Professional Documents
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Post Graduate - 15 September 2015
Post Graduate - 15 September 2015
Post Graduate - 15 September 2015
special
Going beyond
medicine
2 postgraduate
March
2014
First Ebola case reported in Guinea.
Key players:
Local health officers alerted; eventually, the
local health ministry alerts the regional World
Health Organization (WHO) office for Africa
Key players:
Laboratories in France and West Africa
Key players:
Global Outbreak Alert and Response
Network headed by senior field
epidemiologist; staff includes clinical
case management and logistics experts
Key players:
Public health officials
Mid April
Mobilised new
medical
teamand
Strengthening
of alert
systems
of physicians with
expertise
implementation
of international
in infection
prevention and
health regulations.
control, intensive care
Key players:
Medical anthropologists, risk communicators,
social mobilisation teams
Key players:
WHO, specialist physicians
Key players:
Key players:
All health
ministers
WHO, specialist physicians
Key players:
Regional public health officials
June
June-July
Key players:
Medical professionals, border security,
police and military forces
Key players:
WHO is the only agency with experience,
constitutional mandate and country presence to
lead responses to engage health officials from
African countries, and representatives of trade,
airline and mining companies
December-February 2015
Two vaccine candidates enter clinical trial.
Field trial begins in February.
Key players:
Field health workers
December
July
August
B
November
September
Key players:
Scientific and technical advisory group on Ebola
experimental intervention formed by personnel
from various fields, including pathogens and
pathology, virology, biomedical research,
statistical epidemiology, military medical
research, microbiology and immunology
Key players:
Virologists, regulatory requirement experts,
medical ethicists, clinical management
experts, pharmaceutical industry
professionals
4 postgraduate
Contributors to
global health security
in other countries and to maintain
a high state of vigilance, shares
Prof Lim.
Health officers are placed at
these ports and can conduct
random inspections and screenings
as part of the countrys policy on
disease surveillance.
In the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport, for example,
the KLIA Health Departments
main role is to prevent the entry of
diseases into the country through
air travel.
Among the units under this
department are:
l Communicable disease control
unit
l Non-communicable disease
control unit
l Health quarantine unit
l Vector borne disease control unit
l Food safety and quality unit
l Environmental sanitation and
water quality unit
l Health promotion unit
Public awareness is important
for public health. In Malaysia, the
Health Ministry plays this critical
role in health management and
disease control through its various
agencies and programmes.
While the ministry plays a lead
role in controlling an epidemic, it
works closely with other agencies
at national and international levels
to establish a robust and efficient
surveillance system to detect
clusters of cases with similar
presentation.
Besides using this surveillance
system, healthcare workers also
rely on each other to better
understand a medical condition so
that they are able to provide the
best service to the patient.
While physicians rely on
epidemiologists to learn the
patterns, causes and effects of
health and diseases in defined
populations, epidemiologists rely
on other scientific fields, including
biostatisticians, to make use of data
and analytics.
Biomedical engineers, too, rely
on the knowledge of biologists
on the behaviour of a disease to
produce therapy, diagnostic and
monitoring tools.
Such is the complexity of the
healthcare field on the global level.
Readiness in
handling crises
PUBLIC health surveillance is
the basis of many health issues
affecting the world today,
including HIV/AIDS and
tuberculosis.
Healthcare professionals use
these surveillance programmes
as an early warning system for
any impending public health
concerns, document and
publish the results of
preventive measures and
interventions, set priorities and
strategies dealing with public
health problems, and track
progress towards public health
goals.
Nowadays, such systems
should involve online real-time
reporting rather than paperbased systems dependent on
the mail, and incorporate
geographical positioning
systems to allow for rapid and
graphic visual presentations
in real-time of what is
happening, explains Prof
Victor Lim, professor of
pathology at the International
Medical University.
He adds that the training of
the health personnel to use
such systems is equally
important.
Under the Health Ministrys
guidelines, healthcare
professionals play one or
several roles in the many facets
of public health, including:
l Monitoring and evaluation
l Diagnosis and investigation
6 postgraduate
VC COLUMN
By PROF
CHRISTINE
ENNEW
as creativity, problem-solving,
teamwork and innovation skills
as well as in the creation of new
knowledge that underpins the
highly visible engineering-related
innovations.
Without the knowledge that
emerges from such research into
the fundamentals of physical and
life sciences, technologists would
be unable to innovate in the way
that they do.
Innovations such as the
MRI, materials for hydrogen
storage, photovoltaic cells and
environmentally friendly solvents
are all developed as a consequence
of fundamental scientific research
by physicists and chemists.
Similarly, major advances in
medicine and pharmacy are
underpinned by the research
undertaken by life scientists
(in areas such as biology,
neuroscience and biochemistry)
as well as that of the physical
scientists.
And if we are to address the
As Malaysias first
private medical and
healthcare university,
IMU offers various
masters programmes
to students.
postgraduate 7
A global
village
8 postgraduate
Independence
in learning
IN the spirit of patriotism, embrace the
freedom to do things your way by moving
away from the conventional and achieving
your life goals. Open University Malaysia
(OUM) strives to be different, allowing
potential learners to reach their educational
goals in an unconventional learning setting.
Breaking convention
Most tertiary educational settings in
Malaysia have similar arrangements.
Students attend lectures, laboratory sessions
as well as tutorials and have breaks in
prearranged slots. Their timetables, classes,
examinations and assignments are planned
for them.
They do not need to actively manage their
studies, which is acceptable considering
most conventional learners are full-time
students who have no work commitments
and can organise their daily events around
scheduled learning activities. This is the
accepted norm, for now.
For working adults who want to further
their studies, they often do not have the
luxury to follow a fixed full-time study
schedule. At OUM, they can manage their
own learning to suit their individual lifestyle
and commitments.
They can choose when and where they
want to study. In short, they are independent
learners who are certainly not conventional.
This independent mode of study is made
possible through the availability of:
l Customised modules
l E-tutorials and videos
l Online discussion forums
l Virtual learning environment
l The Digital Library
Award-winning institution
Although OUM is different, the university
does not compromise on its quality. All its
programmes are accredited by the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency (MQA).
According to MQA ranking, OUM has
maintained a Setara Tier 5 (Excellence)
rating over the years. It has also received
numerous awards for excellence.
Recently, the university won the acclaimed
Putra Brand Awards 2015 in the education
sector organised by the Association of
Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia. This
postgraduate 9
Spearheading
Internet
engineering
The IUMW
campus
offers
extensive
facilities
that
support
learning.
10 postgraduate
Global recognition
Upon completion of the MBA
programme, graduates are awarded
Global networking
postgraduate 11
Prof Ennew reveals that The University Nottingham Malaysia Campus has developed its own
exclusive degree programmes to cater to regional needs.
UNMC celebrates
crystal jubilee
IN line with The University of Nottinghams
vision of becoming a truly global university
for the 21st century and beyond, the
university took a bold move by becoming the
first British university to open a full-fledged
international campus outside the United
Kingdom.
Realising that there was a need to reach
out to students in the Asian market, The
University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
(UNMC) was opened in September 2000.
Special celebration
To mark the 15-year anniversary of UNMC,
a series of activities have taken place
throughout the year such as the Tweet Me
Anything #UNMC15 campaign, which was
a fun and interesting way to encourage
interaction between students and faculty
members.
The major celebration this year will take
place at the end of September with an
on-campus celebration showcasing the
achievements of the university, followed by
a major dinner and award ceremony.
In the presence of staff, distinguished
alumni and a major UK delegation, we will
host a celebratory dinner where we will
present a series of alumni and staff awards.
This will also be an occasion for the soft
launch of Yayasan UNMC, which will enable
us to further enrich lives through global
education, says Prof Ennew.
12 postgraduate
Be a professional counsellor
HAVE you always wanted to
understand human behaviour and
give back to the community? Have
you encountered various mental
health and relationship problems
around you and wondered how
you could help?
Beginning in February next
year, Monash University Malaysia
will be offering the Master of
Professional Counselling.
Focus areas
The areas of study include
human growth and lifespan
development; mental health issues
surrounding grief, trauma and
substance abuse; counselling
children, adolescents, individuals
and couples; cognitive behaviour
therapy; group psychotherapy;
career development counselling;
and counselling research design.
The course is a very broad-based
one, with students being taught to
counsel across various areas, be it
organisational, mental health or
relationship counselling.
One unique feature of this
course is that it also equips
students to understand and
conduct research in the field of
counselling, says Dr Tam Cai Lian,
course coordinator for the
masters programme.
These skills may be used to
pursue further academic research
study and enable evidence-based
counselling practice.
Dr Tam adds that Monash aims
for the course to be accredited by
three different bodies the
Malaysian Board of Counsellors
(Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia),
Australian Counselling Association,
and Psychotherapy and
Counselling Federation of
Australia.
This will open up opportunities
for graduates to be able to practise
in Malaysia as well as Australia.
World-class lecturers
and facilities
Excel in
healthcare
THE Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
of Lincoln University College (LUC) has a
long tradition of excellence in educating
healthcare professionals.
It is committed to ensuring that graduates
leave as competent, responsible and caring
health professionals.
The vision of LUC is to maintain its
standard of quality education, research and
community service. Its curricula are updated
on a regular basis in accordance with
changes in health education methodology
locally and globally.
Community-based education is an
important and integral part of all the
programmes. It equips students with the
necessary knowledge, professional attitudes
and skills to help improve the quality of life
of communities.
The medical profession demands high
ethical standards and makes heavy physical
and mental demands of its practitioners.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health
Sciences of LUC offers the Doctor of
Medicine, Diploma in Traditional Chinese
Medicine, PhD in Health Sciences, Diploma
in Physiotherapy and the Bachelor of Science
(Hons.) Physiotherapy.
The Faculty of Nursing at LUC focuses on
the promotion of the intellectual, cultural
and personal development of all its students.
postgraduate 13
Cross-cultural
experience
14 postgraduate
Resilience, diligence,
perseverance
It is common knowledge that conducting
and reporting research can be difficult and
daunting. Many people find that they are
unable to cope, but those who persevere
come out stronger and feeling accomplished.
Therefore, completing a postgraduate
degree requires great dedication supported
by a never give up attitude.
Being able to bounce back from
disappointments, stressful moments or
setbacks teaches that you can conquer any
mountain, no matter how high.
Time management
and discipline
Field or laboratory work, presentations,
lectures, revision, examinations, research
Communication and
people skills
Presentations and group work help you
communicate and connect with people,
while interaction with your lecturers,
supervisors and coursemates trains you to
work well with others for the best possible
outcome.
If you are progressing to postgraduate
studies immediately from an
undergraduate degree, this will be a great
platform for you to first meet individuals
in the industry you are looking to break
into.
Mutual inspiration and motivation is
also something you pick up from those
with similar interests as you learn that
two heads are, more often than not, better
than one.
Medicine
The five-year Bachelor of Medicine,
Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme is
aimed at nurturing holistic doctors who are
capable, skilful and compassionate.
The curriculum was designed to embed
moral and ethical values, which are fostered
through the implementation of a mentormentee system throughout the programme.
SEGi medical students conduct practical
and clinical rotations at the Teluk Intan
General Hospital and also Sibu General
Hospital.
Dentistry
SEGi conducts the five-year Bachelor of
Dental Surgery to produce competent, caring
and knowledgeable dental practitioners.
Students are involved in clinical
procedures from the start of the programme,
with an emphasis on the recognition and
prevention of oral diseases.
The Faculty of Dentistry at SEGi University
is actively involved in community service. It
regularly provides free dental check-ups to
the public at its Oral Health Centre.
Pharmacy
postgraduate 15
Prof Barker conducting a supervisory workshop at AeUs main campus in Kuala Lumpur.
Fostering
understanding
THE School of Graduate Studies
(SGS) of Asia e University (AeU)
organised a special supervisory
workshop for practicing doctoral
supervisors and PhD students at
AeUs main campus in Kuala
Lumpur on Aug 12.
More than a hundred participants
from different universities and fields
joined the event.
The primary objective of this
professional workshop was to
provide an opportunity for
supervisors and students to discuss
issues relating to their doctoral
supervision relationships that they
found difficult to broach.
The topic of the workshop was
Fifty-Seven Questions That Doctoral
Supervisors Worry About, facilitated
by Prof Dr Miles Barker from the
Department of Mathematics, Science
and Technology Education, School of
Education, the University of Waikato,
New Zealand.
Prof Barker has worked at
institutions in Malaysia including
in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Tanjong
Malim and Kuching over the last
25 years.
Now semi-retired from the
University of Waikato, Prof Barker
has, over the years, presented
workshops in places such as China,
India, Thailand, South Africa, Kenya,
Sweden and Germany.
While his specialist areas are
science and environmental
education, he is interested in
teaching and learning in general as
well as the history and philosophy
of education. He has around 150
publications to his credit.
During the workshop, Prof Barker
introduced his list of 57 questions,
garnered from the experiences of
supervisors in New Zealand, and
grouped the questions into 10
clusters:
l Acquiring my own students
l Assessing the best mode
of PhD
l Coordinating expertise and
communications
l Advising how to write the
proposal
l Obtaining ethics approval
l Supporting my student
l Deciding on the structure of
the thesis
l Giving feedback on the writing
About AeU
Prof Barker from the Department of
Mathematics, Science and Technology
Education at the University of Waikato,
New Zealand.
l Examining a thesis
Participants found the workshop
interesting and beneficial as it
enriched their knowledge especially
in their areas of supervision,
where issues were highlighted
and suggestions of solution or
improvement given.
Among the participants who
attended the workshop was AeUs
distinguished alumnus Tan Sri Datuk
Seri Dr Syed Hamid Albar, who is the
chairman of Malaysias Public Land
Transport Commission.
Another participant, Dr Lok Lay
Hong, an AeU alumnus of the
PhD in Education and head of
the Department of Music at the
Malaysian Institute of Art, said,
Working on an understanding of
mutual expectations with your
supervisor is an essential part of
developing a good working
relationship.
The relationship is often
presented as one changing from that
of master-apprentice to one of
colleagues. A more satisfying
relationship will help students
develop a better-quality thesis,
added Dr Lok.
Among the other participants
were three students pursuing
their PhD at AeU teacher Veronica
J.S. Louis, part-time lecturer
Hamiza Ahmad and head of mass
communications at UCSI University
Gloria Chan Choi Sim.
AeU is a collaborative
multinational university established
under the auspices of the 33 Asia
Cooperation Dialogue countries.
All academic programmes are
internationally benchmarked,
approved by the Education Ministry
and accredited by the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency.
Established in 2007, AeU has
grown to become one of the leading
providers of open distance learning
(ODL), with an enrolment of more
than 21,000 students in 65 countries.
As an ODL institution, AeUs
focus is to provide accessible and
affordable higher education for all.
There are three intakes every year
January, May and September.
Though registration is open based
on the month of intakes, registration
for postgraduate (by research)
programmes is open throughout
the year.
A Postgraduate Research
Conference will be held on Oct 4 at
AeUs main campus from 8.30am to
5.30pm.
The conference will cover
research topics in business and
administration, education,
information, communication and
technology, arts and humanities and
social science.
The objectives of this conference
are to promote the research culture
and provide a platform for
researchers to discuss their
knowledge, experiences and
findings.
Registration fee is RM100 per
attendee. The closing date for
registration is Sept 25.
16 postgraduate
Writing
Plan your article by first considering areas of reasearch that could be explored.
Submission
Maintaining
a good
working
relationship
with your
supervisor
will help
you create
a paper
worth
publishing.
Brainstorming with your peers can help to give you a fresh insight into
your research.
and professors.
Therefore, you should instead
apply to less prominent, yet
credible journals to publish your
work, especially those that are
more open to student research.
Revision
10
It is also acceptable to
challenge the opinion
of reviewers,
depending on the situation and
if you have good justification for
your decisions.
Before you reply the reviewer,
consider all the feedback received,
discuss it with your seniors and
make sure you have a rational
explanation should you feel there
are certain parts of your article
that do not require revision.
Every revision generally
improves the overall value of your
article and your perseverance in
making a few revisions brings you
closer to reaching your goal of
getting published.