulance and police cadets.

Under this scholarship scheme, students are entitled to a designated amount of tuition fee waiver per academic year, depending on their position or rank.

There are also tuition fee waivers for school prefectorial board members and librarians.l Sports scholarships

Sports scholarships are open to students who have represented the country in a sport.

They are entitled to enjoy a 100% tuition fee waiver for foundation, pre-university and diploma programmes while state level players will be awarded with a designated amount of tuition fee waiver per academic year.

The sports that allow an individual to qualify for this award include athletics, badminton, basketball, bowling, football, hockey, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, netball and rugby.l KBU founders scholarship

KBU also offers its new KBU founders scholarship in honour of KBUs founder, the late Tan Sri Teo Soo Cheng.

Under the scheme, Senior Middle Three students who have excelled in the Unified

KBU International College offers an array of attractive scholarships.

Examination Certificate (UEC) examinations stand to have 25% to 100% of their tuition fees waived.

This scholarship is applicable to any diploma and degree programmes at KBU.l Other scholarships or financial assistance available

KBU International College offers scholarships such as the Selected School Principal Scholarship and Sibling Scholarship to ease students financial burden.

Future plansKBU is geared towards

achieving the status of university college soon. We are in the midst of filing for the establishment, says KBU principal Dr Chee Choong Kooi.

KBU International College is set to be known as First City University College upon approval of its university college status.

The construction of KBUs Phase 2 is expected to be completed next year and will consist of indoor sporting facilities, on-campus hostel rooms, disabled-friendly amenities and a cosy student lounge, among others, says Dr Chee.

On top of that, the university college will be introducing new programmes, such as BSc (Hons) Hospitality Management, BA (Hons) Mass Communication, BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.

KBU International College is a private institution of higher learning known for its relevant programmes that meet the requirements of various industries.

KBU is also well known for its excellent track record of providing UK 3+0 degree programmes.

Courses offered include study areas in art and design, business, hospitality and tourism management, computing/software engineering, engineering, languages (English and German) as well as pre-university programmes such as the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) and GCE A-Levels.

Since its inception in 1990, KBU has produced hundreds of first class honours graduates through collaborations with reputable partner universities in the United Kingdom, namely Nottingham Trent University, Sheffield Hallam University and Anglia Ruskin University.

KBU International College graduates have successfully gained employment in diverse fields.

n For more information, visit www.kbu.edu.my

Scholarships to finance your studies

THE World Health Organization (WHO) describes that the goal of universal health coverage is to ensure everyone obtains the health services they need without suffering financial hardships when paying for them.

It is thus a critical component of sustainable development and poverty reduction, and a key element to reducing social inequities.

In comparison with her Asean neighbours, Malaysia is doing very well, especially with regards to incidence of catastrophic medical expenditures, says Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk, professor of health economics at the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia.

However, the country should look at improving the quality and services at public hospitals to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.

He elaborates that the amount of out-of-pocket payments required for health services in Malaysia is high.

In a recent paper titled Progress towards Universal Health Coverage in ASEAN published in Global Health Action in 2014, it was reported that Asean countries face several common barriers in achieving universal health coverage.

These include financial constraints due to low levels of government funding, insufficient health workforces, unequal distribution of health professionals, increasing burdens of no claims discount, persisting infectious diseases

StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015 POSTGRADUATE 14

Health coverage for alland reemerging pandemic infectious diseases.

With the Asean Economic Community (AEC) setting a goal of regional economic integration by this year, Asean leaders have identified health care as a priority sector.

The opening of health care markets promises substantial economic gains but intensifies existing challenges in promoting equitable access to health care within countries. The AECs services sector integration goals present the biggest challenges as well as the biggest opportunities for the region.

Countries such as Singapore and Thailand have already become significant exporters of modern services in sectors such as professional services and information and communication technology, including business processing outsourcing, higher education and health tourism.

Some countries face challenges related to the opening of health care markets. For example, despite the golden opportunity to tap into the large Indonesian market, the response from multinational health care companies has been lukewarm dues to the restrictions and regulations on foreign investments into the country.

Progressive liberalisation of services of health professionals also poses risks to health equity within and between countries.

According to the Mutual

Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of the AEC, physicians, nurses and dentists are among seven selected professional groups that are free to work across member countries.

Although the financial returns from this strategy seem substantial, issues of equity within the universal health coverage system have become a concern due to the possibility of health workers leaving poorer regions already struggling to ensure universal health coverage.

On a brighter note, universal health coverage can be achieved even among low- and middle-income countries by strengthening the health system, securing sustainable and equitable financing, selecting the right benefit package and reorganising domestic health expenditure so that it is used more efficiently.

For Asean countries, universal health coverage can be explicitly considered to mitigate damaging effects of economic integration.

Political commitments to safeguard health budgets and increase health spending will be necessary, given liberalisations risks to health equity. Other risks are migration and an ageing population, which will increase the demand on health systems.

It is certain that Asean countries face immense challenges when it comes to ensuring universal health coverage.

However, with aligned regional policies and increased

investments in public health systems, the outlook is positive as the region shows strong potential in championing better health.

Hopefully, this will result in higher health and safety standards, comprehensive social protection, and improved health status for the Asean population.

n For more information, visit www.monash.edu.my/research

Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk, professor of health economics at the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia.

StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 May 2015 POSTGRADUATE 15

Take the Next Step Forward

Postgraduate Studiesat a Leading Private Medical& Health Sciences University

Programmes MSc in Public Health

KP/JPS(KA10261)09/2015

Mar & Sep MSc in Analytical &

Pharmaceutical ChemistryKPT/JPS(N/442/7/0001)01/2017

Mar & Sep

MSc in Molecular Medicine KPT/JPS(N/421/7/0010)07/2017

Mar & Sep Master of Pharmacy Practice

KPM/JPT(N/727/7/0051)03/2019

Sep

MSc in Medical and Health Sciences (by research)KPM/JPT(R/720/7/0049)06/2019

Throughout the year

PhD in Medical and Health Sciences (by research)KPM/JPT(R/721/8/0043)01/2020

Throughout the year

Coming Soon MSc in Environmental Health

KPM/JPT (N/422/7/0005)07/2019

International Medical University126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil,57000 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaKP/JPS/5195/US/2, KP(JPS)/DFT/US/W03

Pre-University | Undergraduate | Postgraduate

MEDICINE DENTISTRY PHARMACY HEALTH SCIENCES

FINDOUT MORE

imu.my/pg1-star

For more information, please contact:

+60 3 2727 7450 postgraduate@imu.edu.my

www.imu.edu.my

Advance your careerSystems Management by the University of Greenwich, UK, offers the perfect opportunity to learn about ICT management theories within a business environment.

There is also the MSc in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Sunderland, UK, for IT network specialists. SEGi University also offers the Master of Science in Information Technology by research and the PhD in Information Technology by research for assessment-inclined individuals.

Engineers can pursue the Master in Engineering Management from the University of Sunderland.

SEGi University offers the Master of Environmental Management Technology, Master of Science in Engineering by research, PhD in Engineering by research and PhD in Environmental Sciences by research.

Academicians have the option of pursuing the Master of Education (MEd) by research or the PhD in Education by research for professional development.

The Master of Science in Vision Science by research is available for ocular and clinical optometry professionals.

n For more information, call 03-6145 1777 or 1800 887 344 or e-mail askme@segi.edu.my or visit www.segi.edu.my

IN a highly competitive employment market, a postgraduate qualification can be the key to attracting prospective employers, providing an extra edge in a resume as well as a smooth career progression.

SEGi University at Kota Damansara, Selangor, provides a wide range of postgraduate programmes that serve as a stepping stone to high-flying careers and enable learners to be future industry leaders.

SEGi University offers several masters of business administration (MBA) programmes to suit the specific needs of individuals.

MBA candidates have three options of specialisation global business, entrepreneurship and general management.

There are also MBAs offered by partner universities, which are University of Southern Queensland, University of Sunderland and the University of Greenwich.

Other postgraduate programmes offered by SEGi Universitys Graduate School of Business are Master in Financial Planning, Master of Science in Management by research, PhD in Management by research and Doctor of Business Administration by research.

For enterprising ICT specialists, the Master of Science in Information

Rethinking the MBAIN the past, the primary reason for getting a masters of business administration (MBA) was to increase your salary or move up the career ladder. Today, employability is a valued virtue in graduates.

The founding universities of International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW) the University of Malaya (UM) and the University of Wales (UW) offer programmes of the highest calibre and award degrees of impeccable standards. These standards have been adopted by IUMW.

We aim to produce graduates tailored to meet the stringent expectations of todays highly competitive business world, says Dr Chong Aik Lee, dean of Faculty of Business and Law, IUMW.

The universitys combined credentials of UM and UW ensure the quality of its programme delivery and the standards of the degrees awarded.

The IUMW MBA programme is taught by highly qualified academic experts. In addition, the universitys MBA and other postgraduate students have access to UMs digital library, online databases and other facilities.

IUMW is the first university in South-East Asia to be accepted as a member of the United Kingdoms Higher Education Academy (HEA), which formally recognises and rewards excellent teaching practices.

The MBA programme is accredited by the Education Ministry and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

IUMW MBA is recognised by the University of Wales and its students have the advantage of graduating with a dual-MBA award from International University of Malaya-Wales and University of Wales, UK.

The idea is to offer local and international students the best of Malaysian-Welsh hybrid higher education.

IUMW also values its staff development, as shown by Dr Chong being awarded the prestigious 2015 Australia Endeavour Fellowships Award.

The Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships are the Australian governments internationally competitive, merit-based scholarships aimed at developing on-going educational, research and professional links between individuals and organisations in Australia.

n For more information, call 03-2617 3000 or visit iumw.edu.my

SEGi University offers a wide

range of postgraduate

programmes to suit the needs of

every learner.

(From left) The Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Rod Smith PSM, International University of Malaya-Wales registrar and head manager Mariati Shakor and the universitys Faculty of Business and Law dean Dr Chong Aik Lee.

Tuesday 19 May 201516 StarSpecial

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