SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017

SETARA TIER 5

Choosing the best

Turn the pages to learn about the nation's top universities.
2 Setara Tier 5
Increasing
access and
quality
By IAN JEROME LEONG
ALONG with the focus on
improving tourism, financial
services, healthcare, agriculture,
infrastructure and the energy
sector, education is a major
component of the Governments
Economic Transformation
Programme.
It is one of the 12 National
Key Economic Areas that will be
a driving force in transforming
Malaysia into a high-income
nation.
The Government has thus
undertaken various initiatives
to develop the industry, from
re-examining the current
structures and procedures in
early childcare education to
scaling up private and
professional skills training.
These measures are deemed
necessary as it is only upon such
change will Malaysia be able to
achieve sustainable economic
growth and global
competitiveness.
Among the introductions by
the Higher Education Ministry
was the launch of a Rating
for Higher Education
Institutions in Malaysia (Setara)
in 2007.
Benefiting society
Under the purview of the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency
(MQA), the Setara rating system
is a basis for quality assurance
of higher education and the
reference point for the criteria
and standards of academic
qualifications offered at
universities and university
colleges in Malaysia.
The rating system, therefore,
becomes an important tool for
school-leavers who are
evaluating their tertiary
education options.
Infrastructure University
Kuala Lumpurs (IUKL) deputy
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
vice-chancellor (academic and
internationalisation) Assoc Prof
Dr Christiantine Della says,
Potential students and parents
are always in search of the best
institution. The rating process
is one of the many factors
that will give them confidence
about the reputation of the
university.
Prof Andrew Walker, vice
president of academics at
Monash University Malaysia
(Monash), shares, The Setara
rating empowers students and
parents in making informed
choices about education
pathways, which subsequently
impacts the students careers.
Apart from that, by
recognising the importance of
the universitys relationship
with industries, the Setara
rating is also one of the ways
employers can gauge the
potential and market readiness
of graduates from an
institution.
An advantage for all
The Setara rating, however,
offers more than merely an
avenue for universities to build
confidence among potential
students and stakeholders.
Higher education institutions
that choose to participate in the
rating process are subjected to
thorough assessments that cover
various elements affecting the
quality of a students education
experience. These include the
universitys infrastructure,
course requirements and
governance.
Datuk Prof Joseph Adaikalam,
executive chairman at Binary
University, says, The 62 criteria
under input, process and output
categories help to gauge a wide
range of capabilities and
competencies.
> TURN TO PAGE 4
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
Speakers and UTAR students at the end of the leadership forum.
Soft skills in
academic
curriculum
IT is often said that hard skills
will get you an interview but
only soft skills will get you the
job. At Universiti Tunku Abdul
Rahman (UTAR), providing
education is more than just
imparting knowledge to
students.
It is also reinforcing the
students credentials with soft
skills through the UTAR Soft
Skills Development Certificate
(USSDC) programme.
Realising how effective soft
skills are to a students academic,
intellectual and professional
growth, the UTAR Department of
Soft Skills Competency (DSSC)
recently organised a forum titled
Leadership Skills for Youth to
further shed light on the
importance of soft skills,
especially in post-university life.
The seasoned speakers
included AW Communications
television and radio producer,
founder and managing director
and Melody FM anchor Wong
Chui Ling as well as Ipoh city
councillor, Bao Todays director
and Chengtao Machinery Experts
Sdn Bhds director Ceylyn Tay
Wei Lung.
GAFS Advisory Sdn Bhds
managing director, registered
financial planner and associate
estate planner practitioner Goo
Kah Thart as well as Hills &
Cheryl Corporate Advisory Sdn
Bhds managing director Chong
Choong Kian also shared
extensively on key areas.
The discussion included
effective leadership skills
demanded by employers today,
the importance of leadership
skills among young graduates,
the traits of successful leaders,
and how the leadership skills of
an employee can be developed.
Wong highlighted the
importance of participating
in community activities as it
enables them to acquire new
soft skills while polishing their
leadership skills.
Setara Tier 5 3
Tay encouraged participants to
not be afraid of making mistakes
but be willing to learn from
them. Chong advised leaders to
smile, especially when meeting
people as your facial expression
reflects your confidence.
Soft skills are about
expressing your character to
others and this should
complement your hard skills,
said Chong, who gave examples
of interviews where an
individuals negative facial
expression has adversely
affected the interview.
Goo said, To lead others, you
have to first lead yourself and
leaders draw out leadership
qualities in the people they lead.
Citing from his experience
with UTAR interns, he mentioned
that UTAR students were indeed
exemplary students with good
leadership skills. This reminded
participants to view challenges
as opportunities that will help
bring out their leadership skills.
UTAR was awarded the Tier 5:
Excellent status in the 2011 and
2013 Rating for Higher Education
Institutions in Malaysia
(Setara11 and Setara13), Tier 5:
Excellent in Discipline-Based
Rating System (D-Setara) for
Engineering as well as Tier 4:
Very good in D-Setara for Health
Sciences.
The Open Day will be held on
March 11, 12, 25 and 26, April 8
and 9 as well as May 6 and 7
(Saturdays and Sundays) from
9am to 5pm at the UTAR Kampar
Campus in Perak and UTAR
Sungai Long Campus in Bandar
Sungai Long.
UTAR is having its extended
counselling hours at both
campuses daily from 9am to 5pm
(except on public holidays).
n For more information, call
05-468 8888 (Kampar Campus)
or 03-9086 0288 (Sungai
Long Campus) or visit
www.utar.edu.my.
 4 Setara Tier 5
Beyond tiers
> FROM PAGE 2
Speaking on how this can help
universities, he says, We can gauge where
Living
we stand among our competitors and
improve on areas where the institution did
not perform well.
Gurpardeep Singh, vice president for
your dreams
operations of APIIT Education Group at
Asia Pacific University of Technology and
Innovation (APU), believes a rating system
such as Setara is needed because it helps
raise Malaysias profile as an international
hub of excellence for education.
It provides assurance that a centralised,
unified mechanism exists to evaluate the
standing of institutions, whether private or
public, he says.
Initiator of change
We believe every
student seeking to
As the assessment process provides
feedback on a higher education
benet from higher institution's resources and academic
offering, each university is therefore able
education should to carry out immediate changes and fine-
have an equal chance tuning measures to facilitate better
at it. We send a teaching and learning outcomes.
Taylors University vice-chancellor and
strong message of president Prof Michael Driscoll says, The
access to the MSU Setara rating is a credible seal of approval
experience, that of quality and can help spur us on to keep
improving our teaching and learning
whatever your excellence at both undergraduate and
personal or life postgraduate levels.
situation our facilities Prof Walker shares that as educational
excellence is one of the core values at
and pathways ensure Monash, participating in such exercises is
absolutely no dream something that the entire university is
gets left behind. pleased to be a part of not only in
Malaysia but at a global level.
Welcome to We are involved in a major university-
Management & wide push towards Better Teaching, Better
Science University Learning. This introduces next-generation
teaching and learning strategies, such as
(MSU). Winner of looking at ways we can creatively use our
QS 5 Stars for its teaching spaces to engage with the way
teaching, facilities, millennials learn, says Prof Walker.
Assoc Prof Christiantine says that since
graduate the last Setara rating was published, IUKL
employability, has enhanced its processes and procedures
social responsibility, and has a greater representation of
students.
and inclusiveness. She adds that formalising the
Occupational, Safety, Health and
Environment committee was among the
initiatives put in place by the university.
Over at Universiti Kuala Lumpur
(UniKL), director of the Centre for Quality
Assurance Prof Dr Wan Mohamad Wan
Abdullah shares that the university has
experienced a series of positive changes
as a result of the rating process.
We have established the Quality
Management system that will improve
governance, developed an assessment
monitoring system known as Learning
Outcome Attainment Measurement System,
migrated to a 20-week semester to increase
the hands-on component of the curriculum
and upgraded university facilities such as
those catering to the disabled, he says.
According to Prof Wan, the general
initiatives by the university include
providing industrial training to staff,
increasing the number of experienced
academicians, improving collaboration
with industries, and introducing a soft skill
www.msu.edu.my
Tel : +603 5521 6868 . Fax : +603 5511 2848 . Email : enquiry@msu.edu.my
Management & Science University
Counselling & Communication department, University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Section 13,
40100 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
(KPT/JPS/DFT/US/B08)
--------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
www.msucollege.edu.my
collegiate institutions
MOHE ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS
MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL PRIVATE UNIVERSITY 2016
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
Running a regulated
rating system such
as Setara is definitely
a move in the right
direction to increase
the quality of higher
education. However,
relying solely on the
criteria highlighted
under Setara does not
guarantee the success
of a higher education
institution, nor does
it ensure sustainable
growth.
monitoring and assessment system.
Universiti Tenaga Nasionals (Uniten)
deputy vice-chancellor (academic and
research) Datuk Prof Ir Dr Ibrahim Hussein
says the institution too has made great
strides since Setara13 in quality
governance, teaching and learning,
international exposure, providing a vibrant
campus experience and producing balanced
holistic graduates.
One of the things we introduced is to
make it compulsory for students to not only
have good academic performance but
participate in co-curricular activities.
Students will then receive two
transcripts upon graduation, one for
academics and one for co-curricular
achievements, says Prof Ibrahim.
Gurpardeep shares that APU has
increased the number of academic staff
who hold PhDs, intensified its research
activity and enhanced its physical
infrastructure by completing an integrated
campus.
Requiring an ongoing effort
Running a regulated rating system such
as Setara is definitely a move in the right
direction to increase the quality of higher
education. However, relying solely on the
criteria highlighted under Setara does not
guarantee the success of an institution, nor
does it ensure sustainable growth.
As with all companies in every industry,
an institution is a business that must be on
top of consumer trends and economic
fluctuations as well as understand the
changing needs of the industry.
To overcome these challenges and ensure
tertiary degrees remain relevant for
students and organisations, higher
education institutions have to take the
initiative to conduct constant assessments
and set a range of academic benchmarks in
addition to Setara.
> SEE NEXT PAGE
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
University representatives believe the Setara rating will spur change in the journey towards
better tertiary education standards.
On the right track
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Higher education institutions need to
work with one another along with the
Government in elevating the reputation of
Malaysias tertiary education so that it is on
par with other leading countries.
Assoc Prof Christiantine of IUKL believes
comparing work processes and bringing in
external focus to internal activities can
greatly benefit universities.
She says, An institution can appoint
external moderators, examiners, adjunct
professors and industrial advisory panels
to assess the curriculum of its courses.
Having an international focus
Another good way to raise Malaysias
tertiary education reputation is to have an
international outlook and benchmark
academic offerings and capabilities with the
very best institutions abroad.
One of the best ways to achieve greater
reputation is to have institutions with strong
links to international universities, such as
branch campuses, says Prof Walker of
Monash.
He believes the mobility of international
students should also be enhanced in
Malaysia, be it through exchange or study
abroad programmes, falling in line with
suggested steps listed in the Malaysian
Higher Education Blueprint.
The internationalisation of education is
about linking students and academics with
their peers around the world. This would
provide an avenue for the exchange of ideas
in terms of teaching and learning as well
as research, adds Prof Walker.
In addition to taking part in the QS World
University Rankings to gain global
recognition and offering massive open
online courses to attract the participation of
international students, Assoc Prof
Christiantine suggests, There should be
more exchange programmes for students
and staff where both will be able to gain
cross-cultural experience, creating global
awareness and understanding of other
cultures.
Collaborative partnerships with
institutions abroad for research and
teaching are also a good way to achieve
greater international reputation, she says.
Maintaining balance
Assoc Prof Christiantine, Gurpardeep and
Prof Wan Mohamad agree that institutions
should not dismiss or underestimate the
effectiveness of running internal
evaluations, suggesting the importance of
periodic reviews and student input that will
help institutions make the necessary
improvements for programmes and
resources.
Gurpardeep says, A university should
have its own comprehensive internal and
external quality enhancement processes to
ensure that self-evaluation and quality
enhancement become a natural way of
doing things across the university.
Prof Wan Mohamad adds, The culture
Setara Tier 5 5
and mentality of providing quality has to be
practised by everybody across the institution
as well as having a comprehensive quality
assurance system.
This includes a continual quality
improvement process encompassing regular
and close monitoring of services that has to
be initiated internally.
Such practices are a norm in many
universities such as Uniten, which
undertakes a range of internal activities
that requires input from academic staff to
achieve goals set by the universitys own
education roadmap and Higher Education
Blueprint.
We introduced an outcome-based
education approach for academicians
to record student performance online at
the end of the year, allowing course
coordinators to present these outcomes and
suggest improvements, says Prof Ibrahim.
We also have yearly teaching and
learning conferences, where academics
share their experiences and exchange ideas
on developing courses and teaching
methods.
A relentless pursuit
In his forward to the Malaysia Education
Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education),
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said
there is still a need to increase the quality of
higher education as well as its access for
Malaysia to attain its developed nation goals
by 2020.
While it remains to be seen if the country
will be able to make a substantial leap
forward in providing world-leading
education in the near future, the initiatives
by MQA and the Higher Education Ministry
are commendable.
Many academics, including Prof Driscoll
of Taylors and Gurpardeep of APU, hope
Malaysia will eventually work towards
reducing bureaucracy and red tape,
supporting the autonomy of universities.
This is because the best universities are
those that operate in countries that give
them the greatest freedom and autonomy.
Gurpardeep elaborates, Quality
assurance frameworks should only go as
far as to set benchmarking standards for
outcomes to be achieved by students and
institutions.
It should allow for innovative
approaches to programme design, delivery
and assessment as well as greater autonomy
for an increasingly diverse student
population while addressing rapidly
changing global talent requirements.
Improving the overall higher education
quality in Malaysia is an ongoing process
that will not take place overnight.
Hence, students, parents, stakeholders
and universities need to understand and
accept the fact that constant change is
necessary in the quest for progress.
Be it in academic achievements or the
nations employability, it is hoped that with
every subsequent change and
administrative introduction will come more
positive results, bringing us a step closer to
quality education.
6 Setara Tier 5
A PROVEN track record is often
among the main credentials of a
top university. This year, Universiti
Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) will be
adding a new milestone to its
proud history as it celebrates two
decades of academic, research,
consultancy and industrial
achievements.
Previously an institution offering
only three programmes to more
than 400 students, Uniten now
operates two campuses in
Putrajaya and another in Bandar
Muadzam Shah, Pahang which
offer 56 undergraduate and
postgraduate courses across five
colleges, have a high student
population that peaked at 12,000 in
2015 and have produced 24,000
graduates.
Dedicated to providing the best
possible education to its students,
Uniten has actively participated in
every Rating for Higher Education
Institutions in Malaysia (Setara)
since its inception in 2007, earning
itself a Tier 5: Excellent status.
The feedback from the various
audits has helped the university
make massive changes pertaining
to quality governance, teaching
and learning, intensifying
internationalisation, producing
balanced and holistic graduates,
and creating a vibrant and smart
campus.
Deputy vice-chancellor
(academic and research) Datuk
Prof Ir Dr Ibrahim Hussein says,
Since the last Setara rating, we
have launched a clear roadmap
called BOLD 2025 to achieve the
universitys goals that also fall in
line with the Higher Education
Blueprint set by the Government.
BOLD, which stands for Building
Opportunities, Living Dreams, is
the universitys strategic plan in
making Uniten among the top
MANAGEMENT & Science
University (MSU) is one of
Malaysias top universities, with a
focus on developing and delivering
quality human capital in the areas
of medicine, health sciences,
pharmacy, information sciences,
engineering, business management
and professional studies,
education, social sciences,
hospitality, culinary arts, music
and fashion.
As Malaysias best teaching
and learning university, MSU
gives top priority to building
students and the faculty as well
as engaging highly qualified
academics and international
visiting professors.
In addition, it blends global
exposure with extensive industrial
training and personal enrichment
competency elements to deliver
compelling learning experiences
within a holistic curriculum that
enhance graduate employability.
Focused on offering a global,
collaborative and industry-
embedded university experience,
MSU offers initiatives in student
mobility, leadership development
and market immersion through
programmes such as Global
Mobility Programme (GMP),
Global Leadership Programme
(GLP) and Global Internship
Programme (GIP), which empower
graduates with well-rounded
competency.
Meticulously crafted to enhance
a graduates potential, the
universitys study programmes
are among the best in the region,
producing graduates who are a
popular pick among employers.
A graduate tracer study by the
Higher Education Ministry shows
that 98.6% of MSU graduates
secure employment within six
months of their graduation.
This puts MSU in the national
Uniten has grown tremendously in the last 20 years and has great plans for the coming years.
Exciting road ahead
universities in Asia by 2025.
We have introduced a deep
programme maintenance audit
for all courses every four to five
years on top of yearly reviews,
encouraged academics to use an
online support system and
implemented blended learning
approaches in classrooms.
Academic staff are also now
required to go through a structured
staff development programme and
attend teaching and learning
courses as well as conferences,
says Prof Ibrahim.
He adds that Uniten has
established a total of 42
Memoranda of Understanding with
foreign universities and electrical
power consortiums as part of its
internationalisation efforts to give
students the opportunity for
exchange and involvement in
Ready for the global arena
MSUs range of programmes aims to nurture competent leaders with a global mindset.
top spot in graduate employability
among the nations higher
education institutions.
The universitys award-winning
homegrown study programmes
meet stringent standards set by
local and international bodies.
Accreditors include the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency
(MQA), the United Kingdoms
Accreditation Services for
International Colleges (ASIC) and
Japans Alliance on Business
Education and Scholarship for
Tomorrow (ABEST21).
MSU has been accorded
Excellent status twice on the
national university rating system
Setara by the Higher Education
Ministry.
It has also been acknowledged
international forums.
With the backing of its parent
company Tenaga Nasional Berhad
(TNB), students are assured of
getting the very best lecturers,
particularly in the areas of
industrial input as many former
TNB engineers work as adjunct
professors and share their personal
experiences.
Unitens strong ties with TNB
also allow for industrial
attachment opportunities.
Furthermore, the university
has a high employability of more
than 95%. Thirty-eight per cent of
which work with multinational
companies while, rather
surprisingly, 5.4% of graduates
become entrepreneurs higher
than the national target of 2%,
shares Prof Ibrahim.
He explains Uniten graduates
as The Most Entrepreneurial
University 2016.
QS Stars 2016 places MSU on
world-class standards, awarding
are well regarded as the
universitys qualifications are
duly recognised by local and
international professional bodies,
including the Institution of
Engineers Malaysia, Board of
Engineers Malaysia, Institution of
Mechanical Engineers and Energy
Institute of the United Kingdom, as
well as Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants (ACCA) and
Institute of Chartered Accountants
in England and Wales (ICAEW) for
its accounting courses.
This Wednesday, Uniten will kick
off its 20th anniversary with the
theme Celebrating The Past,
Igniting The Future.
In conjunction with the occasion,
the university will release a coffee
table book featuring the
universitys highlights over the
years, organise a research
five stars to the university for
its teaching, employability,
facilities, social responsibility
and inclusiveness.
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
exposition and product showcase
as well as other events throughout
the year, including an international
student week, sporting events and
family days.
Prof Ibrahim comments,
The most important is the
transformation programme we
have lined up based on our
roadmap. It will be a busy year in
research, facility refurbishments
and upgrading of teaching and
learning facilities.
There will be a lot of
development this year and the
next and it will be a very different
Uniten 20 years from now.
n For more information, call
03-8921 2020 (Putrajaya campus)
or 09-455 2020 (Bandar Muadzam
Shah campus) or visit
www.uniten.edu.my.
As an applied and enterprise
university, MSU offers programmes
of study at postgraduate,
undergraduate and foundation
levels through connected pathways
that admit students from all walks
of life and backgrounds.
Steeped in a culture of research
and innovation as well as
social entrepreneurship,
technology-driven MSU comprises
the Faculty of Health and Life
Sciences, Faculty of Business
Management and Professional
Studies, Faculty of Information
Sciences and Engineering,
International Medical School,
School of Pharmacy, School of
Education and Social Sciences,
School of Hospitality and
Creative Arts, School of Graduate
Studies, Graduate School of
Management, and Centre for
Foundation Studies.
n For more information on
programmes offered at MSU, call
03-5521 6868, fax to 03-5511 2848,
e-mail enquiry@msu.edu.my or
visit www.msu.edu.my.
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
Ahead of
the pack
UNIVERSITI Kuala Lumpur
(UniKL) is Malaysias leading
technical university. The
university aims to equip its
graduates with the knowledge,
skills and attitude required to
excel in a globalised and
knowledge-based economy.
UniKLs vision is to become the
leading entrepreneurial
technical university by 2020
through achieving excellence in
research, education, training,
entrepreneurship, consultancy
and community services.
UniKLs desire to aim high and
dream big is to strengthen its
global positioning through its
latest project WE4ASIA.
The university offers courses
at various levels. These include
the foundation, diploma,
bachelors degree, masters
degree and PhD, professional
certification, short courses,
franchise programmes,
customised programmes and
e-learning education.
The faculties, staff and
students thrive at UniKL because
of its combination of quality,
scope, standards and its open,
collaborative and innovative
culture.
The benefits provided by
the urban and suburban
campuses as well as
programmes that span
throughout the nation and
beyond also add to its distinction
to other higher education
providers.
UniKLs mission statement
shapes its graduates with strong
technical knowledge, astute
technical and entrepreneurial
skills as well as leadership
qualities to create world-class
individuals.
This is to generate graduates
who are able to fulfil the
demands of the industry and job
markets as well as equip them to
face the challenges of the 21st
century.
Today, graduates of UniKL
have successfully established
their careers or become
entrepreneurs in the local and
international market.
UniKL offers more than 130
programmes at foundation,
diploma, undergraduate and
postgraduate levels.
UniKL is made up of 14
UniKL aims to equip its students with solid technical knowledge as well
as entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
Setara Tier 5 7
Institutes Location Specialisation
UniKL Malaysia France Institute (UniKL MFI) Bangi, Selangor Automation and industrial maintenance
technology
UniKL Institute of Medical Science Technology Kajang, Selangor Medical science technology
(UniKL MESTECH)
UniKL Institute of Product Design and Cheras, Kuala Lumpur Product design and precision manufacturing
Manufacturing (UniKL IPROM) technology
UniKL Malaysian Institute of Information City Campus, Kuala Lumpur Information technology, animation and
Technology (UniKL MIIT) multimedia
UniKL Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Alor Gajah, Malacca Chemical and bioengineering technology
institutes with 12 branch Bioengineering Technology (UniKL MICET)
campuses located across
peninsular Malaysia. UniKL Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Lumut, Perak Marine engineering technology
UniKL considers its students Technology (UniKL MIMET)
its most valuable assets. That is UniKL Malaysia Spanish Institute (UniKL MSI) Kulim, Kedah Automotive, components and system technology
the reason it provides various
interactive courses to ensure its UniKL Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology Dengkil, Selangor Aviation technology
students development. (UniKL MIAT)
These programmes are to UniKL British Malaysian Institute (UniKL BMI) Gombak, Selangor Electrical, electronics, medical electronics and
ensure that students will be telecommunication technology
equipped with the relevant
skills and be market-ready UniKL Malaysian Institute of Industrial Technology Bandar Seri Alam, Johor Quality engineering and industrial logistics
to face the challenging (UniKL MITEC)
working environment in UniKL Royal College of Medicine Perak Ipoh, Perak Medical and allied health sciences
the future. (UniKL RCMP)
The impressive array of
learning facilities available at UniKL Business School Kuala Lumpur Entrepreneurship, Islamic finance and marketing
UniKL are a testament to Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS) Kuala Lumpur -
UniKLs commitment to -
UniKL International College (UniKL ICOLE) Kuala Lumpur
excellence.
These learning facilities are Institutes under UniKL and their specialisations.
equipped with the latest
technologies to create an
environment that replicates the
real world.
This is to ensure that its
graduates are ready to face the
fast-paced and ever-changing
job market upon graduation.
Students say that the campus
feels like home when asked
about their experience at
UniKL.
UniKL offers a unique
combination of high academic
standards and prime location
with access to the city centre.
UniKLs role is to offer quality
student-specific services to
enable them to succeed
intellectually and socially
during their college
life.
Student activities at UniKL
follow a holistic approach of
creating well-rounded
individuals.
Student activities and
organisations are an important
part of a complete university
education.
Students may participate in
the numerous clubs and
organisations available at
UniKL, including social and
academic clubs.
The clubs and societies in
UniKL provide an excellent
opportunity for students to
explore their creativity and
potential, be it in the form of
arts or sports.
n For more information, call
03-2175 4000/011-2076 8869.
8 Setara Tier 5
World-class university
THE quality of undergraduate
teaching and learning at Taylors
University has been acknowledged
time and again when it garnered a
Tier 5: Excellent rating in the Rating
for Higher Education Institutions in
Malaysia (Setara) by the Higher
Education Ministry in 2009, 2011
and 2013.
The Setara audit is conducted
every two years and measures the
overall undergraduate teaching and
learning quality of the institution
at university level in three generic
dimensions input (governance,
resources and talents), process
(curriculum, quality delivery,
assessment, monitoring and
ancillary activities) and output
(graduate marketability, graduate
satisfaction and employers
satisfaction).
Under this certification,
Malaysias universities and
university colleges are classified
into six tiers Tier 6: Outstanding,
Tier 5: Excellent, Tier 4: Very Good,
Tier 3: Good, Tier 2: Satisfactory and
Tier 1: Weak.
No institution has attained the
highest rating of Tier 6 in all three
exercises of Setara. The last Setara
exercise was done in 2013.
In 2013, Taylors University made
history by obtaining the highly
coveted Tier 6: Outstanding rating
in the Higher Education Ministrys
Discipline-Based Rating System
(D-Setara) 2012.
Taylors University is the first
and only university to achieve Tier
6, the highest rating in this
inaugural rating exercise conducted
by the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency.
D-Setara is a rating system that
evaluates four specific disciplines at
the undergraduate level in local
institutes of higher learning.
The disciplines are hospitality and
tourism, engineering, health
sciences, and medicine, dentistry
and pharmacy.
The Tier 6 rating was awarded to
Taylors Universitys School of
Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary
Arts in recognition of the schools
international reputation for
superior quality as well as teaching
Taylors was
awarded five stars
in five categories of
the QS Stars Rating
System teaching,
employability,
facilities,
internationalisation
and inclusiveness.
and learning excellence.
As a testament to its outstanding
achievement in the international
arena, Taylors University also
received international recognition
by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in
2015 and last year.
Taylors University has made it
to the top 200 universities in Asia,
moving up more than 20 places
to be listed 179th. In 2015, Taylors
was ranked in the top 201-250.
Taylors is also ranked 29th
among Asean universities. This
achievement, which positions
Taylors as the top private
university in Malaysia among
non-government-linked private
universities, is an important
milestone for a young, dynamic and
ambitious university, in line with its
aim to become one of Asias leading
universities.
It is a testament to the universitys
global reputation among academic
partners and employers, its teaching
and research output, faculty-student
ratio and achievement in
internationalisation.
Taylors was awarded five stars in
five categories of the QS Stars Rating
System teaching, employability,
facilities, internationalisation and
inclusiveness.
QS Stars rating is another
important milestone for Taylors
University as it measures the
universitys achievement against
other top universities worldwide.
The rating system allows students
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
Employing world-class teaching
and learning pedagogies,
Taylors strength lies in its
academic excellence.
to get a wider picture of an
institutions qualities in terms
of graduates employability,
facilities, community engagement
and more.
It is designed to reflect the
nuanced mission of universities and
the needs of students who may be
interested in aspects other than
those to which traditional rankings
are necessarily limited.
As a progressive and modern
university, Taylors strength lies in
its excellent academic standard as a
result of its world-class teaching and
learning pedagogies, which are
benchmarked against world
standards and strong industry
linkages for curriculum
development.
As Taylors University moves
to the next chapter, these
accomplishments provide the
university with a stronger
foundation to stand on as it
continues to attract the best talents,
collaborate with the best partners
globally and produce the best
graduates who will take their
productive place as leaders in the
global community.
Taylors University offers a
myriad of foundation, diploma,
bachelors, postgraduate and
professional programmes. The
universitys 13 schools include
business, medicine, pharmacy,
hospitality, engineering,
architecture, computing and law.
In 2014, Taylors University
became the first university in
South-East Asia to launch a second
transcript or the Shine Award
Programme.
The Taylors second transcript
complements and supplements the
academic transcript in providing
expanded opportunities for students
to develop intellectually,
emotionally and socially.
It provides formal recognition
and rewards for students
extracurricular achievements both
on and off campus.
n For more information,
call 03-5629 5000, e-mail
admissions@taylors.edu.my or
visit www.taylors.edu.my.
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
33 years of learning empowerment
A PIONEER in the private higher education
sector, Binary University started in 1984 as a
specialist college offering professional
courses. These were British and Australian
degrees in accounting, business and IT. After
being elevated to a university in 2004 and
attaining five stars under Setara, Binary
University has been attracting an increasing
number of local and international students
from all over the world to pursue its PhD,
masters and bachelor degrees, says Prof
Joseph Adaikalam, founder chairman of
Binary University.
This growth has been largely due to its
unique offering of the ISP and EYE
programmes, which is incorporated into all
Binary degrees, adds Prof Adaikalam, who
travels extensively as a guest speaker on
global forums that discuss entrepreneurship
and graduate employability.
Binarys Industry Specialist Professional
(ISP) and Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs
(EYE) programmes have gained global
recognition with numerous countries forging
a smart partnership with Binary to enhance
their graduates employability and create
homegrown entrepreneurs.
As an institution that never sits on its
laurels, Binary University embarked on
its research and publication journey
immediately after attaining the upgrade.
Binary set up four dedicated research
centres Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
(2005), Asia Centre for Entrepreneurship
(2006), Centre of Advancement of
Management (2008) and Centre for Women
Leadership (2009) to enhance its research
profile.
According to Prof Adaikalam, Binary
competed for the Fundamental Research
Grant Scheme and Long-term Research
Grant Scheme and managed to obtain
government grants to carry out research
projects. It also instituted a peer-reviewed
journal called The International Journal of
Management and Entrepreneurship, which is
subscribed internationally.
Equipped with a beautifully landscaped
green park, a retail block that offers food
and beverage outlets and convenience
stores plus in-campus condominium-style
accommodation for more than 2,000
students, the Puchong campus has
everything that a student needs to enjoy a
holistic student life, says Prof Dr Sulochana
Nair, vice-chancellor of Binary University.
Roland Wee, registrar at Binary University,
says, Many school-leavers are often
confused about their career choice. Available
since 2005, the Binary Foundation Degree
(BFD) is an excellent pre-university
programme as it provides the opportunity
for school-leavers to acquire a solid
foundation in a wide range of interesting
business and IT-related subjects.
Wee explains that this opens multiple
career pathways in accounting, business,
marketing, IT, finance, economics and
entrepreneurship. This is why the BFD is
branded the 1 Foundation. Multiple
Pathways programme.
This fully accredited foundation is a one-
Setara Tier 5 9
As Malaysias first
entrepreneurship
university, Binary
brings together
entrepreneurs to
inspire students
in events such as
the 2nd Sichuan
Malaysia
Entrepreneurs
Forum 2016.
The reason our
graduates are highly
employable is that we
equip our students with
industry-specific skills and
transform them to become
ISP graduates.
Prof Joseph Adaikalam
year programme open to SPM school-leavers
with at least five credits. Upon completion of
the BFD, students can pursue any of the
degrees at Binary University in the areas of
accounting, business management,
marketing, computer science or
entrepreneurship.
All these degrees are honours degrees and
are fully accredited. Students who wish to do
part of their degrees in the United Kingdom
or Australia may use the 2+1 degree pathway
that is available at no additional cost.
The reason our graduates are highly
employable is that we equip our students
with industry-specific skills and transform
them to become ISP graduates. This
empowers our graduates to walk and talk
the language of the industry.
In addition, we equip our graduates with
an extensive range of entrepreneurial skills.
The ISP and entrepreneurial skills help
differentiate our graduates, making them not
only highly employable but also empower
them to negotiate for higher starting
salaries, says Prof Adaikalam.
Regardless of whether students pursue a
business, accounting, marketing, IT or an
entrepreneurial degree at Binary University,
they will graduate with two certificates a
fully accredited honours degree and the
ISP-certified qualification.
Prof Adaikalam says that with more than
280 Faculty of Industry Professionals (FIPs)
covering 22 industries, Binary University
offers comprehensive industry-specific
skills-enriching programmes that no other
university in this region does.
Binary Business School or BBS, one of the
oldest business schools among private
institutions in Malaysia, offers the BA (Hons)
in Business Management, BA (Hons) in
Marketing, MBA, DBA (Doctorate in Business
Administration) and PhD. These courses are
supported by a dedicated research centre,
the Centre of Advancement of Management,
says Prof Dr Peter Shepard, senior lecturer of
BBS.
Students are encouraged to visit the
university to find out more on how they can
set themselves apart by becoming an ISP
graduate in business, accounting or IT. The
next intake is on April 10.
n For more information, call
03-8070 6590/96 or visit www.binary.edu.my.

Committed
to unleash
your full
potential
The following elds of study in
Postgraduate Programmes
are now open for intake:
Electrical Power Electronics and Systems
Communication Systems Mechanical Civil
Information Technology Software Engineering
Business Management Finance
Business Administration Accounting
Engineering Management Industrial Science
Website
www.uniten.edu.my
Submit Application to:
Registrar Ofce, Level 2, Administration Building, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000 Kajang, Selangor
Tel: 603 8921 2020 Email: postgrad@uniten.edu.my DU002 (B) - KPT/JPS/DFT/US/C 01
10 Setara Tier 5
At Monash Malaysia, civil engineering students gain practical skills in the laboratories.
A future in
civil engineering
RAPID development in Malaysia has created
a great demand for professional civil
engineers in the region, making graduates
from the discipline highly sought-after by
employers.
Prof Khu Soon-Thiam, head of discipline
(civil engineering) at Monash University
Malaysias School of Engineering, says the
job prospect for civil engineers is very good
in Malaysia.
Malaysia not only has numerous
ongoing infrastructure and road-building
projects, there are also large-scale
maintenance projects and LRT line
expansions. These require a large number
of civil engineers, he says.
Apart from that, with sustainability being
the buzzword, he says students today are
exposed to a new dimension of civil
engineering to construct with
sustainability in mind.
This new approach has opened up career
options for graduates as they are now better
trained for the different types of civil
engineering jobs.
Students are exposed to the latest
materials and procedures, which work
towards cost efficiency, faster construction
and causing less impact to the environment.
The shortage of civil engineers in
Malaysia may be caused by the brain drain
phenomenon, which sees many overseas-
trained Malaysian graduates stay on to
work internationally.
Prof Khu recommends that this problem
can be solved by having students receive
their education and graduate locally.
When students are educated in Malaysia,
they gain exposure to the companies here
during their internship. As they see the
projects these companies are involved in,
there is a higher likelihood of them joining
Call Us these companies, explains Prof Khu.
When asked what the traits of good civil
03-8921 2020 engineers are, Prof Khu shares that they are
the ones who are not afraid to get their
hands dirty.
Successful civil engineers are always
curious about the built environment they
live in and are interested in buildings,
roads, bridges and tunnels.
They must also be serious about wanting
to make a difference to generate a better
environment, he says.
He adds that in the civil engineering line,
it is essential for engineers to be able to
communicate and work with people from
myriad backgrounds.
Overcoming language barriers is quite
the norm as construction workers whom
you work with are from various parts
of the world. Apart from that, civil
engineers are the mediators between
the clients, who are paying for the project,
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
When students are
educated in Malaysia,
they gain exposure to
the companies here
during their internship.
As they see the projects
these companies are
involved in, there is
a higher likelihood of
them joining these
companies.
Prof Khu Soon-Thiam
and the architects, says Prof Khu.
Consequently, it is important to be able to
strike a balance between clients wanting to
reduce costs and meeting the requirements
of the architects.
The civil engineering discipline in
Monash Malaysia not only prepares its
students academically, it provides them
with the soft skills training to ensure they
are ready for the job market.
For example, students are often assigned
into groups by the academics.
Students are taught group work through
a simulated work environment, where they
are tasked to work with people they may
not be close to or fond of, says Prof Khu.
Another aspect students have to learn is
the financial aspect of managing a project.
We need them to understand finance, or
at least the balance sheet, as they need to be
on site ordering materials for construction.
If they do not understand the financial
aspect, they might order too many or too
few materials, thus affecting the progress of
the construction, he says.
In the final year, students need to study
contract law to understand the legal aspect
of construction works.
I hope, with the different skill sets, our
graduates will be versatile enough to deal
with various situations when they enter the
workplace.
At Monash Malaysia, students go through
the same curriculum and train the exact
way as their counterparts in Monash
University Australia, he says.
n For more information about progammes
at the School of Engineering, visit
www.eng.monash.edu.my.
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
The deal was sealed by APIIT Education Groups chief executive officer Datuk Dr Parmjit Singh
(right) and eSports Malaysias president Datuk Latt Shariman Abdullah (left) and witnessed by
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching.
Spotlight
on eSports
ASIA Pacific University of Technology &
Innovation (APU) and eSports Malaysia
(eSM) recently launched APU eSports
Malaysia Academy at APUs new campus in
Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was
signed between APIIT Education Groups
chief executive officer Datuk Dr Parmjit
Singh and eSM president Datuk Latt
Shariman Abdullah during the launch.
This is the first partnership between eSM
and a Malaysian university where eSports
academy within the universitys campus has
been established.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk
Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching witnessed the MoA
signing and officiated the launching
ceremony.
In addition to the launch, APU students
from the multimedia, computer games
development and creative design
programmes organised a full-day exhibition.
eSM representative Rinie Ramli, APIIT
alumnus and Final Fantasy XVs lead game
designer Wan Hazmer, and APU computer
games development student and mobile
game Flail Rider developer Jussi Pekka
Tuomi conducted talks for event
participants.
The APU eSports Malaysia Academy serves
as a platform for students to develop and
channel their passion for competitive
gaming.
The APU and eSM partnership is to give
support, training and proper guidelines to
students in equipping them with the
essential skills of a professional gamer,
eSports shoutcaster or team manager, thus
creating new opportunities and talents
within the Malaysian eSports industry.
Some of the upcoming activities that
will be organised by the academy include
game tournaments, seminars and industry
talks.
APU received official endorsement from
eSM to establish the APU eSports Club in
January 2015.
To date, the eSports Club has 280
members, of which some represented APU
and Malaysia in the global arena of eSports
such as the IEF International Collegiate
Esports League 2016 in South Korea and the
League of Legends International Collegiate
Championship 2016 in Taiwan.
Setara Tier 5 11
In his opening speech, Dr Parmjit said, It
is truly an honour and privilege for APU to
be the first university in Malaysia to launch
an eSports academy with eSM.
With the launch of the APU eSports
Malaysia Academy, we believe we can
deliver the best programmes and activities
to students to prepare them for their future
careers in the eSports and gaming industry.
According to Latt, the academys vision is
to be one of the leading eSports academies
in the world, providing talents not just for
local but also the international industry.
Our local players such as Mushi, Chuan,
AmTuah and more have been competing in
international tournaments all over the
world, so we know that our local talents are
able to compete with the best in the world.
However, without proper guidance and
a development programme, only a few are
able to compete at that level. We hope, with
APU eSports Malaysia Academy, we can
change that, said Latt.
Yap said during the launching ceremony,
It is about time we establish a healthy
environment for our university and school
students to participate in competitive
gaming while instilling soft skills in
communication, leadership and critical
thinking.
APUs School of Computing and
Technology offers the BSc (Hons) in
Computer Games Development and BSc
(Hons) in Computer Games Development
with specialism in Games Concept Art.
n For more information, call 03-8996 1000/
1300 888 278, e-mail info@apu.edu.my or
visit www.apu.edu.my
About APU
APU has earned an enviable
reputation as an award-winning
university with a host of prestigious
awards at national and international
levels.
It is among the highest ranked
universities in Malaysia, being rated
Tier 5: Excellent under the Rating
for Higher Education Institutions in
Malaysia (Setara13).
12 Setara Tier 5
PARENTS want to provide the best
for their children. Therefore,
choosing the proper educational
institution is key. Institutions with
quality that are recognised will
lead to your childs success.
With a Tier 5: Excellent rating in
the latest Malaysian Qualifications
Agency (MQA) Rating System
Setara13, IUKL is the first full-
fledged infrastructure university in
Malaysia that emphasises the
integration of hard and soft aspects
of infrastructure to produce
well-rounded technopreneurs
with outstanding communication,
technological and managerial
skills.
Accreditation and
professional recognition
Before sending your children off
to a university, it is essential to
explore the accreditation and
professional recognitions of the
institution.
IUKLs programmes are well
recognised and accredited by
professional local and international
bodies such as the Board of
Architects Malaysia (LAM), Land
Surveyors Board (LJT), Royal
Institution of Surveyors Malaysia
(RISM), Cisco, International
Organisation for Standardization
(ISO) and the Association of
Chartered Certified Accountants
(ACCA), among others.
The programmes are approved
by the Higher Education Ministry
and MQA.
All the universitys engineering
degrees are recognised by the
Board of Engineers Malaysia and
the Washington Accord, an
international agreement among
bodies responsible for accrediting
engineering degrees.
Students are given the
Rating of excellence
THOUGH the fourth and most
recent Rating for Higher Education
Institutions in Malaysia (Setara)
was released in 2013, it is still
being used by participating
universities and university
colleges in Malaysia as it offers
prospective students, parents,
teachers and academic society an
indication of the quality of
teaching and learning at the
undergraduate level.
This stringent evaluation took
Code Name of institution
2 Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation
2 Binary University of Management and Entrepreneurship
2 Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia
2 Cyberjaya University College Of Medical Sciences
2 Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur
2 International Medical University
2 Inti International University
2 Management and Science University
2 Monash University Malaysia
2 Multimedia University
2 Nilai University
2 Open University Malaysia
2 SEGi University
2 Sunway University
2 Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
2 Taylors University
2 The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
2 UCSI University
1 Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia
2 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2 Universiti Kuala Lumpur
Code classification: 1 - Public institution 2- Private institution
List of institutions arranged alphabetically with a Tier 5: Excellent Setara rating.
Fits like a glove
opportunity to further their studies made available for everyone.
abroad because of IUKLs strong Therefore, there are scholarships
connections with international and tuition fee waivers available to
education institutions,. lift the burden off your shoulders.
This happens through the Students who score a minimum
cooperation between IUKL and of 5As (including A-) in SPM/
several international universities O-Level are able to attain IUKL
in the United Kingdom, the United scholarships. Those who are active
States, Australia, New Zealand,
Ireland, China, the Netherlands
in sports can also apply for the
Sport Excellence Scholarship.
and Germany. IUKL also collaborates with
major media education funds, such
Scholarships and tuition as the Star Education Fund and Sin
Chew Education Fund, to provide
fee waiver deserving students a chance to
pursue their higher education.
We all tend to worry when it Tuition fee waivers of up to
comes to fees as it can be quite 50% are available to encourage
costly but fret not, as IUKL believes students to shine academically by
that quality education should be maintaining a minimum CGPA of
into consideration three generic Upon completion of gathering
domains: the required information,
l Input Addressed faculty universities and university
talent, physical and financial colleges that chose to participate
resources, and governance in this exercise were classified
l Process Focused on aspects into six different tiers, Tier 1:
pertaining to the quality of the Weak, Tier 2: Satisfactory, Tier 3:
curriculum Good, Tier 4: Very Good, Tier 5:
l Output Focused on the Excellent and Tier 6: Outstanding.
quality of graduates (in terms of Forty-two of the 53 participating
graduate marketability, graduate higher learning institutions in
attributes and employer feedback) Setara13 were awarded a Tier 5
and graduate satisfaction rating while the remaining
TIER 5: EXCELLENT
Code Name of institution
1 Universiti of Malaya
1 Universiti Malaysia Pahang
1 Universiti Malaysia Perlis
1 Universiti Malaysia Sabah
1 Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
1 Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
1 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
1 Universiti Putra Malaysia
1 Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
1 Universiti Sains Malaysia
2 Universiti Selangor
1 Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
1 Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
1 Universiti Teknologi Mara
2 Universiti Teknologi Petronas
2 Universiti Tenaga Nasional
2 Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
1 Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
2 Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
1 Universiti Utara Malaysia
2 Wawasan Open University
IUKL is a
promising
place for
students to
complete
their tertiary
education
as it is
recognised
and
affordable.
3.75. No application is required for
this fee waiver scheme as it will be
automatically offered to high
achievers.
PTPTN and financial assistance
from the State Foundation are also
available.
On-campus
accommodation
Your child needs a comfortable,
productive space to live in so they
can be mentally and emotionally fit
to ace courses. Ensure a smooth
and pleasant journey through
university by settling in the
accommodation provided by IUKL
before classes start.
obtained a Tier 4 rating, marking
a gradual improvement from the
previous evaluations conducted in
2007, 2009 and 2011.
While there has been a general
increase in the number of
Tier 4 and Tier 5 institutions in
2013, the results prove Malaysia
still has a long way to go before
it can be recognised as a world-
leading tertiary education
destination.
The absence of Outstanding
institutions means universities
must not rest on their laurels and
be content with attracting only
SUNDAY STAR, 5 MARCH 2017
Students are
given the opportunity
to further their
studies abroad
because of IUKLs
strong connections
with international
education
institutions.
IUKL is set within the 100-acre
(40.47ha) De Centrum City in
Kajang, Selangor, which is poised
to grow into a modern education
township, well equipped with
numerous amenities for its
students needs from cosy
condominiums and hostels to
commercial areas within a secure
green environment.
The neighbourhood shopping
centre, De Centrum Mall, is
situated within campus grounds
where students can get their daily
necessities. The mall consists of a
supermarket, laundry mat, courier
service and food outlets.
Visit IUKL on March 11 and 12
from 10am to 4pm. Register on the
spot and enjoy a rebate of RM1,000.
Apply now, be part of the IUKL
community and pursue your
dreams.
n For more information, call
1800 88 STUDY (78839) or visit
www.IUKL.edu.my.
students from South-East Asian
countries but go further to reassess
their academic, physical and
corporate structures.
There is yet to be official word
on when the next Setara rating will
be conducted.
However, it is believed that
irrespective of the mechanisms of
a new Higher Education Ministry
evaluation programme,
universities will gain helpful
feedback to improve on their
programmes and product delivery
as well as make inroads at the
international level.