THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2020
POSTGRADUATE
We are 20 this year
FOR the last five months, this column has
focused on Covid-19, and for good reason.
We cannot simply ignore recent events,
including the recent Conditional Movement
Control Order which has led to additional
challenges that we have had to manage, and
it is right to talk about higher education in
the context of a global pandemic. No doubt
future columns will return to this topic but,
for now, let’s look back before Covid-19 and
look forward to when we are Covid-19-free
or, at least, when we are able to live with it
in a way that is normal, rather than reactive.
It was 20 years ago that the University of
Nottingham Malaysia started delivering
courses in this wonderful country. We had
planned to mark our 20th anniversary in a
number of ways, but we had to face other
challenges and it did not feel appropriate to
celebrate this year. However, we still wish to
highlight some of the successes and
milestones from the past two decades.
In 2000, our first year of teaching in
Malaysia, we registered 86 students across
three programmes – business, computer
science and engineering. Our first “campus”
was an office block in the middle of Kuala
Lumpur, which no longer exists as it was
demolished a number of years ago.
In 2005, we moved to a custom-built, 125-
acre (50.59ha) campus in Semenyih.
Importantly, it has all the features that you
would expect from a university campus
including 2,400 beds for on-campus
accommodation, a library, social and
learning spaces, and a sports centre which
encompasses gyms, a swimming pool,
football/cricket pitches and courts for
activities such as badminton, basketball and
Cultivate leadership and real research contribution
MANAGEMENT and Science University
(MSU) is one of Malaysia’s top universities
with a focus on developing and delivering
quality human capital in national and global
critical-need areas. Among these are
medicine, health sciences, pharmacy,
information sciences, engineering, business
management and professional studies,
education and social sciences, hospitality
and culinary, and music and fashion.
As Malaysia’s best teaching and learning
university, MSU prioritises quality education
– incorporating 21st century learning in the
teaching delivery focused on producing
holistic graduates.
Real-world scenarios are adopted into
students’ classroom learning experience.
Strategic thinking and thought-provoking
case studies equip students with a higher
level of practical problem-solving abilities.
All modules are rigorously designed with
strategic industrial and corporate input, an
opening vignette to major events and real-
world issues around the globe.
The professors hail from multicultural
backgrounds, and are among the finest
industry players engaged in cutting-edge
research, the pursuit of unparalleled
academic excellence and scientific
innovation. They have conducted high
impact research and published academic
papers across a broad range of business,
industry and professional areas – besides
having worked in and taught at all levels of
professional and industry platforms. Their
contributions have made meaningful and
concrete impacts on the global community
at large, at home and abroad. They have
also taught university-level business courses
in diverse countries, thus bringing their rich
multicultural heritage to the country.
five-a-side football.
The degrees we offer have significantly
expanded since 2000 and we now have a
broad spectrum of disciplines including
biosciences, biomedical sciences, economics,
English, international relations, media,
pharmacy, politics and psychology.
We now have over 5,000 students. The
majority of them study at our campus in
Semenyih but, increasingly, we are reaching
out to deliver our courses in other countries.
One example of this initiative, which we
call “Asean and Beyond”, is a project run in
conjunction with the World Bank and the
National University in Bangladesh. The
Bangladesh College Education Development
Project will upskill about 10,000 Bangladesh
college and university lecturers over five
years. Most of the teaching will be carried
out in Bangladesh, with less than 10% of
those participating in the programme
coming to Malaysia.
As part of Asean and Beyond, we also
deliver our courses in Singapore, Sri Lanka
and India, with discussions with many other
countries taking place, including Thailand,
Laos, Myanmar and Nepal.
When the university decided to open a
campus in Malaysia, it was the first British
The postgraduate studies at MSU offer advanced degrees at the MBA, Master in Science and
PhD levels.
The postgraduate programmes at MSU
are carefully crafted to cultivate leadership
and real research contribution that address
industrial hands-on challenges at the highest
management level. Due to the tremendous
and exciting state of flux within business and
management communities, top management
must adapt rapidly to stay competitive,
relevant and strategically positioned to tackle
global trends by possessing the relevant
postgraduate qualifications.
MSU recommends its Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD), Master in Business Administration
(MBA) and Master’s programmes that
emphasise and recognise innovative
research, scientific knowledge and industrial
applications at both domestic and
international platforms. A PhD is the highest
degree awarded by MSU which signifies
The University of Nottingham Malaysia originally occupied an office block in the middle of
Kuala Lumpur. It has since moved to a custom-built campus in Semenyih with more than
5,000 students.
university to do so and it was viewed as both
innovative and risky. Twenty years on, we
see the same model being adopted by other
UK universities – not just in Malaysia, but
also in other countries around the world.
The fact that others have followed our
lead, and we are still here and growing,
validates the bold decision we made 20
years ago to establish an international
campus in Malaysia.
On that note, 2020 has undoubtedly been
a challenging year, but it is still an exciting
time for the University of Nottingham
Malaysia. We have not only survived 20
years in Malaysia, but we have also
flourished. Our 20th anniversary sees us
moving from being a teenager to a young
adult. We will continue to develop our own
identity under the umbrella of the University
the highest pinnacle of academic and
professional standing. Doctoral training
involves close working relationships
among leading faculty members on
projects of key interest with an industrial
and scientific focus.
Via advanced facilities and technical
support, MSU provides an excellent
academic climate for postgraduate
engagements with faculty members. MSU
faculty members are highly active in top
level research with leading projects in a
wide range of areas and interests, requiring
innovative approaches that push the
boundaries of interdisciplinary research.
The postgraduate studies at MSU offer
advanced degrees at the MBA, Master in
Science and PhD levels – covering wide
areas including business administration,
of Nottingham international footprint, and
we hope to continue to play a significant role
in making Malaysia a global hub of higher
education. We begin our next 20-year
journey full of hope and optimism, and look
forward to the challenges and opportunities
that it will bring.
Finally, we owe a debt of thanks to our
staff, students, alumni, partners and
stakeholders, without which none of what
we have achieved would have been possible.
Thank you for your support and we look
forward to continue working with you in
the future.
n Prof Graham Kendall is the chief executive
officer, provost and pro-vice-chancellor of
the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
Twitter: @Graham_Kendall
accounting/finance, management,
educational management and leadership,
education (teaching English as second
language), international business, fashion
business, international hospitality and
tourism management, early childhood
education, counselling and guidance,
computer science, food service technology,
biomedicine, biomedical sciences,
information technology, clinical pharmacy,
engineering, pharmacy, applied science,
design and medical physiology. These
programmes are offered under the School
of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School
of Management.
As a top university in Malaysia and the
country’s best teaching and learning
university, MSU prioritises student
development to enhance graduate
employability. Its highly qualified academics
and visiting professors support a holistic
curricular framework that delivers
compelling learning experiences.
Blending technical and vocational
education and training with traditional
academic curricula, MSU enhances
competencies with industry internships,
community and creative entrepreneurships,
as well as global exposure – empowering
MSU graduates with the well-roundedness
desired and sought after by employers.
Among the best in the region, the
university’s programmes of study are
meticulously crafted to enhance graduate
potential, producing graduates that are a
popular pick among employers.
n For a full range and more information on
the flexible programmes offered at MSU, call
03-5521 6868, email enquiry@msu.edu.my or
visit www.msu.edu.my
8 Postgraduate
Milestones and
achievements
THE vision to be a global university of
educational excellence with transformative
societal impact has led Universiti Tunku
Abdul Rahman (UTAR) to be agile in facing
new frontiers and responsible in pursuit of
excellence. Resonating with the qualities of a
progressive university is its Faculty of
Business and Finance (FBF).
Through the years of constant growth,
FBF has produced a cadre of business
professionals with the very first group
graduating in 2008. With only 512 students
back then, FBF has now become the biggest
faculty at the UTAR Kampar Campus. It
comprises eight undergraduate programmes
and three postgraduate programmes.
UTAR’s FBF programmes are actively
being developed, incorporated with soft
skills competency and implemented with
strategic plans. “Those strategic plans are
aimed to enhance and maintain the high
standards of the programmes, developing
and implementing research strategies, and
to intensify local and international industry
and professional bodies’ collaboration,” says
FBF dean Dr Au Yong Hui Nee.
FBF programmes are recognised and
accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency and Ministry of Higher Education
Malaysia. In efforts to stay on par with
market demands and to stay ahead in the
business world, FBF also collaborates with
prestigious professional bodies such as the
Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants, Chartered Tax Institute of
Malaysia, Malaysian Institute of Certified
Public Accountants, Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales, Asian
Institute of Chartered Bankers and the
Chartered Governance Institute.
“Our programmes are planned and set to
meet the global benchmark for competency,
ethics, and professional practice standards
in accounting, banking, business
administration, digital economy, financial
analysis and financial planning services,”
says Dr Au Yong.
Notably, the successful approach of FBF
programmes is also accredited to the
commitment and excellence shown by the
academics. The many achievements by FBF
academics include being acknowledged for
the Emerald Literati Awards Highly
Commended Paper, the Elsevier Telematics
and Informatics journal’s Top Cited Author
(2014-2018), the Most Downloaded Article
award by Expert Systems with Applications,
Elsevier, the United States and so on.
n For more information, visit www.utar.edu.
my, or call 05-468 8888 (Kampar Campus) or
03-9086 0288 (Sungai
Long Campus).
FBF academics
Dr Tan Luen
Peng (left) and
Dr Abdelhak
Senadjki
displaying
their Highly
Commended
Paper award.
Becoming a field specialist
A higher degree by research (HDR) from
Curtin University will enable students to
pursue a specialist area in their fields, build
knowledge in their professions and
contribute to important research for the
industry and community.
HDR programmes at Curtin University
Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), Curtin
University’s largest international campus
located in Sarawak and coordinated through
its Curtin Malaysia Graduate School, lead to
world-recognised and widely respected
Curtin Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualifications.
MPhil programmes at Curtin Malaysia
include MPhils in electrical and computer
engineering, mechanical engineering, civil
engineering, chemical engineering and
applied geology at its Faculty of Engineering
and Science; accounting, economics and
finance, management, and marketing at its
Faculty of Business; and media, culture and
creative arts at its Faculty of Humanities.
In addition to the MPhil programmes,
there are PhD programmes focused on
engineering and science, business and
humanities.
MPhil programmes at Curtin Malaysia
normally require one to two years of
supervised individual research study,
and the successful completion of the
MPhil indicates the candidate has
THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2020
contributed significantly to the field of
study and is capable of carrying out
independent research.
PhD programmes, meanwhile, usually
take at least three years of research study
and candidates are expected to uncover
new knowledge through the discovery of
new facts, the formulation of new theories,
or innovative interpretation of known data
and established ideas.
HDR students at Curtin Malaysia are
supervised by in-campus experts and
co- and associate supervisors from
Curtin’s main campus in Perth, Australia,
other institutions worldwide, as well as
from industries.
To be aligned with the current
technological trends and contribute to the
provision of skilled human capital for South-
East Asia and beyond, Curtin Malaysia is
now focusing on the following research
areas: Digital innovation; marketing,
tourism and rural entrepreneurship; green
technology and renewable energy;
biotechnology and bioprocess engineering;
and aquaculture technology and economics.
n For information on Curtin’s HDR
programmes, email GradSchool@curtin.edu.
my. For other information, visit curtin.edu.
my, or its Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
YouTube or LinkedIn pages.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2020 9
10 Postgraduate
Your education, your way
IN April, a group of teachers from SK Long
Sukang inspired the entire nation when they
began a homework delivery initiative in the
Lawas highlands of Sarawak. The 13 remote
villages where their pupils lived could only
be reached using four-wheel drive vehicles
and trips took as long as two days, as they
were at least three to four hours away from
Lawas town.
Living in such isolated conditions, these
schoolchildren had no Internet access for
online learning, but their education was not
disrupted during the Movement Control
Order thanks to their teachers’ goodwill
and outstanding determination.
Fortunately, at Open University Malaysia
(OUM) there is no need for anyone to go to
such great distances to learn. As an open
and distance learning (ODL) institution, we
rely on the flexibility and accessibility of
online learning to ensure our learners can
study anytime, anywhere.
This year, the pandemic has compelled
us to activate fully online learning for all
programmes. Since March, learners have
attended e-tutorials, presented their
research papers on video-communication
platforms and sat for online exams. They,
along with lecturers, tutors, supervisors
and examiners from all corners of Malaysia,
now have a better grasp of the possibilities
of teaching and learning in virtual spaces
without needing to worry about taking time
off work for travel, incurring additional
expenses or risking their health.
We are well-aware that this is a time of
transition for the university, as well as our
entire teaching and learning community, so
getting used to new ways of doing things
may take a bit of adjustment. Changes are
taking place in a gradual fashion and we are
looking at ways to accommodate everyone’s
needs, such as providing recordings of
e-tutorial sessions so that those who miss the
Going forward, OUM hopes to continue offering the fully online mode to those who enjoy
the freedom of learning independently from the comfort of their own spaces.
virtual classes can follow the lessons at
their own convenience.
Going forward, we hope to continue
offering the fully online mode to those who
enjoy the freedom of learning independently
from the comfort of their own spaces.
Post-Covid-19, we also look forward to
reactivating the blended mode that we have
adopted since the university’s establishment
so that learners can attend physical classes
once again at more than 30 of our learning
centres nationwide.
Looking further ahead, OUM has big
plans for the future. By prioritising better
learner services, we want to give as much
flexibility as possible for them to choose a
learning approach that best suits their
personalities, needs and lifestyles. In short,
we want our learners to take control of
what, how and when they learn and
embark on an educational journey that is
just right for them.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2020
By PROF
DATUK DR
MANSOR
FADZIL
OUM has big plans for the
future. By prioritising better
learner services, we want to
give as much flexibility as
possible for them to choose
a learning approach that
best suits their personalities,
needs and lifestyles.
Way back in 1999, American e-learning
expert Donna Abernathy said, “Online
learning is not the next big thing; it is the
now big thing.” OUM strives to prove that
online learning goes beyond that – with our
20-year experience in ODL, it has the
potential to become the democratising factor
that will allow a huge number of people,
whether locally or abroad, to really reap the
benefits of studying at OUM.
For more information on programmes,
call 03-7801 2000, WhatsApp 012-303
9935/019-357 9074, email enquiries@oum.
edu.my or visit www.oum.edu.my
n Prof Datuk Dr Mansor Fadzil is president
and vice-chancellor of OUM.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2020
Desirable MBA graduates
A Master of Business Administration (MBA)
is a highly sought-after degree despite
detractors questioning its relevance amid
rapidly changing economic scenarios. The
average MBA tuition in Malaysia can amount
to a hefty sum – ranging between RM30,000
and a whopping RM85,000.
However, MBA graduates ought to rest
assured that businesses will continue to
seek them to fill managerial roles as an
MBA holder improves her analytical
capabilities, professional growth and
decision-making skills.
Analytical skills
MBA graduates are trained to have
in-depth understanding of business theories.
This knowledge ensures they can make
informed decisions despite facing diverse
scenarios. MBA holders are well poised to
bring added value to the company by
identifying the various aspects to a problem
and putting forth the most efficient and
practical solutions.
As a result, MBA graduates often enter
management consulting, helping clients to
solve problems and improve processes.
Fresh graduates can expect to enter as
analysts supporting the work of senior
consultants. Top companies usually have
rotational or accelerated leadership
programmes seeking to develop their
talents’ potential. These are commonly
packed with MBA graduates.
Personal development
Businesses need savvy leaders who can
analyse complex situations and crunch
numbers, yet create engaging narratives to
communicate findings to C-suites. The nature
of this requires an individual to work
effectively in cross-functional teams.
An MBA is designed to develop one’s core
Postgraduate 11
skills in analytics, management and
corporate responsibility, with equal
weightage on both academic theory and real-
world practices. MBA graduates are armed
with a deep understanding of organisational
dynamics and strategy implementation.
Thus, MBA holders are highly prized by
firms for their ability to handle complex These are useful in sharpening future project management, this creates a potent
situations and nimbly adapt to rapidly graduates’ decision-making skills, while combination that produces capable
changing situations. MBA programmes are factoring in unknown variables. This is individuals who can take charge.
structured to enhance a talent’s rational especially relevant in industries undergoing An MBA remains a viable pathway to a
objective evaluations of a matter and constant disruption such as the technology corporate career by equipping students with
technical skills by measuring things in field, where much remains ambiguous but much needed skills. However, while many
discrete, quantifiable means. requires rapid turnarounds in decision- institutions now offer MBA programmes, it is
Findings from the 2018 Alumni making. Thus, sensible decisions can be important to note that each course is tailored
Perspectives Survey by the Graduate made by leaders who are well versed in and structured towards different
Management Admission Council found 94% the intricacies of technical details, as well specialisations. For the best outcome, a
of alumni considered their management as its potential. potential student should research the
education as personally rewarding. An MBA prepares students by blending the institution’s track record on placements and
As most MBA students would have some technical knowledge of the field with consult with the intended institution’s
form of working experience prior to business theory. When paired with prudent counsellor and guidance adviser.
enrolling, MBA holders would have already
been exposed to different work cultures,
working environments, as well as job roles
that would have required them to work
independently without much “hand-holding”
guidance and excellent time management.
They are thus ready from the get-go to
contribute to the company not too long after
they arrive, with a minimal learning curve.
The versatility and diversity of MBA
programme specialisations are also beneficial
to those preparing for a career switch. As
businesses and organisations are looking for
talents with diverse skillsets, people with the
domain knowledge, technical expertise and
communication skills can easily switch to
related specialisations if needed or wanted.
Decision-making
Decision-making and personal judgement
skills are sharpened in an MBA programme.
Students taking an MBA course routinely
conduct case studies and situational analyses.
12 Postgraduate
Self-development in public health
IN the era of Covid-19 where
staying indoors and limiting face-
to-face interactions with others is
the prescribed antidote for the
spreading of the virus, working
towards self-development has
been brought into the spotlight. If
there have been any thoughts of
changing careers, widening skill
sets or building on educational
foundations, now is the time to do
something about it.
International Medical
University (IMU) has an
established Open and Distance
Learning (ODL) Master of Science
in Public Health (MScPH)
programme that allows students
to complete the programme
online from the convenience of
their homes. While other
universities only recently started
updating their teaching methods
to carry out learning activities
online, IMU had established its
postgraduate ODL programme
pre-Covid-19 to specifically cater
for individuals who do not have
the luxury of attending
on-campus classes.
With the ODL MScPH
programme, students do not have
to choose between employment
and improving their qualifications
because they can do both at the
same time – in just one year. IMU
has provided an additional option
of carrying out the MScPH degree
part-time as well. Therefore,
students can forgo the full-time
one-year programme and opt to
do the part-time programme
instead, completing their MScPH
over a period of two to six years
depending on the number of
courses taken per semester.
IMU’s MScPH programme
attracts students from diverse
health backgrounds including
nursing, pharmaceutical, medical,
health administration and
business. Cheong Beng Wui, a
goal-oriented businesswoman
specialising in healthcare devices,
says she decided to join the MScPH
for “self-attainment to a higher
level and to challenge limits”. Dr
Shazatul Shazmin, a part-time
ODL student and a Ministry of
Health Malaysia employee, states
that the flexibility of the part-time
programme “allows for a balance
between work, life and the
acquisition of higher education
which will enhance (her) career
pathway as a public health
physician”.
The MScPH programme is
offered not only through the
online delivery mode, but also
through the on-campus delivery
mode – open to both local and
MBA programme offers new
healthcare specialisation
RECOGNISING a growing demand
in the healthcare sector, Open
University Malaysia (OUM) has
introduced a new healthcare
management specialisation in its
Master of Business Administration
(MBA) programme starting from
the September intake.
“Learners who choose to major
in healthcare management will
undergo two elective courses,
which are clinical decision-making
and healthcare management.
Lecturers for both courses are
highly qualified practitioners from
the industry,” says programme
director Dr Zahir Osman, adding
that the curriculum is up-to-date
and addresses the latest issues in
this sector.
Dr Zahir – from the Cluster of
Business and Management –
holds a PhD in management,
and a master’s and bachelor’s
degree qualification in
business administration.
international students. Despite the
setbacks posed by Covid-19, there
has been a seamless transition from
on-campus learning activities to
online. A MScPH programme
on-campus student, who only
wishes to be known as Abigail, says,
“We are a generation that spends a
lot of time online, so switching
learning methods online was a
relatively smooth process. The
lecturers from all the modules
made this possible and they
continue to be very responsive. The
frequency of emails and meetings
on Microsoft Teams has been very
conducive to learning.”
The MScPH programme is geared
towards providing an exciting
curriculum for students with a
variety of teaching methods
employed, including tutorials,
videos, practicals, field visits,
seminar presentations, case
discussions, on-site public health
attachments and lectures. This
The MScPH programme is geared towards providing
an exciting curriculum for students with a variety of
teaching methods employed.
A 12-year veteran in the
financial industry, he has been in
academia for a decade, specialising
in finance, entrepreneurship,
management, research methods
and quantitative analysis.
An MBA has long been
considered a golden ticket for
senior management positions. The
programme is designed to enhance
learners’ managerial skills in
efficient and effective
organisational management.
Learners will be exposed to current
organisational best practices that
can be applied to improve
performance and productivity, as
well as increase profits.
Available in fully online mode,
the MBA offers seven specialisations
– including the all-new healthcare
management – which are
designed to complement
fundamental core courses. The
other in-demand specialisations are
entrepreneurship, human resource
management, marketing,
conventional finance, Islamic
finance and project management.
Dr Zahir explains, “The seven
specialisations give learners the best
chance to choose what is most
relevant to their careers.
“Beginning from the May
semester, 50% of the courses focus
entirely on assignments, which
Available in fully online
mode, the MBA offers
seven specialisations
which are designed to
complement fundamental
core courses.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2020
content is delivered by experienced
faculty members with specialised
public health experience both
nationally and internationally.
The postgraduate programmes
offered by IMU include MSc
programmes in public health,
analytical and pharmaceutical
chemistry, molecular medicine, and
acupuncture and pharmacy practice;
a Master of Counselling;
postgraduate diplomas in diabetes
management and education, implant
dentistry, and endodontics and
prosthodontics; postgraduate
programmes in health professions
education, and business
administration in healthcare
management, as well as a MSc and
PhD in medical and health sciences.
n For more information about the
postgraduate programmes, visit
www.imu.edu.my, email
postgraduate@imu.edu.my or call
03-2731 7272.
means learners don’t need to sit for
any exams. However, both
assignments and exams are
required for the remaining half of
the courses.”
With the enhanced focus on the
medical industry and quality
services to patients, new healthcare
facilities and job opportunities are
now popping up locally and abroad.
Capable and forward-thinking
healthcare administrators are now
in great demand, and those with a
master’s degree in healthcare
management would be best suited
for such jobs.
Dr Zahir says, “This new
specialisation is particularly
beneficial for medical practitioners
who wish to know more about
managing their own businesses or
clinics. Moreover, OUM learners are
working adults from various sectors
and industries. This diversity in
backgrounds enriches the learning
experience and allows them to
build strong networks and
professional relationships. This can
give them an edge in their career
development. The skills and
knowledge learnt will be valuable
for those who want to set up and
manage their own businesses.”
The university believes in the
holistic development of learners by
delivering quality education that
equips professionals with the right
qualifications that will lead to
exciting, diverse and interesting
career opportunities, including in
healthcare management.
n For more information on the
MBA and other programmes, call
the OUM Speed Line at 03-7801
2000, WhatsApp 012-303 9935/019-
357 9074, email enquiries@oum.
edu.my or visit www.oum.edu.my