PostGraduate - 21 July 2015

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015
special
Old school
vs new school
2 postgraduate
Humans essential to business

THE historical role of a business
school was to train managers to be
more intellectual and scientific in
the execution of their jobs and
management policies.
With mechanisms, processes and
regulations in place to control and
direct corporations, this approach
is still used today to ensure that the
decision-making process and
policies made are aligned with the
interests of the businesses and
stakeholders.
While business is more
commonly linked with
stakeholders interests, asset
growth, profit maximisation and
ensuring the returns of investment,
Prof Dr Arfah Salleh, president and
chief executive officer of Putra
Business School, believes that the
human aspect of it has long been
left out and forgotten.
Corporate scandals such as
Enron and World Com as well as
the 2008 financial crisis are the
result of the failures of corporate
governance that has long been
used to govern corporations, says
Prof Arfah.
The weakness of this approach
is its focus on the corporations
instead of the behaviour of the
humans within the corporations.
While these companies rank high
on the corporate governance index,
the ends justify the means for them
to get there.
After all, incidents of corporate
misdeeds from the last decade
were committed mainly by MBA
holders from Ivy League business
schools. This revelation suggests
that business schools are not
exhibiting positive effects on
student values and attitudes.
Business education focuses too
much on achieving business targets
and other measurable objectives
but disregards beliefs and morals.
We need human values in our
human leaders to be able to make
decisions that can positively impact
the world, says Prof Arfah.
However, the business sector

does not have to be at odds with
the human conscience.
Putra Business School is
committed to the belief in human
governance as the framework of a
sound, realistic, forward-looking
business and corporate philosophy.
Oneness, wholeness and
excellence is the philosophical
bedrock upon which the
framework rests.
Human governance is not about
governance; it is about humans.
We are making the bold claim that
this is the answer to past corporate
scandals and financial crises that
will ensure they do not recur, says
Prof Arfah.
Human governance
Putra Business School has
questioned the current business
education paradigm by bringing in
an alternative framework through
human governance to propagate
new ethical principles for
contemporary business and
management.
In the old paradigm, people are
treated as resources instead of
humans. When we talk about
business administration, we talk
about the chief executive officer,
the managing director and such,
which are merely roles that we
take up.
We often think of them in
nouns rather than verbs. We dont
speak of them as humans, so gone
are the compassion, care and
concern, shares Suleyman Tan
Eng Tong, chief operating and
finance officer at Putra Business
School.
If you are human, you care
about other humans, the
environment and the future. We
need to bring humans back into
organisations so that people can
use their businesses to make
positive decisions.
Human governance is a
Ears to
hear
Eyes to see
Undivided
attention
to focus
Heart
to feel
King
to lead
The Chinese written form of

ting, which means to listen.
The art of listening

THE motto at Putra Business School
is listen in traditional Chinese
written form, pronounced as
ting.
We chose the Chinese written
form for listening because it
captures the traits that humans
need to be able to understand a
situation before acting. The most
common faculties a human uses
are the eyes and ears to see and
hear our surroundings, explains
Suleyman Tan Eng Tong, chief
operating and finance officer,

Putra Business School.
But beyond that, when we
notice something of interest, we
should also pay undivided
attention to consider our options
before we take action to lead on
this information.
When put in the context of
business, this motto ensures that a
human who practises human
governance understands a
situation before acting.
Prof Dr Arfah Salleh, president and

chief executive officer of Putra
Business School.
philosophy that captures the

essence of the human spirit and
internal conscience. It stems from
the acknowledgement that
everyone is a human and should
treat each other as such within
their personal and professional
capacities.
It seeks to shift from the
emphasis on external rules and
processes to an emphasis on the
internal constitution of humans,
where management is centred on
humans role first.
Human governance recognises
that businesses are more than just
profit-making machines but are
enablers of social well-being.
Good governance should focus
on governing the behaviour of the
humans. Human governance is an
internal guiding light within every
individual at all decision-making
levels from the executives to the
chief executives that emphasises
ethical conduct through good
values and principles, says Prof
Arfah.
Once human governance is
actualised, good corporate
governance will ensue; profit and
business sustainability, too, will
become a consequence of that.
Living
purposefully
PUTRA Business School adopts the
mangroves as its mascot. Although
a peculiar choice at first thought,
the mangroves, in fact, represent
the philosophy of the business
school aptly.
Whether the tide is high or
low and whether the waves are
strong or calm, the mangroves
stand tall and, most importantly,
they stand together to weather
whatever elements thrown at
them and are never found alone,
explains Prof Dr Arfah Salleh,
president and chief executive
officer at Putra Business School.
The mangroves show that
togetherness is better and offer
resilience even in harsh conditions.
Besides that, the mangroves
provide a thriving ecosystem for a
diverse range of flora and fauna.
That is the spirit of our
business school to nurture
resilient human leaders who are
good-hearted people in the harsh
reality of the world, says Prof
Arfah.
As a business education
provider, Putra Business School
ensures that it champions human
governance and nurtures human
leaders through its business
programmes.
Putra Business School is the
first dedicated graduate business
school in the country to earn
accreditation by the Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business, which represents the
highest achievement for an
educational institution that awards
business degrees.
It is also accredited by ABEST21
(The Alliance on Business
Education and Scholarship for
Tomorrow, a 21st Century
Organisation).
Being human again

Human governance does not
stop short at businesses and
corporations. The application of
human governance beyond
business and management so that
it is practised by policy-makers,
government agencies and other
institutions creates the potential
for a community and nation of
morality, integrity and
accountability.
The fundamentals of human
governance are not limited to a
specific subject and transcend all
boundaries. Having a conscience
enables us to tell right from wrong,
thus, human governance is vital in
personal development towards
becoming a better human, says
Prof Arfah.
Even scientists are questioning,
What does it mean to be human?
and exploring the idea of the
conscience.
Members of the public who are
interested to learn more about
Putra Business Schools PLMBA
and its philosophy on human
governance can attend a preview
course on July 28.
n For more information, visit

www.putrabusinessschool.edu.my
Balancing theory
and practice
THE Putra Business Schools Master
of Business Administration (MBA)
is the programme of choice for
students who are keen to equip
themselves with the ability to
effectively and efficiently manage
people and ideas, and to think
strategically to move their
organisations forward.
While the MBA in Putra
Business School appeals to
those interested in entry-level
management roles, Putra Business
School also has a home-grown
programme that focuses on
practising management and
leadership skills, catering to the
needs of top managers.
The Practising Leader Master of
Business Administration (PLMBA)
is a whole-person curriculum
based on the human governance
philosophy. The PLMBA was
created in response to a call for a
fundamental reconception of the

entire premise of an MBA.
Each course will have two
co-instructors an academic and
an experienced senior executive
from the industry.
Putra Business Schools
aspiration is for every PLMBA
graduate to exemplify the
following traits:
Integrated
PLMBA graduates are whole
human beings who bring the
entirety of their selves to any
situation. They demonstrate
the ability to balance deep
thought, keen observation,
childlike wonder, healthy
doubt and purposeful passion.
Intellectual integrity
Resourceful
PLMBA graduates exemplify

honesty and integrity in their
very being. They model the
ability to hold themselves
accountable to the same
standards they expect others
to meet and to be able to
identify and accept
inconsistencies in their own
thinking.
PLMBA graduates are creative

thinkers who continually
challenge and expand their
knowledge base. They have
the ability to find knowledge
resources that go beyond the
norm to continuously
challenge, inspire and
empower themselves.
A heart of service
Communal-minded
PLMBA graduates build

organisations that exist to
nurture its ecosystem. They
have the desire to generously
share their knowledge,
experience, ideas and
questionings with the sincere
intent to benefit the greater
good.
PLMBA graduates leverage

their impact by building
inclusive communities.
They believe that their
interconnectedness gives rise
to a collective wisdom where
the whole is greater than the
sum of its parts.
4 postgraduate
SUNWAY Universitys premier

dual-award Master of Business
Administration (MBA) is a
postgraduate programme that
provides a solid academic base,
practical knowledge and corporate
networks for aspiring leaders in
the ever-changing business world.
The programme strengthens and
develops students knowledge,
skills, competencies and attitudes,
which enables them to achieve
their highest potential in their
personal life and the professional
arena of the business world.
The two-year part-time MBA
programme offers a high degree
of flexibility suitable for busy
working adults of any industry.
Subash Raj Krishnan is one of
the first few students enrolled in
the programme and is now part
of an intellectually invigorating
learning community.
His experience with the
programme thus far has been
positive and rewarding.
It has been challenging but
the effects and impacts of the
programme are almost immediate.
The business knowledge that I
have picked up supplements
my work.
For example, from the
corporate finance and the
management accounting modules,
I have learnt profit and loss
statement, net present value and
accounting directives, which I can
apply at work to forecast my
project to the sales and finance
team in the company, says Subash.
Sunways dual-award MBA
Learning while working

involves careful selection of its
students to ensure that there
is diversity in the students
background, age and experience.
This allows an intellectually
gifted and capable cohort of
students to work and learn in a
multidisciplinary environment,
thus strengthening their networks.
Subashs peers include bankers,
accountants, engineers and many
other high-calibre individuals of
various professions.
Subash is a masters degree
graduate specialising in
telecommunication engineering
with more than six years of
project management experience
working in an international
telecommunication company
tbased in Selangor.
His industrial experience has
helped contribute to his interaction
and discussions with others in the
programme, where he has met
peers of diverse backgrounds who
share similar high levels of
intellectual capability.
Regarding the reason for his
pursuit of another postgraduate
degree, Subash says, I felt a need
to pursue an MBA as I was lacking
business knowledge essential for
my career advancement.
I chose Sunway University
because of its reputation
and partnership with
Lancaster University.
The initial stage of the
programme was tough, having to
juggle work and study.
Eventually, I managed to adapt
to it with assistance from the
people I knew at Sunway
University.
The Sunway University MBA
is a dual-award programme that
awards graduates with two scrolls
one from Sunway University and
another from Lancaster University.
Sunway University is a
renowned provider of business
education within Malaysia and has
been awarded Setara 5 (Excellent)
rating by the Education Ministry.
Lancaster University is ranked in
the top 1% of universities globally.
Lancaster University 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).
To experience this world-class
dual-award MBA, join the Preview
Session on July 25 at Sunway
University Graduate Centre.
Reservation for a place at the
session can be made beforehand.
n For more information, call

03-7491 8701 or visit www.sunway.
edu.my/MBA
To advance his career, Subash Raj Krishnan chose to pursue Sunway

Universitys dual-award Master of Business Administration to enhance
his knowledge in business.
postgraduate 5
Alliances
for success
AS a premier tertiary education provider,
KBU International College has strategic
alliances with several UK-based universities.
Among them is the Anglia Ruskin University
(ARU), one of the biggest universities in the
east of England with 155 years of excellent
academic track record.
In 2014, ARU was awarded the highly
acclaimed Entrepreneurial University of the
Year 2014 accolade by Times Higher
Education.
ARU was praised for its MedTech Campus,
the works carried out by the university
and the support provided to 5,000 start-up
businesses. MedTech Campus is one of the
worlds largest innovation spaces.
In addition, the universitys academic
excellence was recognised by the UKs
Higher Education funding bodies, with 12
areas classed as generating world-leading
research.
Involving more than 52,000 academics
from 154 UK universities, the results of the
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014
showed that ARU made a significant impact
on economies, societies, the environment
and cultures in all corners of the world.
REF 2014 is the biggest research
assessment exercise in the world.
The results generated from this
assessment exercise are used to allocate
around 2bil (RM11.9bil) of research funding
every year.
A successful relationship
Recently, dean and pro vice-chancellor of
ARUs Lord Ashcroft International Business
School Prof Gary Packham anzzzd director
of International Partnerships Dr Simon
Evans visited KBU to pay tribute to ARUs
22-year relationship with the college.
They were deeply impressed with the high
standard and quality of the college academic
staff, students, and the teaching and learning
facilities.
On the coveted awards won by ARU in
2014, Prof Packham said his business faculty
championed research that cut across
disciplines and challenged preconceptions.
He highlighted its successful work-based
learning model that has won wide
acceptance and support from companies
such as Barclays, Harrods and Volvo.
Regarding the MBA programme at KBU,
Prof Packham was happy to see that the
colleges enrolment numbers have been on
the ascent since classes commenced five
years ago.
He assured that ARU would continue to
lend maximum support to the college.
Prestigious MBA
programme
KBU offers a time-tested, rigorous and
prestigious MBA programme in collaboration
with the Lord Ashcroft International
Business School.
KBUs MBA is an internationally
recognised programme.
It is accredited by the Association of
Business Schools, a body representing the
leading business schools in the UK.
The body is an authoritative voice of
business and management education there.
Besides being tutored by a highly qualified
teaching team comprising doctorate holders
with industry experience, students can also
benefit from lectures by visiting UK
academics, live lectures from ARU via video
KBUs MBA is an
internationally
recognised
programme.
It is accredited by
the Association of
Business Schools, a
body representing
the leading
business schools in
the UK.
conferencing and guest lectures by industry
specialists.
Flexibility is another strong point of KBUs
MBA programme.
Students are able to plan their schedules
around full-time or part-time classes.
Part-time classes are held on Saturdays
and Sundays while full-time classes cater
mainly to international students.
The programme, which stretches over four
semesters, focuses on producing all-rounded
graduates.
The academic calendar consists of two
semesters in a year: January to April and
September to December.
This allows students to reach an optimal
balance of professional, personal and
university life.
Students do not have to worry about
preparing for exams as the course is 100%
assignment-based.
They also have access to the Emerald
database (for full text articles) and ARUs
extensive e-library, making research much
more efficent and easier.
Members of the Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
can look forward to four exemptions out of
11 modules.
These modules are the organisational
behaviour, decision-making and problemsolving, marketing management, and
strategic financial analysis modules.
If you are interested in KBUs MBA
programme, check out the MBA previews
that are scheduled to take place on the
following dates:
Date Time
Aug 17 (Monday)
6.30pm
Sept 5 (Saturday)
10am
Sept 11 (Friday)
6.30pm
The previews are designed to

give students insight into the masters
programme.
The September intake is in progress.
n For more information, call

KBU International College,
Bandar Utama at 03-7727 3200 or
e-mail enquiry@kbu.edu.my or
visit www.kbu.edu.my
(From left) Director of International Partnerships Dr Simon Evans, dean and pro vice-chancellor of
ARUs Lord Ashcroft International Business School Prof Gary Packham, head of KBUs School of
Business, Hospitality and Tourism Management Low Hong Keng and course coordinator Kellie Tan
Ai Li at KBU International College.
6 postgraduate
VC COLUMN
Determining the
value of an MBA
The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus offers the highly sought-after MBA programme.
ALTHOUGH challenging, making

the right choice of institution and
programme is important when
deciding on a masters of business
administration (MBA) programme.
The number of programmes
available has grown dramatically;
there are one-year and two-year
programmes, offline and online
options, specialist versus general
programmes, standard and
executive versions, full-time and
part-time modes, and domestic
and overseas opportunities.
Some programmes require four
or five years of work experience,
while others accept candidates
who have worked for only a year
or two.
Regardless of the prerequisites,
most institutions claim their
programmes to be international,
excellent, leading-edge or career
advancing.
What factors should you
consider when choosing an MBA?
Ultimately, you need to think about
value the benefits the programme
delivers relative to its costs.
The main cost of postgraduate
education is the programme fee.
Besides that, there are significant
time costs, which include the
duration of the course, total hours
in the classroom, independent
study time and travel time.
An online programme may be
more flexible but presents a
greater risk of dropping out due to
isolation from peers. A programme
that can be completed in a shorter
time may be cheaper but not better
in quality.
Moreover, while part-time study
may spread the financial costs of
an MBA over a longer term, it also
adds to the duration of time one
By PROF
CHRISTINE
ENNEW
needs to stay committed to ones
formal education.
One of the biggest aspects to be
considered in the value equation
of an MBA programme is the
programmes impact on an
individuals managerial capabilities
and performance.
However, as this is extremely
difficult to judge in advance, we
can rely instead on proxy variables
such as institutional reputation
and ranking, reported salary
enhancement rate of past
graduates and the programmes
accreditation.
Whether MBA-specific or
generic, university rankings are
a useful starting point in gauging
an institutions quality, particularly
if you focus on the disaggregated
information. This involves the
assessment of various aspects of
the programme or institution.
MBA rankings typically cover
only the top 100 programmes
worldwide, so it is likely that many
of the institutions you are
considering are not in the MBA
rankings.
They may not appear in broader
university rankings as well,
which include less than 10% of
universities worldwide.
While accreditation is useful in
giving you confidence about the
quality of a programme, many
good institutions may choose not to
apply for accreditation because of
the constraints it can impose on

the way they run their
programmes.
MBA previews provide a
valuable opportunity for potential
students to assess the quality of a
programme. Through these
previews, they can find out about
the academic staff and enquire
about the alumnis success.
Some previews will also give you
the chance to see your potential
learning environment. This is an
opportunity to get to know the
backgrounds of students in the
institution as you want to make
sure you fit into the demographics
of the student body.
For example, as it is important
that you learn from the
experiences of your peers, you may
not want to join a programme
where the average work
experience of its students are two
to three years when you have been
working for ten years.
In many respects, choosing an
MBA is a business decision and
like any good business decision,
it needs to be done with careful
analysis.
The key to making a good
decision is to collect a range of data
from various sources, understand
their limitations and systematically
evaluate what they tell you about
the value of the different
educational options available.
Only then can you hope to have
a good chance of selecting an MBA
programme that delivers the right
value for you.
n Prof Christine Ennew is the chief

executive officer and provost of The
University of Nottingham Malaysia
Campus.
8 postgraduate
Develop a distinctive career

THE Institute of Postgraduate
Studies (IPS) at Universiti Malaysia
Pahang (UMP) offers graduate
studies by research and
coursework modes at the masters
and doctoral levels.
Candidates for the doctoral level
are admitted into one of the Doctor
of Philosophy (PhD) programmes
offered through several academic
faculties in UMP.
Some of the programme
specialisations offered are
biotechnology, industrial chemistry,
mechanical engineering,
production engineering, civil
engineering, computer science,
technology management, industrial
safety and health, project
management and operations
management.
To ensure graduates meet the
needs of the present job market,
the universitys curricula are
designed to fulfil the requirements
of the Education Ministry, the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency
and the Engineering Accreditation
Council.
Operating from its Gambang and
Pekan campuses, UMP adopts a
student-centred learning approach.
The university utilises web-based
e-learning applications and library
to create an enjoyable learning
environment so that students are
eager to attend classes.
The universitys engineering
State-of-the-art laboratory equiment assists UMP researchers in their studies.
and science laboratories are

equipped with state-of-the-art
facilities and equipment that
resemble those used in the
industries.
Through graduate studies, IPS is
committed to guiding highly
motivated individuals to develop
distinctive careers.
The advanced knowledge and
skills acquired at UMP prepare
them to be leading researchers in
their respective fields.
UMP nurtures its graduate
students to be confident and
independent, thus enabling them
to spearhead entrepreneurial
activities.
Industrial PhD at UMP

The Industrial PhD programmes
combination of doctoral studies
and business experience generates
value innovation and high-level
satisfaction.
Graduates of the programme do
not encounter problems in finding
employment; rather, they quickly
find exciting jobs as managers in
the research areas of private
enterprises and enjoy handsome
salaries.
Industrial PhD features
l Research focus is based on
industrial issues or problems
l The student benefits from joint

supervision by experts from the
university and industry
l Research is conducted within
the industry , the candidate does
not have to leave his workplace
l It is distinct from the
conventional PhD degree in terms
of mode of research but preserves
the mark of original or innovative
research and scholarship expected
of a doctoral study
l The candidates company
benefits from access to innovative
and valuable knowledge acquired
by the student during his studies.
In return, the university gains
access to new knowledge provided
by the private company
l The student is employed by a
private company during the entire
course.
Benefits
l Allocation of fees funded

by MyBrain15 of RM50,000 to the
potential candidate from the
industry
l Research is conducted at the
workplace
Roles of the university
l Identifies an academic
supervisor
l Provides accredited quality
academic programme
l Provides necessary training of
research methodologies and skills
and supervision
Roles of the company
l Identifies projects in the

industry
l Ensures continuous
commitment to the candidate for
project sustainability
l Provides resources for the
research and an industry
supervisor for the student
Duration of programme
l Full-time programme for

students working in their
respective organisations while
pursuing their PhD degree
l Students are given a minimum
of two years and a maximum of six
years to complete the Industrial
PhD programme
l Early completion can be
considered for some impact factor
publications
Supervision
l Each student will be assigned

to a minimum of two supervisors
one from the university and one
from the industry with substantial
experience or expertise in the
relevant areas of the research topic
l Supervision and monitoring
processes are the responsibility of
the supervisors
n For more information,

visit www.ump.edu.my
10 postgraduate
Well-rounded professionals
THE Master of Business
Administration (MBA) programme
at Universiti Tenaga Nasional
(Uniten) aims to produce
postgraduate business leaders who
are confident, energised and
entrepreneurially empowered to
create value across businesses and
industries in the global
marketplace.
In realising this, a paradigm
of deep and holistic business
understanding is duly emphasised
throughout its MBA programme.
The course clearly and
consciously examines the
internal workings of a business
model and its interactions
together with interrelated
synchronisations within the
market place.
The Uniten MBA programme is
focused on creating and nurturing
value for business enterprises by
transmuting business know-how
and business understanding into
effective and timely decisionmaking.
Towards this end, managers
need to engage in critical thinking,
creative thinking as well as good
writing and oral communication
skills.
They should also be sensitive to
the cultural dimensions found in
the workplace.
To equip individuals with these
l Operations management
l Human resources
management
l Management information
systems and competitive
intelligence
l Strategic management
l Business research methods
l MBA project paper
The elective modules are:
l International finance
l Valuation and investment
analysis
l Manpower development and
training
l Business law and ethics
l Knowledge management
l International business
l Strategic marketing
l Innovation management
l Mergers and acquisitions
The MBA programme at Uniten nurtures businesses leaders who are ready to create value across business and
industries in the global marketplace.
key characteristics and give them a

great MBA experience while
bearing in mind the need for
effective learning, the MBA
programme at Uniten consists of
interactive lecture sessions, written
assignments, verbal presentations,
case studies, external guest speaker
sessions and hands-on experiential

learning methods.
With a healthy mix of both
foreign and local students and
faculty members, cross-cultural
interactions are a prominent
feature here.
The Uniten MBA programme
includes the following core

modules:
l Organisational behaviour and
management
l Managerial economics
l Accounting and finance
for managers
l Marketing management
Notably, the business

research methods module
and the MBA project paper
allow MBA candidates to
independently examine and
demonstrate an understanding
of business issues, which will
develop their thinking and
motivate them to pursue lifelong
learning and future learning
endeavours.

visit www.uniten.edu.my
postgraduate 11
Malaysian students now have the

opportunity to pursue the Edinburgh
Business School MBA programme at
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.
A wider
management
perspective
THE Edinburgh Business School is renowned
for its globally successful Master of Business
Administration (MBA) programme.
Its MBA programme is the most flexible
and popular in the world with a global
network of more than 11,800 current
students and 18,000 graduates.
The programme has been carefully
designed to meet the needs of busy
professionals seeking an internationally
recognised qualification as well as the
necessary practical and applied skills to
navigate through todays ever-changing
business world.
We take a practical, applied approach to
the curriculum, one where you can apply a
theory or provide real examples to support
it, says Craig Robinson, course leader for
Strategic Planning, Edinburgh Business
School.
Its MBA programme has been available in
Malaysia since 1992. Subsequently, with the
recent opening of Heriot-Watt University
Malaysia in Putrajaya, students have easy
access to this renowned MBA programme,
which has been delivered in Malaysia by top
UK and Asian faculties since January 2013.
The MBA was the first programme made
available at the university when it was first
established in Malaysia.
Our MBA is designed for working
professionals who want to get a wider
perspective on management, says
Robinson.
Many people are functional specialists.
They work in information technology,
human resources, operations or accounts
and tend to have a fairly narrow view of the
business world.
This MBA introduces participants to all
the core business disciplines and provides
them with the broader perspectives they
need if they want to progress to higher
levels of management, he says.
This part-time MBA programme offers
participants the freedom to study on their
own terms. It is delivered on a part-time
basis, over a series of two-day weekend
seminars and revision classes across two
years.
Participants will study a total of nine
courses, each of which is assessed by a
three-hour exam.
Participants can study with us during the
weekend and then apply what they have
learnt during the week, says Robinson.
The programme covers a wide range of
Craig Robinson, course leader for Strategic

Planning at Edinburgh Business School.
fields, including economics, marketing,

finance, project management, accounting,
organisational behaviour and strategic
planning.
The programme will give students a
more structured and comprehensive view of
the business world, which will enable them
to make better management decisions.
Being able to approach complex business
problems that senior managers face on a
daily basis in a structured and systematic
manner is a valuable asset in a dynamic
business environment, says Robinson.
Heriot-Watt University is one of the
leading universities in the UK in fields such
as engineering, business and the built
environment.
Its legacy of excellence has earned it
numerous accolades, which include being
ranked 13th in the UK and second in
Scotland by The Guardian University Guide
2015, as well as placing 47th in the world,
third in the UK and first in Scotland
according to the QS University Rankings Top
50 under 50 2014.
Heriot-Watt University has grown over
the years and now operates out of five
campuses three in the UK, one in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates and one in Putrajaya,
Malaysia.
n For more information, call 03-8894 3888

or e-mail MalaysiaMBA@ebs.hw.ac.uk or
visit www.ebsglobal.net/malaysia
12 postgraduate
Pursuing a managerial position

IT is only after working for a few
years that some people gain a clear
understanding of their interests
and strengths, thus prompting
them to pursue a career that gives
them greater satisfaction.
To switch careers, one needs to
obtain the relevant qualification.
Pursuing a postgraduate degree
will not only allow you to utilise
any prior knowledge or work
experience, but also give you a
greater focus in your life and
career.
Actuarial science and logisticsrelated professions are among the
ideal careers that offer high job
satisfaction, which may include
factors such as a good work-life
balance, high salaries, excellent
career growth and high demand.
To meet the demands of
individuals who wish to pursue a
career in these two areas, UCSI
University, through its Faculty of
Business and Information
Science, has launched two new
postgraduate Master of Science
programmes MSc in Actuarial
Management Structure B & C and
MSc in Logistics Management.
Both are designed for graduate
executives who aim to venture into
these fields as well as those who
have relevant prior qualifications
who would like to enhance their
specialisations.
UCSI is the first private
university in Malaysia endorsed by
the Society of Actuaries (SoA)
under its list of Universities &
Colleges with Actuarial Programs
(UCAP).
Being on par with institutions in
The MSc in Actuarial Management Structure B & C and MSc in Logistics Management programmes incorporate both
technical know-how and management expertise.
the UCAP list such as the University

of California, Los Angeles (the
United States) and the University of
Toronto (Canada) indicates that
UCSI shows notable expertise in
actuarial science.
The MSc in Actuarial
Management programme
emphasises the theoretical
fundamentals of the disciplines
involved.
In addition, this masters
programme offers two structures
(C and B) to meet the different

needs of learners.
Structure C is ideal for
professionals such as mathematics
teachers, engineers or economists
who wish to pursue a career in
actuarial science.
It equips them with essential
technical knowledge required for
the SoA exams and education up to
the associate level.
It provides essential
management know-how for
technicians to succeed in ascending

the corporate ladder.
Structure B, on the other hand,
is designed for those who have
completed a degree in actuarial
science or a related area who
wish to boost their theoretical
foundation and develop skills for
research.
Structure B is ideal for those
who are interested to venture into
academia or a management role
that involves more rigorous,
investigative tasks.
UCSI logistics expertise is
respected and recognised by
professional bodies as well.
The university is a corporate
affiliate member of the Chartered
Institute of Logistics and Transport
Malaysia the Malaysian arm of
the international professional body
for all sectors of the transport
industry.
UCSI understands the various
requirements and needs of
professionals in the industry and
the MSc in Logistics Management
programme is designed to address
these needs and equip learners
with the competitive advantage
that they require to advance in
their careers towards managerial
levels.
The programme focuses on the
knowledge and application of the
pertinent concepts, techniques and
principles that underlie logistics
and supply chain management.
It covers the management
aspects of the logistics and supply
chain industry and includes topics
such as operations and logistics,
inventory, import and export
management and logistics strategy.
Changing careers takes focus
and commitment but is highly
rewarding.
You can now get a head start in
the fields of actuarial science and
logistics with UCSIs postgraduate
programmes.

call 03-9102 4739 or visit
www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/
onlineenquiry
postgraduate 13
MBA with dual award
(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.
IN 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 high-calibre
programmes and award degrees of great
standards. These standards have been
adopted by IUMW.
We aim to produce graduates who 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
Enjoy your free time

BALANCING work, family time and studies
can be stressful for many postgraduates. The
situation can be further exacerbated if you
are the main bread winner of your family.
However, apart from allocating time
to attend lectures or spending countless
hours researching, you should also take
some time to relax.
Make it a point to recharge your batteries
after a long and gruelling week as you will
be able to progress faster and better in your
assignments with a clear mind.
Step outside and try one of these
fun and free activities over the weekend. You
may even discover a source of inspiration
for your thesis.
Day trip
Spend your weekend on a day trip to Batu
Caves, a limestone hill with a series of cave
temples located in the Gombak district. This
famous tourist attraction is also one of the
worlds most popular Hindu shrines
dedicated to Lord Murugan. While it is most
visited during Thaipusam, the cave receives
visitors year-round.
Witness devotees making their offerings
or count the number of monkeys you can
spot as you climb the 272 concrete steps
into the main shrine.
Walk in the park

Despite being the busiest city in the
country, Kuala Lumpur is not merely a
concrete jungle. Find refuge from the
bustling city life in the Perdana Botanical
Garden, a large-scale urban park along
Jalan Perdana.
Stroll along the many trails that cut
through beautifully landscaped gardens and
admire the colourful flowers and tropical
trees that surround the park.
Free guided walks are held every working
day from 8am to 10am. The park is situated
in the Heritage Park of Kuala Lumpur and is
within walking distance to other attractions,
including the National Monument, National
Planetarium and Bird Park.
Enjoy spoken word poetry

Poetry Cafe KL is a virtual cafe that
organises spoken word poetry performances,
workshops and meet-ups. Since its inception
in 2009, the movement organises an event at
least once a month in and around the Klang
Valley.
Whether you are a supporter or a
performer of the art of spoken word poetry,
follow them on Facebook at Poetry Cafe KL
to know where and when the next group of

performers are taking the stage.
Pick up a new sport

Exercise is one of the best ways to release
stress and studies have indicated that
physical activity releases endorphins,
hormones that lead to the feeling of
euphoria.
If conventional sports such as badminton
or football are not your cup of tea, perhaps
you may like to try the sport of muggle
quidditch, which is based on a game in the
Harry Potter novels by J.K Rowling
Widely played in universities across North
America, the sport has found its way to
South-East Asia, including countries such as
the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Malaysias first quidditch team, the
Damansara Dementors, has been actively
playing since 2013 and is always looking for
new players.
If you are interested, you can join one of
the teams pick-up games at Central Park
Bandar Utama every Sunday or visit its
Facebook page for more information.
KL Car Free Morning

On the first and third Sunday of every
month, the Kuala Lumpur City Council holds
a car-free morning on major streets of the
Golden Triangle called KL Car Free Morning.
Start your week among hundreds of
cyclists, joggers, skaters and walkers as they
take over the streets of the capital. The 7km
route passes some of the citys famous
landmarks, including luxury hotels, old shop
houses and the Petronas Twin Towers.
The two-hour event begins at 7am and
participants can gather at the DBKL square
for a fair-like atmosphere with music and
lucky draw prizes at stake.
Offer your help

If you are passionate about social issues
such as animal welfare, poverty and human
rights, why not join a volunteering
programme? Non-governmental and private
organisations are always grateful for an
extra pair of hands.
From visiting sick children to helping out
at soup kitchens, there are numerous
opportunities for you to offer your time and
effort. Do Something Good is a volunteering
network currently set up in Malaysia. Find
out how you can get involved by checking
its website and Facebook page, which is
constantly updated with information on the
latest events.
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)
The HEA 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 behind this collaboration 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
14 postgraduate
By building on the foundations of work experience, MSUs Master in Business Administration

enables students to make a smooth transition to a higher level of responsibility at work.
A valued
qualification
THE Management & Science University
(MSU) is one of the best teaching and
learning universities in Malaysia.
It focuses strongly on in-demand areas of
study, which encompass medicine, health
sciences, pharmacy, information sciences
and engineering, business management and
professional studies, education and social
sciences, and hospitality.
MSU has received much recognition from
Malaysian and international independent
bodies.
It has been rated an Excellent Status
University twice by the former Higher
Education Ministry through a rating system
for 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 effort of
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 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 the
most competitive markets.
The programme aims to build on the
foundations of work experience and, by
equipping students with new skills and
knowledge, enable 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 is a multitude of reasons so many
students now consider an MSU-MBA to be
an integral step in their career paths.
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 GSM 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 is a
means to provide MSU postgraduate
students with international exposure.
Through this programme, students have
the opportunity to develop an awareness
and appreciation of other cultures, political
and economic environments, and
approaches of doing business.
Professors of the MSU-MBA are
accomplished teachers who have made
significant contributions to the business
world, both as academics and working
professionals.
They have conducted research and
published articles across a broad range of
business and professional areas. They have
also taught university-level business
courses abroad, thus bringing their rich
multicultural heritage to Malaysia.
Professors at MSU are selected worldwide
from among the best consultants and
professionals in their fields.
n For more information, call 03-2718

4310/2718 4311 or e-mail gsm@msu.edu.my
or visit www.msu.edu.my
postgraduate 15
Zeroing in on what matters

MBA enrolment
Net change
19%
1,600
21%
1,460
Europe
7%
2,646
21%
13,079
North America
-3%
-4,024
38%
13,879
-0.5%
-815
37%
29,495
Asia
World**
Specialised masters
enrolment
Net change
*Controlled set comparison of 2008-2009 and 2012-2013 AACSB Business School Questionnaire (BSQ) data for respective regional enrolment at
AACSB-accredited institutions.
**World includes data from regions of Latin America, Oceania and Africa, which are not reported separately due to small data set.
Source: AACSB DataDirect
By TINA CARMILLIA
WHEN the masters in business
administration programme was
first developed at the start of the
20th century in the United States,
its purpose was to meet the
demand of the industrialising
country a scientific approach to
management so that production
is more efficient and effective
even at a large scale.
As the United States started
becoming industrialised,
labour was being managed by
machinery rather than manual
labour.
Revolutionary manufacturing
practices meant that the manual
labour force had to evolve to
develop new skills to effectively
manage the company by
incorporating science and
business practices.
An MBA used to be an
advanced yet general
management course that was
wide-ranging to cover various
areas of business such as
accounting, finance, marketing
and human resources.
It especially benefited senior
executives without a business or
management degree who were
keen to take up a leadership role
in a corporation.
Even the traditional elective
courses were broad, such as
international business,
market research and project
management.
As business schools
mushroom, many try to
differentiate their programmes
by offering niche industry
or sectoral-specific MBA
programmes to target students
based on the business schools
speciality and expertise, strategic
partnerships with selected
industries as well as to cater to
the needs of particular trades.
When a programme is so
unique that candidates cannot
get the same learning and
education anywhere else, the
programme becomes more
attractive.
While the MBAs general
idea is to groom all-rounded
business leaders in any industry,
the trend now is evolving so
that there are niche MBA
programmes such as healthcare,
techno entrepreneurship,
aviation and engineering
management to cater to this
group of potential corporate
leaders who is not academically
trained in business and

management.
Based on data from the
Association to Advance Collegiate
Schools of Business (AACSB), an
accrediting body for schools of
business, the enrolment in
specialised MBA programmes
is on the rise while enrolment
in general MBA programmes
worldwide has declined.
Why does business education
have to change? Business itself is
constantly changing and the
traditional MBA itself was the
result of universities catering to
industry needs, explains Assoc
Prof Dr Vikram Bansal, MBA
programmes coordinator,
Lincoln University College.
He continues: It is clear that
the industry demands this trend.
As the industries are expecting
more specialised managers,
business schools do not
have much alternative but to
change the modules, add
more specialised subjects and
seek industry experts as
lecturers in moulding these
highly educated managers to
better manage their
organisations.
For example, fresh graduates
may begin their career as
engineers in a software
development firm before they
climb the career ladder as a
supervisor, manager or head
of the engineering department.
An engineer who also has a
business background, such as
with an MBA qualification,
would certainly have the edge
to take up that leadership or
management role.
However, not everyone
agrees with the business
schools inclination to niche
specialisations for MBAs.
Soon Thiam Lam, chief
executive officer of CDC
Management Development,
Strathclyde MBA, believes that
an MBA programme that teaches
the elements of leadership,
ethics and interpersonal skills
with a global approach is
sufficient to provide integrated
understanding of the various
management functions.
Specialisations and sectorspecific programmes, on the
other hand, may give a candidate
the upper hand in a single sector
but little to no advantage at all
in others.
> SEE PAGE 16
MBA versus specialised Masters of Arts enrolment changes at AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate School of
Business)-accredited schools, 2008-09 to 2012-13*
16 postgraduate
> FROM PAGE 15

The focus on a single industry
and specialised concentrations
defeat the very purpose of an MBA.
These programmes are merely
specialised masters programmes
with some business subjects added
as electives into the programme.
Conversely, the traditional
MBA prepares and grooms the
individual with the breadth and
depth of knowledge to be an allrounded business leader in any
industry, says Soon.
With the breadth and depth of
knowledge gained through the
traditional MBA, candidates will
be able to apply their knowledge
in any industry that they may be
assigned to in the future.
Soon adds that in a good MBA
programme, there are usually
optional electives and specialised
projects that the students can
choose to study and specialise in.
Senior lecturer and programme
manager for MBA in Energy
Management at Universiti
Teknologi Petronas, Dr Lai Fong
Woon, however, contends that
there is no conflict between the
designs of a specialised programme
structure and that of a traditional
MBA programme.
Rather, niche programmes
are an enhanced version of the
MBA. The curriculum still covers
all critical aspects of business
functional knowledge, he says.
Dr Lai reasons that niche MBA
programmes will persist as most
students who enrol in this type
of programme are working
Finding niche appeal
Be it traditional or niche, the masters in business administration programmes serve the needs of society through the
business world.
professionals in middle or higher

level management positions who
hope the specialisation will help
them move up the corporate ladder
they are already on.
In other words, the students
most likely already have a clear
career path when they sign up

for the niche MBA programme,
says Dr Lai.
Undeniably, a niche
concentration in a specific industry
means the MBA candidate will
have in-depth business
administration knowledge in that

industry and that industry alone.
For that reason, it should be the
MBA of choice for only those who
are certain that they would like
to remain in the same industry.
Candidates should only
consider a niche MBA programme

if they feel that they would like to
specialise only in that particular
trade. The only edge is that they
will study and know a little more
about that particular industry,
says Soon.
The flip side is that they will be
less flexible and versatile when
their career takes them to other
industries that are different from
their area of specialisation.
For those who are more open to
opportunities outside of a single
industry, the traditional MBA is still
the way to go.
Fortunately, despite the
increased diversity of specialised
MBA programmes, the traditional
MBA is here to stay and business
schools will still cater to both
types of MBA candidates while
remaining relevant to industries.
By offering specialised
MBAs alongside the traditional
MBA, both will indeed complement
the variety of demands of highlevel education, says Assoc Prof
Bansal.
The traditional MBA has always
provided managers with the skills
to manage organisations.
The MBA has served its purpose
in the developments of technology,
society, healthcare and so on and
can still play a huge role even or
rather, especially in todays everchanging corporate scenario.
Universiti Utara Malaysias MBA graduates benefit from the universitys collaboration with Rezzen
Sdn Bhd.
Collaborative education
A LARGE cohort of Universiti Utara Malaysia
(UUM) students recently graduated from
their Master of Business Administration
(MBA) and Doctorate in Business
Administration (DBA) programmes.
Many of these graduates pursued their
degrees at urban study centres at the UUM
campus. Few educational efforts are as
inspiring as those of UUMs in broadening its
base of adult students through collaborative
study centres all over the country.
Since 1983, UUM has pioneered about a
dozen such centres, including in Kuala
Lumpur and Penang, by teaming up with
one of its collaborating partners, Rezzen Sdn
Bhd.
Rezzen was incorporated about 12 years
ago to provide convenient delivery of higher
degrees (mainly MBA and DBA) from UUM to
students in urban areas who only have time
to attend weekend classes.
From a small number of 14 students in
1983 in Penang, the number has grown to
nearly 1,000 students in the 12 years that
the classes have been running.
The collaboration is now entering its next
phase with more and more students
enrolling.
Picking students from the crme de la
crme, the intakes have included individuals
from various management levels and fields.
Rezzens classes are lively and interactive.
Students play an active role in discussions

while staff members perform multiple
functions to ensure the education journey
for every student is smooth.
Experienced businessmen who enrol
in the programme bring their business
expertise into classroom discussions. It is not
unusual to have students contribute actual
case studies during these sessions.
For the first time, at least four or five
veteran businessmen in the programme are
in their 70s and 30 to 40 students are chief
executive officers, directors or board
members.
For working adults, maintaining a balance
while pursuing a higher degree requires
careful planning. This is why students
grades are monitored by the centre.
Individuals facing difficulty in balancing
their workload or not performing well
academically are advised to defer to less
busy work periods so that they can maintain
high average scores and remain in good
standing.
Fees are prorated for those paying by
instalments, while appropriate documents
are provided to students applying for
various funding sources.

call 03-2261 4248 or e-mailanswers@rezzen.
com.my or visit www.rezzen.com.my
postgraduate 17
Lifelong education
enhances career
LIOW Zen Min enrolled in Asia e
University (AeU) in January last
year to pursue the Master of
Education, specialising in early
childhood education.
Being a believer in lifelong
learning, she says, My dream and
ambition is to become a specialist
in early childhood education and a
motivational speaker.
I wish to inspire women to
overcome their hardships, live
independently and have the
determination to pursue their
dreams.
Having completed the Bachelor
of Commerce and Management at
Lincoln University in New Zealand,
Liow wanted to pursue a
postgraduate programme at a
reputable university that would
accommodate her working life.
She is an entrepreneur who is
currently running two businesses
the first involves teaching young
children to be independent readers
and the second is a school for
special needs children located in
Kulai, Johor.
Her days are usually packed
with work, studies and spending

time with her family.
Every evening after work, I
spend time with my daughter
going through her schoolwork. I
will then do the housework and
prepare teaching materials for the
classes at school. It is after this is
done that I start on my
assignments and that takes up the
whole night, she says.
I chose AeU because it provides
me with the flexibility to study
anywhere and anytime, which
allows me to structure my learning
around my busy life, she says.
Although I am a fully online
student from Johor, I attend most
of the AeU seminars at the Kuala
Lumpur campus. The seminars
are interesting, help me develop
a deeper understanding of my
studies and enable me to network
with professors, academic
facilitators and other coursemates,
says Liow.
Despite her busy schedule, Liow
manages to submit her
assignments on time. She scored
GPA 3.33 in her first semester, GPA
4.00 in her second semester and

GPA 3.92 in her third semester. She
has completed her fourth semester
exam and is now waiting for her
results. She has two more
semesters of the programme left to
complete.
Liow says, I have benefited
from this programme because the
theories I learnt are relevant and
applicable to my work.
I am also pursuing my goal of
earning a valuable Master in
Education to enhance my career
and, at the same time, fulfil my
ambition.
Liow is grateful to those who
support her in her education,
including her family and the
universitys professors, lecturers,
academic facilitators and staff.
In the future, I hope to inspire
people around me, especially single
mothers and those who are less
fortunate, to not give up but strive
to achieve their dreams in life, she
says.

www.aeu.edu.my
Liow Zen Min is pursuing the Master in Education at AeU, specialising in early
childhood education.
18 postgraduate
Towards ethical transformation

FORMALLY established in 2010,
the Graduate School of Muamalat
(GS-Muamalat) is positioned
under the umbrella of the Faculty
of Economics and Muamalat (FEM)
at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
(USIM).
GS-Muamalat is innovative,
engaging and has an international
and Islamic orientation to create
ethical global leaders who uphold
human values based on the syariah
law.
The academia of GS-Muamalat
consists of not only exceptional
educators but also active
researchers involved in leading
investigations within businesses
and government bodies.
The school offers PhD and
masters programmes in the areas
of economics, management,
accounting, Islamic finance, Islamic
banking, takaful and syariah audit.
The full range of programme
offerings integrates contemporary
knowledge and practices on
Islamic foundations.
Each programme is carefully
designed to cater to the career
aspirations and backgrounds of the
graduate student.
It is compulsory for those who
do not have knowledge about
Islamic business or conventional
business and management to
undergo a foundation programme.
This is essential so that
The programmes offered at the Graduate School of Muamalat are catered to

various student backgrounds and aspirations.
candidates are better prepared to

cope with university level study.
The programmes offered are:
l Master of Economics and
Muamalat Administration This
masters by research programme
offers rigorous training in
qualitative and quantitative
research methodologies in an
intellectually stimulating
environment.
l Master of Muamalat
Administration This programme
is designed for graduate students
who wish to study a broad range of
topics in Islamic management and
not be restricted to one specific
functional area. Throughout

the course of study, there is an
emphasis on leadership and
strategic change and
implementation, all from an
Islamic perspective.
l Master of Muamalat
Administration (Halal Product)
With a growing Muslim consumer
market across the globe, annual
trade in halal products and
services is a multi-trillion-dollar
industry. To address this,
GS-Muamalat has structured a
masters programme targeted at
increasing the number of
knowledgeable and competent
personnel in syariah compliance,

industry and science to serve
companies in the halal industry.
l Master of Islamic Finance
This programme provides
individuals with a critical
understanding of vital components
of the Islamic finance theory and
associated current research while
developing their capability to apply
both general and Islamic financial
concepts to the analysis of
corporate circumstances. This
programme is conducted from a
managerial perspective.
l Master of Islamic Banking
This course has been designed to
provide students with the skills
and in-depth knowledge required
to work in this growing banking
sector. It offers a comprehensive
curriculum encompassing both
classic and contemporary areas of
Islamic banking.
l Master of Accounting and
Shariah Audit This programme
was created to meet the demand
for graduates who are able to
conduct syariah audit to ensure
that the activities and operations of
an Islamic financial institution are
in adherence to the syariah law.
l PhD in Economics and
Muamalat Administration
A PhD candidate can choose to
undertake philosophical or
applied research. The philosophical
research mode is for candidates
who wish to pursue or continue

a career as an academician or
researcher.
The applied research mode is
new but similar to the Industry
PhD programme offered in other
universities. This mode is for
individuals who intend to be a
consultant, advisor or decision
maker. The research undertaken
must be relevant to the employer
of the PhD candidate and the series
of problems to be solved have to be
current to the organisation.
Programme learning
outcome
Graduates of the masters
programmes are equipped with
the ability to:
l Lead and engage in team
problem-solving tasks across
disciplines through effective
managerial and communicative
abilities in a competitive
environment
l Provide quality services with
ethical and professional values to
the stakeholders in the industries
l Perform the aforementioned
by integrating knowledge of
Islamic principles, incorporating
the revealed (Naqli) and
researched (Aqli) knowledge.

visit www.usim.edu.my
MBA with convenience

SEGi University and Colleges offers a wide
range of programmes under its Faculty of
Business and Accounting, including the
Masters of Business Administration (MBA).
The postgraduate programmes are suited
to high-level business individuals and
enables them to pursue a programme at
their own convenience.
Professional and Continuing Education
(PACE) is a consortium of global universities
that enables adult learners to study at their
own pace while being able to attend to other
obligations and achieve a fulfilling work-life
balance.
There are three modes of learning offered
to students:
l Weekend or evening classes at a
physical venue
l Supported learning Students log in to
online classes at any time of the day and
attend a workshop twice a month
l Independent learning Students study
online and attend intensive revisions once a
month
Students are also in control of how fast
they wish to complete their studies as they
can determine how many subjects to pursue
in a semester.
There is a wide range of postgraduate
business programmes available under PACE
that offers qualifications from either SEGi
University or the University of Southern
Queensland (Australia), University of
Sunderland (UK), University of Greenwich
(UK) or York St John University (UK).
l Master in Business Administration

Students can opt to major in either
general management or global business or
specialise in strategic human resource
management, project management, strategic
marketing, finance or digital transformation.
Graduates are equipped with the various
aspects of sales, finance and economics
while learning the latest theories and best
Working adults can select which mode of study

suits them best through SEGi Universitys PACE
programme.
practices in business.
l Master in Business Administration

(International Business)/Master in Arts
International Business
The course focuses on responsible
leadership and equips graduates with
creativity, practicality and social
resourcefulness.
This MBA also features integrative
disciplines of business strategy and the
management of change in an increasingly
global business environment.
l Master in Financial Planning
The Master in Financial Planning is for
professionals who wish to acquire a broad
range of financial planning skills.
This programme provides students
with essential background knowledge to
conduct businesses and financial planning
alignments. Graduates are equipped
with the skills and knowledge needed to
support business financial planning analyses
and function as wealth planners.
The programme also incorporates modules
from the CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
certification programme.
n For more information, e-mail
askme@segi.edu.my or visit www.segi.edu.my
or www.pace.edu.my
postgraduate 19
Traits of
effective
leadership
BEING promoted to a leadership
position is something most
graduates aspire to achieve, but
not many are aware of the
intricate behavioural and
psychological characteristics that
make up effective and inspiring
leaders.
There are so many key
characteristics that make up a
great leader, depending on the
level of leadership, the business
environment and so on.
Ive always been interested in
looking at executive leadership,
and how a leader influences
peoples discretionary
behaviour, says Prof Iain
Densten, a prominent leadership
scholar for more than 20 years
and director of the Master of
Business Administration (MBA)
programme at Monash
University Malaysia.
Prof Densten says that at an
executive leadership level, one
of the challenges was finding the
right motivation for employees.
If I tell students that Ill give
them one extra point every time
they come to my class 10
minutes early, students will
surely come early.
But once I stop, it is highly
likely that they wont come early
anymore. Thats a transactional
way of looking at how to lead
people.
This is not a sustainable
method because youll need to
keep giving rewards to motivate
people. Soon, youll run out of
rewards.
So what leaders need to
do is inspire people to do things
without rewards, to rise above
having money as a source of
motivation, he says.
Prof Denstens current
research interest lies in the study
of the use of gazes in achieving
leadership goals.
A person can actually
influence another by just looking
at him or her.
So when you have a leader
who has to talk to three or four
people, how the leader uses his
gaze to communicate with all
these people at one time is what
Im currently looking into now,
he says.
His field of research is closely
related to psychology and
neuroscience.
With modern technology, we
can conduct experiments to see
if people use gazes in a certain
way to achieve certain end
results.
We can also electronically
track the differences in a gaze if
a group that is being addressed
was all female, or all males, or of
different religious and cultural

backgrounds, says Prof Densten,
adding that this area is relatively
new and holds much potential,
especially with the advent of
newer and more detailed ways
The Monash Malaysia MBA programme prepares students to be leaders in an ever-changing global business environment.
to track gazes.
He also plans to merge his
current study interest with an
area he has worked on for many
years, which is understanding
executive leadership at the chief
executive officer (CEO) level.
One of the interesting aspects
I am looking at is social
desirability. As social creatures,
we have a tendency to say things
that make us socially desirable.
But for a leader, having the
need to be socially desirable can
actually be a handicap.
If you always need to have
everybody take a liking to you
even when you have to tell
people off when something is
wrong, theres definitely going to
be a conflict there, he says.
Prof Densten emphasises that
whatever the organisation, a
leaders inherent role is to
mould the culture of an
organisation by creating the
right climate.
When a person first enters an
organisation, he or she adheres
to a previously a fixed culture
that cannot be easily changed,
but a leader can change the
climate.
If the employee is exposed
to this climate every day, it will
eventually affect his or her
mindset as well as the
organisation.
Leadership is about
changing the culture of an
organisation through how the
leaders act, behave and so on.
For example, if the CEO of a
company is less compassionate,
the organisation will be less
compassionate.
With the inaugural batch of
Monash Malaysia MBA students
beginning this year, Prof
Densten says he is excited about
the programme, which will
prepare students to lead in an
ever-changing global business
environment.
Leaders need to be able to be
flexible in the way they lead at
times, because its only through
them that an organisation
will be able to change and
adapt to changing business
environments, he says.
We believe that the work we
do here at Monash for our
business students will prepare
them for such an environment.

www.buseco.monash.edu.my/mba
20 postgraduate
AS its mission, Universiti

Kebangsaan Malaysias Graduate
School of Business (UKM-GSB)
advocates pragmatic management
ideas and solutions through
research and consulting. It also
aims to groom responsible and
adept leaders through academic
programmes and executive
training sessions.
The schools academic
programmes comprise Master of
Business Administration (MBA),
Master by Research, Doctor of
Business Administration (DBA)
and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Besides academic programmes,
UKM-GSB also runs Leadership
Academy, which is responsible
for managing executive training,
leadership development, project
management training and
certification programmes in the
MBA.
Four strategic centres form part
of UKM-GSBs areas of interest
cultural management, Islamic
wealth management, regional risk
monitoring and public policy.
Master of Business
Administration
UKMs MBA programmes adopt a
flexible credit-based modular
system delivered via 48-credit-hour
courses.
These recently revised MBA
programmes, which have been
co-developed with industrial
partners, better fulfil the
requirements of the industry and
working students.
While strongly grounded in
academic theory, the MBA
emphasises practical learning
where the transfer of industryrelevant knowledge provides real
management solutions and
techniques for the MBA graduates
to apply in their respective
organisations.
Aligned with the European lockstep modular approach, the MBA
programmes are offered in several
flexible modes:
l MBA 12-month programme
for full-time students.
l MBAC 18-month programme
for full-time students without
working experience. Selected
students are offered places in the
Corporate Employment Learning
Programme (CELP).
l MBAL 18-month programme
for full-time students, consisting
of a 12-month MBA programme
and a six-month (one semester)
Certificate in Leadership (CiL)
programme.
l MBAP 18-month programme
for full-time students, consisting of
a 12-month MBA programme and a
six-month Certificate in Project
Management (CiPM) programme.
l MBAL+P 24-month
programme for full-time students,
Leaders in the making

which allows students to start their
probationary employment while
studying.
The CELP is essentially an
industry-based employment
programme that focuses on
developing specific industrial
competencies among MBA
students.
This programme is offered to
selected full-time students without
working experience.
It involves sending students
on a 12-month probationary
full-time employment in selected
participating companies at the
beginning of their second semester
studies to expose them to a real
work environment.
The aim of the CELP is to ensure
that the students set of knowledge
in business foundations and
managerial competencies gained
through earlier semesters can be
practised immediately in the
marketplace and increase their
potential for employment.
More than a dozen major
corporations have agreed to be
part of the CELP.
Team-building
exercise is part
of UKM-GSBs
programme to
groom leaders.
consisting of a 12-month MBA

programme and six months each
of CiL and CiPM programmes.
l MBAPT 24-month programme
with classes conducted every
alternate weekend for part-time
students.
Students of UKM-GSBs MBA
programmes will have the
opportunity to immerse themselves
in the academic rigours of the
programmes as well as the
industrial relevancy of the learning
process through the modules
freshly introduced by UKM-GSB.
The core courses in the
programmes are designed to
provide students with specific key
management competencies that
form the building blocks of a
company in bringing added
value and improving business
performance as well as human
capital development.
The courses align performances
for success through organisational
awareness, strategic thinking,
decision-making, marketing
communication, problem-solving
and functional technical business
knowledge.
The core courses are Business
Economics, Managerial Accounting,
Managerial Finance, Strategic
Marketing, Organizational and
Human Resources Development,
Operation Management and
Decision Analysis, Business Ethics
and Governance, and Corporate
Strategy.
The MBA programmes modules
are developed by industrial experts
based on the specific and relevant
UKM organises activities such as Innovation Bootcamp to nurture innovation

and creativity in its students.
Certificate in Leadership
New students attending Orientation Day at UKM.
industrial knowledge, abilities and

skill sets required for managers to
compete globally.
These customised courses
provide the necessary practical
knowledge and application for
various career paths in specific
industries with transferable skills
across various industries.
They promote marketable skill
sets and competencies that are
crucial to building a globally
competitive workforce.
The specialisations currently
available in the MBA programmes
are management, marketing,
Islamic finance and banking,
finance, public management,
healthcare management, higher
education management and tax
management.
Action learning
The eight-credit-hour leadership
course focuses on personal
development and leadership skill
enhancement towards excellence.
It is conducted throughout the
academic period and designed to
help develop leadership talent and
create a cultural shift towards
excellent leadership in any
organisation.
The course includes large group
discussions, small group works,
projects management, chief
executive officer lecture series,
case studies and many other
experiential learning initiatives.
The components in the course
include leadership in action,
business networking, managerial
communication, contemporary
business theories, critical issues in
management, business trends and

outlook, business models and
structures, professional golf
training, and Toastmaster Club.
This programme consists of
three major components:
l Research methodology A
systematic way to solve a problem
is by studying and understanding
research techniques.
Students will be exposed to
various methods in addressing
research questions and hypotheses,
with special focus on descriptive
and causal studies, sampling and
measurements, data analyses and
interpretations, and report writing.
l Project management
Students are introduced to
concepts, methods and techniques
in project management. They will
learn proper techniques and the
best practices in managing and
delivering projects within
deadlines and budgets.
l MBA projects Actual
projects are undertaken by
students as part of their practical
learning experience. The projects
focused on are those that provide
maximum social benefits in line
with the concept of social business
and entrepreneurship.
Several innovative projects
within the framework of social
businesses are available for
students participation.
Corporate Employment
Learning Programme
An interesting feature in the
leadership course is the CELP,
CiL is one of the certification

programmes offered in the MBA.
It provides a solid foundation of
leadership competencies that can
be applied immediately in the
workplace.
It has been crafted to help
students in facing and responding
to the ever-increasing competitive
environment that requires
effective leaders.
In this programme, students
learn, discuss and experience the
fundamentals and advanced
approaches of leadership to
prepare them to thrive in todays
dynamic workplace.
Through this programme series,
students master techniques for
creating a high-performance
culture, enhancing the
performance of their teams,
balancing competing
organisational demands and
driving strategic change within the
organisation.
Certificate in Project
Management
Another certification programme
offered in the MBA, CiPM is a great
way to build the skills needed in
meeting the growing demand for
project management expertise in
organisations.
This certificate programme
provides the knowledge and
techniques necessary to operate
successfully as a project manager.
Students will learn how to keep
projects on task, on time and
within budget as well as how to
successfully apply project
management practices in various
industries.
The certificate is awarded to
students who have successfully
completed certain required courses
and managed actual projects
developed by UKM-GSB that were
initiated by students themselves or
assigned by their work
organisations.

visit gsb.ukm.my
postgraduate 21
Datuk Ghazali Mohd Yusoff (centre, light-coloured shirt) and Datuk Razali Mahfar (left of Datuk
Ghazali) sharing their experience with students and professors of the International Business
Schoool of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM IBS) in one of its leadership luncheon series.
Cultivating
lifelong
learning
LEARNING should be experienced
throughout life and involve social inclusion,
being an active citizen, personal
development and self-sustainability.
This concept of lifelong learning is
practised at the International Business
School of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
(UTM IBS).
Being one of the prominent postgraduate
business schools in Malaysia, UTM IBS aims
to become a leading business school in the
emerging market and contribute to the
existing wealth of knowledge in the
industry.
The MBA programme offered at UTM IBS
is designed to develop managerial leaders
who are equipped with relevant and
contemporary knowledge and skills to
relate to stakeholders interests.
Using case studies and research
approaches, students gain skills such as
personal and organisational resilience,
strategic thinking, leadership and calibre in
handling organisational changes effectively
and other skills that are required within the
21st century landscape.
On top of relevant learning
methodologies in normal classrooms, UTM
IBS students
are exposed to new commercialised
venture creation projects and social
entrepreneurship workshops.
Furthermore, UTM IBS offers
opportunities to students to consistently
engage with industry leaders and renowned
professors from various industries.
Many adjunct professors and industry
associates work hand-in-hand with UTM IBS
scholars to give relevant exposure and skills
that enrich students.
UTM IBS does not only focus on ensuring
students graduate successfully and on time,
but also strives to help them achieve a

balanced ability to lead, manage and
innovate.
This combination of skills coupled with
the right mindset will prepare them to stand
out in the workforce.
The series of lifelong learning agenda
are presented within the four MBA
concentrations strategic management,
techno-entrepreneuship, healthcare
management and Islamic finance (to
commence in September).
Among the industry leaders who have
engaged with UTM IBS are Datuk Anuar
Mohd Noor (founder and chief executive
officer of Bison Consulting), Dr Dolly Amy
Harold (director, IT division, Ministry of
Women, Family & Community
Development), Prof Dr Basil Mustafa
(professor at Oxford Islamic Centre, United
Kingdom), Captain Zalina Sungip, also
known as the first female pilot to fly a
CL415MP (aircraft) around the world, Datuk
Razali Mahfar (chief consulting officer of
MYiLEAP Sdn Bhd) and Datuk Ghazali
Mohd Yusoff (executive chairman of
Nusantara Technologies Sdn Bhd).
Besides the MBA programme, UTM IBS
also offers a doctorate in business
administration (DBA).
DBA courses are based on industry-driven
and practical concepts that focus on
sharpening learners managerial,
entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
UTM IBS strives to provide relevant and
contemporary DBA programmes that focus
on business innovation and strategies.
The next intake for UTM IBS is in
September.
n For more information, e-mail

ibskl@utm.my or visit www.ibs.utm.my
22 postgraduate
NOWADAYS, being a postgraduate

student seems like a challenging
task as there is a need to juggle
studies, work and life.
Many people considering
postgraduate studies right
after obtaining their degrees
may think that they will
enjoy a good social life and
gain more freedom in their
academic decision-making.
However, with ever-increasing
academic fees, it is now necessary
for postgraduates to earn an
income while gaining knowledge.
More often than not, people
who have already entered the job
market enroll in a postgraduate
course to increase their skills and
promotion prospects.
However monumental the task
of balancing work, studies and life
may seem, it is achievable.
Here are a few tips to help you
get started.
Juggling work and studies

learnt in the working world.
Moreover, you must be wise

enough to differentiate between
play and study.
Decline invitations to activities
from family or friends if it will take
away time from essential studying.
Spending quality time with
them is necessary but bear in
mind that your studies should
not be neglected.
Know your limits
Stay organised
A planner, either a book or
simply just an application on
your mobile device, is a useful
tool to keep you organised.
Having a planner allows you
to jot down important dates
classes and assignment
submission dates.
However, do not be too rigid
with the schedule that you have
created as you may need to make
necessary changes.
Do not set a tight schedule to the
extent that it becomes too
burdensome for you to handle.
Make sure that you allocate
A balanced postgraduate life should include time with friends and family.
some time for other activities
for yourself, your family and
friends.
After all, they are your life
support.
Being organised will ensure that
all your activities are on track.
Be wise
As a working postgraduate
student, make sure your job
is flexible.
You may be required to take
some time off during your working
hours to finish your assignments
and prepare for upcoming

assessments.
It is advisable that you choose a
field of study that is relevant to
your job and vice versa as this
will create opportunities for you to
apply the skills that you have
Longer working hours may help

postgraduates financially in the
short-term.
However, if work hours are too
long, this may have a negative
impact on your studies.
Despite a busy schedule,
postgraduates should take some
time off from both work and study
just to enjoy life.
Get together with a friend or two
to enjoy a cup of coffee or just
spend time by yourself relaxing.
A good tip is to not overengage
yourself with social media
platforms such as Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram as this can
become addictive and time
consuming.
This includes addictions to
playing mobile or computer games.
Put it on hold and do what is
necessary first.
Future management
professionals
As one of the premier private institutions of
higher education approved by the Education
Ministry and Malaysian Qualifications
Agency (MQA), Lincoln University College
(LUC) provides the public with easy access to
learning through its effective method of
delivery.
The institution offers a variety of
programmes, including a number of
specialisations that make up its range of
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
programmes.
According to LUC pro-chancellor Datuk
Dr Hajjah Bibi Florina Abdullah, LUC sets
students on the right path for a successful
career.
LUC vice-chancellor Prof Dr Amiya
Bhaumik says the courses offered are
practical-oriented and revolve around
evolving concepts and theories that have
deep roots in the corporate world.
Therefore, the knowledge that students
gain from the MBA programmes has great
value and can be practised in the real
corporate world.
The beauty of LUCs MBA programmes lies
in the fact that all of the programmes are
taught by leading academics who are
specialists in their respective fields of study.
This means LUC professors and academics
have the right balance of industrial exposure
and academic knowledge.
The LUC MBA programmes help budding
managers interpret and create corporate
management strategies through the
application of practical skills. Students will
also gain clarity in both conceptual and
application-oriented business skills.
Upon completing one of the MBA
programmes, students will be prepared for
leadership and transformational roles in
global business development. They will have
the competency to think strategically,
LUC students are groomed into quality

management professionals.
communicate effectively, work well in a team

and manage time efficiently.
LUC MBA programmes have been
developed in consultation with the Education
Ministry and MQA guidelines. The Human
Resources Ministry has also been referred to
for manpower projections and industrial and
market requirements.
The LUC MBA programmes nurture
professionally tuned individuals in the
business and economics world to compete at
the global level.
The hallmark of LUC MBA graduates will
be their knowledge, technical competence,
compassion, ethics, good communication
skills, interpersonal skills as well as ability
for critical thinking and independent
decision making.
Graduates are proactive and keep abreast
of current business and economic issues.
They are able to integrate and apply the
latest technology in business to contribute
to the countrys development in both the
private and public sectors.

visit www.lincoln.edu.my
IF you are thinking about pursuing

a postgraduate degree, you
probably already have an idea
about the course and even
potential universities that you
would like to enrol in.
However, when making the
decision to pursue a postgraduate
degree, there are several other
non-academic factors to consider
before you commit to it.
postgraduate 23
Factors to consider
would prefer to enter the
workforce for at least a few years
to gain working experience and
understand the needs of the
industry before pursuing a
postgraduate degree.
This time can also be useful
in identifying the types of
postgraduate degrees that will
be valuable when you re-enter
the job market.
Stage of life
Is there a right time to pursue a
postgraduate degree? It depends
on what matters to you.
For some, the right time to
consider a postgraduate
qualification is after they have
gained some work experience,
started a family and/or been able
to afford a car and a house.
Others would rather put their
time and effort into a postgraduate
degree while they have minimal
family, financial and work
responsibilities.
Regardless, this decision is
yours to make as no one can better
consider the circumstances in your
life.
Work experience
When jobs are difficult to come
by, more students are opting to
stay in university to complete a
postgraduate degree. This can
work for or against you.
While you will be better
qualified than those who are vying
for the same position as you are,
you may lack the work experience
Finances
It is important to
think about the
right time to
pursue a
postgraduate
degree.
to show a track record of your

performance.
You may have to make up for
this by demonstrating other skills
that you have acquired. Being a
research assistant, teaching

assistant or applying for industrial
placement during your study can
be helpful.
On the other hand, some
Platform for success

I AM glad I pursued the Master in Business
Administration (MBA) by University of
Strathclyde at CDC Management Institute,
which led to my promotion as a business
division manager at Alfa Laval Malaysia two
years ago. As a result, I received a good
salary increment.
Before this, as a degree holder in chemical
engineering, I found myself lacking
knowledge in business management. That
was the main reason I decided to pursue this
course.
I reckoned that it was important to choose
a good and renowned MBA university that
provided high-standard education. I chose
the University of Strathclyde because of its
triple accreditation that ensures quality of
education.
I started pursuing my MBA in 2012 after
working for more than 15 years with an
engineering degree. I think it was the right
time for me because I knew exactly what I
needed to learn at that stage.
Pursuing the MBA was never an easy
process, especially since it required some
sacrifice in my work, leisure and family
time.
However, I particularly liked this
MBA programme because it gave me
the opportunity to interact with my
multidisciplinary coursemates. We shared
skills, experiences, knowledge and values.
More importantly, I have gained lifelong
friends who are potentially invaluable
contacts for me down the line.
During my two-year part-time MBA
programme, the most interesting topic to me
was strategic management, which involves
exploring a business opportunity and its
feasibility an area very relevant to my
daily job.
Being a division manager in a
multinational company, my job is to manage
business operations to achieve the company
goals.
In my daily operation, I need to resolve
Ong Toon Wei, University of Strathclyde MBA

graduate.
business issues and develop new business

areas to generate sustainable revenue for
the company.
Subjects within the MBA programme
such as Exploring International Business
Environment are great in allowing me to
analyse the business environment using a
systematic methodology.
Learning is a continuous life process.
Gaining my MBA is only the beginning of my
lifelong-learning journey. Now is the time I
can apply all knowledge acquired
throughout the course to a real life business
environment. I am doing things differently
now.
In this changing world, those who survive
are the ones who align themselves with new
directions and opportunities.
It is therefore important to build your own
personal brand to achieve ongoing success.
an MBA will be the best platform to learn
and create your personal brand. By Ong
Toon Wei
n For more information, call CDC at

03-7660 8950 ext. 109 (Edahani) or visit
www.cdc.edu.my
Should you take a student loan

or should you use your savings for
your studies? Postgraduate
degrees are not cheap but they
can be affordable if you plan your
budget carefully.
Student loans for postgraduate
degrees are available from public
and private funding sources and
may even come with other perks,
including monthly stipends and a
job placement opportunity.
On the other hand, you can use
your savings, especially if you
have been working for a while.
The Employees Provident Fund
allows for a withdrawal from
your Account 2 to finance your
education at an institution of
higher learning locally or abroad.
You can also apply for research
funds, work as a research
assistant to the researchers in
your university or work while you
study to ensure that you have a

stream of income as you complete
your course.
Whatever your choice may be,
make sure it is the most suitable
option for your lifestyle and other
financial demands.
Location
Several public and private
universities throughout the
country offer postgraduate
programmes, and you can now
add open and distance learning
institutions to this diverse pool
of options.
You can scope out the
institutions on your list by carrying
out research and speaking to
current students or acquaintances
before deciding if it is the right fit
for you.
Consider all your options; for
instance, would you prefer a
university in the city close to your
current life and amenities, or are
you looking to uproot your life for
a change in scenery.
If you are looking at obtaining a
qualification overseas, prepare
well in advance to avoid any last
minute surprises.
To start with, look into
the political and economic
climates, visa requirements
and immigration laws of your
target country.
24 postgraduate
Blended learning
is well-balanced
Learners at
OUM speak
What I would say about OUM is
that the academic members guide
us through the many components
of the blended mode of learning.
Their instructions and
information are very clear and
precise.
I chose the programme here
because other universities only
offer structured doctorate
programmes that are very
research-based. Here, however,
there are coursework and
assignments involved. This is
what attracted me to OUM.
Tan Ming Ying, 40
Tan
Ming
Ying
OUMs president and vice-chancellor Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali says that the universitys curriculum aims for
the total development of the individual.
ADOPTING the motto University

for All, Open University Malaysia
(OUM) is all for disseminating
information and the skill of
learning. This is in line with the
transformed higher education
delivery plans outlined by the
Malaysia Education Blueprint
2015-2025 (Higher Education).
Our infrastructure and lifelonglearning culture is designed to suit
the needs of the everyday learner
facing many challenges in pursuit
of higher education, says OUMs
president and vice-chancellor Prof
Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali.
A critical element to OUMs
success in attracting and retaining
students is its flexible entry mode
that allows those with minimum
qualifications to take up higher
studies.
The system, named Accreditation
of Prior Learning (APEL), allows
prior learning acquired through
formal or informal training, or life
or work experiences to be
recognised and used as entry
requirements into OUMs
programmes. More information is
available about this system on
OUMs website.
Additionally, the blended mode
of learning at OUM encompasses
self-managed learning, online
learning and face-to-face
interaction.
Our curriculum aims at the
total development of the individual
to provide learners with a
competitive edge in the
employment market.
Abdulkadir
Shehu
Being at OUM is an eye opener

for me as I got to know more about
the university and its lifelong
learning culture. I have met the
staff, including the president and
vice-chancellor Prof Anuwar. He
showed me the commitment of
the university in caring for its
learners.
The most significant aspect of
learning here is the opportunities
that I have to interact with other
individuals enrolled in the same
programme. It is educational
and fun.
From the start, I was briefed
thoroughly on the programme
content, assessment and significant
information that I needed to know.
Obtaining my PhD with OUM
will be the peak of my academic
career and a dream come true.
OUM is a flexible institution.

I chose OUM because it offers a
lot of e-learning programmes and
face-to-face learning.
The range of programmes
here is very useful in terms of
career choices. I am sure OUM
can vouch for the number of
students who have been
promoted after completing their
studies here, proving how good
OUM is compared to other
institutions in Malaysia.
Abdulkadir Shehu, 28
The facilities at OUM help us
tremendously in balancing work
and studies. Things like the use
of the digital library, the variety
of learning materials and their
tutoring system are very
valuable.
OUM has also taught me how
to manage my time well, which is
one of the things we learners find
hard.
Mohd Sobree Ali, 54
Shamini Nadarajah, 28
Sharmini
Nadarajah
Mohd
Sobree Ali
OUM has cutting-edge e-learning resources.
We aim to hone the skills and

mindset of our learners in their
pursuit as well as in our own
dissemination of knowledge,
providing quality higher education
for both individual and
professional development, says
Prof Anuwar.
The portfolios of our
programmes are carefully
developed. Quality and flexibility
are key for all our programmes
andwe focus on the application of
knowledge and skills.
OUM boasts:
l A rich learning environment
and state-of the-art facilities and
operations, putting learners in a
learning mood.
l The MyVLE (virtual learning
environment), which allows

learners to view timetables,
download e-journals and
participate in online discussion
forums with other learners and
OUM tutors.
l A digital library, which houses
almost 40,000 printed books,
190,000 titles of online books and
54,000 e-journal titles. Learners are
given full access to it.
l A plethora of learning
materials, which include
homegrown modules, notes in PDF
format, videos, e-tutorials and
access to the OUM App.
Financial aids include:
l Scholarships
l EPF withdrawals
l PTPTN loans
l Human Resource
Development Fund claims
l Discounts for alumni, senior

citizens and the physically
challenged.
l Flexible payment methods
monthly payment scheme and
flexible timetable and learning
locations in accordance to
learners current financial
situation.
Even though we are a private
university, our fees are comparable
if not cheaper than other
institutions of higher learning,

says Prof Anuwar.
Hence, starting with 753 students
in August 2001, OUMs cohort has
grown to more than 57,000
graduates as of this year and the
number of students enrolling is
increasing yearly.
This proves the strength and
effectiveness of OUM and its open
and distance learning culture.

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

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THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

Humans essential to business

However, the business sector

The Chinese written form of

The art of listening

operating and finance officer,

Prof Dr Arfah Salleh, president and

philosophy that captures the

Being human again

n For more information, visit

fundamental reconception of the

PLMBA graduates exemplify

PLMBA graduates are creative

PLMBA graduates build

PLMBA graduates leverage

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THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

SUNWAY Universitys premier

Learning while working

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To advance his career, Subash Raj Krishnan chose to pursue Sunway

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

The previews are designed to

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THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

ALTHOUGH challenging, making

the constraints it can impose on

n Prof Christine Ennew is the chief

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

Develop a distinctive career

State-of-the-art laboratory equiment assists UMP researchers in their studies.

and science laboratories are

Industrial PhD at UMP

l The student benefits from joint

l Allocation of fees funded

l Identifies projects in the

l Full-time programme for

l Each student will be assigned

n For more information,

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

key characteristics and give them a

sessions and hands-on experiential

includes the following core

Notably, the business

n For more information,

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

Malaysian students now have the

Craig Robinson, course leader for Strategic

fields, including economics, marketing,

n For more information, call 03-8894 3888

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

Pursuing a managerial position

the UCAP list such as the University

(C and B) to meet the different

technicians to succeed in ascending

n For more information,

THE STAR, TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015

MBA with dual award

(From left) The Australian High Commissioner

IN the past, the primary reason for getting a

Enjoy your free time