THE STAR Tuesday 21 April 2015

Eye on applied research > 8 Supporting PhD candidates and supervisors > 11

StarSpecial

Modern tools for success

2 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015

Relevant business expertise leads to successAT the end of last year, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) surveyed more than 12,000 alumni from 71 business schools.

It was found that a substantial number of master’s of business administration (MBA) graduates obtained high-level positions just a few years after graduation.

After five years, a majority of these MBA graduates had senior-level positions or higher and, within 10 years, 25% had executive-level positions while 5% held “C-Suite” positions such as chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Nine out of 10 alumni said their MBA education increased their earning power.

A good MBA programme attracts talented people from every corner of society. The professional relationships formed in the programme provide essential mentoring and networking valuable to their careers.

At Taylor’s Business School, such networking is not limited to knowing fellow students but also highly qualified faculty members who are experts in their fields and industry experts from leading organisations around the world.

The Taylor’s MBA is an academically rigorous programme that is innovative, practical and globally relevant. The curriculum combines personalised leadership development with a multidisciplinary approach to strategy.

Students hone key skills required of a top executive, from working with management and stakeholders to managing teams and relationships.

One of the highlights of the

Taylor’s MBA programme is the Business Circle.

Designed to allow face-to-face interaction and the exchange of ideas between students and corporate leaders, the Business Circle helps students gain better insight into specific industries.

“We believe that continuous dialogue with leading business professionals will allow our MBA students to see how concepts and theories are applied in real business practices and organisational strategic planning,” says Prof Khong Kok Wei, deputy dean of postgraduate programmes at Taylor’s Business School.

The Taylor’s MBA seeks to give students expertise, networking opportunities,

experience and a well-rounded education.

“Additionally, MBA students can appreciate the contextual applications of various business best practices within a wide range of industries.”

During the most recent Business Circle gathering,Dr Stuart Kewley, chairman and co-founder of knowledge-intensive strategic management consultancy firm The Eurasia Consortium, shared his business insights with the Taylor’s MBA students in a talk titled “Understanding the Global Marketplace and Developing Successful and Sustainable Internationalization Strategies for

Your Business”. Sharing his experience in

attending the Business Circle, Taylor’s MBA student Eugene Tan, who is the sales and marketing director of EMP Image Solution Sdn Bhd, said, “The Business Circle session certainly widens my perspective in looking for ideas and directions for my company. I applaud Taylor’s University for going the distance to make these sessions available to students.”

The Taylor’s MBA programme adopts an industry-driven curriculum.

Its modules are designed in collaboration with top industry

leaders, including CIMB, DiGi, L’Oreal, IBM, Tokio Marine and Maxis.

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

Taylor’s MBA students can participate in exchange programmes with reputable business schools from around the world to enhance their learning experience.

Taylor’s MBA has connections with 43 renowned universities, including Oxford University in the UK, Université Catholique de Lille in France (IESEG) and University of Bath.

Through the Taylor’s-Oxford Entrepreneurship Leadership Programme, students can be at Oxford University from Aug 16 to 22.

Alternatively, students can join the European Summer Programme in France offered by IESEG from July 6 to 19 or take two modules at the School of Management, University of Bath, subject to meeting their entry requirement.

Duration of study for the Taylor’s MBA is one year forfull-time students or two to five years for part-time students. Financial aid of up to 50% off tuition fee waiver is available.

Intakes are in May and September.

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

VC COLUMN

By PROF CHRISTINE ENNEW

Technology opens access to educationAT the launch of the

Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint earlier this month,

one of the 10 major shifts that the government proposed was concerned with online learning, in particular, globalised online learning.

Key initiatives associated with this shift include the development of Malaysian-originated massive open online courses (MOOCs), the integration of online learning into traditional education and enhancements of infrastructure.

Of these initiatives, it is the MOOCs component that will be the most publicly visible.

In many respects, MOOCs are a relatively new phenomenon. It was only in 2011 that they really came to the attention of the broader higher education community – triggered mainly by the announcement that around 160,000 people had registered for a single online course on artificial intelligence offered by Stanford University.

MOOCs have become mainstream, providing the opportunity for large numbers of individuals to study with some of the world’s leading universities at zero cost.

Universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have been offering open educational resources for more than a decade

but MOOCs made these resources available on a scale hitherto unknown.

The Internet has revolutionised industries such as publishing and music and the same seems to be happening to higher education.

In a new business model, learning materials are being made available to people free-of-charge with revenue being generated from associated activities (the award of credits, employment placement services and recruitment into conventional courses).

Quasi-commercial platforms for MOOCs developed rapidly with Coursera, Udacity and edX being launched in the US and subsequently FutureLearn in the UK.

Recently, China established a platform to enable its universities to deliver MOOCs as well.

However, there may have been too much hype created over MOOCs. Large numbers of learners have signed up to participate in online courses but completion rates have been low.

Many learners are individuals who already have degrees and the

potential of MOOCs to open up access to higher education to other groups is yet to be fully realised.

While many commentators initially predicted that MOOCs would ultimately lead to the demise of the traditional campus-based university, that seems less and less likely, at least in any foreseeable timescale.

Although the MOOCs have not caused a big revolution as some may have predicted, they have created an impact and raised awareness of the opportunities and the potential for online learning.

Across the world, online study

has become more and more popular – whether through MOOCs, specialist online providers or blended online and offline teaching offered by universities.

In addition, the growing awareness of the potential of digital technologies has made a major impact in institutions of higher learning.

Educators now routinely discuss the concept of flipped classrooms. Online technologies that have been popularised by MOOCs provide an invaluable way of enhancing students’ learning experience.

Instead of using classroom time

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) provide large numbers of individuals with the opportunity to study for free.

for the provision of knowledge and information through lectures, technology can now provide the same thing with the added value that students can review and re-visit materials multiple times to ensure full understanding.

Face-to-face time with teachers can then be focused more on interactive discussions and debates.

Learning materials can be shared easily and efficiently, enabling institutions to enhance their ability to deliver a better learning experience to its students.

The combination of online resources and face-to-face interactions gives students much more control and responsibility for their own learning and provide better opportunities for researchers to understand the learning process.

While MOOCs may appear to be the most high-profile component of the globalised online learning shift under the Higher Education Blueprint, the experience with MOOCs to date suggests that its impact may well be felt in the transformation of learning and teaching in traditional classroom settings.

n Prof Christine Ennew is the chief executive officer and provost of The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015 POSTGRADUATE 3

Impactful MBA experienceTHE premier dual-award

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

programme at Sunway University provides cutting-edge business knowledge and the latest management theories and tools.

It also provides students the opportunity to experience a personal transformation in honing and building a set of skills that they can use for a lifetime.

Sunway University’s state-of-the-art graduate centre is where its MBA classes are delivered. It houses a faculty of the best management consultants, educators and research scholars in the world.

With the partnership between Sunway University and Lancaster University (which is ranked in the top 1% of universities globally), a large contingent of UK-based educators and distinguished lecturers are brought in to deliver a world-class learning experience at Sunway University.

“The lecturers are fantastic. They have much experience to share and their work ethic is highly commendable,” says Cindy Chua, area sales manager for the South-East Asian region of an international manufacturer of photographic and digital printing paper, who is pursuing her MBA at Sunway University.

“My experience at Sunway University has been a roller coaster ride full of excitement and challenges,” she says.

Chua found the programme enlightening and feels that what she has learnt complements her performance at work.

The delivery methods of Sunway’s MBA programme focus on learning through action as students are exposed to practical business challenges and assignments through doing professional written work and taking part in intensive classroom discussions.

This helps develop students’

cognitive and collaborative skills so that they grow into effective communicators in writing and speaking, skilled team players and highly effective leaders in challenging workplaces who are adept at building and maintaining effective work relationships.

Chua’s husband, Brendon Enriquez, division manager of a local company in the health care industry, is enrolled in the same programme as well.

“It has been a challenge with the both of us pursuing our MBA at the same time but we have learnt to rely on and motivate each other in finding a balance between family, studies and work,” says Chua.

Chua and Enriquez have found the convenient modular format of the MBA programme suited to their work schedules.

Through the programme, they were able to expand their network of contacts as they met people of diverse fields with the same motivation and drive.

They believe that the premier dual-award MBA is the best degree of choice as they will receive two scrolls upon graduation – one from Sunway University and another from Lancaster University.

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).

Lancaster University MBA programme is ranked 50th in the world, 9th in the UK and 18th in Europe in the Financial Times (FT) World MBA Ranking 2015.

Therefore, Sunway University’s premier dual-award MBA has many desirable features and benefits for aspiring managers.

n For more information,call 03-7491 8701 or visitwww.sunway.edu.my/university/MBA

Cindy Chua (left) and Brendon Enriquez, who are enrolled in the dual-award MBA programme at Sunway University, attended the recently held MBA Networking Dinner.

4 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015

OUM wins Industry Excellence AwardOPEN University Malaysia

(OUM) was recently honoured with the Anugerah

Kecemerlangan Industri (AKI) or Industry Excellence Award in recognition of the university’s outstanding practices in the education services sector.

“I wish to thank all our learners, alumni, tutors and staff for making OUM the most outstanding university in the education sector,” says Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, president and vice-chancellor of OUM.

The government’s transformation initiative to drive Malaysia towards a developed nation by 2020 requires industry players and stakeholders in the business value chain to enhance their innovative capabilities.

Indeed, OUM has demonstrated excellence in these areas, resulting in its management practice being recognised by the Ministry of

International Trade and Industry (Miti).

Prof Anuwar believes that the tradition of excellence practised by

OUM has enabled the university to flourish in these areas.

Miti introduced the AKI in 1991 to celebrate the best of the best in the industry. The award is useful in preparing an organisation to scale greater heights by encouraging enhancements in management practices, leading to improvements in the quality of products and services.

The rebranded award uses the Business Excellence Framework, a key tool of reference to enhance organisational productivity.

The framework was developed to include key components of a well-managed organisation. Some of the components it addresses are leadership, planning, information, customers, people, processes and results.

“The selection criteria for each category are tight. OUM was invited by Miti to bid for the award and was requested to present our profit and loss accounts, quality of teaching methodology, and enrolment and organisational ability,” says Prof Anuwar.

Making lifelong learning accessible

As a pioneer open and distance-learning (ODL) institution in the country, the university introduced the blended mode of learning that constitutes self-learning through printed modules and online learning resources, face-to-face tutorials and online discussion forums.

Over the years, many began to see the merits of studying through ODL, particularly working adults.

“We believe in lifelong learning and second chances. Currently, our learner composition is wide-ranging, from office workers, teachers and home-makers to police and army officers, nurses and even prison inmates,” says Prof Anuwar.

A critical element to OUM’s success in attracting students is its flexible learning and entry modes that allow those with minimum PMR qualifications to take up higher studies on the basis of their prior learning experience.

(From left) Chairman of AmBank Group Tan Sri Azman Hashim, Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Sri Mohammad Najib Tun Abdul Razak, OUM president and vice-chancellor Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali and Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Sri Mustapa Mohamed at the presentation of the Industry Excellence Award.

He adds that with this alternative route, all levels of society are now able to pursue higher education, which is in line with the university’s philosophy to democratise education.

Additionally, with 34 learning centres throughout the country, students no longer have to travel far to attend classes.

The convenient access to education in OUM includes a financial aspect. With regard to fees, Prof Anuwar says, “Even though we are a private university, our fees are comparable to, if not cheaper than, other institutions of higher learning.”

Prof Anuwar does not waver from his stand that OUM endeavours to bring education to all.

“If there is a significant population of working adults with an interest in furthering their education without having to leave their jobs or worry about an age limit, we want to reach out to them as we plan to set up more learning centres in new townships throughout the country,” he adds.

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

The selection criteria for each category are tight. OUM was invited by Miti to bid for the award and was requested to present our profit and loss accounts, our quality of teaching methodology, and our enrolment and organisational ability.

- Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali

• First ODL university in the country

• More than 150,000 students to date

• More than 57,000 graduates to date

• 34 learning centres nationwide

• Present in 10 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe

• First university in Malaysia with learning material on iTunes U

• Course materials on OUM App

• Only ODL university to provide modules

• Owns the buildings in which its learning centres are located so they can be equipped with facilities that meet the needs of its learners

OUM’s winning traits

StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015 POSTGRADUATE 5

Lisa Maria Riehl, MBA student at MSU, (second from left) with her coursemates.

Diversity in study opportunitiesTHE opportunity given to

pursue my double degree at the Management &

Science University (MSU) in Malaysia and Hof University of Applied Sciences (Hof) in Germany has been a fruitful experience for me,” says Lisa Maria Riehl, a 25-year-old German pursuing the Master of Business Administration at MSU.

Riehl is majoring in global marketing at the Graduate School of Management under the MSU Global Mobility Programme (GMP).

Cultural educationThe GMP provides

international students with an opportunity to travel to Malaysia so that they can gain a better understanding of the country’s diverse cultural, historical and social compositions via interesting summer courses.

Among others, the summer programme includes a number of social activities and field trips that have been carefully selected to allow students to integrate with the local community and experience the local culture first-hand.

“I chose global marketing because of my interest in international experiences, particularly in the Asian market,” says Riehl.

“I believed that MSU, as one of the top universities in Malaysia, would help me develop the knowledge and skills necessary in supporting my future professional career.”

She is currently attached as a trainee in the sales and marketing division of Propertypricetag.com, an information technology portal that provides transacted data, news and information on Malaysia’s property market.

Riehl’s ultimate aim is to work as a marketing or sales manager in an international operating company such as one in the automobile industry.

However, since the current job market is tough and competitive, she sees herself starting her career in Germany before moving abroad.

Exposure to anew environment

“Being here has been a good learning curve for me despite having to adapt to the new culture and environment in Malaysia,” says Riehl, adding that the country offers an environment conducive to the pursuit of higher studies.

Riehl, who is also a student of the Master of Arts in Global Management programme at Hof University, advises individuals who want to pursue studies aboard, especially an MBA, to be open to new ideas, cultures and environments.

Collaborative teachingHof University is one of the

40 MSU partner universities under the GMP.

Through this programme, students have the opportunity to develop an awareness and appreciation of other cultures, understand political and economic environments, and gain the right skills in approaching business.

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

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

6 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015

Jeff Tan.

Gowri Gobinathan.

The constantquest for knowledgeMOST people associate

learning with formal education. We are

often told to “get a good education” in order to have a satisfying career, income and future.

While academic qualifications are important, there are many ways one can continue to learn even outside of the classrooms and lecture halls. What does lifelong learning mean to today’s graduates?

“Although I am a lawyer, I am pursuing my MBA. In fact, I just finished my last paper last month. One can benefit from lifelong learning in both the academic and non-academic sense. As a practising lawyer, my advanced degree helps me build my skills to be more useful, adaptable

“Lifelong learning to me is a blend of humility and curiosity. If I ever slide into the shoes of a know-

it-all, then I am simply limiting myself to new information, perspectives and experiences. Just as Bruce Lee put it, ‘A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer’.” – Jeff Tan, writer, recent graduate.

and resourceful in various fields of the challenging legal profession.” – Gowri Gobinathan, lawyer, MBA candidate.

“Current skills and knowledge may eventually become obsolete, so continuous learning assists individuals in keeping their competencies enhanced and updated. Lifelong learning is flexible and guided by self-motivation. We obtain sufficient knowledge, understanding and skills that can be applied confidently in almost every circumstance and environment.” – Mahdad T. Jadidi, postgraduate degree in library and information science.

Mahdad T. Jadidi.

StarSpecial 7Tuesday 21 April 2015

8 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015

Eye on applied researchTHE Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a research doctorate degree

that is equivalent to a PhD. The DBA programme focuses on applied research rather than theoretical research.

It can be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis so that students have the flexibility of pursuing the research degree while working.

The Asia e University (AeU) DBA programme is administered by the School of Management (SOM) to provide future managers in-depth knowledge and research skills in the business administration and management fields.

The three-year doctoral programme encompasses seven core subjects in the first year and an eight-stage structured research monitoring programme that is closely supervised.

Students are required to submit a 60,000-word dissertation on their research and its outcome at the end of the programme.

The dissertation’s workplace-based research may be centred on the candidate’s specialisation.

A multidisciplinary approach is adopted to provide students with a thorough understanding of multi-faceted business practices.

The approach also teaches them to present their findings and arguments in a clear, precise, measurable and

convincing manner.The DBA programme is

supported by research workshops, research colloquia and research clinics to assist students in their research development. In facilitating the research, AeU students have access to the

digital library collection of more than 100,000 e-books, 71,000 e-journals and 1.6 million e-thesis titles.

Through myPLS, the university’s online learning management system, various learning resources such as web-based modules and multimedia courseware are made available for students to view or download any time.

The forum features available on myPLS allow students to discuss relevant subject matters with their peers and the academic facilitators. They can also communicate with one another via e-mail and video conferencing tools such as Skype.

“Through the DBA programme at AeU, I can pursue a wealth of knowledge in a structured manner and engage in stimulating discussions. I am happy with

my decision to join AeU as a DBA student,” says Syafiqah Ishak, DBA student of AeU.

Assoc Prof Dr R. Jegatheesa, dean of AeU’s School of Management, says, “The AeU DBA doctorate degree programme is appropriate for professionals who are pursuing career advancement rather than academic careers.

“The programme emphasises industry-based research where candidates are basically industrial practitioners. The outcomes of the research should add value to the current business processes of the candidate’s organisation per se and the industry in general,” he adds.

Admission requirement for the DBA programme is a recognised master’s degree in a relevant field or other qualifications recognised by the AeU Senate. Registration for May intake is now open.

n For more information, visit AeU’s Special Preview Day on April 25 from 10am to 2pm at the main campus or call 1300 300 238 or visit www.aeu.edu.my

Best in IT and business studiesMONASH University Malaysia’s Master of Business Information Systems (MBIS) is a programme suited to those who want to expand their knowledge in the business and information technology fields.

MBIS course director Dr Anushia Inthiran says, “The programme is suitable for candidates with previous qualifications in any discipline as students get the best of both the IT and business worlds. It prepares someone without an IT or business background to work in the IT field.”

Instead of teaching students technical skills to do with computer functions or programming, the course equips students with skills to help businesses with information technology.

“IT and business components are not segregated as they are both interdependent in building a business. One must know how businesses work before applying the use of information technology. Similarly, one can’t be in a business without knowing about IT and the extent of its usage,” says Dr Anushia.

In the past, IT professionals used to be known as programmers and were the go-to person to fix computer problems.

“These days, IT professionals are expected to be able to understand the needs of businesses and provide them with IT solutions.

“It is no longer just about coming up with fantastic systems, applications and programs if businesses do not see the need for them or understand how information technology can bring positive changes. This programme develops graduates who can play this important role,” she says.

What makes the Monash University Malaysia’s MBIS programme unique is that not many other universities offer a programme that combines both business and IT studies at the postgraduate level.

“The course is structured in a way where there are mandatory components to be completed and up to four elective units can be selected based on a student’s liking and interest.

“We also offer students the option of either completing a minor research project or an industry project in the last semester, depending on what they want to pursue after the programme,” says Dr Anushia.

She recommends the former for those interested in pursuing a PhD and the latter for those planning to go directly into the industry.

Regarding the subjects that are taught in this programme, Dr Anushia says, “One of them is IT for management decision-making, which focuses on the IT needs of

managers, how they think, how they go about their work, and the applications and systems suitable for them.”

This subject also explores operations management concepts, which look at how an organisation works and the psychology and biases that affect how a manager makes decisions and decides on strategies.

The other subject is enterprise systems, which give students practical experience using the SAP software that allows the tracking of customer and business interactions.

Career options for graduates, among others, are in the fields of project consultancy, business analytics, information management specialist, application specialist and IT management and governance roles.

The duration of this programme is two years for full-time study and four years for part-time study.

Monash University Malaysia is hosting its Discover Monash Day on April 25 from 11am to 4pm where visitors can experience and gain insights of what the university has to offer.

n For more information, visitwww.infotech.monash.edu.my orwww.monash.edu.my/discovermonash

Course director of the Master of Business Information Systems programme, Monash University Malaysia, Dr Anushia Inthiran.

Syafiqah Ishak (right), DBA student of AeU, with other AeU students participating in a CSR programme.

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Graduate School of Management (GSM),Management & Science University,Level 4, Stesen Sentral Kuala Lumpur, 50470 Kuala LumpurTel : 03 - 2273 6410Email : gsm@msu.edu.myWeb : www.msu.edu.my

Specialization in :. Finance. Islamic Banking and Finance. Global Marketing. Project Management

‘ Toughen upBecause youwant to changetheworld ’

We match your drive to succeed with a professionalskill set that lets you stand out from the competition.

Our unique approach has trained business leaders fordecades. Let us turn your potential into reality with anMSU - MBA.

. Master inBusinessAdministration(MBA)KPT/ JPS (N/345/7/0542) 11/19

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There are hundreds of MBAs and DBAs, but the Binary MBA and the Binary DBA stand out. The Binary MBA is an Industry Specialist MBA, where contemporary knowledge in management is enhanced with industry-specific skills, resulting in our MBA graduates becoming ISP Certified.

Delivered by highly qualified and experienced practicioners, The Binary DBA provides cutting edge skills in management and research. Our DBA is patronised globally by senior managers and CEOs.

Both the Binary MBA and DBA are fully accredited and has an extensive global alumni. Differentiate through the Binary MBA. Achieve the ultimate through the Binary DBA. Call Mr. S.K : 013 364 4921 for a personalised counselling.

NEXT INTAKE : 27 APRIL 2015 (FT) / 9 May 2015 (PT)

MBA-DBAPROGRAMMES

KPT JPS / A11688, KPT JPS / A8488

Binary University No. 1, IOI Business Park, Persiaran Puchong Jaya Selatan, Puchong, 47100 SelangorTel : 03-8070 6590/96 Fax : 03-8070 6594Website: www.binary.edu.my Email: admission@binary.edu.my

StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015 POSTGRADUATE 9

Ready to succeedTHE Computer Science and Multimedia

Department at Lincoln University College (LUC) offers several leading

programmes in computer science and multimedia. Its graduates are internationally recognised as novel and well-prepared computing professionals.

Students are provided with a state-of-the-art learning environment, which includes a committed staff, the latest computing facilities and an open learning environment that fosters professional and personal growth.

LUC prepares its students for successful careers in computing professions through flexible programmes of study that can be personalised to support individual career goals.

The institution provides students with:l A strong theoretical and practical background across the discipline with an emphasis on software developmentl An understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilitiesl Opportunities for researchl A rich skill set and practical experience enabling them to become valuable and creative contributors upon graduationl The skills necessary to continue their education, to grow professionally and to push the boundaries of conventional thinking long after graduation

Furthermore, the Computer Science and Multimedia Department fosters the growth and strength of its programmes by:l Adapting curriculum and pedagogy to complement the evolution of computer technology and the computing professionl Accommodating the varied learning styles of a diverse student populationl Recognising and supporting faculty

research and scholarship in computer sciencel Supporting scholarship and creativity associated with curriculum development and innovative approaches to teaching

The courses offered are:l Diploma in Computer Sciencel Diploma in Multimedial BA (Hons) in Creative Multimedia Technologyl Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) (Network Technology and Cybersecurity)l Master of Computer Sciencel PhD in Information Technology

As a LUC student, you will discover that LUC’s established network gives you opportunities to gain valuable knowledge and skills in your field. This gives you an advantage in a competitive world.

n For more information, visitwww.lincoln.edu.my

The latest computing facilities are provided to computer science and multimedia students at Lincoln University College.

10 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015

KBU’s MBA programme is UK-accredited.

Get a career upgradeTHE ultimate aim of master’s of business administration (MBA) programmes is to

prepare students for senior management roles.

Unlike other master’s programmes that provide specialisations, an MBA is an interdisciplinary course drawing from the fields of accounting, finance, marketing and human resources.

Here are some reasons you should consider an MBA:l Higher pay scaleAccording to PayScale Human

Capital, an employee with an MBA qualification can earn from RM69,000 to RM153,000 per year on average. That is almost twice as much what a person with an undergraduate degree can expect to earn. l Better career opportunitiesAn MBA graduate typically

stands a better chance of holding a high-level management position. It is estimated that 70% of MBA graduates worldwide are senior managers or board directors.

Whether you wish to propel

yourself to a leadership position at work or pursue a new career, an MBA can boost your chances of achieving these goals.l Get a holistic perspective

An MBA gives you the privilege of being part of a greater network

of professionals and companies, which will provide opportunities to develop problem-solving skills.

These factors will prepare you for the many challenges in the business world and help you gain a deeper understanding of and

receptiveness to changes in the environment.

KBU International College offers a time-tested, rigorous and prestigious MBA programme in collaboration with the Lord Ashcroft International Business School of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

Recently, ARU was awarded the notable Entrepreneurial University of the Year 2014 by Times Higher Education.

KBU’s MBA is the ideal choice because it is internationally accredited by the Association of Business Schools, a body representing the leading business schools in the United Kingdom.

Besides being tutored by a highly qualified teaching team comprising doctorate holders with industry experience, students can benefit from lectures by visiting UK academics, live lectures via

video conferencing by the UK professors and guest lectures by industry specialists.

Flexibility is another strong point of the programme as students can opt for either full- or part-time classes to sui their schedule.

The 100% assignment-based programme, which stretches over four semesters, focuses on producing well-rounded graduates.

The academic calendar consists of two semesters in a year (January to April and September to December) to allow optimal balance of a student’s professional, personal and university life.

Students have access to Emerald database and ARU’s extensive e-library, making research much easier.

ACCA and CIMA members can look forward to four exemptions out of 11 modules.

n For more information,call 03-7727 3200 or e-mail enquiry@kbu.edu.my or visit www.kbu.edu.my

Stand out from the restTHE Binary Graduate School (BGS) offers a wide range of postgraduate qualifications at doctoral and master’s levels. Each of Binary University’s qualifications differentiates its graduates from the masses.

“According to the National Survey conducted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia only has about 21 researchers, scientists and engineers (RSE) per 10,000 workers. This is below the 100 RSE in the European Union,” says Datuk Prof Joseph Adaikalam, executive chairman of Binary University.

“The government aims to have 60,000 PhD holders by 2023 and achieve the 100 RSE target by the end of the 11th Malaysia Plan, which will kick off in May,” he says.

“To help achieve this aim, private universities can complement public universities in addressing the shortage.

“Binary’s offering is unique in that its PhD students are required to be attached to one of its five research centres. Each student comes under the purview of the head of the research centre and is assisted by experienced supervisors and external experts,” says Prof Adaikalam.

Each year, Binary University only accepts a limited number of PhD students per research centre.

“Apart from the PhD, Binary offers the Doctorate in Business Administration or DBA. Unlike the PhD, the DBA is an applied management programme that equips students with research tools rather than trains them to become academic researchers. The DBA is a practical-oriented professional doctoral degree,” explains Prof Adaikalam.

The DBA is open to those with an MBA or business-related master’s qualification and five years managerial or supervisory work experience.

“The Binary DBA is pursued globally by senior managers, high-ranking government officials and chief executive

Binary University’s unique PhD produces graduates who are more than just academic researchers.

officers. Fifty percent of our DBA is composed of taught modules and the other 50% comprises the thesis,” says Prof Dr Sulochana Nair, vice-chancellor of Binary University.

The BGS also offers a wide range of taught and research master’s programmes. Working professionals and full-time students can differentiate themselves from postgraduates with academic degrees through the World’s First Industry Specialist MBA and MSc in Information Technology Management (MSc ITM) programmes.

These programmes are supported by the Faculty of Industry Professionals (FIPs), which comprises senior managers and chief executive officers in their respective fields.

All the master’s by research programmes can be completed in 18 months with the Binary Milestone Model (BMM) approach, which offers a personalised study plan to cater to individual needs.

In the last 30 years, Binary University has helped thousands of working adults realise their dreams through the BMM approach. For this reason, many corporate organisations sponsor their staff to pursue degrees at Binary.

n For more information, callK. Selva at 013-364 4921 or e-mail admission@binary.edu.my or visit www.binary.edu.my

StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015 POSTGRADUATE 11

Supporting PhD candidates and supervisorsIT is generally recognised that

undertaking the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is one

of the most challenging university experiences.

This is not surprising given that candidates are learning to become independent creators of original research.

In light of this challenge, the School of Graduate Studies of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has developed support and development programmes for its research candidates and staff.

The overall aim of these programmes is to ensure that candidates have the necessary knowledge, skills and support required to successfully complete their PhD programme and that supervisors are able to effectively assist them.

Providing assistanceto students

The candidate programme, known as Putra Sarjana, is provided to students across the university.

Its numerous seminars and workshops are categorised as academic, research and digital literacies; global citizenship; and critical and personal self-awareness.

For example, the Manuscript Writing and Publication workshop aims to assist candidates in developing the all-important skills of publishing their research. Associated with writing is the

Avoiding Plagiarism worskshop, which aims to ensure that candidates understand what constitutes plagiarism and how they can avoid it.

Highly relevant for the 21st century is the workshop titled Research in the Digital Age along with numerous workshops on the use of technology in research.

For candidates aiming for an academic career, programmes such as The Mind of an Academic and Introduction to Teaching are

invaluable.Given the importance of

the PhD examination process, workshops on preparing for examination and the viva are also popular.

Workshops are generally available to enroll candidates free of charge. They are offered by skilled and experienced UPM staff assisted by a number of invited presenters from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Staff trainingUPM also provides

programmes for staff engaged in supervising candidates. More recently, the university has made it a requirement for less experienced staff members to engage in a number of activities to prepare them for their roles.

For example, academic staff members wishing to supervise PhD candidates are asked to undertake two workshops, which are Introduction to Research Supervision and Preparing Your Candidate for Examination.

For staff members who wish to become examiners of PhD theses within UPM and other universities, they can attend the half-day workshop Being an Examiner.

The Being a Viva Chair workshop is provided for those wishing to be the chair of a PhD oral exam.

In addition to these few

required workshops, UPM offers a wide range of workshops on topics such as Cross-cultural Supervision, Setting and Monitoring Milestones, and Providing Quality Feedback.

As with the programme for PhD candidates, the staff workshops are conducted by highly skilled and experienced UPM staff and overseas guest speakers.

With this support, UPM is aiming to ensure that its PhD candidates have a rewarding and successful research learning experience.

n For more information, e-mail dean.sgs@upm.edu.my or visit www.sgs.upm.edu.my

Prof Datuk Dr Mad Nasir Shamsudin, deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) of UPM, delivering his speech.

Deputy dean Prof Dr Zulkarnain Zainal speaking to UPM academicians.

The School of Graduate Studies of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has developed support and development programmes for its research candidates and staff.

12 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 21 April 2015

Ready to meet IT industry demandsUNIVERSITI Tenaga Nasional’s

(Uniten) computing programmes, offered under

the College of Graduate Studies (COGS), are designed to provide essential knowledge and expertise to graduates who will go on to meet the needs of the industry and country.

The Master of Information Technology programme is offered in two modes, which are full research, and coursework and project.

The PhD in ICT is a full-research programme in which students are supervised by a lecturer in their field of study.

This provides the opportunity for one-on-one interaction and guidance throughout their research.

There are financial aid options available to assist students, including scholarships and loans from government-sponsoring bodies or Yayasan Tenaga Nasional.

On top of that, the MyBrain15 initiative offers an additional financing option for students looking to pursue postgraduate studies.

Through the initiative, students can apply for the MyMaster, MyPhD and Industrial PhD programmes.

There is also a fast track option for first-class undergraduates that will enable them to complete their PhD studies in three years.

Master of Software Engineering

Uniten recently introduced the Master of Software Engineering (MSE (B)) programme, which seeks to create industry-ready software engineering professionals and leaders in meeting the needs of the country. It caters to computer science and information technology graduates alike.

“We have come up with this programme to nurture students into graduates with an in-depth knowledge of computing in fulfulling the emerging needs of the country in terms of information technology,” says

Dr Azhana Ahmad, coordinator of the IT programme at COGS.

Part-time students may take anywhere from two and a half years to four years to complete the course while those who pursue the course full time may takeone and a half years to three years.

Students will have to earn 40 credits through seven subjects and one project.

Through exposure to industry-relevant topics and projects, they will be able to learn how to apply knowledge gained in the software engineering domain.

Students are given the opportunity to develop work-relevant skills as well as

responsibility and accountability through original research work, as well as hone their ability to create appropriate computing solutions and apply the right tools in performing result analysis.

For example, in a PhD project, a student developed a state-of-the-art autonomous system technology, which incorporates a dynamic mechanism for adjustable autonomy in a multi-agent system called the Layered Adjustable Autonomy (LAA) model.

The LAA segregates autonomy in multi-dimensional and adjustable layers. The technology is applied and tested in a real-world experimental unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It has successfully performed autonomous flight functions in aerial monitoring and surveillance missions.

In the classroom, the MSE (B) programme covers several subjects identified to be integral to software engineering studies, including advanced courses in software engineering, software testing and project management.

Other core subjects include research methodology in computing and seminar in software engineering practices and global issues.

“Upon graduation, students will be able to apply the knowledge in the software engineering domain, have the aptitude and initiative

to carry out original research, and make a significant contribution to software engineering,” says Dr Azhana.

Students who wish to apply for the May intake may do so byApril 30. Applications received after this date will be automatically considered for the September intake.

n For more information,call 03-8921 2020 or visitwww.uniten.edu.my

Postgraduate students at Uniten are nurtured to become graduates with in-depth knowledge in their fields of study.

To enrol in Uniten’s Master of Software Engineering (MSE) or Master in Information Technology (MIT) programmes, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in the relevant domain with:• second class upper with

honours or CGPA 2.75 and above, or

• second class lower with honours or CGPA 2.50 to 2.74, with one year experience and at least one publication or two years professional experience in the domain, or

• CGPA below 2.50 and five years’ experience in the domain

Entry requirements