StarSpecial

THE STAR Tuesday 9 September 2014

Envisioning the future > 2 Equipping graduates for the workforce > 4
Big
picture
Visualising
a vibrant
future.
COURSE FOCUS:
COMPUTER, ARTS & DESIGN
2 COURSE FOCUS StarSpecial, Tuesday 9 September 2014
Envisioning the future
S
CIENCE ction prototyping is a process
that gets you to think creatively and
in-depth about what your research
can potentially lead to in the future, says
Dr Simon Egerton, associate head of school
(research) of the School of Information
Technology, Monash University Malaysia,
who also leads the Intelligent Systems
Research Strength at Monash University.
If a ctional prototype of your research
shows potential achievement 10 years in
the future, the feedback of the prototypes
potential outcome is related to the current
research being performed, he says.
The process of developing science ction
prototypes involves a particular format:
The beginning outlines the present day
research ideas behind the prototype;
middle the prototype itself is a science
ction story that projects the outcomes of
the research as a future reality; the end
reects on the prototype, its outcomes and
gives feedback about the research.
Creating the prototype often brings
together people of diverse backgrounds and
disciplines.
Our last workshop in London saw
physicists, architects, psychologists, writers,
chemists, astronautic engineers, designers,
philosophers, artists, businessmen and
computer scientists coming together.
People who wouldnt traditionally be
in the same room working on and talking
about the same project are now doing
just that. It has provided a platform for
brainstorming and to discuss how to build
these prototypes, says Dr Egerton.
The process is different from
conventional research methods where
scientists rarely get a chance to exercise
their imagination. Its a mechanism that
encourages scientists to be creative and
creative people to think scientically,
says Dr Egerton.
Science ction prototypes are also useful
for communicating research ideas, the latest
technology and potential outcomes in an
easily understandable form that everyone
can relate to.
It is a format that stimulates curiosity,
ideas and people to think twice about the
implications raised in the stories, says
Dr Egerton.
A book by Dr Egerton titled 21st Century
Robot: The Dr Simon Egerton Stories will be
launched later this year and features the
projects latest science ction prototype,
a robot named Jimmy.
The book can be purchased with the
robot, Jimmy, which will come with
articial intelligence and a framework that
will enable purchasers to start developing
their own ideas with the robot or adapt
ideas from the book.
Dr Egerton, whose area of research is
articial intelligence, specically building
robots that behave irrationally, says
that science ction prototyping may be
applicable to other areas besides science
such as business and education.
For example, if a company is developing
a new product or a new direction for
their business and wants to know how
the changes will affect them, forming a
science ction prototype to construct a
possible future and communicate that
vision to stakeholders will form a base for
considerations and allow them to reect on
the design process or their business plan. So,
the format is not just limited to scientists
but its really for all types of industries,
he says.
Dr Egerton says he is working on
developing a science ction prototyping
unit for Monash University Malaysias
students.
Students are exposed to my work and
science ction prototyping but havent had
a formal opportunity to use it themselves
in their research or undergraduate studies.
To get students involved, there needs to be
a multi-disciplinary unit based on these
ideas, he says.
n For more information, visit
www.infotech.monash.edu.my
Dr Simon Egerton with
Jimmy, a science fiction
prototype that is equipped
with artificial intelligence.
StarSpecial, Tuesday 9 September 2014 COURSE FOCUS 3
Painting a
bright future
L
EARNING from established
artists is important and
Ivan Lam, one of Malaysias
most in-demand contemporary
artists, is a rm believer of this.
The UCSI lecturers accolades
include being selected as one
of the exhibitors in last years
inaugural Hong Kong Art Basel
fair, an important portal for
artists.
He is also the rst Malaysian
to have his work commissioned
and featured in a Louis Vuitton
global store as part of the
fashion houses art collection.
Having taught at many
universities, Lam was attracted
to the praxis approach of UCSI
Universitys De Institute of
Creative Arts and Design (ICAD).
The institute emphasises
hands-on learning and gaining
industry experience through
its agship co-operative (co-op)
placement programme.
Unlike most internships that
take place only once during the
students programme of study,
the co-op places students as
interns with industry partners
for two months of every
academic year.
This means that a student
pursuing a three-year degree
programme would have
gained a six-month internship
experience, giving the student
an edge upon entering the
working world.
Lecturers such as Lam are
also encouraged to be involved
in their respective elds of
expertise, both in academia and
the industry. According to Lam,
this makes all the difference to
a students learning.
Lecturers who are involved
in the industry can share their
knowledge of industry practices
with their students, he says.
Coupled with the co-op
programme, students gain the
advantage of being independent
artists or employees as they
have basic
industrial
experience
and can adapt
to current
industry standards easily.
The creative programmes of
ICAD also include subjects such
as marketing and consumer
behaviour because students
should learn how to market art
as well.
Lams students are open to
sharing their ideas with him
because of his open approach
to teaching. This enables him
to guide them and channel
his students energy into
constructive outlets.
While the programmes
at ICAD are accredited and
follow the guidelines set by
the Malaysian Qualications
Agency, ICADs focus on having
small classes enables Lam to
personalise lessons and monitor
each students progress.
Being a painter himself,
Lam appreciates the fact
that everyone has a different
level of skill and encourages
his students to focus on
their progress instead of
benchmarking themselves
against others.
ICAD is also set to progress
further under the leadership
of its new director, Datuk Prof
Dr Ahmad Zainuddin.
In addition to more than
30 years of experience in both
the private and public sectors,
he is also the chairman of the
Malaysia Design Council (MDC),
a non-prot organisation
that spearheads the future of
innovation and design in the
country.
Being under the supervision
of the Ministry of Science,
Technology and Innovation, the
MDC is responsible for ensuring
that Malaysian designs are on
par with international ones.
Dr Ahmad intends to position
the institute as a regional and
international name in creative
arts and design.
He notes that the success
of ICADs students is central
to the institutes progress. As
such, student satisfaction and
industry relevance always
remains the top priority of
ICAD.
n For more information, call
03-9101 8882 or visit
www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my
Ivan Lam, a lecturer at UCSI, prefers to have an open approach to his
teaching and this encourages his students to share ideas with him.
Datuk Prof Dr Ahmad brings
with him more than 30 years of
creative experience in the public
and private sectors.
A centre of excellence
QUEST International University
Peraks (QIUP) foundation
programmes help students develop
practical and academic skills after
their SPM to equip them to further
their education. The Foundation in
Business and Foundation in Science
programme focuses on a range
of hands-on-experience where
students gain condence, skills and
knowledge to help them in their
tertiary study.
QIUPs lecturers are passionate,
industry-savvy, highly acclaimed
and intelligent. Students will benet
from their knowledge, experience
and wide network.
QIUPs quest is to develop well-
rounded graduates who not only
excel in their studies, but also
actively participate in various
conferences and educational
competitions throughout their
study.
This was proven when a
project paper by rst year medical
undergraduates was selected to be
presented at the 3rd International
Public Health Conference and 20th
National Public Health Colloquium,
which took place in Kuching,
Sarawak.
The paper was titled Prevalence
of Hypertension and its risk factors
in an Orang Asli community in
Perak, Malaysia and was the only
undergraduate paper chosen among
the thousands of papers submitted
for selection.
In addition, four undergraduates
of the Bachelor of Computer Science
programme participated in the IBM
Mobilithon 2013 competition and
were crowned as champions at this
national level competition.
There are three faculties and
one centre at QIUP Centre for
Foundation Studies, Faculty of
Medicine, Faculty of Integrative
Sciences & Technology and Faculty
of Business Management & Social
Sciences.
QIUP offers programmes at the
foundation, diploma, degree and
postgraduate levels.
n For more information,
call 1800 887 487, e-mail
enquiries@qiup.edu.my or visit
www.qiup.edu.my
Students at QIUP are provided access
to high-quality staff with knowledge,
experience and a wide network.
4 COURSE FOCUS StarSpecial, Tuesday 9 September 2014
Equipping graduates for the workforce
T
HE University of Nottingham
Malaysia Campus (UNMC)
offers a range of courses from
foundation to PhD levels for those
who want to gain a qualication
from Britains leading university in
Malaysia.
A broad range of undergraduate
and postgraduate programmes are
offered under 20 specialist schools
and departments, including the
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
and Faculty of Engineering and
Science.
UNMC hosts a community of
about 5,000 students from more
than 70 countries worldwide
who receive a world-class
higher education experience
from leading academics in their
respective eld.
Students also gain an enriched
learning experience through
exposure to and interaction
with cultures within the diverse
university community.
The communication skills they
learn and knowledge they pick
up are qualities that are highly
sought after by global employers.
The campus provides excellent
teaching, learning and research
facilities, including well-equipped
science and engineering
laboratories, a library, dedicated
study areas and computer labs.
All its students have access to
a range of leisure and recreational
facilities, including a purpose-
built sports complex and
swimming pool.
There are also numerous
student societies and clubs
available and the Student
Association is actively involved
in providing many opportunities
for students to develop teamwork
as well as enhance their
management skills by being
involved in the organisation of
extracurricular activities such as
those for charitable courses and
sporting initiatives.
Undergraduate students who
show an enthusiasm for event
organisation have the opportunity
to win an international award
the Nottingham Advantage Award
that gives the recipient an edge
over his peers in the workforce.
According to the latest study
performed by High Fliers Research
in January, the University of
Nottingham is the No.1 choice
among the United Kingdoms top
graduate employers.
The report is based on previous
research conducted last year on
the UKs 100 leading graduate
employers, including BP, the civil
service, IBM, Goldman Sachs, PwC,
Google and HSBC.
University of Nottingham
graduates were sought after by the
largest number of top employers
of 2013 and 2014.
Excellence in
research
Besides study programmes,
academic staff members at UNMC
undertake a range of research
activity in partnership with
both public and private sectors
worldwide and in Malaysia.
Their research work comprise
areas relevant to Malaysia and the
region.
They also build on the
distinctive strengths and expertise
found at the University of
Nottingham.
As an international university
with campuses in the UK and
China, many UNMC students
have beneted from the student
mobility experience, which offers
students an opportunity to spend
a year on either campus and
also for short-term experience
through summer schools and the
Nottingham Tri Campus Games.
n For more information,
call 03-8924 8000 or visit
www.nottingham.edu.my
The University of
Nottingham Malaysia
Campus has more than
5,000 students from
70 countries across the
world, providing students
with an international
learning experience.