THE STAR Tuesday 17 June 2014

Pioneering Islamic science > 4 Enhancing research skills in business > 11

Looking beyond conventional business ways.
Illuminating
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StarSpecial
2 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014
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Islamic studies for
the globalised world
By TINA CARMILLIA
T
HE future of a nation in terms
of its laws, governance and
economic growth many
a time is inuenced by new
knowledge, universal trends,
discoveries and even technology.
The inuence of Islam is growing
and gaining traction across the
world.
In Malaysia, this trend has
begun to shape the countrys
nancial landscape, legal and
governing bodies as well higher
education policies and paths of
postgraduate study.
Many early scholars and
scientists especially in the elds
of mathematics, astronomy and
medicine were Muslims, including
Arab physicist Ibn al-Haytham
(Alhazen), a pioneer of the
scientic method.
Today, Islamic studies is at the
pinnacle of its growth especially
because of the economic maturity
of Islamic countries in the Middle
East and South-East Asia.
Building on
strong foundations
Malaysia, in fact, plays an
important role in popularising
the implementation of Islamic
principles in the countrys
governance Islam hadhari
particularly by former prime
minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi.
Although strongly promoted
by the government during
Abdullahs leadership, Islam
hadhari (civilisational Islam) is
a development theory that was
actually founded by Tunku Abdul
Rahman to represent new aspects
of signicant interest in the
development of Islamic thought on
the new era.
There has been a notably high
enhancement in the mobility
of researchers, institutions and
programmes in the global arena.
As a result, attention of the
intellectuals to Islamic studies
and its civilisation also increases,
says Assoc Prof Saim Kayadibi of
International Islamic University
Malaysia.
There is no doubt that since
the worldwide reaction to the
events of September 11, 2001 as
well as the Arab Spring, there is a
global emphasis on Islamic studies
in higher education to provide
an international overview about
Islamic theology and principles.
In this context, Islamic studies
generally refer to the historical
study of the religion including
civilisation, law and philosophy.
Academics in the branch of
Islamic studies may also focus on
comparative theology as well as
the Arab language, which is the
original language of many Islamic
texts.
Assoc Prof Saim, who has
published numerous papers on
Islamic studies and its relations
to globalisation, adds that the
trend has led many countries,
whether in the Western or Eastern
hemisphere, to aspire to play a
central role as the worlds leading
destination for Islamic higher
education.
Malaysia, in particular, has a
head start because of its deep-
rooted Islamic culture that is
coupled with the innovative
insights of the countrys leaders.
One of the best examples
to highlight this distinction is
the development of the Islamic
banking system in Malaysia that
is fast growing and has been
adopted by other nations globally.
Although traditionally studied
by Muslims, it will not be
surprising if in the near future,
this eld of study will have a fair
share of non-Muslim scholars.
This is certainly possible as
many leading universities in the
United States and across Europe,
such as Oxford University, have
started offering academic degrees
at both the undergraduate and
postgraduate level in Islamic
studies.
But is Islamic studies the
study of the religion only or has
it progressed into the application
of Islamic principles to other
academic courses?
Essentially, Islamic studies is
the blanket term for the study
of the religion, such as Islamic
theology and jurisprudence, but
it also incorporates elds that
are usually regarded as secular,
such as science and economics.
In modern practice, Islamic
principles are found in the
banking, insurance, social welfare,
and legal elds, among others.
Enhancing established
methods
Islamic banking emerged
as a popular alternative to
conventional interest-based
banking both in Muslim and non-
Muslim countries such as China,
Denmark and Luxembourg.
Presently, Islamic banking
systems are operational in at
least 60 countries and in some
countries, the entire banking
systems has been converted to
the Islamic systems such as in Iran
and Pakistan.
Although it has the same
purpose as conventional banking,
which is to make money for
the banking institute through
lendings of capital, Islamic
banking also has to adhere to
Islamic law that ensures fair
play, such as the prohibition of
acceptance of specic interest or
fees for money loans.
Principles
built on tenets
The basic principle of syariah-
compliant banking is based on
risk-sharing rather than the risk-
transfer principle of conventional
banking.
Additionally, Islamic banking
also involves concepts such as
safekeeping, joint venture, cost
plus, leasing and prot sharing.
Many of these principles are
also some of the basic tenets of the
Islamic insurance concept, known
as takaful insurance.
Unlike conventional insurance,
where the risk is transferred from
the policy holder to the insurance
company through the payment
of an insurance premium,
participants form a common pool
to share the risk. The insurance
company only acts as the manager
of the pool.
In other words, the takaful
system is a cooperative or mutual
insurance where pool participants
contribute donations to help those
who need assistance.
The system does not derive
advantage at the cost of others as
its purpose is not to make prots.
Besides that, Islamic principles
are also applied in the legal
system, also known as syariah law.
The law deals with almost
every topic that is addressed by
secular law, including crime,
politics, economics and personal
morality derived from the
precepts in the Quran and by
the examples set in the Sunnah.
However, the implementation of
the syariah law varies between
nations.
In Malaysia, the syariah law
applies in personal status issues
of Muslim citizens such as in the
matters of marriage, inheritance
and child custody.
> TURN TO PAGE 13
Keeping up with
industry changes
AS the business world becomes
increasingly competitive, having
a degree is simply not enough
to move forward in this rapidly
changing arena.
This is why an increasing
number of fresh graduates have
chosen to give themselves an
edge by pursuing a postgraduate
education as the additional skills
they obtain can bring about new
opportunities.
Limkokwing University
recognises the dilemma that
many face in the workplace.
This is why the university has
placed emphasis on the digital
technological requirements that
will enable its postgraduate
students to keep up with
increased digitisation in the
workplace and the importance
given to social media in business
dealings.
As a university that works
closely with the industry,
Limkokwing ensures that its
graduates are comfortable with
technological advancements.
In the last 20 years many
careers have become obsolete,
and over the last 10 years,
many industries have become
fragmented, with departments
within an enterprise branching
out to become full-edged
businesses in their own right.
The next 10 years will be
challenging as CEOs grapple
with the rapidity of change that
is causing great uncertainty in
the marketplace.
Therefore, there are two
factors that graduates need to
watch out for that will change
the nature of their career paths -
talent and technology.
Industries across the world
rate insucient talent as a
great drawback and realise
that technological advances
are reshaping existing value
chains, inuencing products
and services and changing how
companies connect with their
customers.
New technologies are
also transforming methods
of production, generation of
services, management of people
and processes.
Many organisations conduct
training to up-skill their
employees but more often than
not, it is up to the employee to
go the extra mile. An employees
mindset can decide how bright
his career prospects will be.
If the employee is always on
the ball then he will assured
a place at the top. However, if
the employee approaches his
tasks without considering new
approaches, he will nd himself
outperformed by his juniors.
But even if the market
may seem to be in a state of
uncertainty, there are always
opportunities to do better.
n For more information, visit
www.limkokwing.net
Limkokwing University ensures that its graduates are comfortable with
technological advancements.
StarSpecial 3
Tuesday 17 June 2014
4 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014
USIM graduates are equipped to become professionals who can contribute
significantly to the community.
Pioneering Islamic science
U
NIVERSITI Sains Islam
Malaysia (USIM) is an
emerging Islamic university
that is fully owned and funded by
the Malaysian government. Being
the 12th public institution of
higher learning to be established
in Malaysia, it aims to spearhead
knowledge and be the global
reference centre for Islamic
science.
USIM adopts a balanced
approach in its academic
programmes as well as in other
aspects of the university such as at
administration and management
levels. USIM graduates are
moulded based on this ethos
to become professionals in
their respective disciplines and
signicantly contribute to society.
USIMs education paradigm
is based on the basic principle of
integrating religious sciences with
social and physical sciences to
not only provide a comprehensive
understanding of current global
challenges but also to offer
alternative solutions.
Against this backdrop, USIM
embraces a holistic approach to
the delivery of knowledge, which
unites revelational sciences (naqli
knowledge) and the rational
sciences (aqli knowledge). USIM
thus offers a unique model of
Islamic higher education that
sets it apart from other Islamic
universities.
USIM has eight faculties in
Quranic and Sunnah studies,
economics and muamalat,
leadership and management,
dentistry, medicine and health
sciences, major language studies,
science and technology, and
syariah and law.
These faculties offer more than
60 academic programmes from
foundation to postgraduate levels
and are delivered in English and
Arabic.
In addition, the professional
programmes offered are
certied by their respective
professional bodies at national and
international levels.
The most sought-after
programmes at the undergraduate
level include studies in
biotechnology, industrial
chemical technology, actuarial
science and risk management,
nancial mathematics, Islamic
studies, Arabic language studies,
Islamic banking and nance,
information security assurance,
medicine, dentistry, counselling,
communications, Islamic
education, law and Islamic law.
Some of these programmes
are also offered at a masters and
doctoral level, either by research,
coursework, or mixed or blended
modes. Among the unique
postgraduate programmes offered
at USIM are courses in drug
and substance abuse, computer
science, halal food technology,
Islamic economics and muamalat
administration and Islamic
Science.
In less than 10 years of
becoming a full-edged
university, USIM has become the
choice for local and international
students in their pursuit of
tertiary education, especially
among students with Islamic
background who would have
previously opted for universities
in the Middle East.
This is evident from the ten-
fold increase in student admission
to the university and the presence
of students from 36 countries
since being established in 2007.
The university currently has a
student enrolment of more than
11,000 and the international
student population has increased
by more than 100% over the last
three years.
USIM is now accelerating its
research activities to further
develop the university in its
role as a leader in Islamic
science. It is pioneering Islamic
science research in multi- and
interdisciplinary (elds of studies)
that integrate revelational and
rational sciences.
The university conducts
research activities in its eight
academic faculties and six Centres
of Excellence. Through these
research initiatives, USIM aspires
to attract the best brains to drive
The most sought-after
programmes include these
areas of study:
Food biotechnology
Industrial chemical technology
Actuarial science and risk
management
Financial mathematics
Islamic studies
Arabic language studies
Islamic banking and finance
Information security assurance
Medicine
Dentistry
Counselling
Communications
Islamic education
Law
Islamic law
Popular undergraduate
subjects
its research agenda.
In light of these developments,
USIM established the Permata
Insan College, which is a school-
on-campus project for Muslim
children who have an IQ of more
than 150.
This is an effort to provide a
seamless pathway from primary
to tertiary education based on a
unique approach to education.
Through the delivery of USIMs
original curriculum based on
Islamic science that integrates
the knowledge of naqli and aqli,
young Muslims will be nurtured
to become tomorrows leaders,
scientists and professionals and
potential Nobel laureates.
StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014 POSTGRADUATE 5
VC COLUMN
Higher education within
the growth of Islamic finance
M
UCH of the blame from the
nancial crisis of 2007-
2009 that is still affecting
economies worldwide has been
laid at the door of the banking
industry. And the industry itself
has been dogged by high-prole
failures, deteriorating nancial
performance and sustained public
criticism.
The growth, development and
increasing popularity of Islamic
nance sits in sharp contrast to
the challenging times faced by
conventional nancial services
providers.
Although relatively small,
Islamic nance is developing
rapidly and this has important
implications for higher education
and particularly business schools.
One of the responsibilities
of universities is to ensure that
we help society to develop the
kind of workforce it needs with
the right knowledge, skills and
capabilities.
That is a broad responsibility
and touches on many elements
of education, but for now, I would
like to think about the importance
of the subjects we teach and how
our teaching plays an important
role in supporting the growth and
development of industries such as
Islamic nance.
Many countries aspire to
establish themselves as leading
centres of Islamic nance. Last
year, The Economist described
Malaysia as probably the worlds
most important Islamic nance
centre, with close to 25% of the
banking system being syariah-
compliant.
Malaysia played a key
role in the early stages of the
development of Islamic nance
in the 1980s and has a global
reputation for its capability to
innovate.
The rst sukuk (Islamic
bonds), for example, was issued
in Malaysia in 2000 with other
countries soon following suit.
Increasingly, with its globally
recognised standard-setting
bodies, its educational and
research institutions and
its supportive central bank,
Malaysia is viewed by many
as the intellectual leader for
developments in Islamic nance.
However, the United Arab
Emirates, particularly Dubai has
established itself as a regional
leader for Islamic nance for the
Gulf Cooperation Council and
with the United Kingdoms recent
announcement of a 200mil
(RM1.1bil) sukuk and the ground-
breaking creation of new Islamic
index on the London Stock
Exchange this year, London has
now staked its claim as an Islamic
nance superpower.
Of these three centres,
Malaysia leads with respect to
the market penetration of Islamic
banking as its capital markets
are more developed than those
of competing countries. The
regulatory environment is also
more advanced and tailored to the
needs of the sector.
But alongside performance
to date and regulatory
infrastructure, we also need to
consider the underpinning human
resource. In relation to education,
the UK seems to be leading the
pack. The UK appears to have
more than 60 institutions offering
Islamic nance courses and 22
universities offering degree
programmes with specialisations
in Islamic nance.
In terms of volume, Malaysia
and UAE are followers. Malaysia
has 50 course providers and
18 universities offering degree
programmes, while the UAE has
31 course providers and nine
universities offering degree
programmes.
But when it comes to research
output in Islamic nance, Malaysia
has more of a lead with 169
research papers, of which 101
were peer reviewed in the last
three years. The UK follows with
111 research papers (56 peer
reviewed) whereas no data were
available for the UAE.
Malaysia is clearly in a strong
position with regard to this
increasingly important industry.
But the evidence relating to
educational provision suggests
that there is more that the sector
can do to support the nations
ambitions.
Bank Negara estimates that
alongside the growing numbers of
Malaysians opting to study Islamic
nance, students from more than
80 countries have chosen Malaysia
as the place to learn more about
the principles and practice of
Islamic nance. But in terms of
course provision, Malaysia appears
to be lagging behind the UK.
The country must address the
challenges associated with the
supply of high-quality human
capital.
According to Malaysias
Financial Sector Blueprint 2011-
2020, up to 56,000 new nance
industry positions will be needed
in the next 10 years; including up
to 40,000 Islamic nance industry
jobs.
But poor scores in PISA (the
Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Developments
Programme of International
Student Assessment), alleged
declining English language
capabilities and persistent
concerns about the employability
of graduates do not augur well.
n Prof Christine Ennew is the CEO
and provost of The Nottingham
University Malaysia Campus.
By PROF
CHRISTINE
ENNEW
One of the
responsibilities
of universities is
to ensure that we
help society to
develop the kind of
work force it needs
with the right
knowledge, skills
and capabilities.
6 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014
The flexibility of KBUs MBA programme enables students to customise their
schedule with full- or part-time classes.
Climbing the corporate ladder
A
CCORDING to the QS
Intelligence Unit 2013/14 (QS
topMBA.com Jobs and Salary
Trends Report), an international
rating system for universities,
there was a 14% increase in job
opportunities for MBA holders last
year.
With that in mind, ambitious
executives should enrol in an
MBA programme to leverage
and capitalise on these job
opportunities, says Low Hong
Keng, head of KBUs School of
Business, Hospitality and Tourism
Management.
Just having a bachelors degree
is inadequate for those who want
to advance at a corporate level.
To this end, 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 in the United
Kingdom, says Low.
The masters degree is
specically designed to further
develop executives who want
to move from their specialist
position to a more senior role
in their organisation. Thus, the
programme has a far more general
and strategic approach than those
focused on specic subject areas.
Why is KBUs MBA the ideal
choice? Firstly, it is internationally
recognised and accredited by the
Association of Business Schools,
a body representing the leading
business schools in the UK. The
body is an authoritative voice of
the business and management
education there.
Besides being tutored by a
highly qualied teaching team
comprising doctorate holders with
industry experience, students
also benet from lectures held
by guest lecturers from the
UK as well as live lectures via
video conferencing taught by
UK professors and industry
specialists.
The programme also offers
exibility so that students are able
to customise their schedule with
full- or part-time classes.
Part-time classes are held
on the weekends while full-
time classes cater mainly to
international students.
The programme stretches
over four semesters and 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 students professional,
personal and university lives.
Students also do not have to
worry about preparing for exams
as the course is fully assignment
based. They also have access
to the Emerald database and
ARUs (Anglia Ruskin University)
extensive e-library, making
research easy.
ACCA (Association of Chartered
Certied Accountants) and
CIMA (Chartered Institute of
Management Accountants)
members can also look forward
to getting four exemptions of
the 11 modules organisational
behaviour, decision-making and
problem-solving, marketing
management and strategic
nancial analysis.
n For more information, contact
KBU International College,
Bandar Utama at 03-7727 3200,
e-mail enquiry@kbu.edu.my or
visit www.kbu.edu.my
KBUs MBA
programme
is specifically
designed to
further develop
executives who
want to move from
their specialist
position to a more
senior role in their
organisation.
Thus, the
programme has a
far more general
and strategic
approach than
those focused on
specific subject
areas.
StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014 POSTGRADUATE 7
VC COLUMN
By PROF
DATUK WIRA
DR MOHAMED
MUSTAFA ISHAK
Building the
right foundation
T
HE heirs of the nations future are its
youth. This has pressed the leaders
of Malaysia to place emphasis on the
nurturing of the countrys youth to secure a
favourable future for the nation as a whole.
The nation is earnest in moving forward,
exemplied through the devising of
strategies for its transformation.
The 2014 budget allocations show its
leaders drive to inculcate excellence in
human capital while recognising that the
biggest challenge for Malaysia is to produce
skilled human capital.
These skills include intellectual
capabilities, artistic skills, communication
skills, interpersonal skills, thinking skills,
innovation and creativity.
The nations focus on strengthening
public and private higher learning
institutions to produce quality graduates
who meet the demands of the job market
signies its efforts to build people who can
drive the country forward.
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)s vision
and mission, which are inspired by the
goals of the nation, has always been to
help the countrys leadership realise these
national goals.
Since its inception, UUM has solely
focused on spearheading the development
of quality tertiary business and
management studies. It has evolved and
expanded its academic repertoire to include
a wider range of programmes in a variety
of areas.
Our three decades of experience and
involvement in purveying constantly
reviewed and rened academic
programmes have enabled us to remain at
the forefront of higher education, especially
in business and management studies.
Drawing upon our vast experience and
expertise, we have designed a foundation
programme in management for young
school-leavers.
This programme, which will be offered
during the rst semester of the 2014/2015
academic session that commences on June
18, aims to prepare students for UUM
undergraduate programmes.
The programme will run for three
semesters with an overall duration of
one year and is designed to help students
cultivate their creativity and be competitive
in planning their future in management.
Through this programme, high achievers
in the SPM examination will have the
opportunity to further their studies at
university without having to have a diploma
or STPM qualication or to have taken up a
matriculation course prior to enrolment.
Students will have to enrol in 17 courses
(50 credit hours) for the programme, which
will all be conducted in English.
The programme will involve lectures,
discussions, tutorials, laboratory activities,
seminars, projects, presentations and
problem-based learning activities.
It provides a supportive transition for
students interested to enrol in the various
undergraduate programmes offered at UUM
and other institutions of higher learning.
The graduates of this foundation
programme can choose to enrol in any
of the 39 undergraduate programmes on
offer at UUM, which include courses in
accounting, law, international business,
multimedia, ICT, business management, and
international studies.
The programme is UUMs latest
contribution to the building of the nations
education and the betterment of the
younger generation.
It is in line with UUMs mission to be
proactive in meeting the needs of the
nation.
I hope that students take the opportunity
to explore the new vistas that this
programme will reveal to them and venture
into a higher learning experience with
vigour.
n Prof Datuk Wira Dr Mohamed Mustafa
Ishak is the vice-chancellor of Universiti
Utara Malaysia.
Since its inception, UUM has solely focused on spearheading the development of quality tertiary business
and management studies.
8 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014
UKM-GSB is one of only two business
schools in Malaysia to be awarded Top
Business School status.
The MBA programme from UKM-GSB aims to provide integrated and applicable
knowledge of business and management.
Quality and excellence
in business education
C
HAMPIONING the
development and
dissemination of world-class
education and research in the
business discipline, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM),
through its Graduate School of
Business (UKM-GSB), upholds its
tradition of prioritising quality
and excellence in business
education and research.
By offering high-quality
graduate programmes in business
that are relevant for industrial
and universal development,
UKM-GSB aspires to develop
high-calibre graduates who can
champion the nations vision. As a
centre of excellence, it has forged
collaborative networks with the
industry and other local and
foreign institutions.
Master of Business
Administration (MBA)
The MBA programme from
UKM-GSB aims to provide
integrated and applicable
knowledge of business and
management.
This programme is ideal for
individuals who seek progression
in their business and management
careers. Students are offered two
study options full-time and part-
time (weekend). Currently, UKM-
GSB is also conducting customised
in-house MBA programmes in
various organisations.
The core courses are designed
to equip students with the
following management tools
and skills that are pertinent to
business decision-making:
Business law and ethics
Accounting for decision making
Financial management
Organisational management
Marketing management
Business economics and decision
analysis
Management operations and
information system
Strategic management.
Students may choose elective
courses offered by GSB in the
following elds:
Marketing
Islamic banking and nance
Applied nance and investment
Organisational and human
resource management.
Alternatively, students can
choose selected electives offered
by:
Faculty of Economics and
Management
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Social Sciences and
Humanities
Faculty of Information Science
and Technology
Learning objectives
MBA graduates will be able to:
Lead an organisation
Communicate effectively
Work as a team
Master and apply advanced
knowledge of business and
management within complex
situations
Make effective decisions
analytically using quantitative and
qualitative tools
Manage creatively and
innovatively
Be able to manage relevant
information obtained from
different sources
Identify opportunities and
prepare a business plan
Behave ethically with high sense
of responsibility to society
Think and act in a global and
cross-cultural environment
Observe the impact of
professional practice on the
environment
The UKM-GSB advantage
UKM-GSB is one of only two
business schools in Malaysia to
be awarded Top Business School
status. It currently conducts
value-added activities to ensure
that its students receive a holistic
education. Activities outside
the classroom are constantly
organised to provide character-
building experiences for its
students.
The co-curricular activities
include:
Corporate Experiential Learning
Programme (14 weeks)
Innovation and
Technopreneurship Bootcamp
(three days)
Corporate Social Engagement
programme, an on-going sharing
session where corporate leaders
share their views and industrial
and working-life experiences with
students.
To ensure that all its curriculum
is aligned and remains relevant
to the industry, representatives
from UKM-GSB meet up with its
Industry Academic Committee
every six months.
n For more information,
call 03-8921 4486, 03- 8921 4718
or visit gsb.ukm.my
StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014 POSTGRADUATE 9
Datuk Syed Manshor Syed Mahmood (first row, third from left), managing director
of Adabi together with his staff and the staff of UTM-IBS at the Adabi graduation
ceremony that was held upon the completion of the companys executive
development programme.
Enhancing confidence and
holistic competencies
T
HE Universiti Teknologi
Malaysias International
Business School (UTM-IBS)
was rated by Eduniversal Ranking,
a university ranking by French
consulting company and rating
agency SMBG as the No.1 excellent
business school in Malaysia last
year.
UTM-IBS rst started as one
of UTMs centres of excellence
and became a graduate school
of management in 1997. It is
now a full-edged business
school that offers masters in
business administration (MBA)
programme with specialisations
in strategic management, techno-
entrepreneurship and health care
management.
UTM-IBS also offers executive
development programmes (EDP)
that utilise a number of short
courses covering all aspects of
managing an organisation.
This wide array of
specialisation is in line with
Malaysias vision and the
industrial needs of the Asian
region to nurture industry
captains, corporate leaders,
innovation champions and global
entrepreneurs who spur inclusive
growth for the country and the
region.
In order to support the rise
of these critical talents, UTM-
IBS aims to sharpen those with
potential by providing them
contemporary competitive skills,
strategic thinking skills and
ethical insights. The experiences
and exposure they gain from
the learning processes will
enhance their condence and
holistic competencies. The
UTM-IBS Doctorate of Business
Administration (DBA) was created
to meet these needs.
UTM-IBS offers learners
taught courses within the DBA
programme. The courses are
developed based on industry-
driven and practical orientation
that focuses on the learners
abilities to sharpen their
managerial, entrepreneurial and
leadership skills.
In the eld of business
administration, UTM-IBS
strives to provide a relevant and
contemporary DBA programmes
that focuses on business
innovation and strategies. The
school intends to equip its DBA
learners with effective research
skills that will enable them to
perform exceptional research
work. Through its engagement
with the industry and relevant
stakeholders, UTM-IBS generates
a DBA curriculum that enhances
learners career development and
professional well-being.
The DBA programme is a
professional doctorate that
requires students to apply existing
theories and frameworks while
nding new frontiers of practical
knowledge for the benet of
industry eco-system.
During the rst two years,
learners will attend formal
training sessions in research
methods and other relevant
disciplines. Students are expected
to write an extensive review
on their area of interest and an
equally detailed research proposal
during this rst stage.
In the second stage of their
studies, the taught element is
reduced and learners will spend
more time on their research
project and preparing for
their research thesis. With the
combination of lectures and
focused research projects with the
industry, this programme provides
a useful guideline for students to
look beyond short-term solutions.
UTM-IBS has been collaborating
with various renowned business
schools and one such collaboration
is with professors from the
Harvard Business School (HBS).
Through this relationship, UTM-
IBS has made HBS a benchmark
to improve its performance and
quality in business education.
Recently, UTM-IBS appointed
HBS faculty members such as
Prof Dr Diego Comin, a renowned
gure in business administration,
as visiting professors to assist
UTM-IBS in achieving its goal
of becoming one of the leading
business schools in the region
and also to enhance the schools
ranking internationally.
The EDP is tailored exclusively
to further enhance the capability
of the participants managerial
and entrepreneurial competencies.
The programmes focus on
preparing participants to face the
ever-changing demands of the
market.
This is done through the
advancement of management
knowledge through special
courses conceived by market-
oriented teaching and related
training. Recently, UTM-IBS
organised a graduation day for the
staff of Adabi who successfully
completed the EDP courses.
UTM-IBS next intake is in
September.
n For more information visit
www.ibs.utm.my
10 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014
My employer suggested I
pursue my MBA through
the Edinburgh Business
School because of the
school and Heriot-Watts
high ranking among
global universities.
I trusted their judgment
and have never looked
back.
Annie Yu Mei Ying
Edinburghs Business Schools MBA programme which is offered at the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
supports personal development, encourages strategic thinking and boosts career prospects.
J
UGGLING a full-time job and a
postgraduate education can be
demanding. However, the rst group of
students preparing to complete their MBA
at the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
campus have learnt that pursuing a
postgraduate education while working
actually improves their learning experience.
The renowned MBA programme from
Edinburgh Business School, delivered by
top English and Malaysian academicians
in Malaysia, is having a transformational
impact on managers. It supports personal
development, encourages strategic thinking
and boosts career prospects. The rst MBA
cohort began their studies in January last
year.
The Edinburgh Business School MBA,
which was launched in 1989, has more than
11,300 active students in 160 countries and
16,000-strong alumni. In addition, more
than 40% of the MBA students from the
Edinburgh Business School MBA come from
Fortune 500 companies.
The Edinburgh Business School MBA
has been available to Malaysian students
since 1992 through study on campus in
the United Kingdom, independent study
or through an academic partner. There
are more than 1,200 MBA alumni from
Malaysia, including Annie Yu Mei Ying,
nancial account manager at Hewlett-
Packard Malaysia.
Learning how to negotiate, how to
interact with her customers and achieve
positive sales results are some of the many
advantages that Yu has gained from the
Edinburgh Business School MBA.
Yus rst degree was in chartered
management accountancy. She worked
in London as an accountant for ve years
before returning to Malaysia. Upon her
return she worked as an auditor before
moving to Hewlett-Packard, where she has
been for the past 14 years.
When I began working at HP, I started
seeing real business in action. My bosses at
HP were fantastic because they supported
me in my desire to study practical business
methods. They suggested I pursue my MBA
through the Edinburgh Business School
because of the school and Heriot-Watts
high ranking among global universities.
I trusted their judgment and have never
looked back.
Yu says she loved the practical nature of
the MBA.
MBA programme
highlights current
business needs
Once I graduated with my MBA, I was
promoted from a junior management
position to a senior management position.
My company recognised my hard work and
rewarded me straight away. This is because
the MBA was and is reality-driven. What
you learn is happening right now in the real
world with examples to back this up. Its
very inspiring, she says.
Yu says that studying and having a full-
time job is not that hard; it is just a question
of motivation and time management.
Learning how to manage your time
is essential in life and it is also a vital
business skill. I learned how to motivate
myself to study and how to break tasks
down into manageable chunks so as not
to feel overwhelmed. These are skills that
managers need to learn too, so it was an
added bonus for me.
The Edinburgh Business School MBA
teaches you what is current in business. It
changes your thinking, excites your mind
and gives you skills in vital business areas.
My studies were relevant to me because
I was working in nance but regardless
of where you are in your career or what
industry you work in, business skills relate
to life skills and will be just as useful in your
daily life. The MBA teaches you the reality
of business in action, Yu concludes.
n For more information, visit
www.hw.edu.my
StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014 POSTGRADUATE 11
The DBA programme has
provided me with a wealth of
knowledge and has allowed
me to engage in stimulating
discussions with my peers,
says Lee Sook Ling, DBA
candidate at AeU.
Enhancing
research skills
in business
T
HE doctor of business
administration
(DBA) qualication
is a research doctorate in
business administration
that is equivalent to a PhD
in business administration.
DBA programmes focus more
on applied research than
theoretical research, especially
in the thesis-writing phase.
With its main campus in
the heart of Kuala Lumpur
and learning centres in
every state across the nation,
Asia e University (AeU)
meets the needs of working
professionals and presents
them the opportunity to revive
their career by climbing the
corporate ladder. AeU offers this
programme for highly skilled
professionals via full-time and
part-time mode of studies.
The accredited AeU DBA
programme is administered
by the School of Management
(SOM) to prepare future
managers with in-depth
knowledge and research
skills in the elds of
business administration and
management.
It is suited to the needs of
the industry and aims to hone
the students research skills and
competencies in business. It is a
highly exible programme and
can accommodate candidates
from all levels of management.
I am certainly enjoying
my DBA studies at AeU. The
programme has provided me
with a wealth of knowledge
and has allowed me to engage
in stimulating discussions with
my peers. Its unique approach
allows me to combine my
expertise in academic research
and work knowledge to look
for innovative solutions that
are applicable to my workplace.
The academic staff is very
supportive. I am very happy that
I chose AeU to pursue my DBA
programme at, says Lee Sook
Ling, DBA candidate at AeU.
The AeU DBA programme
is suitable for professionals
who are pursuing career
advancements and not just
academic careers. Its practical-
oriented approach will greatly
benet working professionals
as it allows the immediate
integration of actionable
knowledge and critical thinking
skills into their working
environment, says Prof Dr
Juhary Ali, dean of SOM.
The admission requirement
for the DBA programme is a
recognised masters degree
in a relevant eld or other
qualications recognised
by the AeU Senate. Students
who are enrolling will not
need to submit a research
proposal at their point of entry.
AeU also allows the transfer
of candidature from other
institutions.
The DBA programme
is supported by research
workshops, colloquia and clinics
to assist students in research
development. In facilitating
their research, AeU students
have access to a digital library
that holds more than 100,000
e-books, 71,000 e-journals, and
1.6 million e-theses titles.
Learning materials,
assignments and research
workshops or clinics will be
recorded and uploaded in
myPLS (AeUs personalised
portal) for students to refer to
at any time. Discussion among
students will be facilitated
online by the universitys
academic facilitators via the
forum features available on the
system.
These forums act as a
platform for students to discuss
relevant subject matters with
their peers as well as with
academic facilitators. Students
can also communicate with
their academic facilitators and
peers via e-mail and video
conferencing tools.
There will be a unique
eight-stage structured research
monitoring programme
upon the completion of the
dissertation, which includes
close supervision for the rst
12 months. An academic
supervisor will be appointed to
supervise the research based
on the research needs. Students
will be required to submit a
dissertation at the end of the
programme.
The dissertation must satisfy
the universitys standards of
quality as determined by the
examiners and the student
must successfully defend the
dissertation and research work
in a viva voce conducted by
the examiners in order to be
awarded the DBA qualication.
n For further inquiries,
call 1300 300 238 or visit
www.aeu.edu.my
12 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014
Sunway Team representing Malaysia in CFA Institute Research Challenge 2014, Asia-Pacific level. From left: Wilson Chiong Zhan Hua,
Carmen Ng Jia Wen, Ang Hui Mei and Ong Yue Wen with their faculty advisor, Andrew Jong.
Partnership paves way to success
A
PARTNERSHIP with
a leading training
consultancy that
specialises in Chartered
Financial Analyst (CFA)
preparatory classes for capital
markets professionals in
South-East Asia has enabled
Sunway-TES CAE to offer the
best platform in preparing CFA
candidates in Malaysia for their
examinations.
Otherwise known as
nancial analyst workshops,
these fortnightly sessions are
structured study programmes
taught by experts who are CFA
charterholders and experienced
instructors from the Singapore-
based A.B. Maximus & Co Pte
Ltd.
We emphasise how
important it is for CFA
candidates to attend the classes
and learn from practitioners in
the industry, says Teo Ee Sing,
executive director of Sunway-
TES.
Mature students will
nd the interactive learning
environment conducive for
lively discussions. They can
ask questions and obtain
clarications from the
instructors.
The teaching materials used
by the instructors are also top
notch, drawn from a broad
Candidate Body of Knowledge
(CBOK) from the CFA Institute in
the United States.
I am condent that the
collaboration between these
two leading institutions will
help to produce some of the best
qualied and highly sought-
after CFA charters, says Teo.
A.B. Maximus was
established in Singapore in 1996
and Sunway-TES has been a
leading provider of professional
accountancy programmes in
Malaysia and South-East Asia
since 1994.
It is well-known for its
commitment to excellence in
terms of having high passing
rates in examinations and
producing world and Malaysian
prize-winners in both ACCA and
ICAEW.
The institutions have a
combined total of more than 30
years of teaching experience,
says Teo, adding that the
combined learning strategies of
both A.B. Maximus and Sunway-
TES have helped enhance the
pass rate of CFA candidates
since the programme started in
2011.
Currently, the CFA
programme offered by
Sunway-TES and A.B. Maximus
is the most structured and
examination-driven, making
it the best CFA programme
available in Malaysia.
Sunway CFA students will
also be given the original
Kaplan Schweser Premium
Study Materials that retail at
USD999.00 (RM3,194.30).
All workshop sessions
are conducted over the
weekends in a university
campus environment, which is
conducive to learning, says Teo.
There is a series of guided-
learning processes that covers
four functional areas, including
ethical and professional
standards, investment tools,
asset valuation, and portfolio
management and wealth
planning.
Within these four areas
are 10 topics ethical and
professional standards,
quantitative methods,
economics, nancial reporting
and analysis, corporate
nance, equity investments,
xed income investments,
derivatives, alternative
investment, and portfolio
management and wealth
planning, Teo elaborates.
Each candidate must
complete all three levels of the
CFA in order to qualify as a CFA
charterholder.
The CFA Programme is
organised into three levels.
Level I focuses on the basic
knowledge of the 10 topic
areas and analyses them using
investment tools.
At Level II, candidates are
taught how to emphasise
applications of investment tools
and concepts with a focus on
the valuation of all types of
assets.
Level III focuses on
synthesising concepts and
analytical methods in a variety
of applications for effective
portfolio management and
wealth planning.
On completion of the three
levels of the CFA examinations
as well as an accumulated
four years of relevant work
experience, the graduate will
then be awarded the CFA
charter.
This charter, according
to Teo, is widely recognised
by investors, investment
practitioners, employers,
regulators and the media
across the world to be the
highest ethical, education and
professional standard in the
investment community.
Currently, chartered nancial
analysts who are registered
with CFA Malaysia is still
small in number compared
to Singapore, with 2,677
charterholders and 7,472
examination candidates as of
2013.
In Malaysia, there are
only 417 CFA charterholders
and 1,610 CFA examination
candidates.
With the greater focus
now given by the Bank Negara
to professional qualications,
more CFA charterholders will be
needed to ll future vacancies,
says Teo.
CFA is a graduate-level
programme of the CFA
Institute, designed to develop
the competencies and
professionalism required in
investment management and
advisory services.
It is the one of the most
widely recognised and
respected qualications in the
investment eld.
The next intake for CFA
Level 1 at Sunway-TES will be
held next month.
n For more information,
contact Sunway-TES at
03-7491 8622 or e-mail
Andrew Jong at
andrewjong@sunway.edu.my
StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014 POSTGRADUATE 13
Pursuing the MBA dream
I
N a competitive business
world where many
professionals share similar
qualities and credentials, an
individual can make himself a
standout by having a masters in
business administration (MBA)
qualication.
For some, the right time to
pursue a postraguate degree
will come later in life. Honey Ho
was one such individual. She
was determined to be different
and discovered new strength
during her postgraduate
journey. After graduating
from a local university with
a law degree, Ho worked in a
multinational company as an
in-house legal counsel.
It was then that I begin
to take interest in how an
organisation runs its business,
she says.
Knowing that an MBA
could give her the knowledge
to understand business
organisations better, Ho started
searching for a suitable MBA
programme to pursue.
It was then that she found
SEGi College Subang Jaya, which
offered an MBA programme
from the University of
Sunderland, United Kingdom.
It was very important for me
that the MBA programme was
accredited. The Sunderland MBA
is recognised by the Ministry
of Quality Education (MQE) and
Honey Ho credits her success to her
husband, Colin, for supporting her in her
pursuit of an MBA.
the Ministry of Education in
Malaysia, Ho says.
Another reason was because
the cost for the programme
would not have exceeded my
budget and the location was
close to where I live.
The Sunderland MBA
programme is a unique
programme. It is 90%
assignment-based and 10%
exam-based and this gave Ho
practical experiences that went
beyond exam-based learning.
Determined to finish
Ho found herself having to
juggle study and work at the
same time, but she remained
determined to complete her
MBA.
It was extremely
challenging for me especially
because I did not have a
business education background
and I had not been studying
since 2008. Working on
weekdays and attending
classes on weekends took a lot
of energy. When assignments
were due, I had to clock in extra
hours of study on weekdays as
well, she says.
The toughest challenge for Ho
came halfway through her second
year when she obtained a new job
and became pregnant.
I deferred my studies for the
rst trimester of my pregnancy as I
needed to concentrate on my new
job. I was quite worried then that
I would not be able to complete
my MBA. Thankfully, the SEGi
MBA programme is exible and I
resumed my studies in my second
trimester, she says.
I submitted my assignment
two days prior to giving birth
and thought of deferring for
another semester. However, after
discussing with the education
counsellors at SEGi College Subang
Jaya, we decided to rearrange my
class schedule to accommodate
my timing. So I continued with
my nal semester, which was
the dissertation, without any
deferment.
I was determined to nish the
programme with my course mates.
I am thankful to my husband,
Colin, for being understanding and
supportive as he had to spend a
lot of time looking after our baby,
Claire, while I was doing my MBA,
says Ho.
The sacrices were worth it in
the end and Ho scored the highest
dissertation mark in the Sunderland
MBA programme that year.
The experience that I gained at
SEGi has been a memorable one.
I made really good friends and
gained business knowledge that I
would not have gained through just
reading business materials. It was
through this MBA programme that
I learned about marketing, business
operations and managing people,
she says.
n For more information, visit
www.segi.edu.my
> FROM PAGE 2
Call for Islamic
studies scholars
It is quite obvious that
Islamic principles play a role in
shaping the future of the nation
whether in the countrys law
and governance or economic
landscape. Therefore, it is
not a surprise that there is a
growing demand for Islamic
studies courses, especially at a
postgraduate level.
This is because Islamic
values are universal and history
has proven that these values can
be shared by people of all faiths,
living together harmoniously
with mutual respect and
tolerance.
It is also an effort towards
reviving the scientic and
technological feats of Muslim
scholars in the past and moving
it forward, says Prof Datuk
Dr Muhamad Muda, dean of
Centre for Graduate Studies
and professor at the Faculty
of Economics and Muamalat
at University Science Islam
Malaysia.
Application of Islamic
principles to conventional
academic studies is based on
the basic principle of integrating
religious sciences with social
and physical sciences.
It will not only provide
a more comprehensive
understanding of current global
challenges, but also offer fresh
alternatives in solving them.
Students not only learn
the conventional knowledge
of the eld, but their learning
is also integrated with the
understanding of the Islamic
approach to knowledge,
explains Prof Muhamad.
However, at a roundtable
discussion on The Direction of
Islamic Studies at the recent
International Islamic Thinking
and Civilisation Institute
(ISTAC), the chairman of the
Council of the Deans of Islamic
Studies in the Public Institute of
Higher Learning, Prof Emeritus
Datuk Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul
Majid, stressed the importance
of a clear policy for the national
Islamic studies system.
At the discussion, Prof
Mahmood said: Our country
still needs workforce in Islamic
banking, but our system of
Islamic studies is not capable
of producing people who are
strong in both areas of banking
and Islamic studies.
He added that the new
policy would be formed soon
so that graduates in Islamic
studies from public institutes
can contribute effectively as
academics and professionals.
With Kuala Lumpur being
one of the two leading Islamic
nance hubs in the world
(besides Dubai), it is important
that the nation sets the
precedent of continuing its
standing as an Islamic nance
superpower, even as the United
Kingdom recently announced
the 200mil (RM1.1bil) sukuk
and creation of the new Islamic
index on the London Stock
Exchange. Malaysia is seen to be
at a threshold of reigniting the
glory days of Islamic thought-
leadership, a prospect that even
Ibn al-Haytham would be proud
of. Just as the civilisations of the
past did, Islam hadhari, Islamic
banking, takaful insurance,
Syariah law, and Islamic
academia together will reshape
the world we live in.
14 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014
A masters in business administration is meant to prepare you to undertake a leadership position in an ever-changing global
business environment, says Prof Densten.
Sunway University is a renowned provider of
business education in Malaysia.
Building a global network
THE dual award MBA programme offered
by Sunway University in collaboration
with Lancaster University Management
School focuses on transforming high
achievers into strategic leaders equipped
with the condence, skills and practical
expertise to work effectively and lead the
changes in global industrial sectors.
In addition to gaining a thorough
knowledge of the latest management
theories and tools, MBA learners also
transform their capacity to learn and hone
their cognition, collaborative, judgment
and decision-making abilities.
The MBAs convenient two-year part-
time modular format allows learners to
maintain a job at the same time, allowing
them to implement what they have learnt
immediately in the workplace.
Upon completion of the MBA
programme, graduates will be awarded
two certicates one from Sunway
University and one from Lancaster
University. This will make one a member
of an elite group of MBA alumni.
Sunway University is a renowned
provider of business education within
Malaysia, recognised by the award of
SETARA 5 (excellent) by the Malaysian
Ministry of Education, and Lancaster
University is ranked in the top 1% of
universities globally.
The Lancaster MBA programmes are
triple accredited and globally recognised
and is one among an exclusive group of
nine United Kingdom-based universities
that have been listed in the highly
regarded Financial Times ranking for more
than a decade.
The quality of Lancasters MBA
programmes is recognised in the triple
accreditation by the Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
(AACSB), European Quality Improvement
System (EQUIS) and the Association of
MBAs (AMBA).
The programme is delivered by a
global faculty that comprises top-notch
management consultants, educators and
research scholars. Coupled with a unique
learning process, the MBA is set up to be a
successful programme.
Students also have the exibility
of gaining credits by taking modules
equivalent to the MBA programme
provided by Lancaster in locations where
they are made available. Current locations
include Singapore, Jordan, Ghana and the
UK.
The programmes global network offers
opportunities for participants to develop
professional connections and benet from
implementing a multinational approach to
their business and career development.
Students in the MBA dual award
programme will have an optional access
to similar study abroad programmes
to expand their horizons and business
networks.
Sunway University invites prospective
students to join a discussion with its
global faculty at a preview session, held
on June 25, 6.30pm at Traders Hotel, Kuala
Lumpur.
n For more information, call 03-7491 8701
or visit www.sunway.edu.my
Staying ahead in international business
C
HANGE is the only constant
and such is the nature of
the global business climate.
While different regions and
nations hold similarities in terms
of the business environment, an
ever-expanding international
community points to the need for
masters graduates to be equipped
with skill sets that enable them to
embrace and adapt to changing
practices and situations.
A masters in business
administration is meant to
prepare you to undertake
a leadership position in an
ever-changing global business
environment, says Prof Iain
Leonard Densten, director of
MBA International of the School
of Business at Monash University
Malaysia.
The MBA in Monash was
established in Australia more than
40 years ago. My role as director
is to take this well-established,
internationally recognised MBA
and forge it in Malaysia for locals
as well as students from around
this region, he says.
Most of the concepts taught
here will be the same as in
Australia in terms of nance,
marketing and so on. We might
focus more on Islamic nance
compared to Australia because it
is much more relevant here but
most of the programmes will
be similar as the quality of the
MBA there is already proven and
established, says Prof Densten.
Monash Universitys MBA is
accredited by the Association of
MBAs (AMBA). This international
authority focuses on MBAs
throughout the world and ensures
that the MBA meets its well-
established, high international
standards.
This accreditation makes this
MBA one out of the 65 locally
available MBA programmes in
Malaysia to have such quality
recognition.
The accreditation also provides
another quality assurance
mechanism in terms of enabling
Monash be a benchmark against
other leading international MBA
programmes through the world.
We believe that our MBA
programme has a proven track-
record for high-quality and
relevant postgraduate education,
which will benet individuals
who need to lead with a global
perspective, Prof Densten says.
He adds that another key
aspect of the Monash University
MBA is the great diversity
present within the classroom. He
believes that a high-quality MBA
programme that distinguishes
itself from others is one that can
provide students the richness
of different experiences from
different industries.
The MBA was rst developed
for non-business graduates who
needed to know the various facets
of management. So Monashs
target market is not just business
people but also people outside the
business industry.
If there is a cohort comprising
students from various elds,
the students will have greater
diversity in their discussions.
When they learn together,
they exchange ideas and opinions.
It gives them the richness of
different experiences from
different industries. Teaching
examples is different from having
someone talk about it from
their personal experience. That
is a powerful experience, Prof
Densten says.
He adds that the Malaysian mix
of students will be younger and
more diverse than their Australian
counterparts, thus reinforcing the
great depths of experiences that
students will stand to enjoy.
Prof Denstens research
has focused on leadership and
managerial expertise.
He has taught for more than
20 years in leading international
research universities in the UK and
Australia, where he has held three
professorships.
He says that the study of
effective leadership is closely
related to the ability to embrace
and move with changes of the day.
Change is never going to slow
down. In fact, it is always moving
ahead.
The Monash MBA in Malaysia
programme commences in
January next year.
n For more information, e-mail
mum.mba@monash.edu or visit
www.buseco.monash.edu.my/mba
StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014 POSTGRADUATE 15
Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali said that OUMs
emphasis on quality will have a positive impact on
students.
Associate Professor Dr Wardah Mohamad
says OUMBS is on a quest to become a leading
provider of graduate business studies.
Towards becoming a leading
graduate studies provider
I
N keeping with its mission of providing
more access to quality education and
lifelong learning opportunities, Open
University Malaysia (OUM) is restructuring
its Faculty of Business Management. By
establishing the OUM Business School, it
is contributing to the nations continuous
effort of elevating academic standards.
Even though the faculty currently
offers a range of programmes to full the
national demand for management and
accounting on a managerial level, the
purpose of establishing the OUM Business
School (OUMBS) is to give undivided
focus to undergraduate and postgraduate
programmes, says Prof Emeritus Tan
Sri Anuwar Ali OUM president and vice-
chancellor.
Most institutions in Malaysia now offer
postgraduate programmes in business
management but OUM aspires to take it to
greater heights. In evolving these business
programmes, Prof Anuwar emphasises
achieving quality through the redesigning
and restructuring of its curricula.
Under the leadership of its dean, Assoc
Prof Dr Wardah Mohamad, OUMBS is
working towards positioning itself as a
business school that offers quality business
and management courses for all levels of
tertiary education.
To achieve this, Dr Wardah has put
in place a system where academics are
assigned to teams to look into specic
portfolios such as research and publication,
teaching and learning, and assessment.
We have eight teams and each is
tasked with ensuring that concerted
efforts are being made to attain the desired
quality set by the university.
This is important as our main aim is
to eventually attain the Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
(AACSB) accreditation, which is an
internationally recognised gold standard
in the collegiate schools of business, she
says.
OUMBS is on a quest to become a
leading provider of graduate business
studies and, according to Dr Wardah,
having highly experienced professors and
academics will denitely lend credibility to
the school and to its reputation.
The restructuring also pushes internal
staff and administrative personnel
to improve themselves and develop a
qualitative way of working and delivering.
Prof Anuwar says a staff of high quality
is crucial and well-rounded academics
who are qualied, experienced and
knowledgeable are maintained at OUMBS.
When we restructure the programmes,
we will use new methods that will improve
the quality of teaching in terms of its
curriculum, online learning and qualitative
modules delivered to undergraduate
and postgraduate students. We are also
focusing on enhancing the academic
faculty, he continues.
Prof Anuwar says as most students
at OUM are from the workforce, they
have standards and expectations that
the university has to meet. They also
frequently have queries and feedback on
the quality of OUMs staff.
This pushes the university to strive for
excellence not only in its curriculum but
also in its academic body.
In 10 years, OUM aims to make OUMBS
among the best business school, both
locally and internationally. As an open
university, we have also established joint
ventures with a few foreign universities,
including the Ho Chi Minh City University
of Technology, Vietnam; Villa College
in Maldives; University of Science &
Technology, Yemen; Graduate School of
Management, Sri Lanka; Simad University
and Mogadishu University, Somalia; NIEC
School of Management Trust, Zambia;
Eszterhazy Kroly College, Hungary; Accra
Institute of Technology, Ghana; and the
Arab Open University, Kingdom of Bahrain
for their MBA programmes, says Prof
Anuwar.
Collaboration with these foreign
universities will enable OUM to further
strengthen its foundation. With the
newly restructured Faculty of Business
Management, OUM aims to reach greater
heights in its quality of education.
This plays an important role in making
Malaysia an educational hub, says Prof
Anuwar.
The programmes offered by OUMBS are
the Diploma in Management, Diploma in
Human Resources Management, Bachelor
of Accounting with Honours, Bachelor of
Business Administration with Honours,
Bachelor of Human Resource Management
with Honours, Bachelor of Management
with Honours, Bachelor of Marketing with
Honours and Bachelor of Management
Tourism with Honours.
The postgraduate programmes offered
are the MBA, Master of Management,
Master of Human Resource Management,
Doctor of Philosophy (Administration
Business) and Doctor of Business
Administration.
OUMBS is also responsive to the changing
needs of the public and is planning to
offer new programmes such as Diploma in
Accounting and Bachelor of International
Business.
In addition, it will expand its current
Bachelor of Management programme to
include majors in four areas strategic
supply chain management, warehouse
and inventory management, international
purchasing and supply management, and
international logistics and transportation
management.
The university also has plans to provide
short-term training, corporate management
and leadership programmes for senior
managers.
In addition, OUM will focus on
strengthening its existing programmes as
well as improving its teaching methods in
terms of online and digital libraries at both
undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
In shaping its curriculum, OUM plans
to engage with academics who possess a
wealth of experience.
OUMs emphasis on quality will have a
positive impact on students. Although the
university has only been in operation for 12
years, it has shown an impressive enrolment
record.
This is evident as OUM has had
54,000 graduates walking at 15 successful
convocations, says Prof Anuwar.
n For more information, visit
www.oum.edu.my
Tuesday 17 June 2014
16 StarSpecial