pg - april 15, 2014

THE STAR Tuesday 15 April 2014

Interdisciplinary decision-makersin nation-building.

The new leader

StarSpecial

Harvard of the East > 5 Driving lifelong learning > 7

2 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 15 April 2014

By TINA CARMILLIA

ENGINEERS are not seen as leaders, or at least that is what a recent survey by ASQ,

formerly known as the American Society for Quality, reported. The respondents of the survey did not connect engineers to the boardroom, placing engineers as the least likely group of professionals to get to the top of that ladder.

Although only 9% of ASQ’s survey respondents believed that engineers would succeed as chief executive officers, there are in fact several high profile CEOs with engineering degrees: Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, and closer to home, Joel Neoh, international vice-president and head of Groupon Asia Pacific.

“Entrepreneurs embrace risk as an opportunity, whereas engineers are risk averse. As a result of that combination, I learnt quickly in my early days how to manage risk and take calculated decisions when building multiple Internet technology startups,” shares Neoh, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering.

Looking back at the history of developed countries like the United States, business and political leaders during their development period in the 1940s were great engineers such as

Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover.

Similarly, the majority of the fourth-generation leaders of China under the Hu-Wen Administration from 2003 to 2012 studied engineering, with eight out of its top nine government officials being scientists or engineers. During this period of technocratic governance, the country saw massive growth in its economy, had a scientific outlook on development, sustainability and social welfare.

Being an engineer requires one to turn ideas into reality, much like what is expected of lawmakers and business leaders. While a career in engineering may be a rewarding one, it is high time to respond to the call for more engineers in leadership roles, especially in the civil service, to provide a much needed policy reform that shifts from management-based to professional skills and talent resourcing to fast track the development of the nation.

Now a senior strategic consultant, Mohamad Alif Abdul Latif was a trained engineer who drew leadership skills from his engineering education when he was the president of AIESEC, an international leadership organisation.

“As you become more experienced, engineers advance

Skills that spearhead economic growth

to become project leaders who must not only possess management skills but analytical skills and a hands-on approach when undertaking a task. We see things in the big picture and we get ‘down and dirty’ in the downstream areas. That is the type of leader that an engineering education produces,” says Mohamad Alif.

With Vision 2020 just six years away, Malaysia is pining for more skilled workers and leaders to spearhead the economy and country’s growth. As demonstrated by China and the 1940s United States, a developing country with the goal of becoming a developed nation needs interdisciplinary professionals as decision makers, and that includes engineering professionals.

“It is important for postgraduate students to understand the changing scenario

of the Asian economy where entrepreneurial components that link industrial knowledge with solution-based services are at the fore-front of successful endeavours,” says Emeritus Prof Dr Muhamad Awang, the vice-chancellor of SEGi University.

“That is why I’m pleased that late last year we obtained the green light to introduce more postgraduate research courses such as the environmental studies, education and engineering programmes, which are areas that are critical especially for developing countries,” he adds.

A postgraduate engineering education requires students to identify problems and provide solutions through original research. That kind of educational training produces future leaders who can tackle the demands of providing solution-based governance. Prof Muhammad

believes that postgraduates should no longer be concerned about employability but instead create job opportunities for others and provide the best high-skilled services to the society.

“What is good for the society in the next five years will no longer serve its purpose in the next 10 years. Universities have to produce great leaders who can anticipate the future through their postgraduate programmes,” says Prof Muhammad.

Broadly speaking, engineers have three career pathways: as practitioners, researchers and policymakers. The most common route for engineering graduates is the first, which is to be professional engineers. Some venture into the academia and fields of research, particularly with postgraduate qualifications.

The least chosen path is that of policymaker, who continues to keep a close eye on the engineering field. They are the informed advocates for the sciences and applied sciences at the legislative level.

Engineers are indeed capable leaders, more so in a nation that aspires to achieve economic maturity and developed status. Perhaps, what Malaysia needs is more engineers who are visible and well-integrated into the running of the country’s day-to-day business.

StarSpecial, Tuesday 15 April 2014 POSTGRADUATE 3

DISCUSSIONS about longer term growth and development are increasingly focusing on the idea of the “knowledge

economy” and “knowledge businesses”. In essence, these terms refer to the idea that economic success – whether at the national level or at the corporate level – is becoming dependent on the generation and utilisation of knowledge to build a sustainable competitive advantage.

Those of us in higher education have always recognised the value of knowledge as one of the key driving forces behind economic growth and development. Universities are arguably the original knowledge business – we preserve and protect existing knowledge and we drive the creation and sharing of new knowledge.

More and more higher education institutions are being asked to expand their knowledge exchange to ensure that new ideas can be used productively by businesses, governments and other agencies.

Educating generations of students ensures that our societies have a skilled and productive workforce. Undertaking research creates the new knowledge and ideas that underpin technological change and innovation.

When we discuss the idea of the knowledge economy, it is common to think particularly of areas such as engineering and technology, subjects where the practical value of new ideas and new knowledge is most visible.

Additive manufacturing is perhaps one of the best current examples. Engineers have developed methods of printing in 3D, which enables objects of all types to be created from digital models using an approach called layering – building the object layer by layer. It constitutes a major innovation and is a technique that could revolutionise the manufacturing industries. There are many similar examples – new composite materials, novel forms of energy

Interdisciplinary knowledge leads to innovation

By PROF CHRISTINE ENNEW

storage, highly efficient engines, advanced optimisation methods and innovative forms of biomass processing, to name but a few.

So it is hardly surprising that higher education invests so much into teaching and research in engineering and related technology applications.

But it is essential that we do not underestimate the importance of developments in related areas. Pure science plays a key role in developing skills and creating the new knowledge that underpins the highly visible engineering related innovations.

Without the knowledge that emerges from research into the fundamentals of physical and life sciences, engineers would not be able to innovate in the way that they do. Innovations such as the MRI, materials for hydrogen storage, photovoltaic cells and environmentally friendly solvents all developed as a consequence of fundamental scientific research.

It is this work that provides the foundations on which engineering- and technology-related innovations are built. And while science, engineering and technology may dominate much of our thinking in relation to innovation, teaching and research in the arts and the social sciences have their roles to play in refining our understanding of the behaviours, aspirations and beliefs that ensure social recognition and acceptance of material innovation.

l Prof Christine Ennew is the CEO and provost of The Nottingham University Malaysia Campus.

VC COLUMN


AS the sixth public university in the country, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) was set up to specifically cater to business and management education.

When it began its operations in 1984, the university’s temporary office was located in Jitra, Kedah, before moving to its provisional RM96mil campus, the Darul Aman Campus, in June of the same year. Today, UUM’s Sintok Campus, located 48km north of Kedah’s capital Alor Setar, is complemented by the Kuala Lumpur campus.

The university’s location as a branch city campus caters to urban executives who seek an education at UUM closer to home.

In 2011, UUM re-organised and strengthened its existing faculties by establishing three graduate schools and 14 schools to spearhead postgraduate

studies and niche areas in research and publication.

It currently boasts a total student population of 30,470, including 2,186 international students from 50 countries.

With the completion of the 26th UUM Convocation Ceremony last year, UUM has 103,152 members in its alumni, 15,000 of whom are international graduates.

A study carried out last year showed that 81% of UUM graduates were employed within six months after graduation, well above the national goal of 75%.

Despite the growth and development observed over the last three decades, the university has remained consistent with its mission, which is to be the academic centre for the field of business and management.

FOR more than 35 years, SEGi University Group (SEGi) has equipped graduates from

diverse backgrounds with an exceptional foundation for career achievement and personal success.

It first opened its doors as Systematic College in 1977 and was located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s commercial district, offering professional qualifications. Since then, the group has experienced significant growth by adapting and catering to an increasing demand for higher academic and professional qualifications in Malaysia.

Today, the group is one of the largest private higher education providers in Malaysia and serves more than 27,000 students through its five major campuses located in the Klang Valley, Penang and Sarawak. With programmes tailored to meet both industry and student needs, SEGi graduates have easily found employment and become leaders in their respective industries.

We are committed to

A steady PACE ahead

Mission for success

By DR MUHAMAD AWANG

postgraduate students with sufficient training and research skills before they enter the workforce.

This is because we are aware that the Malaysian National Higher Education Strategic Plan involves increasing accessibility to education. We believe in empowering professionals in the workforce to further their career and are aware that there are degree holders who do not have the means to pursue a postgraduate degree.

The idea of Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) was developed with this group of people in mind, as we believe that the best way to deliver a postgraduate programme to working executives is through an online learning platform.

PACE is a blended-mode programme that requires students to minimal attend classes on campus and perform the rest of their learning through an online medium.

Besides an accessible online platform, the presence of our campuses in different regions of the country also means that our students can gain access to our infrastructure and facilities in any campus if they are outstation or have transferred to a new city.

I believe the education landscape is shifting to the cloud, with more and more

universities offering online courses to allow international access.

I would like to see a revolutionary future for education where students can put together their own programme. For example, a student can pick a combination of finance, management and IT courses from various universities to form a combination of 50 or more credits.

A degree-awarding university like SEGi University is then positioned to award students with a certificate that endorses and recognises the education they have undertaken from the various institutions.

Of course, the idea will remain only a vision unless our culture becomes willing to accept the new learning approach.

Education institutions, including SEGi University, have to be prepared for a fast-evolving trend and industries must also welcome and recognise the changes in the education landscape.

As a vice-chancellor, I am excited about the future of the education sector and believe that SEGi University is prepared for what is to come.

l Emeritus Prof Dr Muhamad Awang is SEGi’s vice-chancellor.

empowering students with knowledge of various disciplines to develop a vibrant cross disciplinary research community.

SEGi also established the Institute of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School of Business to provide first-class education, research facilities and resources to enhance research activities in the postgraduate programmes.

Our academicians are preeminent in their respective backgrounds with vast experience and a history of professional accomplishments. They are deeply committed to quality teaching

and learning, as well as research and development to inculcate our students with the necessary skills to become agents of change and further their career.

SEGi University believes in the integration of various skill sets and the optimisation of resources.

We have developed integrated case studies and a curricular teaching tool that analyses specific industry needs comprehensively and in real-time.

We offer master’s degrees and PhD programmes by research in the fields of business administration, management, engineering, information technology, education and vision sciences.

SEGi also awards a competitive postgraduate research fellowship to attract outstanding talents to join the postgraduate programmes. This fellowship aims to provide

VC COLUMN

UUM strives to be an excellent academic centre for the business and management field.


THE campus community at Universiti Utara Malaysia is known largely to thrive

on its research and innovation. As the only management university in Malaysia, we are eager to make ourselves known as the “Harvard of the East”.

Harvard is a name that is synonymous with the Harvard Business School, an internationally known university highly ranked in most university ranking systems.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) aims to adopt the educational approach undertaken by Harvard Business School, mainly in the production of case studies and problem-based learning.

To realise this, UUM recently upgraded the Institute for Management and Business Research (IMBRe), which was previously under the Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business, to be an institute at university level.

IMBRe will bring together researchers to develop case studies that are relevant to the Asian region. We aspire to produce the UUM Business Review with case studies that are relevant and appropriate to the regional setting.

Although we first started out as a university that mainly catered to local students, today, UUM hosts students from around the world, adding further dimensions to its intellectual pursuit and enriching cultural diversity on campus.

As a result of efforts in pursuing our aspiration to become an eminent management university in the country and the region, we have cultivated international diversity on campus.

We greatly appreciate the presence of international students, not just for the purpose of internationalisation, but for the edification of our local students to be able to interact and collaborate cerebrally, and emotionally engage with the different cultures that international students bring.

Cultural integration is easily achieved at UUM because we practise a full-residential system that provides accomodation to undergraduate students and postgraduate students with families. We encourage international students to get involved in cultural and community activities to gain a rich cross-cultural experience.

To greatly foster and sustain an international academic hub at UUM, our postgraduate programmes are all conducted in English. We also provide intensive English language courses for students who

Harvard of the East

By PROF DATUK WIRA DR MOHAMED MUSTAFA ISHAK

need to improve their English before admission into a degree programme.

We strongly believe that the success of an organisation is highly dependent upon the conscientious efforts and unflagging support of the members in the organisation. We advocate and practise the dissemination of information at every level of the organisation and welcome feedback.

An example of this is the introduction of “Le Tour de Schools”, which involves me visiting our 15 Schools and the three Graduate Schools. I started the tour with our flagship School of Accountancy and two other schools in March. Hopefully, I will be able to visit all schools before the semester ends.

We realise, however, that a university history spanning only 30 years means that we have a long way to go before we can be on par with established universities such as Harvard, Cambridge, Stanford or Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In order to gain a competitive edge in the global arena, we continuously upgrade and refine our academic programmes to ensure they gain national and international recognition.

Our two accounting programmes serve as an example of our endeavour to provide quality programmes. They are conducted in collaboration with two professional bodies, ACCA and CIMA.

Consequently, when students complete either one of the accounting programmes at UUM, they will acquire two certificates — the bachelor’s degree in accountancy and an ACCA or a CIMA certificate.

We strive to be financially well-positioned to ensure our academic and administrative fronts are properly equipped for effective work production. We ensure that the university has good scholars who have produced quality research and are published.

We maintain a great relationship with our students, alumni and the industries. Though our ambition will take a while and require determined diligence, I am confident that we are on track to becoming the “Harvard of the East”.

l Prof Datuk Wira Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak is the vice-chancellor/president of UUM

VC COLUMN


HERIOT-Watt University is recognised internationally as a centre for high calibre research in engineering, science and business and boasts a global MBA programme from Edinburgh Business School as well as a range of industry-relevant postgraduate programmes.

Heriot-Watt University offers its excellence and stature in engineering studies to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Asia Pacific region at its new campus in Putrajaya.

“In this day and age, you have a wide variety of courses. Don’t pursue a course that doesn’t interest you at all,” said Assoc Prof Dr Khalik Muhamad Sabil of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia’s Institute of Petroleum Engineering, at a recent career guidance seminar.

Dr Khalik explains how chemical and petroleum engineering programmes in Heriot-Watt University are linked to each other, the pros and cons and the possibility of inter-changing careers between the two fields.

He says that petroleum engineers do not have to necessarily work offshore and working in the field at the early stages of their career path is highly recommended. Petroleum engineering is a specialised field that focuses on the exploration and extraction of natural resources for the petroleum industry.

Chemical engineers, on the other hand, can find work in any industry that involves scientific, industrial and manufacturing processes. It is not confined

Dr Khalik Muhamad Sabil, Assoc Prof of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia‘s Institute of Petroleum Engineering, says chemical and petroleum engineering are related.

At engineering crossroads

ISLAMIC finance and banking is fast becoming a competitive alternative to conventional banking and is not confined

to Muslim nations. Despite it being a part of subsidiaries of the conventional banking system, there are many areas yet to be explored and developed in the risk management practices of Islamic finance and banking.

“The largest risk faced by any financial institution, whether Islamic or conventional, is default risk, where borrowers fail to settle their loan obligations,” says Dr Jothee Sinnakkannu (pic), senior lecturer in finance from the School of Business, Monash University Malaysia.

“In conventional banking, we have a recovery process that can bring a person to bankruptcy as a last resort. However, in Islamic banking system, it’s not easy to recover loans through bankruptcy or foreclosures in the case of mortgage loans.

“In Islamic finance, it is very challenging to manage risk due to the need to be syariah compliant; they cannot use derivatives as risk management tools, which conventional banks usually use.

“In Islamic finance, which works on the profit-and-loss-sharing principle, deposits are transferred into loan for borrowers. In conventional banking, however, deposits are transformed into loans, where the bank stands as the recourse guarantor for the deposits. This makes risk management substantially more challenging for Islamic banking,” he says.

Dr Jothee says that despite the growing popularity of Islamic finance around the world, very little empirical research has been done on its risk management practices compared to the voluminous work done in the conventional banking systems.

“Monash is committed to delve deeper

Banking on alternatives

to manufacturing or processing that only involves chemicals. The field requires a strong knowledge in chemistry, physics and mathematics for complex problem-solving and to streamline manufacturing processes.

“The two engineering fields share the same basic requirements in terms of chemistry knowledge. The job also requires working on various types of terrain so you’re not just going to be sitting in an office all day but be working in the field. This can lead to you designing specific processes, rigs and an entire resource extraction system that you may have worked on in your earlier years,” says Dr Khalik.

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia offers a wide range of bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes.

n For more information, call 03-8881 0918 or visit www.hw.edu.my

into research in the area of Islamic finance and Islamic banking. One of the most challenging topics of research is how to accept the use of derivatives in a syariah-compliant system,” he says.

“An increasingly crucial question to answer is how we can modify or synthesise existing derivatives in order to comply with syariah. Answering this question would mean creating new instruments or risk management tools that follow the conventional system but strikes a balance by adhering to syariah principles,” says Dr Jothee.

“At Monash, we are committed to conduct empirical research in this area to identify an appropriate measurement to manage any other unique risks pertaining to the nature of their instruments and operations.

“With the momentum of its development across the world, students who study this alternative financial system can rise up in this area,” he says.

The School of Business, which already offers the unit – Introduction into Islamic Banking and Finance – is in the midst of developing a new major in Islamic finance.

n For more information, visit www.buseco.monash.edu.my


SUSTAINING humanities is the philosophy adopted by Taylor’s University School of Architecture, Building and Design (SABD) in its newly launched Master of Architecture programme, which is focused on urbanity, community and technology.

Taylor’s University is the first private university in Malaysia to offer this two-year full-time Master of Architecture programme, which is equivalent to Part Two of the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM) Professional Examination.

Dean of SABD Tony Liew says that the programme is perfect for those who seek to complete their architecture studies in Malaysia.

“At SABD, the curriculum of our Foundation in Natural and Built Environments (FNBE) is crafted to lay the foundations for sustaining humanities,” says Liew. The programme prepares students for entry into the Bachelor of Science

The Master of Architecture programme offered by Taylor’s University aims to develop well-rounded architectural graduates.

Building a sustainable future

TAN Sri Lee Lam Thye’s passion for lifelong learning is apparent as

he discusses the effects of education on crime.

Lee, who joined Open University Malaysia’s (OUM) board in December 2005, says, “The lack of education almost always leads to the misunderstanding of information.

“It is a tall order to expect individuals who never had education opportunities to comprehend and be agents of change. To be a spokesperson, for example, involves articulacy of speech and thorough knowledge of the community.”

“The essence of OUM’s lifelong learning concept is captured when a graduate in their 60s or 70s walk up the stage to receive their scrolls,” says Lee. He also commended OUM’s internationalisation. Since it opened in 2001, it has

Driving lifelong learning

Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye says that the lack of education almost always leads to the misunderstanding of information.

(Hon) (Architecture) that includes modules such as architectural design studios, integrated with environmental sustainable design, building services, building material and building technology.

“With 16 years of experience in providing high-quality architecture studies for both local and international students, Taylor’s is committed towards producing well-rounded, environmental-

conscious professional architects. We provide a comprehensively structured tertiary education,”says Liew.

Students will undertake a range of specialist- and research-based studio projects supported by knowledge and application of technology and environment, cultural context and professional practice.

Initiatives such as this exemplify the school’s attempt to sustain the culture, history and environment of an important community in this country.

The intakes for Taylor’s Master of Architecture programme are on April 21 and Sept 8. Full tuition fee waivers are available as well as alumni bursaries and study grants.

n For more information, contact 03-5629 5000, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.taylors.edu.my/sabd

allied itself with 10 different countries, including the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.

“OUM has accomplished many milestones under the leadership of our president and vice-chancellor, Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, including building centres in 13 states in Malaysia and having almost 138,000 cumulative students nationwide.”

On his part, Lee impresses upon the board to involve various communities when building the student body, stressing that the contribution of all Malaysians is vital to the growth of the nation.

“OUM’s flexible entry policy creates new opportunities for many school-leavers and educational institutions and enhances the concept of lifelong learning.”

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


ASIA e University (AeU)’s master’s in ICT offers the enhancement to be a

proficient and technical leader. AeU’s Master of ICT

Management programme (MICTM) aims to produce professionals who can successfully master the management and implementation of ICT in their organisation and understand the environment of the information society in which they do business.

This master’s programme focuses on equipping professionals with fresh business and technology capabilities to fulfil leadership roles in today’s tech-savvy organisations.

MICTM is designed to offer a balance between the academic rigour and industrial aspects. For example, ICT Strategic Planning is one of the courses offered as a core course, which all MICTM students have to take. The course requires students to relate to the principles, processes and methodologies of ICT strategic planning at their work place in terms of implementation issues, implication to business strategy, and measuring techniques based on success factors.

Students also get to share their experiences and real world issues with coursemates through interactive forums. The forums provide a network building opportunity to students, where classroom acquaintances can be turned into professional relationships.

“Not many people associate business with IT, but a leading

WORKING professionals with undergraduate degrees can further their careers and become experts in their fields through postgraduate study at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak).

Curtin Sarawak’s School of Business offers graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master of science courses in project management and policy sciences, all of which are by coursework. Also offered are the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by research.

Curtin’s School of Engineering and Science offers postgraduate courses in engineering – Master of Engineering Science (Electrical Engineering), as well as Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes in electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering,

Curtin Sarawak is a leading international university in Malaysia.

Quality education

Tech-savvy leaders

organisation that fully utilises technology to build a better business is more likely to stay on top. So, it is important for chief executive officers to fully understand all aspects of IT pertaining to business,” says Prof Dr Syed Malek Fakar Duani (pic), dean of School of Information and Communication Technology (SICT).

“The MICTM programme also enables you to focus on areas of specialisation within a professional field or to broaden your knowledge and skills to enhance career development. By linking learning and development directly to your work, you can ensure that your professional development will contribute to the strategic planning of your organisation.

“You will also have the opportunity to consider and reflect on established views of the organisation, colleagues and yourself to promote innovation and change,” says Prof Malek.

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

civil engineering, chemical engineering and geology.

Curtin Sarawak is a leading international university in Malaysia, attracting students from all over the world to its state-of-the-art campus. The university provides students in Asia the opportunity to acquire an internationally recognised Australian tertiary qualification closer to home at a lower cost.

Students can be assured that the academic programmes at Curtin Sarawak are identical to those offered at Curtin’s main campus in Perth. Many of the academic programmes are accredited by higher education and professional bodies, attesting to the university’s quality as an education provider.

n For more information, call 08-544 3939 or visit www.curtin.edu.my

StarSpecial 9Tuesday 15 April 2014


THE University of Wollongong’s Sydney Business School (UOW-SBS), one of Australia’s best business schools and a highly ranked university, offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme in Kuala Lumpur that meets the growing need for high-quality postgraduate programmes for working professionals.

The UOW-SBS MBA available at INTI International College Kuala Lumpur enables students and working professionals to expand and advance in their respective areas of expertise, build professional excellence and enhance their leadership capabilities.

An overarching theme of the programme is an emphasis on analytical thinking, innovation and creativity, which are critical for entrepreneurial and business success. Included in the UOW-SBS MBA are six master classes that focus on contemporary Australian, Asian and global issues via the topics of leadership, entrepreneurship, business risk, adapting to change, corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Half of the programme modules are taught by overseas MBA lecturers.

The Sydney Business School is a graduate faculty of the University of Wollongong, which is in the top 2% of universities worldwide.

The school has a strong and dynamic faculty committed to maintaining excellence in teaching and research, as well as strengthening its partnership with industries, businesses and governments. UOW-SBS has also built a strong research focus that involves diverse interests across business-related disciplines.

Offered at INTI’s Kuala Lumpur campus, the UOW-SBS MBA is conducted in an environment that is conducive to learning. Blended learning at INTI incorporates lectures and innovative technologies that

The UOW-SBS MBA will help learners develop skills that are vital for entrepreneurial and business success.

Driving careers forward

include online tools, multimedia content and the Blackboard learning system.

Blackboard enables students to access course materials, lecture notes, assignments and tutorials from an online platform and also to correspond on a one-to-one basis with instructors.

Other advanced software available include Epson’s Easy Interactive Tools which allows instructors and students to highlight documents and images in various Microsoft formats on a projection screen, thus making presentations and lessons more compelling.

Among the most innovative online learning activities is simulation, where students are presented with workplace scenarios and expected to find possible solutions to problems that arise.

Innovation also brings about multiple industry projects that enable students to work with employers on real business issues where they can gain experience and prepare for their future career.

n For more information, call 03-2052 2888 or visit www.newinti.edu.my

HELP recently launched the ELM Graduate School (ELM-GS). In this repositioning, the ELM-GS introduces

a creative way of thinking about the three critical elements of entrepreneurship, leadership and management in an integrative manner.

Using the ELM Framework, HELP provides a powerful understanding of the multifaceted role of individuals, teams and organisations to create, manage and sustain a business over different phases of its life. The ELM Framework underlies the philosophy of the ELM Graduate School’s executive education and the way the HELP Group teaches and learns business.

“The change in name has come along with a new mandate for more academic support, more services being offered to graduate research candidates and more research into how best to support our graduate research community,” says Datin Dr Wendy Liow (pic), dean of the ELM Graduate School, who is driving the ELM framework at HELP.

Dr Liow has 25 years of experience in senior management roles and responsibilities in four Fortune 500 companies. Together with other faculty members, she aims to build a culture of distributed leadership with a strong shared vision to make ELM-GS an exemplary success.

To actualise this, the ELM Graduate School is led by a faculty of academic experts and experienced industry

PROF Sivakumar Manickam and Dr Ramani Bai V, academics at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC), were awarded the prestigious Hind Rattan 2014 award by Shri Tariq Anwar, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Corporation at the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) Congress in New Delhi, India recently.

This award, which is translated in English as “Jewel of India”, is presented by the NRI Welfare Society of India to Indian nationals who have made exceptional contributions to society.

“At The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, we pride ourselves on the outstanding achievements of our staff and it is always a pleasure to see these achievements recognised through prestigious international awards,” says Prof Christine Ennew, CEO and Provost of UNMC.

Prof Sivakumar was honoured for his outstanding services, achievements and contributions in chemical and nanopharmaceutical process engineering to a research group.

This research group exploits novel and energy-efficient ultrasound and hydrodynamic cavitations to obtain nanomaterials and nanoformulations. They also look into the feasibilities of transforming energy into a commercial scale.

“I am proud to have been the recipient of this award as it recognises the continuous efforts and contributions from the academic and research areas. I am grateful to work with supportive colleagues from academic and research institutions as well as from the industries, as they have supported me in

Academics win prestigious award

Dr Ramani Bai V (second from left) from The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus is a proud recipient of the Hind Rattan 2014 award.

Leading the Asian business revolution

practitioners. Within the ELM Framework, the faculty uses a variety of teaching methods, including the case study methods, problem-based learning, research-led teaching and simulation studies. There is also emphasis on group discussions.

Formal lectures and class discussions are supported by interactions with C-1 executives in the ELM Executive Education Forum where successful entrepreneurs and CEOs from Asia share their experiences.

The ELM Graduate School offers 13 master’s programmes with useful specialisations. They are capped by the DBA and the PhD by research. The DBA is a reflective learning experience by senior executives of practical and pragmatic issues.

The PhD serves the needs for rigorous academic training in original research.

n For more information, call 03-2711 2000 or visit www.elm.help.edu.my

receiving this award,” says Prof Sivakumar.Dr Ramani received this award for her

outstanding services to water resources and environment engineering and science, and specifically for her work in water quality and developing software and hardware to solve problems of water resources and the environment.

“I received this award with great pride not just for my success, but my research team who has supported me with their knowledge and expertise by contributing to our research project and from the faculty,” she says.

Graduates with an engineering degree can expect to take up leading roles in well-known global companies and leading-edge organisations the world over.

n For more information visit www.nottingham.edu.my

StarSpecial 11Tuesday 15 April 2014

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